Fly Fishing For Bass And Blue Gill In Wellsville, Mo

[flyfshn]

Where in the heck is Wellsville Missouri......keep reading. Woke up Sunday morning, went to church and afterwards asked the Mrs if we had anything going on. She said no, so I told her I was going fishing (first time all summer), so I called my son told him how beautiful it was outside and asked if he wanted to go fishing...sure he said. I rounded up all my fishing gear and some beverages and put them in the truck. My son called and said his roomate was complaining about how messy the garage was, so he was going to stay home and help clean it. Ok, there went my fishing partner. Asked my 15 year old daughter (well tomorrow she will be 15) if she wanted to go.....no, I am going shopping with mom. Strike 2! Called my neighbor and asked if he wanted to go....SURE, can we bring Jacob he asked (his 11 yr old son). I said no problem, but I wanted to get going and enjoy the day, so he needed to giddie up (he is very POKEY).

Ok, now for the explaination on where we were going....Wellsville Missouri. Wellsville is a very small town about an hour west of St. Louis, along Highway 70 (exit hwy 19, which some of you may know is the exit to go to Herman a very nice little town that makes WINE). My uncle lives just on the outskirts of town on 10 acres. He and my aunt bought their dream home about 10 years ago and shortly after, she won one of the MO lottery jackpots (won $75k). My uncle always wanted a lake and she wanted to take the two car attached garage and turn it into a great room and also build a two car detached garage, which they did. It is a 1.5 acre lake and took several years to fill up and after it did, he purchased 200 bass, 200 blue gill and 200 catfish.......well that was about a year ago and the bass are now 10-15".

The sky was a beautiful shade of blue with big white puffy clouds. The temperature was 74 degrees with very low humidity. I took the boom box I brought, plugged it into the power inverter and turned on the Cards game. John told me to take Jacob out in my uncles little two man boat and he would fish from the shore. By the time Jacob and I rowed out in the lake, John already said "fish on". He caught a 13" bass on a sz 2 chartreuse popper. Jacob made his first cast.....BAM, 14" bass on a red popper....and then a blue gill, and then a bass. We caught fish ALL DAY LONG! At one point I stopped fishing, sat back and looked around.......what a beautiful day. I told Jacob, "it doesn't get any better than this". Jacob said, "I am having the best day of my life". It was a day I think we will all remember.

[patfish]

Niiiiice!

[fishinwrench]

Where in the heck is Wellsville Missouri

Eastern edge of ol' AP Green territory, home of clay pits, and the best quail and rabbit population in the state.

You're makin'me homesick

[DaddyO]

Thanks for the post. I'm sitting here at work reading this and visualizing the whole trip. Sounds like you had a great time. Those are, truly, days to remember.

I don't think that I can ever recall fond memories of "cleaning the garage"

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Great story... sunshine.. buddies.. bass & bluegills.. & the winningest dadgum baseball team this side of the Mason Dixon Line!

That was a fun read.. I felt like I was right there with ya'll. 200 bass and they are putting on good weight. I wonder what the main food source is. I betcha its damsels and dragons. You guys ever do any looking around at the bugs in that there pond ?

So I imagine you're also taking board members anytime we're passing thru too.. eh ?

cheers, Brian

[flyfshn]

Brian, I am always willing to take a fellow board member!! No, have not spent much time researching the food source.....but that is a great idea. Will have to check next time I am up there. Thinking about trying to get up there again this weekend since it is supposed to be a repeat of last weekend!! How 'bout them Cards......3-2 against the Astros. I am lucky enough to get to go to the game tomorrow (day game)........and I dont have to burn a vacation day. Can't beat that!