Tri lakes expo in Clinton

[kjackson]

It was a good show--or at least the best I'v been to in Clinton.  I saw the Billetheads and did see Ryan but didn't know who he was.   Didn't see fedora wearing tjm, or again, if I did, did not see the hat.  Since I covered the show for the Clinton paper (issue should be online Thursday), I was in work mode and didn't socialize or spend much time looking at flies.  But next year...  

And FYI-- the 2026 Expo will run two full days and will not be held until September.  

As for fly fishing, I grew up in trout country, went to college in Missoula and almost became a trout bum but got married instead. I just can't get excited about trout fishing in Missouri. I'd much rather fish for bluegills or white bass, or better yet, walleyes, with a fly.  

 

[BilletHead]

8 hours ago, Lancer09 said:

I was planning to make it up but a 2 hour drive with a 2 year old makes things tough.

Had to finally get my beans, peas and corn in the ground too. 

I've caught plenty of good fish in those lakes up there, but I WONDER if bolivar might pull a few more springfield people up. I know it would have been a lot easier for me. 

    I don't know but this venue in Clinton is really nice and roomy. I liked the church in Bolivar but no room. This expo brought in people from all over. 

[fishinwrench]

I need to make the drive next time. 👍

[BilletHead]

26 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I need to make the drive next time. 👍

                Yes, you do Glen. 

[tjm]

 I'll probably not make the next one if it's in Sept.

 

[BilletHead]

11 hours ago, tjm said:

 I'll probably not make the next one if it's in Sept.

 

               Do they have a Fall one? That time of the year I would be hard pressed to make it either. 

[Lancer09]

I'd love to go! I know clinton makes it easier for a KC contingent.

Springfield feels weird... couldn't support a fly shop in the long run outside of bass pro, but will have people drive all over to fish or everyone and their neighbor "loves going to bennett."

Very interesting to explain to people, especially out west that NW AR has a much better fly fishing scene and following than southwest MO, or even KC. 

[Lancer09]

21 hours ago, kjackson said:

 

As for fly fishing, I grew up in trout country, went to college in Missoula and almost became a trout bum but got married instead. I just can't get excited about trout fishing in Missouri. I'd much rather fish for bluegills or white bass, or better yet, walleyes, with a fly.  

 

There are some neat places even here in MO to fish for some wild fish.. you'll just have to drive a bit. But if you've lived out west that won't feel out of the norm. 

[kjackson]

12 hours ago, tjm said:

 I'll probably not make the next one if it's in Sept.

 

If you schedule it in now-- September 11 and 12 in the Benson Center again--you might be able to do it. Sorry I didn't get to meet you.  Maybe next time...  

12 minutes ago, Lancer09 said:

There are some neat places even here in MO to fish for some wild fish.. you'll just have to drive a bit. But if you've lived out west that won't feel out of the norm. 

I guess I'm spoiled and lazy...when we lived in Port Townsend, I would drive five minutes to catch coho off the beach, and searun cutthroat were a 20-minute drive to the boat launch and 10 minutes to get to the best spots.  Having said that, I attended the University of Montana where the hardcore guys would drive to Yellowstone to  hit the evening hatch, and that was something like a four-hour drive.  Didn't do that, but hit Rock Creek once in a while and that was a good hour away, and there a lot of good little streams between the two.

But I really like chasing bluegills on poppers, and white bass intrigue me. And then there are smallmouth, a fish I really like.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, kjackson said:

and white bass intrigue me.

They'll not only intrigue you....... they'll rip the rod out of your hands. 😊