I'm fully aware that with one or two exceptions Missouri is not an "end destination" for fly fishing for trout. However, we are blessed with several "wild trout" fisheries that provide opportunities for those of us who don't care for the park atmosphere. I'll tell of a day of fishing one of these precious jewels of the Ozarks if I may be indulged to not mention its name. It is a delicate fishery and will suffer from much pressure.

I was recently going through some old books that I inherited from my father, when I came across a small book entaitled, "Famous Sportsmen's Recipes," compiled by Jessie Marie DeBoth.  The book by copyrighted in 1940 by the author but there is no indication that it was professionally published.  I am assuming that it was self published by some 'vanity' press. 

I have read several "posts" on FAOL from members who have tried nymph fishing and feel it's too difficult and "dead drifting" nymphs is the only way I fish and I feel it is not that difficult. I will not say that it is easy, but, it is not hard either. Once you learn the technique, I feel most will find it, like me, to be a very enjoyable way to fish. What follows is how I nymph fish without an indicator but this is not meant to be the only way. It is just how I do it and maybe using some of my techniques will help those who are having problems.

A friend and I have been trying to get together to fish for a few months. Finally we made arrangements to meet at the pond. The pond is about halfway between each of our homes. Unfortunately some other things came up so that I could not meet him at the time we planned so I arrived at the pond a few hours later than I had hoped. I knew that he might not still be there, but he was waiting for me. I apologized for being late and he laughed. He had been there for about an hour since he had something come up that made him late.

Wading out to where the water pressure found my hip, I stopped with rod held under my arm and surveyed the pool. I was in no hurry on this autumn morning having lost the feeling to my fingertips in the chore of rigging due to the frosted air. A few moments to regain my fingers would be time well spent for sure. As I had begun to wade into the pool I disrupted the lives of a flight of Blue-winged teal, which now chortled quietly in the eddy formed on the far side of the pool along the high bank.

"A Special night when there is more to fishing than catching fish"

I am a Montana fly fishing guide and I have been working the waters in Montana and Yellowstone National Park for thirty four years. My wife Krys was born and raised in Montana, as was our son Ryan. We have seen our fair share of beautiful and wonderful white Christmases. I have been coming to the Sebastian Inlet area for over twenty years and have thoroughly enjoyed the saltwater fly fishing that it offers. It wasn't until 2003 that we spent a Christmas in Florida along the St Sebastian River.

A present from Tom Deschaine to all the readers of Fly Anglers On Line.

I have been tying fly patterns (dressing hooks) for 16 years, and with time I have forgotten many of the sources that I have incorporated into my fly tying repertory for "dressing the hook"!

This is more of a method, than a fly pattern, that changes most nymph/streamer pattern from a hook spear-down presentation, into a hook spear-up presentation beneath the water surface. This method allows the fly angler to do bottom presentation with minimum of snags from underwater debris and obstacles.

Friends of mine, a couple that reside by Jefferson River at Three Folks, MT, sent me some pheasant feathers as a Christmas gift (partly joke so I can tie some flies for free). They say the bird would have been killed by a coyote in their property (but I know they are good hunters). Those feathers seemed to me from shoulder, probably from hen (softer than cocks'), along with after shaft plumes. These plumes meant more than a joke to me and really turned me on too design a fly. I came up with a synthesis of "traditional looking", "durability", "modern materials", and "existing patterns".

Several years ago I wrote a weekly outdoor column for a local newspaper. It was a wide ranging column covering all facets of outdoor recreation from bird watching to fly fishing. One spring I wrote a column entitled "Finding The Challenge" and the subject was fishing for trout while they were spawning. It was, and still is in some circles, a controversial practice. Part of the controversy involves wading on redds and thus damaging the developing eggs hidden in the gravel, and the other part of the controversy involves disturbing or catching and handling the spawning fish. I approached the subject on an entirely different angle by asking the question, "Where's the challenge in intentionally bouncing an egg fly or stripping a streamer through a place where trout are actively spawning?" After exploring all the aspects of using that technique I left the reader to draw their own conclusion.

Our very best wishes to you for a Blessed Christmas and Joy and Happiness in the New Year. We thank you for being part of Fly Anglers OnLine - we couldn't do it without you! A special thanks to our U.S. Military wherever you are. We won't forget....