Welcome to the Ozark Fly Fishers
Founded 1971
A Missouri 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation
Upcoming Member Meetings:
Dec 12, Holiday Party: We will resume our holiday party program. We will also have Member Renewal and Banquet forms available there.
Everyone is encouraged to bring a favorite finger food, wrap an anonymous present of 12 flies for a gift Exchange and bring a vise to tie your favorite flies.
Jan 18, Annual Banquet
Feb 15, All-Day meeting. George Daniels will be our speaker.
Mar 20, Mark Van Patten will be our speaker.
Thanks,
Paul
BANQUET REMINDER
Dear Members
The time has come to mark your calendars, saving the date for our annual fundraising banquet.
As you know, our annual fundraising banquet is our clubs largest fundraising event of the year, providing us the opportunity to sponsor our many events throughout the entire year.
This year’s banquet and silent auction is on Saturday, January 18th, 2025.
This year’s cost will remain the same as last year, $40.00 per person which includes a nice meal, desert, and open bar.
The event will include raffles, silent auction as well as a live auction.
We encourage all of you to bring your spouse, guest and even friends, who might not be club members, to join us for a great night out.
Please mark your calendars, make plans to attend and support your club.
Reservation forms will be made available in the near future.
Thank you and hope to see you there.
Casting Tip
Continuing with the discussion of possible “bottlenecks”
Grip – There are many choices here – the top 2 being thumb on top or index finger on top.
Thumb on top is most used because it is the strongest grip If you want more distance in your cast, this is the best grip. Finger on top is thought to be more accurate by many casters. So. if accuracy is your goal try this grip
Stance – Fishing stance and practice stance are different. When practicing, an open stance allows you to see your backcast. If you can’t see your back cast you probably do not know what’s wrong with it? Poor timing and inaccurate power application are two bottlenecks often seen by casting instructors.
When fishing a closed stance is preferred.
Pick up – To properly preform the pick up two things are most important. The rod tip needs to start low and the end of the fly line (the fly) needs to move as soon as you start your pickup. That is the rod should start to load the instant of pick up. If you are only removing slack when you start the backcast this could be your bottleneck?
Next casting tip we will look at casting arc and/vs. casting stroke.
Bill Armon - Casting Chairperson
The Larry Fly
Created by one of our esteemed members, Larry Hummel, this fly is pure genius in its simplicity and astounding in its effectiveness. I was skeptical at first with the wild claims of their unique effectiveness, but it has become a proven fish catcher under a wide range of circumstances. Respecting Larry’s creative license and not publishing his pattern, it is time to let his secret out… He generously gives them away like candy as well as dispensing instructions on how to fish them. The Larry Fly is no longer a secret anyway.
Hook: TMC 100 #18
Bead: Copper or Gold 3/32” or 5/64”
Thread: 6/0 Danville Camel Brown (Color #47 if you can find it) or Olive
Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers
Body: Tying Thread
Place Bead on the hook and secure hook in the vise.
Start thread behind the bead and wrap to the hook bend.
Tie in 5 or 6 pheasant tail fibers for the tail – about 1 ½ to 2X the hook length - and wrap butt ends down to behind the bead. Trim excess. (Yes, the tail is unreasonably long, but it works). Use the tying thread to build a smooth tapered body from the tail to the bead. Whip finish the thread and trim.
That’s it…
Very simple to tie and you can really churn out a bunch of them at a time. The secret is in the fishing…
Don’t over-think it. Use a long 7X tippet off the end of your tapered leader. Cast it out under as small of an indicator as you can see, and just let it hang out doing its thing. I don’t fish this with any other fly as a dropper or anything fancy. Just this fly at the end of a long tippet under a small indicator fished totally dead drift. Thank you for sharing, Larry!
Note: The flies pictured were tied by Mel Bagley. I believe he has wrapped Stretch Magic over the thread to make them more durable. That’s always an option, but I don’t mess with the original – unless Larry has modified his – and then I will do as Larry does.
Bennet Catch and Release Reports
Started well with size 18 brassie, but they didn't stand up long against the raking teeth. Then went to a fluorescent orange glow ball which did well for the rest of the weekend consistently. It's the one w/ the hidden bead that Joe A. taught at Bennett just a few years ago. Thanks, Joe!
Jeff Cohen
I did not make it for Friday this year but stayed through Monday instead. I was surprised at how many fishers there were on Monday, I was expecting no one but I guess the great weather was a factor.
I fished my usual; size 18, bead head midges and nymphs, straight shank and curved shank anywhere from 12-24 inches deep. On top on Monday they were taking a black foam beetle and a size 18 green army worm skipped in the film. Minimal luck skipping #12 woolies and no luck swinging soft hackles.
Steve G (Another other Steve)
In the park I mostly fished a red and black midge and caught one after another. I spent more time fishing wetflies in the Niangua than I fished in the park. I caught all rainbows up to 16" on March brown wetfly, gold flymphs, and LaFontaine sparkle pupa deep on the Niangua. I threw a meat whistle on my 8-wt looking for browns and smallmouth but only got one strike that I missed.
I finished in the park on Saturday afternoon and around 3 a hatch of tiny (like #20) gold-colored mayflies came off (photo attached). Closest thing I had were BWO dry #20 and a BWO emerger that I fished in tandem and landed risers on both flies before the siren.
Ed Heist
I focused on learning a new technique, for me at least. Harry gave me some on stream instruction on how to fish an full intermediate sinking line
Stripping his soft wooly pattern. During our session, Harry landed a beautiful rainbow that we estimated at 4 lbs. I only fished this method
During the trip, and I did catch enough fish to make the trip exciting.
Steve
(the other steve)
The egg-sucking leech worked best for me, especially Friday morning. Then, an orange egg pattern got hot too! A black and blue wooly worm, purple and black soft hackle, green Crackleback and mop fly all caught a few.
Dan Rasch
Black zebra midge with silver bead size 20 , sometime I used size 18 below an orange glow ball. Late in the day I switched to bead head Ruby midge size 20.
Bob Temper.
Good morning everyone,
I though I would post what I used with great success this last trip to Bennett. I would like to ask those on this group to reply to this post with the patterns that were most productive for them during the Bennett C&R weekend.
These are my patterns in the most productive order.
Top producer was the
1. Root Beer Dry Emerger size 20.
2. Flashback bead head Pheasant Tail size 14.
3. Bennet Springs Killer.
4. Parachute Adams size 20.
The Emerger was the fly of the week end for me. It was so successful that the only time it was not on my tippet was when a trout decided to keep it. That is when I would try a different pattern such as the ones listed. But I always went back to the Emerger.
For those that came down and fished Bennett please add to my list of your most productive patterns for others to enjoy. I don't want a fish count or fish size as that truly don't matter. Just the patterns or pattern that you replayed the takes in your head as you fell asleep that night.
The Emerger gave me plenty of slurping takes to relive falling asleep.
Mike Swederska Sr
Fly Tier Of The Long Table
Did fish the river on Thursday prior to catch and release starting. Used a fluorescent orange globall with good success.
I fished on Friday with an intermediate sink line, using various size and colors of crackle backs. Fishing was excellent on Friday. I did find that Friday the size of fish were consistently larger than the other days. I did not fish on Saturday. Sunday fishing was very productive using the same method as Friday. Sunday late afternoon I did change to a size 18 sulpher crackback fishing it dry on top and it was very productive. I fished on Monday, with Monday being rather slow changed many times my favorite crackback and would produce a couple fish and then nothing. I guess they all had sore jaws from the weekend.😂
Harry
Montauk last month
On a late fall Sunday evening at Montauk, I parked at the first parking lot up toward the Spring. I walked upstream and crossed in some shallow water just an above the riffles above the cut bank.
I spooked about 8-10 fish including some nice ones. I waited a few minutes and tied on a dry fly, a stimulator. The fish were brazen in their disregard for it.
So I went upstream and, after switching flies numerous times, caught a few in the blue hole stretch (by the steps and the 2nd parking lot) using a bedspread under an indie.
Working my way down I got to that same area where I knew the fish to be. Mind you it’s less than a foot deep and mostly 6-8” deep. I tried soft hackle at the upper part with no takers.
Then I put on a fly called the “wispy”. I fished it with floating line, down and across with a strip, strip and the wait; then repeat. It really cool to watch those fish come swimming at it, like a torpedo and thrash at it in such shallow water. I caught 3, 2 of which were nice 15-16”. I also had several others attack it and miss even though I gave them plenty of time to take.
I had a blast doing it.
It’s a simple fly to tie and to fish and seems to work great in shallow and semi-fast water.
Might be excellent in low, fast, clear water. Give it a try.
-Danstag Oct 27, 2024
Ozark Flyfishers Will Return to Lake Taneycomo in the Fall of 2025
This has always been an enjoyable outing with the chance to catch some really large fish. We have reserved four cabins for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night October 9-11, 2025.
Cabin #17 4-bedroom lakefront upstairs. One bedroom in loft. Deck overlooking lake.
Cabins #19 and #20 2-bedroom lakefront downstairs. Shared patio overlooking lake.
Cabin #23 – 3-bedroom lakefront above office. Deck overlooking lake.
The Two-bedroom cabins sleep 2-3 people, the 3- and 4-bedroom cabins have options for one or two beds in each bedroom. You can reserve your spot by calling or emailing Ed Heist (edheist@siu.edu, (618) 201-7195). Rates for the cabins have not yet been determined but will be set by Lilley’s in January. We plan to arrange a dinner/speaker Saturday night. Lilley’s has boats to rent, and you can arrange your own guides (we recommend River Run Outfitters, (877) 699-3474
Intro to Fly Tying 2025
Welcome to the captivating world of fly tying, where artistry and angling entwine to create something truly remarkable. Imagine crafting intricate patterns that mimic nature's finest insects, enticing elusive fish to strike with abandon. Whether you're a novice seeking the thrill of creation or a seasoned angler looking to elevate your game, the journey of fly tying promises a symphony of creativity, precision, and the thrill of seeing your imagination take flight underwater.
Ozark FlyFishers offer a 2 night class in the fundamentals of fly tying for men and women. All equipment, tools, and materials will be provided at no cost. Instructors will use several fly patterns to teach fundamental techniques resulting in flies you will take home ready to use.
March 6 – Intro to Fly Tying, part #1
March 11- Intro to Fly Tying, part #2
Classes will be held at Queeny Park,
Greenfelder Rec. Center
550 Weidman Rd.
Ballwin, MO
All classes 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm
No cost, but registration is required. (Call the center and let them know)
314-615-8480
Montauk Surviving the flood
Today I called down to the Montauk Lodge because I’m being hammered by several people wanting to know if we should cancel out the FYAO this coming February due to the floods. I spoke with the Lodge people and they said that everything‘s going well that the park is still closed and they have plenty of Rangers and other people from all across the state including DNR down there helping, get the park ready for opening. She said they’ve been hauling out dump trucks of sand constantly every day. I was told that there is a meeting later today to discuss whether or not they wanna open the park up for this weekend or not is to be seen. December looks like the go date when the park will be open for Fishing and that they’ll be getting their fish from someplace else in the state. And as far as February is concerned, the FYAO is still on and hopefully everything will be really ready to go. I will call down to the lodge, a couple of weeks ahead of time for the FYAO to make sure that everything is still good.
Mike Swederska - Fly Tier Of The Long Table