Welcome to the Ozark Fly Fishers
Founded 1971
A Missouri 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation
Upcoming Member Meetings:
Oct 24, Ed Heist, Missouri Trout Genetics, “Are Missouri Blue-Ribbon Trout direct descendants of McCloud River Rainbows? Results from the Missouri Trout Genetics Study.”
Dec 12, Holiday Party: We will resume our holiday party program.
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
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
Lastly I want to strongly recommend the Mac Brown presentation that NAFF is putting on. November 9th and 10th at Bull Shoals State Park near Lakeview and Mtn. Home AR. Mac Brown is a great instructor, fly fisher, and author of “Casting Angles”. If you can get there, it will be fun and educational
Mac Brown Presentation at Bull Shoals State Park
Olive Lightning Bug
After recently spending a few days fishing the White with Chad Johnson, one of the hot fall nymph patters was the Olive Lightening Bug. We fished it as a dropper under an egg or a mop fly but this bug ended up being out top producer. Tied just like a standard Lightening Bug, changing up the color seemed to make a big difference to the fish.
Hook: your favorite 2XL or 3XL nymph hook or jig nymph hook Size 14 - 18
Bead: Appropriately Sized Copper Tungsten Bead (slotted for jig hooks)
Thread: Veevus 12/0 Olive
Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers (olive if you have them)
Ribbing: Small Copper Wire
Body: Olive Pearl Tinsel
Wing Case: Olive Pearl Tinsel
Thorax: Peacock Herl
Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers (olive if you have them)
Place bead on Hook and secure in vise. Start thread behind bead and advance to the hook bend.
Tie in 6 or 8 pheasant tail fibers about the length of the body and wrap butts down to the bead and trim excess. Try to maintain a smooth underbody.
Tie in a section of olive pearl tinsel, and then a section of the copper wire for ribbing and use thread wraps to for a slightly tapered body while still being smooth.
Advance thread to the thorax area and wrap tinsel to the thread. Secure with several thread wraps and trim excess.
Spiral Wrap the ribbing wire to the thorax. Tie off with thread wraps and trim excess.
Tie in a section of olive pearl tinsel on top of the thorax area, and then tie in 4 or 5 pieces of peacock herl by the tips. Wrap forward to the bead and secure with thread wraps and trim excess.
Add about 6 pheasant tail fibers out each side extending about half the length of the body. Secure and trim excess.
Pull olive pearl tinsel over the thorax and tie down just behind the bead and trim excess.
Add a little super glue to an inch of the thread, make three or four wraps, then do a 3-turn whip finish and trim thread.
On smaller sizes, I skip the wing case and even the legs. I think they are inconsequential to such a small fly. You can also tie these in purple, black, brown, and red.
Mike Ott - Fly Tying Chair
Ladies Free Fishing at Bennet:
.This past weekend several of us were able to stay the weekend at Bennett Springs and represent our group at the Ladies Free Fishing Day. It turned out to be a great weekend weatherwise and number wise more than four hundred ladies were in attendance. Brian and Diane were able to work with quite a few people that were interested in learning how to cast. They were busy mostly all morning and into the early afternoon giving one on one instruction as well as small groups. I heard very positive feedback from participants that were very excited to try something that they had always wanted to try!
Pricilla, Steve, Dan and I were at the tables answering questions about our group. We talked about upcoming classes at Queeny that Steve and Priscilla will be presenting, the different speakers we have on a monthly basis, the all-day event with George Daniel, and the Stream Team events that Scott D. Heads up. Priscilla had demonstrations on knot tying with a hands-on opportunity for all that were interested. Many took advantage of that. And we were able to meet with different groups around us as well. It's always good to put faces with names.
Overall, I would say it was a success to get our name out there and let everyone know how great our group is and what we have to offer in St. Louis! Thanks to everyone for your support in this event, it was much appreciated!
Susan Krupa