Category Archives: Uncategorized

Now that the World Series is over–congratulations to the Texas Rangers–the “hot stove” season has begun for baseball fans. It’s a time to relive the past season’s excitement and anticipate the drama of the year to come. Many fly anglers think of the winter months in a similar way and put away their gear untilContinue reading “The “Off” Season”

Fall is often a time of dry weather in the Ozarks, but an ongoing drought makes this year a more extreme example. Our rivers are low and clear. Limestone springs, always a mainstay of the water we fish, have flowed undiluted by any surface runoff for several months. The low water requires more of aContinue reading “Finesse Fishing”

Recent hot weather has extended Summer’s hold on the Ozarks, but the forecast predicts the end is near. Cool mornings and shady spots in the afternoon still feel good. The rivers still run low and clear. But soon, we’ll be lingering over the morning coffee a bit longer and enjoying the fall sunshine that alwaysContinue reading “Summer’s End”

Surveys of anglers have shown that most people are introduced to fishing by a family member or a close friend. Those surveys also suggest that many anglers go fishing because it is such a great way to spend time with important people in their lives. Time with family often ranks as high or higher thanContinue reading “Friends and Family”

A cool summer morning is a magic time on an Ozark trout stream. The rising sun struggles to penetrate the early fog. But as we carefully work our way downstream, the subtle rise of a cautiously-rising trout comes into view. The cast is on target and the big brown confidently takes on the first drift.Continue reading “The Cool of the Morning”

Its summer and most students are enjoying a long break from classes. But earlier this week, a group of new anglers enrolled in a course to learn about fly fishing for trout. They were introduced to fly fishing tackle, casting, knots, fly selection and what trout eat and how they live. To practice their newContinue reading “Trout School”

The Fourth of July has come and gone and summer has settled in. The streams are low and clear and the trout are increasingly finding their food at or near the surface. Whether it’s a morning trico hatch or the constant parade of terrestrial insects, our trout are looking up. So if you like fishingContinue reading “Summer Dry Flies”

The beautiful, clear, cold rivers of the Ozarks are a popular summer refuge for many during the hot summer months. That means that anglers must either learn to share the water or fish when others are not there. Fishing early or late or away from popular areas helps avoid the crowds. Fishing during the weekContinue reading “A Quiet Morning”

One of the things I enjoy most about guiding is introducing new anglers to fly fishing. Seeing their satisfaction in the first good cast. Their excitement from the first strike. Their pride in the first catch. Its a good reminder of how it felt for me many years ago. I love new angler trips andContinue reading “Introductions”

In many North American trout waters, some of the most reliable early summer hatches come from a group of mayflies collectively known as “sulfurs.” Whether you are on a Pennsylvania limestone stream, a driftless region creek, or somewhere in the Ozarks, the little light-colored mayflies of the evenings are sure to spark an interest inContinue reading “Summer Sulfurs”