Ozark Fly Fishers is a St. Louis, Missouri based fly-fishing and conservation organization affiliated with the Federation of Fly Fishers whose primary objectives is to improve fisheries and promote the sport of fly fishing.  Ozark Fly Fishers was a 2005 winner of the coveted McKenzie Cup presented yearly by the Federation of Fly Fishers to the outstanding club in the nation.

Presidents Message
June 2009

There seems to be a stigma attached to trout park fishing. Some fly-fisherman thinks that these trout are stupid and only eat from the hand that has pellets. Don’t pass up the trout parks just because you think that they are not worthy of your skill level or time.

As a guy who puts solitude and wild trout on the dry, together on the top shelf, I have to say that trout parks have their place in Missouri fly-fishing. I am sure that most Missouri fly fisherman met their first trout in one of the states parks.

I have found that solitude is all in the mind. I can feel like the only person on the stream in the most crowded park if I put my mind to it. Just by shutting out everyone around and focusing on my own fly-fishing. Also I have caught plenty of wild par marked trout in the stream at Montauk. With that said that is the only thing I really set out to fish when I am at Montauk. The rest of the areas with the bigger rainbows are something I will play with after I have worn out my welcome on the wild ones. Generally by the time I have done that I am done fishing for the day anyway.

Yes, there is nothing like catching a wild one in a secluded creek. Giving your self the impression that no man has walked or fished in that spot thru out history. But like I said. I know of three locations inside Montauk that support wild rainbows. And they are three locations that I see other fisherman walk thru and never realize the potential of the wild one. “They may not have been fished thru out history.” If you buy that one I may have some swamp land for sale.

I have also been at two different trout parks when certain hatches have started and it produced some of the greatest dry fly fishing that any reputable fly-fishing magazine would have written front page about. Some of these were life changing for certain fly-fisherman. You know the ones. The fly-fisherman that always fishes subsurface and then experiencing this wonderful hatch. Finding how much more fun surface fishing truly is. They also found that they really could dry fly with confidence. If these where stupid pellet feed trout, they sure act like their cousins in the wild. Besides all that, all the trophy trout water is stocked with pellet fed trout. Wild ones are born in the creek weather it is Mill or Montauk they are still wild and crazy.

In the nutshell, you can experience the top shelf fly-fishing anywhere you want to if you just let your self.

Mike Swederska
OFF President

Project Healing Water Outing

The Project healing Waters committee is planning an outing at Westover Farms on September 2, 2009. We have approval from the VA to take 5 Veterans for a day on the water. We will be leaving Jefferson Barracks approximately 8:00 AM and leave Westover around 2:00 PM. We may need two or three experienced fly fishers to help the Vets on the water. We also will need assorted flies (Wooly Buggers, Cracklebacks, etc) for the Vets. If anyone would like to contribute flies for the cause or would like to spend a day with those who have given so much to us please contact Clint Carpenter 636-387-9775 (V) tkycallmkr@aol.com(e-mail) or Jim Wallace 314-452-9904 (V) oldtroutbuster@live.com (e-mail).

Do Fish Feel Pain?

Here we go again. There is a new study out that contends fish feel pain. A professor at Purdue and his Norwegian graduate student attached small foil heaters to goldfish. Half of the goldfish were injected with morphine, half with saline, and then the researchers turned on the attached micro-toasters. After the heat was gone, the fish without painkillers "acted with defensive behaviors, indicating wariness, or fear and anxiety." They had also developed a lovely brown crust. These results echo a 2003 study by researchers from the University of Edinburgh....more

Ozark Fly Fishers Trivia Night

The 1st annual Ozark Fly Fishers Trivia night will be held on October 24th at the Wild Acres Park Gym in Overland, MO. Mark your calendar!

The 25 Best Flies Ever
Click on FORM to submit your top ten flies

What's in your fly box? How does your selection compare with the top 25 flies ever as identified by Field and Stream Magazine? In their April 19, 2009 issue, those 25 flies are listed, but I am willing to bet that at least one of your favorites have been left out. One of my favorites - the Pheasant Tail Nymph - has not been included. Check out the pattterns and see what fly or flies you think should have been included. Join in the search for the Favorite TEN Flies of the Ozark Fly Fishers by completing the Favorite Fly Form. Results will be published at the end of next month.

Ozark Fly Fishers Fly Recipe Publication

The Ozark Fly Fishers are in the process of putting together a publication of fly recipes.  The Club is looking for flies submitted by members.  The Club would love to include your favorite fly....more

Ozark Fly Fisher Meetings

July 23 - Paul Cieslewicz, MDC Fisheries Biologist
August 27th - Jim Rogers of Jim Rogers Fly Fishing School and Bennett Springs Concessionaire
September 24th - TBA
October 22nd - Norm Crips on fishing small streams
November - No meeting this month
December - TBA

Ozark Fly Fishers meet at 7:00 PM. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Queeny Park Rec Center (unless noted differently).

Web Master - Al Bourisaw - - © 2008 - Ozark Fly Fishers

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