Mike Kruse, Fisheries Biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation will be the featured speaker at the August 22, 2002 program. Mike needs no introduction to Ozark members. Mike has been involved with the Lake Taneycomo tailwaters for a number of years and also is currently involved in a statewide assessment of wild trout numbers, reproduction. In addition to his educational background as a fisheries biologist, Mike is an avid fly fisherman, he has been actively involved in Trout Unlimited on both a local and national basis, he his a frequent contributor to the Missouri Conservationist magazine and he has been featured on several nationally televised fly fishing programs.

Mike will talk about what currently going on at lake Taneycomo and give us some insight on his latest wild trout project.

Our August meeting will begin at 7:30 PM at the Museum of the Dog in beautiful Queeny Park. There will be casting on the lawn prior to themeeting.

Tim Wade, the owner of North Fork Anglers in Cody, Wyoming will be the guest speaker at our September 26, 2002 meeting. North Fork Anglers is one of the premier fly fishing headquarters in the Northwestern Wyoming Yellowstone park area. Tim has been featured on ESPN, and TNN outdoor programs and most recently in the June issue of Fly Fisherman mag-azine . Tim is originally from Southwestern Missouri, but has spent many years in Wyoming' guiding, instructing and writing articles. He is also opening an outfitter service on the White River, Arkansas.

Tim's program will focus on fishing in the Yellowstone area, and he will also tie several of his featured flies. The September program will start at 7:30 PM at the Museum of the Dog.

Jack Gartside, fly tier extraordinaire, author, raconteur, and fly fishing legend will be our guest at an all day Saturday meeting on November 2, 2002. Jack hails from the Boston, MA area, but has figured out a way to make a living by fly fishing all over the world. He is known for several of his innovative fly patterns including the Gartside Gurgler, the Gartside Sparrow, and the Filter Fly. I have been asked by numerous members to have Jack speak and it looks like it is going to happen. Mark this one on your calendar. It should be very entertaining.

Your entertainment committee has reserved a block of rooms for the weekend at Sand Spring Resort. We'll have a private gettogether Saturday evening in the Party Room for club members followed by a super dinner in the Sand Spring Restaurant.

The spring creek will be open for no-creel fishing, but limited to flies and artificials (no bait). Instead of the daily tag of summer, you need only to get a Trout Permit ($7.00), good until February 2003, which is good at all four trout parks. You can get one anywhere Missouri licenses are sold, so you won't have to stand in line at the hatchery office. No daily tag is required.

Again, we are offering package plans for accommodations plus tickets to the private Club social hour and traditional Ozark buffet (all you can eat) dinner. Types of accommodations and rates will be found in the reservation request elsewhere in this newsletter. As always, the Social Hour is BYOL with the club supplying ice, glasses, soft drinks and light snacks. Your coolers are welcome.

Remember, this is a club week-end, not just "the guys go fishing" at this one. Last year we had many couples. Plan to bring your special "person" even if he/she doesn't fish. (We've got to be politically correct.) There is fun to be had snooping in the antique shops and mall in Lebanon--and there are several nice lunch spots in town.

While this party is for all club members, we could have a problem again this year with latecomers. Last year we ran out of rooms at the resort and almost overloaded our seating capacity at our Saturday night dinner as we all squeezed into the restaurant. To avoid disappointment, mark your calendar for Nov. 8-10 and send in your check now.

We do understand how plans can change. If you have a problem, a full refund will be made if you cancel by Oct. 30. After that date, refunds will be made only if we can resell your room. Dinner reservations will be accepted until Nov. 3 when we have to guarantee a count to the restaurant.

Rooms will be reserved only as prepaid reservations are received. Please let us know early if you would like two or more rooms together for a group. Reservations will be confirmed early in November, advising you of your room number (phones in rooms). All sleeping rooms have a percolator, coffee cups and a small refrigerator. The housekeeping rooms have full size refrigerators, stove, utensils and plates, plus a dining table with 4 chairs. The restaurant will be open for all meals beginning Friday morning.

It also can be a time of anticipation. Cool weather is coming, school days reduce the crowds in many places, and the fishing picks up. The Southern Council's Conclave is set for early October in Mountain Home. The Ozark Flyfishers has a catch release outing set for early November. And we've got some good speakers coming in including Mike Kruse, Tim Wade and Jack Gartside. So this should be a good late summer and fall.

There are some other issues to be concerned about. State officials are currently in the middle of deciding how gravel mining should be regulated on Missouri streams. We're trying to keep abreast of what's going on. This is a big issue that has implications for the quality of our Ozark streams.

Our chapter also faces a big change over on its governing board this year. Please think about getting involved and helping out because only your efforts make this club as successful as it is.

And be mindful that we've had a rash of illnesses and a few deaths this year among our members and friends of the club. If you know someone who is having a hard time, let me or other board members know what's going on. We'd like to at least send a card or make a call to let people know we care how they are doing.

Fall and turning leaves mean better times ahead. But they also mean that raking the yard isn't far off, the kids will need help with homework, and winter isn't far off. Oh well.

Large fish get that way for a reason. They have survived and probably learned all of the "tricks" along the way. Especially, in Missouri, we fish for 12? smallmouth in most of our streams because that's what is available. But what happens when you get a 20"+ on? How will you react? Have you prepared yourself in advance? Remember, they know all of the tricks; you have little room for error.

I have been fortunate. I have been to Canada for six one week fishing trips and unbelievable smallmouth fishing. I have caught a number of 19" fish, but never larger. Our son Brett caught a 21" and our son Eric caught two 20" last year. I have a passion for getting a 20"+ smallmouth. I think I had one on this past trip and lost him because I made a stupid decision

Fishing for smallmouth with a fly rod affords you more time to evaluate the size of the fish before you see him because you play him longer. I was fishing along the "Holy Schmautz-enbergers cliff" (I called that because every time I get a 19" smallie there I yell it out), when I hooked a large one on a number 2 Sneeky Pete. It jumped once so I knew it was at least a 19" fish and probably larger. The fight for a fish that size on a fly rod probably lasts four to six minutes, but it seems like ten. Usually you will experience two or three times when the fish makes successive "thuds" on your rod as it pulls repeatedly down hard, hard, hard. There is a noticeable strength difference between a 19" and a 15" smallmouth. Even if you don't see him you begin to be able to gauge his size by the strength of the "thuds".

Reading articles on fishing or listening to lectures are great for educating yourself on how to catch the big one. Unfort-unately, it can also lead to over analyzing during the heat of the moment. I use an eight-weight leader for smallmouth. I have never had one broken during a fight, knots came undone, but never a break. In an instant, fighting this fish in the intimacy of my float tube, with no one around to offer an opinion, I made a decision to give it line since it was really "thudding". I was in about 26 to 30 feet of water and about 40 to 50 feet from the bank. I hadn't noticed a large pine tree lying in the water perpendicular to the bank. Who would have thought that tree would have been a factor in my 20'+ quest. Well... it was! This gorgeous fighting fish was thudding down for a reason and he made it! When I realized what had happened all the maneuvering with my float tube or all of the sustained pressure could not free the warrior. I eventually got my Sneeky back, all by itself.

The terrible loss is I will never know if I made the 20" mark. Every week after the Canadian trip I become more convinced it would have made it.

This experience should not have happened because I knew better. It happened before (sort of). Our oldest son Brett and I were floating below Bennett on the Nianga and he hooked in the biggest smallmouth I ever saw in a Missouri stream. He was using a crystal bugger with a number four hook. It jumped twice near the canoe so we knew it was in the very large category. Brett was playing it beautiful and I was watching. Everything was going well until one of the articles I read made me open my big mouth and I suggested he give it some line. He did and the line screamed off of the reel. When Brett finally stopped him he was at the top of rapids and the fish used the extra water leverage to spit out the fly. To this day I kick myself for opening my mouth. Thank God Brett caught a 21" smallie in Canada. How do you tell your son your sorry for costing him a lunker?

I didn't learn. I made the same mistake in Canada. I fished with my head and not my gut. One thing for sure, smallmouth will get no line until I lose one from a broken line. Another thing for sure, I'm going back to Canada to that cliff and by Golly, I'm going to get him.

A container has been placed in the fly shops around town for you to deposit your donations or you can give them to us at the meetings.Thanks for your help. Bob Temper, Steve Antonic

It's time for everybody to get involved again. Here's your chance to put something back into angling and help improve the habitat along one of Missouri's best smallie streams. There are some rewards for putting in a hard day of clean-up. Each participant will receive an Operation Clean Stream tee shirt and attend a free pig roast afterwards. And it's not all work. Bring along your fishing rod and we'll catch a few smallies and spots along the way.

We'll help provide canoes for those members that don't have canoes. If you have a pick-up or a trailer we could use your help hauling off the collected trash.

Mark your calendars now, and call Scott Walker at 314 308-0857 to let him know you're going to get involved. Scott will provide you with all the details.

G McMichael
gmcmichael@accessus.net

The next morning was the 3rd of July and the long weekend was starting on the Indian River, one part of the water trilogy that surrounds the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. The other two bodies of water are the Banana River and Mosquito Lagoon. At the boat ramp a mosquito had nailed me behind my right elbow and up until a few minutes ago it had itched like crazy. The mozzies in Florida are small but vicious. You not only feel them bite but the itch afterwards can drive you to drink for an hour or two - which isn't always a bad thing. But alcohol wasn't what made me forget about the itch. What made me forget the itch was a dozen red drum happily tailing as daylight rose above the Indian River.

There was just enough light to distinguish land from water, and the water was like a mirror. Glassy smooth and wherever a little light shown through the cumulus clouds lingering on the horizon a postcard mirror image would appear on the water. I couldn't feel the air - neither hot nor cold and no breeze at all. The air temperature was so perfect it made the air seem to disappear. It would have seemed eerie if I'd taken the time to think about it.

We spooked a few fish as we motored up the river. We didn't see them because of the low light, but as each big wake pushed away I turned to watch and my adrenaline surged. It was a good feeling knowing fish were there. And then we saw the tails. Big red drum tails in one of those reflected mirrors of light, surrounded by sparkling gold, pink and yellow of the rising sun. The con-ditions made a stealthy approach mandatory. In calm water like that even red drum get a little antsy. One thing in our favor was the low light conditions would hide our reflections. But any boat noise or a sloppy cast would put them on guard and then they might not eat.

John poled the boat ever so quietly, lifting his pole from the water and putting it back in again without a splash, careful not to bang the boat. I was ready to cast, #2 Borski Slider in my left finger tips, line coiled on the deck beside my feet. But the distance was still too far. It was both heaven and hell to wait, praying the reds wouldn't sense us. But those tails just kept waving in the air as they merrily fed on some poor helpless annelid or crustacean. So I held my cast and we crept closer. At last John swung the boat a little to starboard and paused. Without looking back, I made one false cast, pulling the Slider out of my fingers just like Jerry taught me. The forward cast sent the fly just in front and a hair short of the tailing fish. I didn't want to cast into the middle of them because we thought we might be able to get a couple without spooking the school. As the pod of reds moved past, I gave the fly a subtle twitch and one tail disappeared into the water. A wake moved quickly away from the school and swirled on the fly. The line went tight. But the fish didn't make that strong determined run redfish make. He stayed with the school for a few seconds. Suddenly, he realized the pressure I had on the line was pulling him away from the school and he took off. Reds aren't as fast as bonefish but they are strong enough that if you try to stop their first run you'll be tying on a new fly.

This fish ran eastward into the sun for about 75 yards and then slowed. I was able to turn him and begin coaxing him back. About half way back he sensed his mates again, who hadn't moved far and were happily tailing again. He turned and pulled out another 75 yards and got close to the school. Before he could spook the school I turned him and again worked him back to the boat using slow shallow leverage on the heavier butt section of the rod, keeping the tip low and pointed at the fish. After tailing the fish next to the boat, John weighed him at nearly 10 pounds. He didn't have the tell tale spot like most red fish but his coppery scales and my grin reflected the colors of the rising sun as John took our photo. The rest of the day could be a bust and I'd still be happy.

After modestly acknowledging what skilled fishermen we were, we turned to look for the school and found that another boat had moved in on the school. But they were casting big surface lures into the middle of the school and had only succeeded in spooking the lot. John and I looked at each other and shrugged, silently happy that they didn't catch any. Served them right. As we watched the wake from the school, we noticed a young manatee had sidled up right behind John's boat. John said they are curious critters, especially the young ones and will sometimes come to a quiet boat. This one must have figured we were okay because he proceeded to lie on the bottom and munch a little grass.

After a short excursion up a river channel to check the bridge for small tarpon or snook, we decided our best bet for escaping the crowds was to trailer the boat to Mosquito Lagoon and head for the shal-low backwaters. John's Hell's Bay only draws four and a half inches of water so he can get into water most other boats can't. It was a good decision because we didn't see another boat the whole afternoon.

That first fish from the Indian River helped restore some of my respect for red drum. But as the afternoon went by and we landed another 7 or 8 reds, I had completely exonerated the entire species. These fish were all right against the shore, cruising with just the tips of fins or tail making the slightest disturbance. There are many big mullet back in there and it was often difficult to tell the difference. The best way was to note the speed of the tail movement. The mullet tended to be fast and change direction a lot. The reds move a little slower and in one direction longer. Of course, if they crash some bait it's obvious they aren't mullet.

We'd spot a fish, quietly pole close enough to cast, leading the fish by 3 or 4 feet. Sometimes the fish would hear or see the fly and rush forward and pounce on it. Sometimes I'd wait until the fish got close and then begin a slow strip, increasing speed if the fish followed the fly. I don't recall having any just refuse the fly that day. Quite a difference from the day before. As we motored back to the ramp I said a silent prayer I didn't have to resort to using a manatee turd.

Anyone heading down toward Orlando would do well to include a day or two out in the Indian River or Mosquito Lagoon. If you go and want some advice or need fishing stuff, go visit Gary Kokaisel at The Fly Fisherman, 1114 S. Washington Ave. U.S. #1 in Titusville, phone (321) 267-0348. Their web site is www.flyfishermaninc.com . They also have a store in Orlando at 1213 N. Orange Ave. (407) 898-1989.

If you want a recommendation on a guide, call John Turcot, (321) 267-9818 or email him at backcountryonfly@aol.com.. His web site is "http://www.backcountryonfly.com" John also guides most of south Florida and the Ever-glades. You won?t find a better one.

I found the "Lemonade # 62031" Acrylic Yarn at:

Don't use the website to order since shipping charges are very high for one roll of yarn. I called them on the 800 number and the yarn was $1.25 with shipping of 83 cents. Such a deal! Pass the info on to the newsletter editor if you want, I'm sure a lot a people are looking for a source.

Joe, you get a gold star for saving me my rear! I have also found it makes a nice Dry Crackleback body when you separate the two strands and just use one. Thanks to Dan Burleigh for adding on the "Sink-Butt" part of the name. I have heard from several people besides Dan that have had a pretty good time fishing the fly for several species! Good for you folks for trying it!

Mike Webb, Conservation

by Mike Webb

The Meramec, Current, Eleven Point and Little Piney are just four watersheds that offer up a lot to us as fly fishing fools! I love the caddis activity on all of our rivers and creeks while fishing for wild rainbows or the skittish brown trout. Always remember that caddis pupa are a substantial food source for the trout in Missouri. When a hatch is starting to show itself, fish a caddis emerger pattern such as the CDC caddis or some soft hackle pattern. Then once the adults are on the water start fishing fluttering caddis or the elk hair caddis. Most of our caddis are the standard mottled brown with a green body. A size 12 to 16 will cover ninety percent of the caddis hatches on our water and you will have one heck of a time while fishing these hatches.

I almost forgot! The rise patterns for caddis are sometimes deceptive. You might have heard that trout will go after emerging caddis like there is no tomorrow. This is true to a point. When you are fishing to larger fish these fish will typically sip emergers and dries like you or I would a good glass of single malt scotch. (Slow enough to enjoy every last drop.) This is the key. I have had 20 plus inch browns follow a soft hackle fly, fishing it as a dry, for well over 25 feet before the fish sipped the fly.

Take your time and enjoy this time of year.

Have any questions about hatches and flies please feel free to email me at: Webbinsurance@earthlink.net.

We too have a white fly hatch in Missouri. While we do not get blizzard hatches, it is truly an event that should not be missed. When I first started fly fishing, I kept waiting for a hatch where trout would rise to mayflies riding on the water. This was the classic vision I had in my mind. However, my first year of fishing was spent flinging wooley buggers or nymphing with a strike indicator. I didn't see a mayfly on the water, and there were no trout lazily sipping bugs on the surface. I was discouraged in not seeing my perceived vision of classical trout fishing.

Fortunately, Dick Ryan and Lee Trapp took me under their wing and introduced me to the white fly hatch and a realization of my classic vision. We were on the Meramec River. It was a hot day in August and the sun was just setting. There was an occasional rise but no discernible bug coming off the water. We had fished hard for a couple of hours and only had 3-4 fish between us. I was beginning to wonder about the hatch, but they told me to have patience. It was still too light out and to wait another 15 minutes.

So I stopped fishing and stared at the water. Then it came. At first there was a gulp to my left, then to my right. Fish started splashing all around me. I didn't know which one to cast to. Then I started seeing white ghosts flying up and down the river buzzing the top of the water. Fish were jumping out of the water doing half gainers with a twist trying to catch flies in midair. I started laughing; this was my classic vision. Where I once thought there were no fish, the water was now boiling with fish gorging themselves in a feeding frenzy. Then as quickly as it started it was over. The whole event lasted no more than 30-40 minutes. As if on cue, it was dark and time to go home. I'll never forget that night.

The white fly is a member of the Polymitarcyidae family. There are two species of white fly in Missouri: Ephoron leukon and Ephoron album. (Sorry for the excessive use of Latin). The latter species is the one found in the Meramec. Ephoron album is a burrowing mayfly and is found in sandy to lightly graveled areas. It hatches from late July to mid September.

The nymphs leave their burrows at sundown and quickly swim to the surface where they molt and pop off the surface. This is why the hatch is characterized by splashy rises from the trout. There is no time to sip duns off the surface. These flies go ballistic.

The males are first to hatch. They immediately molt from the dun to the spinner stage before leaving the surface of the water. Because the molt is so rapid, the shuck is often still attached as the male takes flight. For this reason I like to use a fly with a trailing shuck early in the hatch.

The female has an unusual emergence in that she never changes from a dun to a spinner. The females immediately fly up and start cruising up and down the river a few feet above the water. This is when the trout go aerobatic Rarely will you see a hatch where fish so eagerly jump out of the water to grab a fly in midair.

Within an hour of hatching, male and female mate. The female lays her eggs in the water from which she never leaves. The spent males drop to the surface to provide more fodder to the fish. The spinner fall occurs about an hour after dark and can be very productive fishing, as the current gathers the spent bodies into a feeding line.

The white fly hatch is brief but provides such action that you always come back for more. The hatch begins at sundown and gets into full swing just as it is turning dark. The unusual nature of the hatch provides many clues to successful fishing tactics.

Because the hatch is at dusk and the nymphs swim quickly to the surface it is hardly worth while fishing a nymph. I like to fish the beginning of the hatch with a cream colored soft hackle size 12-14. At this time of the hatch you will see and hear rising fish, but won't see many flies in the air. Cast your line across or three quarters downstream. Mend and let it drift. As the fly starts to swing it is pushed to the surface like a rising nymph. Give it a few strips and wait for the strike. There is nothing subtle about the strike. The trout are going to nail it and you might break off a few flies.

When you see flies coming off the water, switch to dry fly. Again use flies that are size 10-14 and cream color. I like to use a cream colored Crackle-back with a trailing shuck when the males are coming off.(Remember the males often have a shuck attached when they fly off). Cast this fly across, mend and let it dead drift. As the fly begins to swing at the end of the drift, skitter it across the surface. You will see trout from five feet away chase your fly. At the end of the swing pull the fly under and start stripping. Often you will get a strike.

The emergence of the females comes when you see flies buzzing the surface of the water. You won't see floating duns. The females just appear. It is now getting dark and the fish are starting to jump out of the water. If you can see to tie on another fly use a comparadun or white wulff. The tactics are similar to that of the males; dead drift and skitter.

It is now dark and just as quickly as it started it is now over. If you don't mind waiting in the dark, there may be a spinner fall an hour or so after the hatch ends. Fish a spinner pattern. Listen to the gulping fish and try to determine a feeding lane and rhythm. Dead drift down the slot and wait for the tug on the end of your line.

Now you are back at your car and probably cursing yourself because there were so many fish, yet you couldn't make up your mind which one to cast to. Don't get distracted by how many fish are jumping around you. Pick out two or three fish. Watch for feeding lanes and feeding rhythm. This is especially true as the hatch progresses. The fish will go from chasing flies to feeding stations. You will be much more productive casting to a few fish where you know where they lie and their feeding rhythm. You will become frustrated if you fish to every rise you see. By then it is too late. You won't be in the right feeding lane and you will be out of rhythm with the fish. While there seems to be a feeding frenzy going on, the fish are still being selective. Don't expect to catch twenty fish in an hour. Four or five fish is the norm. Enjoy the moment.

I will end this column with a few tips. First, pick out a landmark when you get into the river so you know where to get out when you walk back in the dark. Second, big fish feed at the tail of the pool where food gathers. Third, remember to bring a flashlight and check the batteries before leave home. Fourth, don't fish in the dark if you have poor vision or wading skills. Last, if you are driving don't drink before driving home. It's been a long, tiring day. Lets have an enjoyable memory rather than a regrettable one.

It's been a few years since there has been a decent white fly hatch. A torrential rain in August 1995 caused the Meramec River to rise 23 feet in a twenty four hour period. This was during the height of the white fly season and I'm afraid the scouring effect of the flood did much damage to the white fly population. Hopefully, Ephoron leukon or album from nearby rivers will repopulate the Meramec. I am still hopeful of a comeback and will be checking out the river soon.