Mid-Missouri Trout Unlimited
March 2007
President’s Message
Someone recently shared a complex mathematical formula that showed the increasing rate of accumulation of fishing equipment is followed by a corresponding reduction in the amount of available fishing time. I had a hard time following the details of the formula but, like Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, I grasped the general implication. Most of the time with these high-falootin’ math problems you don’t really need to be able to pencil it all out to feel the effect in your own life.
Still I have an obligation to my title as a fisherman to minimize the right side of the formula and sometimes, like stretching out a double on a short ball along the foul line, you find a way to make it work while everyone watches, holding their breath, waiting for the disastrous ending. Usually these stretch plays aren’t found in the big chunks of time like a whole Saturday that’s been set aside for other things like tiling the bathroom. You gotta look for a seam in between dropping the kids off at baseball and going to the hardware store for more grout, knowing where there is a nearby pool of water holding the potential of something like a game fish and keeping a handy fly rod in the back of the car for a thirty- or forty-minute sneak attack.
I’m preaching to the choir, I know, but there are folks who don’t recognize an opportunity like that and go weeks without upholding their duties as anglers. You have to get something wet to go fishing and casting wisps of yarn tied to the end of a leader in your yard doesn’t count despite all the jokes your neighbor makes when you do it. (My favorite is “Fishing a bit shallow, aren’t you?) And, then again, some folks don’t see the effort as being worthwhile and don’t think catching a four-inch longear sunfish is true sport. Well, you don’t have to shoot lions to go hunting and I have counted using my laser pointer on squirrels outside the office window as a hunting trip in my log.
Recently, a scheduled trip to Branson to meet with the local Trout Unlimited chapter was combined with an official, honest-to-goodness business meeting earlier in the day that left a truck-size hole in the afternoon that could only be filled by angling time at Taneycomo. John Wenzlick and Mike Kruse rode along which made the trip even better from an environmental view point and also because John bought me an expensive coffee before I drove us all back that night. We came home feeling doubly good about ourselves with the effort to support cold water conservation in Missouri and fishing in an effort to support our general outlook on life. They aren’t all as obvious as that trip or as glamorous, but they’re out there if you look.
Look around where you live. I bet you cross a bridge on the way back home from work, or can see a pond on the route to the grocery store. There are a lot of little streams tucked back into brushy areas that haven’t seen a rod in years if ever. Come to think of it, that short little three-weight on the rack down at the fly shop would be ideal for a tight little creek and then you only need a good reel to balance out the rod and a nice, supple fly line and . . .
- Curt Morgret
Upcoming meetings:
March 6: Carolyn Parker of River Run Outfitters in Branson http://www.riverrunoutfitters.com/ Carolyn will talk about fly fishing Lake Taneycomo.
April 3: Clint Wilkinson, White River fly fishing guide: http://www.whiteriver-flyfishing.com Clint will tie a selection of his “go to flies” for fishing the White and Norfork tailwaters.
May 1: Rick Clawson speaking on the remote fishing around Cold Bay, Alaska, located on the far western tip of the Alaskan peninsula.
June 5: Hot dog burn and bluegill fishing at Bethel Park.
July: NO MEETING Everyone with any sense has left Missouri and is casting flies in a cool western climate somewhere.
2007 Conservation Banquet Friday, February 23
Marriott Courtyard – Columbia
3301 LeMone Industrial Blvd
The 2007 Conservation Banquet will be held at the Marriott Courtyard Friday, February 23. The Marriott Courtyard is just north and east of the AC exit of Highway 63 in southeast Columbia. Tickets are $35 per person, or a table of eight can be reserved in advance for $240. Tickets are available from members of the TU Board, at Clearwater Outfitters, or at the door. Please come to the banquet and bring your friends.
Michigan Brook Trout
Picture yourself (and two friends) here on the Ausable fishing for wild brookies with the assistance of friendly and helpful guides.
February Meeting – Michael Riley
Trout Fishing in Australia
Michael Riley entertained a near-record attendance with photos and tales of Australian trout fishing. To summarize, if you are
down under, go trout fishing. Tailwaters, spring creeks and freestone rivers are present in various parts of the country.
2007 MMTU CONSERVATION BANQUET
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS
1) Bob Hook dry flies in flybox
2) “Rainbow Rising” by Big Sky Carvers
3) 4 pc.- 8 wt. Orvis Trident Rod built by Dean Rapp with White River CV-2 Reel
4) Current River day trip for two rods – guided by Sam Potter
5) Patagonia Reinvest flyfishing vest
6) Illinois “Big Muddy” River Carp on the Fly day trip for two rods – guided by Jim Laing
7) Shadowbox of Bob Hook’s hand-tied flies
8) 2 pc.- 3wt.- 6’6” Orvis “Superfine” rod
9) “Quest Realized” by Shirley Cleary – 2001 T.U. Print of the year – signed and numbered.
10) Michigan Brook Trout Trip – 3 rods / 3 days / 3 guides includes lodging
11) Orvis Rolling Duffel
12) Framed Original Art by Cover Artist Paul Heine
13) One day of fishing, 2 rods, at Westover Farms
14) Abel PT.5 Big Game Reel for 5-6wt. lines
15) Two separate 2 hour casting lessons by Gary Eaton
16) 2 pc.- 5wt.- 8’ bamboo rod – handcrafted by Bill Lamberson with hexagonal maple tube
17) Bob Hook stimulator flies in flybox
18) Eleven Point guided day trip for two rods by Eleven Point River Canoe Rentals
19) R.L. Winston WT 3pc. - 5wt.- 8’6” rod with Ross Flywater Reel
20) Grasshopper and Irish Whiskey Pie by Margie Meyer with Lismore Single Barrel Scotch Whiskey