Flies, Furled Leaders and Friends...

"Fly fishing is the most fun you can have standing up."

-Arnold Gingrich, 1969

Fishing, Floating and Furled Leaders by Shawn Seabaugh.

Clouds hung low and oppressive as we loaded the kayaks on the truck. A motley crew we were, as diverse as the types of boats we were using. My two-person recreational kayak rigged for fishing was the ugly duckling, but you do what you have to do when it comes to kayak fishing.

Kayaks and trucks loaded, we wound our way through the city streets and headed west to Clearwater lake. The days’ objective is to float a portion of the Black River above the lake for Smallmouth and white bass.

We traveled across three counties as we watched the clouds ungulate with little sign of clearing. A poorly marked gravel road added 30 minutes to our trip, and high water from the previous day’s rains dropped out hearts when we reached the access.

Large, swift, muddy water greeted us as we pulled up. A quick tailgate meeting, a look at a map and we were back in the trucks looking for some place a little less likely to wash our kayaks away.

We settled on the spillway below the damn. Boats filled the area as anglers were snagging for spoonbill. The prehistoric fish gains popularity every spring in Missouri. We quickly unloaded our kayaks and dawned waders and life vests. Streamers and small jigs adorned our fly rods and miraculously, as if the fishing gods were watching, the sun began to peak from the clouds as I pulled by kayak to the water.

Fishing was slow as the water was cold, but casting was easy and stripping an articulated Gonga fly I had recently tied was relaxing. The sun brought the wind and, without an anchor the three of us drifted together talking and fishing.

After a few hours, we regrouped and headed to Sam A. Baker park and Big Creek. One of our friends, Todd, a conventional fisherman, had recently purchased a fly rod and was interested in learning to cast and fish. I tied him on one of my favorite Wooly Bugger patterns and waded into the swift water. Together we worked for twenty minutes or so, showing and replicating the loop. Looking at simple techniques and trying to prevent the seeds of bad habits.

Again, the water was high and fast, but we found a cut that was accessible without wading. It was there, we watched as Todd cast and stripped the Chili Pepper. With a mutter and snort Todd proclaimed he was snagged, but to his delight a toad of a Smallie turned and ran. They were both hooked. The fish, living in swift current was strong and fat from crayfish. The 5 wt bent and the furled leader and tippet were tested as the fish weaved in and around the underwater debris. 

Slowly, the fish turned and Todd landed his first fish on his first bug on his first day of fly fishing. Some days are all about the fishing. Catching more than your buddy or landing your largest fish of the season, but this day, the first float of the spring, was about laughs, jokes and guy learning a new way to Free. The. Fighter.