Taking the Fam to the Mo

All kinds of things were thrown at us this weekend-Mom turned 50, it was Father’s day, and relatives were in town-Belt Rodeo. All the shop guys were floating the Dearborn this weekend, so I was forced to call Paul to come down and help me get the family some fish. It was my mom and cousin’s first time with a fly rod-and Danielle’s 2nd time out.

The dry fly fishing was probably unbelievable (which KK and I found out the next day) but we had to start somewhere and rigged up PMD nymphs for our guests. About 100 yards after launching the boat I already heard war whoops coming from Paul’s boat and our cousin Linda had already got 2 fish to the boat-a split second later one came from my boat-got off.

With Mom in the front of the boat and Danielle in the back-Mom got one at Cali Island. Paul caught up to us there, and when we tallied the catch for the first hour all stress for the day was gone-everyone had at least had fish on. The off and on rain seemed to intensify the hatches and fish were rising all day which added to the somewhat dramatic hook-ups of first time fly fishing on the Mo.

Danielle had a little frustration with keeping fish on and getting them to the boat-Paul and Dad obviously did not help by making sure she knew it. To make matters worse, after another fish came unbuttoned for Danielle-mom somehow managed to land a 20'³" rainbow in ankle deep water with a double nymph rig and 4 split shots?-that even confused me.

It was a great day, not to be too dramatic myself, but one I won’t forget. I didn’t hardly touch a fly rod but I was with company I enjoy-even Paul. Linda was kissing fish, mom was hooking so many fish she said her hand and arm was too tired, Danielle’s casting and fishing skills were honed, and Paul and Dad did what Paul and Dad do. Another day on the Mo.