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This is the time of year we love to leave the MO to the guides and visiting anglers and seek out a little solitude on the endless small waters around our part of the state – some of which are a stone’s throw from the shop – others which require some travel time.

Small waters, light tackle, smaller fish, the occasional big fish, big dry flies and more often than not, not a soul to be seen. There’s something special about hiking a stream armed only with a fly rod, a tippet spool, a box of flies and a can of bear spray. We love everything about fishing the Missouri ( most of the time) but its a liberating experience to leave the boat and the arsenal of rods and the boat bag behind and to strip the experience down to what it was when we started fly fishing. A small stream, a rod, a reel, a very limited selection of flies and fish that generally don’t require the perfect presentation that is so critical on the Missouri.

The fishing isn’t always great but there’s usually more than enough action to keep it interesting. For me though, it’s simply being there that makes it happen. The stress begins to melt away the minute I step into the stream and my soul is recharged as I explore around one more bend and then one more and the minutes pass into hours.

Fully restored we return, invigorated and ready to get back to the business of Missouri River fly-fishing. Do yourself a favor and spend some time fishing small water….you’ll be glad you did. Not sure where to go or what to use? Part of the fun of the small water experience is seeking out new places on your own and once you find those places you likely will keep them to yourself  but we would be more than happy to point you in the right direction regarding where to go and what to use.

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