Fly Fishing 9 Wild Trout Streams MOST PEOPLE have never heard of - Missouri Trout Slam - Part 2

This is part 2 of the Missouri Trout Slam series (see link to pt1 below). In this video, I'm attempting to catch a wild trout from two more Blue Ribbon areas to complete all 9. The day starts with me wading a small stream throwing dry flies. After an hour and no fish, I decide to make a move. Glad I did too! This was definitely one of my favorite streams from the 7 streams I visited in 4 days. Around lunch, I decide to drive back to the last stream from yesterday and explore it more, since I wasn't able to the day before. I ended the day catching a bunch of wild rainbow trout! This entire trip was so much fun, see the beginning to this series below and more info on the MO Trout Slam!
Part 1 - Fly Fishing 7 streams in 4 days - • Fly Fishing 9 WILD TRO...
The achievement levels begin at 5 (bronze), 7 (Sliver) and all 9 streams (Gold). If I'm successful, I'll achieve the Gold Level...one wild trout from all 9 Blue Ribbon Streams.
These two Blue Ribbon Streams were fished prior to this trip:
Stream 1: Fly Fishing for Wild Rainbows - • Fly Fishing for Wild R...
Stream 2: Floating/Camping in the Ozarks - https: // • Fly Fishing the Cooles...
More information on the Missouri Trout Slam below:
huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/t...
Find me here:
/ looknfishy
/ looknfishy
looknfishy.blogspot.com/
#flyfishing #dryfly #troutfishing

[@dfzurichch]

Drew nice job. End of video nice with sunset in back ground. Also living the dream. I up at New York trout country. Ebjoying the good life.. I always say seven hours in the river is like seven second.

[@skipsamples2647]

Another great series of videos. I am glad you finally showed your sleeping setup. Simple and useful just as long weather doesn't get too bad. Keep fish'n.

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u! The cot and fly (basically for dew) are my favorite. I keep a tent with me for when the weather gets bad...or I'll just sleep in the back seat. I hate to set up and break down a tent daily, especially a wet one!

[@Chricke87]

This trip looks magical, very productive and beautiful spots for sure! Can't wait to see the next part :)

[@LooknFishy]

Was all of those for sure!

[@OverlandPNW]

Great trout slam series ! It made me realize that I have been off the river for too many days.

[@LooknFishy]

I had that same realization today too!

[@elisjournal4435]

Great video Drew! Keep them coming! Love seeing fellow fishermen making videos. Always an inspiration!

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u kindly, always great to hear it!

[@oddtoddodd]

Always fun watching your channel!

[@LooknFishy]

I'm definitely having fun with it and glad to hear it's fun to watch!

[@jimpyle560]

Was looking forward to the next vid. Didn’t disappoint. Always fun.

[@LooknFishy]

Super glad to hear it. When I started this adventure, I had no idea what to expect. But was such a cool trip, glad the videos show some of what I experienced!

[@calebplumleephotography]

Awesome trip! I fished these waters while in college and had the goal to catch a 20 incher out of all of them. Only managed to do it in 5 of the 9 blue ribbon streams (biggest 24"... and it took me 5 years...), but just goes to show there are some monsters in there! Those little streams are magical

[@LooknFishy]

No question...have caught a few myself over the years but seen several...even on this trip. Really hard to leave a +18 inch fish but I was after a different adventure on this trip. Definitely some gems in that area. Good to see MDC raising more awareness and hopefully more advocates for the them!

[@chasinbowsnbrowns3657]

Nice job buddy! Love that middle stretch where you were just pounding em out behind that overhang and downed structure! Good job and tight lines !

[@LooknFishy]

Thanks man, yea that stretch was super fun and a great way to end the day! Glad I went back.

[@rtucker51]

Looks like a great weekend.

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely was!

[@dragonbob2924]

I can never think of a good time to throw dry flies in the northeast. In the spring the rivers are filled with stockers, in the summer the fishing is slow and the fish are stressed, the fall there isn't much hatching. Glad to see that you had some luck.

[@LooknFishy]

Was totally caught off guard but much appreciated it! Definitely wasn't ready to leave either lol!

[@elisjournal4435]

That's the truth of it! I show a pretty good nymph setup for winter fly fishing in my last video. I've got another coming soon where I'll really detail some effective winter fly tactics.

[@rockymountaintrout2689]

Where are you from?

[@dragonbob2924]

@@rockymountaintrout2689 CT

[@rockymountaintrout2689]

@@dragonbob2924 dang I live in colorado and I know this area of alpine lakes that is trout heaven. The have them all rainbows, browns, lots of brooks, tigers, greenback cutthroat, Lakers, splake I mean every type of trout. And the best part is they rise all day and the lakes are small and beautiful. Over a hundred fishable lakes filled with different types of fish and different opportunities

[@RickMarshallMaps]

Thanks for another great video.

[@LooknFishy]

Happy to do it! The mo trout slam is a good time!

[@gerbenheijdt4698]

Nice video and nice little trout👍

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely an adventure to remember!

[@bradcripe8628]

Love fishing these streams with my 3 wt Diamondback and dry flys.

[@LooknFishy]

That definitely sounds like a great time!

[@rockymountaintrout2689]

Man those are beautiful fish

[@LooknFishy]

Yea, wasn't sure what to expect but definitely impressed by the fishery!

[@BuffaloWill]

So cool man.

[@LooknFishy]

Thx dude, definitely a good time!

[@ag.3153]

Hello. I’ve been watching your videos and I learned a lot. Keep up the good work. What kind of strike indicator you are using in this video?

[@LooknFishy]

Awesome, so great to hear it! I was fishing a dorsey yarn indicator in this video!

[@alexhendrick8288]

I'm up to 3 streams in missouri as well from the blue ribbon list. North fork , crane , Bryant, I mean to fish blue springs and I have a secret creek that holds donkey wild bows

[@LooknFishy]

Such a cool challenge. Never would have seen all of the blue ribbon areas had I not done it! And a few are worth the drive on their own!

[@briankelly6113]

You know you're catching guppies when the hook set jerks them out of the water. Some nice ones in there too.

[@LooknFishy]

Haha...they were killing me!

[@missouritroutbums598]

Awesome videos

[@LooknFishy]

Thank u much!

[@williambyington4864]

I think you are well on your way to the Missouri Chub Slam.

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, so true!

[@johnbelusko6347]

Would u mind tellin what line u use on ur 3wt? Im lookin to buy a 3wt and wasnt sure if i need to buy a weight forward line or what. Awesome vids on this trip too by the way. Really enjoy ur vids.

[@LooknFishy]

Orvis pro textured...it's wf but not super aggresive. I tried sa creek and it was to front end loaded which was great for short casts where u needed the weight to help load the rod or roll casting. But I found it heavy on the presentation...would drive small tries under the water. So I went back to the orvis line...super smooth and great presentation.

[@johnbelusko6347]

@@LooknFishy thanks a lot my man. Ill keep that in mind when i get mine.

[@arcticmorning]

takes alot of control to putting that fly where u want it to go around all that brush and obstruction...

[@srenstttrup348]

hey drew, i was wondering what size nymphs, you usually go with when fishing these small streams, keep it up cheers

[@LooknFishy]

A sz 16 is usually where I start...big enough to hold good fish, small enough to be realistic and the eye is usually large enough to tie a dropper off. But a sz 14 is a close second depending on how remote or pressured the stream is...in general the more pressure...the smaller and more natural I get.

[@srenstttrup348]

Thanks dude!! Keep up the good trout fishing it’s a pleasure!

[@LooknFishy]

@@srenstttrup348 happy to share it. Will do!

[@williamklein6749]

I like that part of the country. Not too much worry about bears.

[@LooknFishy]

Ain't that the truth. Lots of copperheads on the move and the leaves keep it interesting lol!

[@RBoas]

The rivers here in Western Washington are always blown up this time of year, or they're closed. It's been three weeks since I had a fly in the water.... 😐

[@LooknFishy]

Whoa, I'd lose my mind!

[@lukebonagurio4503]

Do you throw a tarp over the latter rack? When camping

[@LooknFishy]

Yep, show the set up at the end of this video actually!

[@lukebonagurio4503]

@@LooknFishy yeah my bad ask ed that at the beginning

[@LooknFishy]

@@lukebonagurio4503 haha, no worries...I just got a good laugh b/c I was like I do, and went to find the video where I show it and was posting the link to the same video lol!

[@aziffel4063]

Hey Drew what make and length is your 3wt?

[@LooknFishy]

It's the 7.5 ft orvis superfine carbon.

[@NickAndCaroline]

How do you find the time to travel so often and do these fishing adventures? I can see you make them relatively inexpensive as compared to hiring guides every time.

[@LooknFishy]

It was part of a life changing decision my wife and I made years ago. We down sized, relocated and minimized our lives. Things like not having a car payment for several years is huge. The flexibility has taken patience but seeing it play out more now. I keep my trips simple and as inexpensive as possible...mostly gas money! Imo, guides are worth every penny...I just typically can't justify the cost. The cost in most cases would be more than the entire week long trip.

[@NickAndCaroline]

@@LooknFishy if you ever do a re-cap video on that life changing moment, make sure your wife really sells it! That way my wife will be easier to break down for me later lol. PRECIATE IT! 💪

[@LooknFishy]

@@NickAndCaroline haha, if you ever see my wife on yt it means we made another life changing decision after becoming ytsuperstars lol. But I'll do my very best to help everyone of you guys live it, when/if that ever happens lol!

[@thetroutfisherman1500]

I NEED to go fishing with you dide

[@thetroutfisherman1500]

Dude

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, I promise it's no fun...don't shower, never share the beer, don't take any hero shots for you/me and eat dehydrated meals or spam lol!

[@thetroutfisherman1500]

@@LooknFishy still be fun

[@LooknFishy]

@@thetroutfisherman1500 absolutley!

[@lukebonagurio4503]

@@LooknFishy that sound terrible atleast the food part lol

[@jacobholbert3765]

would like to fish with you if you ever come down to nw Arkansas and fish beaver dam tail waters

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, I live in Arkansas (grew up in NLR). But haven't fished that tailwater in years...tough to watch how the COE treats it!

[@brianrobinson1975]

run into many snakes fishing the Ozarks ?

[@LooknFishy]

Definitely gotta keep your eyes open!

[@mickeyjamison1085]

You couldn't by chance make a video of tying that dry fly would ya?

[@LooknFishy]

Yes sir, definitely will. Got a list I'm going to start working on soon!

[@mickeyjamison1085]

That's great! I'm somewhat new to tying. Would've loved to have that at the Lower Mountain Fork this past weekend.

[@LooknFishy]

@@mickeyjamison1085 make sure you have some sz 18-22 olives on the lmfr. In the afternoons when those small wild bows start to rise, they love the bwo's!

[@mickeyjamison1085]

@@LooknFishy I couldn't quite get them to take a BWO OR the Parachute Adams but they loved the Rainbow Warrior on Saturday.

[@LooknFishy]

@@mickeyjamison1085 that's funny...I've fished the RW a dozen or more times and never caught anything on it. They work for everyone but me lol.

[@uni_shadow164]

A lot of Dinks, yet Blue Ribbon water? Hmmm

[@LooknFishy]

Haha, don't let the size of the fish determine the adventure. This was a good time!

[@ianmonroe5969]

Do you ever keep any of your fish?

[@LooknFishy]

In general no, plus these streams have specific restrictions but I'd never remove an +18inch wild fish when there are plenty of stockers in nearby streams to take home!

[@schloemo]

Absolutely not. And neither should you.

[@ianmonroe5969]

@@schloemo this was more of a general question, not pertaining to this video where all the streams are wild. Isn't that why there are stocked fisheries?

[@rogerme247]

Relax, I frequently take trout in SE MN, specially if a bad hook set. There is a good supply, but I limit my trout to 11-12.5”, that’s a good meal. Never seem to have low numbers in the streams. I do let everything below and above that go. I usually keep 2 in freezer, but end of season go up to 5, usually smoke 3 and use in holiday cheese balls.

[@spencerbass7142]

You refer to “wild rainbows” and my understanding is the rainbow is not an indigenous species, brought to the US by the Europeans. So how are they wild, have they cross bred. It is confusing to me. The whole thing about the rainbow trout being invasive, not native was explained to me by a guy I fly fished with in Idaho.

[@LooknFishy]

Yes, there tends to be some confusion between, wild and native. You are correct...these rainbows are not native but they are wild. Wild is stream born, not stocked. When you say indigenous, you are referring to "native" and brown and rainbow trout are not native to Missouri. However, both have been successful in becoming wild or reproducing naturally in some streams. Wild is simply stream born fish. Hope that clears up the confusion.

[@falcons5683]

There is an interesting story to the Missouri wild trout. 100 yrs ago some railway workers brought some McCloud strain rainbows back from northern California and put them in the Little Piney system in Missouri. They did very well in the cold spring water and have since populated other branches. Since that original stocking I believe that the California McCloud strain has gone bye bye in California and now these are the soul survivors.

[@LooknFishy]

@@falcons5683 yes, have heard that before and it's a cool story. These streams/fish are incredibly special! Good to see MDC raising awareness for these gems. We gotta do our part to protect and educate everyone who fishes these streams about how fortunate we are to have them! Thanks for sharing more of the story!

[@falcons5683]

@@LooknFishy The same thing happened in Panama Central America. In the 1950s some American service men snuck in some trout eggs and planted them in the mountain spring near Boquete. They are doing well and are rarely fished for because of the difficulty of reaching them. However, many of the purests go there for the challenge and are rewarded for the adventure. I never got the chance when we lived there. blog.fishwest.com/tight-lines-in-paradise-the-mystery-of-the-tico-trout/

[@spencerbass7142]

@@falcons5683 Interesting. I mentioned about the Rainbows in Idaho. You are allowed to keep them because they consider them, invasive, trash fish, etc. I found it amazing, I am from Florida and to consider a beautiful fish, like the Rainbow, less than equal to a cutthroat took awhile to wrap my head around. Thanks for the comments.