July 8 - 10, 2022 Montauk State Park
(THE YEAR OF THE LEECH)
PROMOTING THE MISSOURI STREAM TEAM PROGRAM
EDUCATION * STEWARDSHIP * ADVOCACY
“WHERE SCIENCE AND SPORT COME TOGETHER”
Once again Ozark Fly Fishers (OFF) will host an outing dedicated to promoting the Missouri Stream Team program. Stream Team staff members from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be on hand to assist. Our Friday evening program presenter this year will be Brian Waldrop, MDC Stream Team Assistant for the Saint Louis area. Brian is versed in the field of aquatic biology and will present a natural history of the Leech, this year’s macroinvertebrate theme. Fly fishers and Stream Team enthusiasts alike will find interest in Brian’s program. Following Brian’s presentation and in keeping with our Missouri Stream Team outing tradition on Friday evening, we will have a fly-tying class. Brian will demonstrate how to mimic the leech as a fishing fly. He will present a pattern that has been successful for him in both cold and warm water environments. If you are a fly tier, please bring your fly-tying tools with you. If you are unfamiliar with fly tying but would like to give it a try, please come and enjoy the class. Fly tying tools and materials will be provided by the OFF.
On Saturday we will start the day by demonstrating volunteer water quality monitoring procedure. Learn first-hand what the biology of a stream can tell about its health. Anglers will see in person what fish prey upon. This will be a “hands on” demonstration for participants. If you have never studied the biology of a stream, your eyes will be opened at what you have been missing. Joining Brian at our net set sampling sites on stream will be other staff members from the MDC and the DNR.
Ozark Fly Fishers 12th Annual Stream Team Outing (con’t) Regardless if you are an experienced fly caster or a novice, you may wish to work on your casting abilities with a certified casting instructor. If all goes as planned, OFF’s very own Fly Fishing International (FFI) Casting Instructors Bill Armon and Master Casting Instructor Brian Ellis will be on hand to provide personal instruction. Whether you have been casting all your life or never held a fly rod in your hand, these fellows will be able to help you with your cast. This year our Stream Team outing will offer a new presentation. New to the OFF-Stream Team outings, Ancient by its very nature. Question: What do you get when you combine Macedonian fishing from 200 A.D., Tenkara (Japanese style fly fishing), old European style fly fishing, North County (U.K.) spiders, American Colonial era fly fishing, high sticking, the Leisenring lift, world fly fishing competition techniques, and undoubtably other overlooked aspects not mentioned? Answer: Hobo Fly Fishing. Scott Darrough will demonstrate this technique on stream. After a brief demonstration, he will have “hobo” rods on hand if others should wish to try this style of fly fishing. Of course, participants will need a fishing permit (if applicable) and a daily trout tag to do so. Scott finds this simplistic style of fly fishing very enjoyable and most of all, relaxing. He gladly extends an invitation to anyone who will join him, if they so wish. Montauk State Park Naturalist Kristie Nelson will present “Missouri’s Fascinating Fishes”. This promises to be a very interesting program concerning various fish species found in our state. Wait till you hear her discussion concerning the American Eel. - Truly Fascinating! Keeping with tradition, we will have a Saturday evening Ice Cream Social. Also, on Saturday evening, Brian Waldrop will again present. In this presentation “A Natural History of Guyana” he will lecture on his time spent there. This South American country has been a classroom for Brian, as it is here that he has been researching for his master’s degree. He will lecture on the varied watersheds of this region, his macroniverabrate studies, the ecology of one of the world’s largest intact rainforests, and angling opportunities of the region. He will relate his experience with Arapaima and the Peacock Bass as well. Don’t forget our stream bank cleanup on Sunday morning in the park. Our participation with this cleanup continues to grow from year to year. OFF wants to demonstrate and promote all aspects of the Missouri Stream Team program of which stream cleanups are a major part. Anyone interested is welcome to attend this outing, OFF member or not, trained or otherwise. Feel free to bring others and don’t forget the kids as they will dictate the future of conservation! Be sure to see the complete schedule that accompanies this announcement detailing all events and their designated times.
WHAT TO BRING:
1. If you plan to attend the Friday evening potluck dinner, please bring a finger food item.
2. If you plan to participate in stream monitoring, bring appropriate footwear. Waders are not essential in the month of July. A pair of old shoes will suffice. Sandals and beach thongs are not recommended.
3. If you should wish to take a chance on our raffle bring some “folding money” (raffle items will include: a Duane Hada (Rivertown Gallery - Mountain Home, Arkansas) art print, fly collections, and other items of interest related to angling and nonangling.
4. All Stream Teams attending are encouraged to bring their banners for display at the Searcy Building, if they have one. Be proud of your team and promote it!
ACCOMMODATIONS: If you have not done so, consider making your accommodations, whether reserving a room at the lodge or a nearby motel, cabin, or campground. We have reserved five rooms at Montauk Lodge for OFF members. Each room has two double beds. If you are interested in a lodge room contact outings director Richard Bable: 314-650-2859 to make your reservation. A list of other accommodations may be obtained from Scott Darrough (see NOTIFICATION). (
NOTIFICATION: IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND or have any questions about the outing, please contact Scott Darrough at 314-560-1335 or swdarrough@yahoo.com It is important that we have a head count so that adequate preparations can be made for lunch and the ice cream social.
FRIDAY at the Searcy Building
· 5:00 pm Finger food potluck dinner - (please bring a dish) nibbling continues throughout the evening.
· 6:00 pm Presentation - A Natural History of the Leech - Brian Waldrop (MDC).
· 7:00 pm Fly tying - tying a leech fly imitation - for those who are unfamiliar with fly tying, the tools, materials, and instruction needed for tying a leech fly pattern will be provided - experienced tiers should bring their own tools.
· 9:00 pm Fly tying concludes - tiers are welcome to stay and utilize the Searcy Building.
SATURDAY at the Searcy Building
· 8:30 am Arrival / social time
. · 9:00 am Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring - biologic (macroinvertebrate organism) collections - for those who are participating depart for the parking area near the Highway 119 Bridge (this is in the park a short distance from the Searcy Building). Amy Meier (MDC) - Stream Team Coordination Biologist; Brian Waldrop (MDC) - Stream Team Assistant; and Sarah Wright (DNR) - Environmental Program Analyst.
· 10:45 am Monitoring concludes.
· 11:00 am Fly casting instruction - next to the lodge in front of the rearing pools - Casting Instructors – Bill Armon and Brian Ellis (OFF) (FFI).
· 12:00 pm Barbecue Lunch provided by the (OFF) - Searcy Building.
· 1:00 pm Annual Stream Team raffles - attendance (free) and pay raffles - Searcy Building. · 2:00 pm Free time - you are on your own - fish, fly casting instruction, take a nap, etc.…
· 2:00 pm Also - fly casting instruction resumes - next to the lodge in front of the rearing pools - Master Casting Instructor - Bill Armon and Brian Ellis (OFF) (FFI).
· 3:00 pm Fly casting instruction concludes.
· 3:00 pm On stream Hobo Fly Fishing demonstration - meet at the Searcy Building - stream site location to be determined - instruction by Scott Darrough (OFF).
· 7:00 pm Presentation by Kristie Nelson (Montauk State Park Naturalist) - “Missouri’s Fascinating Fishes”- Searcy Building
. · 8:00 pm Presentation with Kristie Nelson concludes. · 8:00 pm Ice Cream Social - Searcy Building.
· 8:30 pm Montauk fishing whistle sounds concluding the day’s fishing within the park - evening activities continue at the Searcy Building.
· 8:30 pm Presentation - A Natural History of Guyana - presented by Brian Waldrop - (MDC) - Searcy Building.
SUNDAY at the Searcy Building
· 8:00 am Montauk State Park stream bank cleanup - this cleanup should not exceed two hours - in years past this cleanup has become a highly visible promotion of another aspect of the Missouri Stream Team program - those who participate will receive a Stream Team T-shirt to wear during the cleanup - gloves, trash bags and bottled water will be provided - consider lending a hand - stewardship can influence others in their care for our streams - that is what this outing is all about! - meet at the Searcy Building - on stream site(s) to be determined.