Fly Fishing FAST Cloudy Water for Ozarks Smallmouth

Hey everyone, thanks for joining us for another CASTAFLY adventure!

In this episode, I hit the water with one of our subscribers, Jake, who won a guided fishing trip through our annual subscriber giveaway. Over the past several years, I’ve held these drawings as a way to give back to the incredible community that supports CASTAFLY. It’s my way of saying thank you while building new friendships along the way. I truly believe you can never have too many fishing buddies.

For this adventure, Jake and I headed to Shoal Creek near Joplin, Missouri. Recent rains had the creek running high, stained, and fast, creating some challenging fishing conditions. But that’s part of fly fishing—you adapt to what the river gives you. One thing never changes… the fish still have to eat.

With the stained water, we stuck with darker, weighted streamer patterns to create a better silhouette and help get our flies down into the strike zone. Since we were both fishing floating lines, adding weight to the fly was key to reaching the fish.

I want to pause for a minute and share a quick tip about fishing high, fast water.

While it isn’t true every time, smallmouth will often slide out of the heaviest current and position themselves where they can conserve energy. Look for softer water along the banks, behind brush, under downed timber, or anywhere the current breaks. Those spots allow fish to rest while staying close to food drifting downstream.

Most of the fish I caught that day were tucked tight against the bank. I made my casts as close to bank as possible and let the streamer swing naturally off the bank into the current. That presentation triggered several of my strikes.

Don’t ignore the main channel, though. Fish can still hold there, especially in deeper runs behind boulders, logs, or other current breaks. The key is learning to identify places where fish can escape the strongest flow without giving up an easy meal.

Now let me ask you a question.

When was the last time you took someone fishing?

If you have to think about it, maybe it’s time to invite a friend, a family member, or someone who’s never held a fly rod before. I’ll keep saying it because I believe it with all my heart—fishing is about so much more than fish.

Jake and I spent the day bushwhacking through the conservation area, climbing over downed timber, crossing deep runs, dodging thorns and spider webs, and exploring another beautiful stretch of Ozark water. It wasn’t always easy, but that’s what makes these adventures so rewarding.

We talked about life, family, fly fishing, and everything in between. We shared a meal, laughed a lot, and simply enjoyed being outside together. Those are the moments I remember most. The fish are a bonus.

I hope this episode inspires you to get outdoors, explore your home waters, and most importantly, take someone fishing. You never know how one day on the water might impact someone’s life—or your own.

As always, thank you for watching and supporting CASTAFLY. And a special thanks to Jake for spending the day on the creek with me. I appreciate your friendship, and I hope you all enjoy the adventure. - Paul