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| Windermere Baptist Conference Center Marina |
May 30 - June 1, 2014: Warren
Wilkerson, Joe Davis and I had an invitation to attend the MDC program Discover
Nature Women at Lake of the Ozarks, Windermere Baptist Conference Center. This
was the Women’s summer workshop with eight different activities, which included;
Canoeing, camping, compass, hunting, fishing basics, archery, shot gun, and fly
tying. We instructed and demonstrated fly tying for thirty-six women over
the three-day weekend with four classes.
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| Now it is time to be creative |
There were some changes from years
past with us starting with the wooly bugger for everyone and making suggestions
to other flies. Some of the women tied five or six patterns; including poppers, jigs, foam ants, Clouser Minnows and hybrid wooly buggers. We used several hundred
hooks and marabou was flying in the air.
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| One of a dozen white bass caught and released |
We did fish Friday night with Warren and Joe taking a powerboat
out into the cove. I walked the shoreline throwing small jigs. I managed to
catch and release a dozen white bass, a foot long crappie and a channel
catfish. Warren and Joe also had success with white bass, catfish and
large-mouth bass all caught on a fly.
On
Saturday, we had two classes and a high level of enthusiasm. One of the class
members (Kathryn) cut a lock of her hair and constructed a Clouser minnow.
Anyone standing outside of the classroom would have thought we were out of
control rowdy class with no one supervising the kids. It was good fun and
everyone had a great time.
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| One of the students, cutting a lock of her hair to construct a closer minnow. |
That
evening the MDC provided dinner which was catered by Bandanas, which was very
good. I had an opportunity to talk with Mike Huffman, Outreach and Education
division chief for the MDC; he over sees the Discover Nature programs, one of
his many responsibilities.
That
evening, Warren, Joe and I fished the point near the marina boat dock wading
from shore. Kevin Lohraff met us later that evening. Warren invited many of the
students and we had sixteen women with us that evening. We provided casting
instruction, a few students fly-fished with us. Kevin worked with three women
and Joe would hand the rod off when he hooked a fish, with a few fish coming to
shore. Warren kept everyone in line with storytelling and explained the virtues
of fly-fishing. Joe managed to catch and release a drum, white bass, walleye
and bluegill. We stayed out until 11 PM, standing in the water with a crescent
moon dropping in the western sky with a few satellites seen in the southern
region. Kevin caught three walleye and I managed a walleye and a few
bluegills.
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| Now it is to whip finish the fly |
Sunday
morning, I met Kevin at the boat Marina where we fished for an hour before
breakfast. Kevin was collecting bluegills on a stringer hoping to get enough
for a meal. I picked up a catfish. After, breakfast, we packed out of out lodge
and set up for the final class. I was stowing away my fly rods and talking with
Joe and Warren when I shut the truck door without thinking and left the cars keys
on the seat and the spare key in the duffle bags inside the cab. I was
up a creek without a paddle. Kevin assisted me and Larry Lindeman had the
skills to figure out how to unlock the door. It was a big relief to see the
truck door unlatched.
We had a
blast with the class and introducing fly-casting to a few. It was good to see
Regina Knauer who invited us seven years ago to teach the fly tying course.
Warren had her laughing uncontrollably when it was mentioned out toilet was out
of service; Regina taught compass and map reading. Kevin stepped up to help
with casting; he taught the hunting class. Thanks to Larry for the pulling the
lock on the truck, allowing me to drive home. Finally, thanks to Eric Edwards
for the invitation to the Discover Nature Women event. Hope to return next year...
