I had a chance to fish the NFoW for the first time ever this past Saturday. After reading nearly every thread related to the NFoW on the Ozark Anglers Forum I decided to go see Justin and Amy at Sunburst Ranch.
The day started great, the hour or so drive down 181, from my hometown of Cabool, was enjoyable to say the least. Twisty roads + BMW + snow covered scenery = a fun drive. However, now would be a good time to clarify that it was not by choice that I was in the bmw. But when the wife says you drive the gas saver or don't go at all, you drive the gas saver every time. Although it was fun pushing the BMW through the turns on the perfectly-clear-not-a-flake-of-snow-on-them lettered highways of rural Missouri, County Road #352 was not clear. At all. All was well until after multiple attempts to make it up the grade in the road just after a right hand turn (which I found out later was a wrong turn that I didn't need to be making) I found myself in the ditch. Not just a little bit, but really good. (Yes honey, I know I failed to tell you that I slid your car into the ditch, but I wanted to see if you really read my blog or not!) Luckily enough for my ego I was able to make it out, 30 minutes later, without anyones assistance.
After arriving at Sunburst, getting a solid report and suggestion of flies from Justin, realizing I only had ~18 inches of tippet while rigging up, asking to buy some from Justin and being given 3 whole spools to borrow as much as I needed off of (thanks again, Justin!), I finally started fishing around 9:30a. I hit the water just up stream of the Camp Store and fished my way upstream. I didn't get a strike until I made it up to the island. I fished off of the island and fished the water on the Sunburst side first, continuing up stream. I caught four rainbows ranging in size from 4-7" out of that run. I was very happy to have caught my first wild trout and excited due to the success I was finding. I caught all fish on a tandem fly rig of a hare's ear nymph under a scud with all fish taking the nymph. I then started fishing my way down stream on the opposite side of the island. Near the top I caught two more small rainbows on the hares ear before switching it up.
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Since the scud wasn't pulling it's weight I promoted the hare's ear to top fly and tied on a tiny bright orange midge that I haven't a clue what it's name might be as my dropper. A mere two drifts later and I was into a FISH. Upon setting the hook I saw a flash of red that was larger than the fish I had been catching! It was the first time for the day that I felt I wasn't bullying the fish around with my 4wt rod! After fighting the fish in I was stunned to see that the fish still had parr marks!!
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After releasing the 3rd of the three "big" fish for the day I headed back towards Justin's house. I fished the run in front of his house picking up two more small bows on a pink midge tied by RCGuy of the Ozark Anglers Forum. I got out of the water right at 1:30.
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An uneventful tow up the snow covered hillside from Justin (who again would not take any money when offered) and I was on my way.
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This was literally The BEST day I have had on the water yet! I have never felt so content but wanted more at the same time. I will definitely be back. I cannot speak highly enough of Sunburst Ranch. Not only of the fishing (11 total in five hours of fishing with 3 "big" fish and I covered only a fraction of the wadeable water that five bucks can buy for a day) but also the hospitality. I think the way I was treated was the norm, but it could have been because I was the only one crazy enough to be there and they were afraid of me due to any possible mental malfunctions or maybe they felt sorry for me, but whatever it was, it just felt right.
-Jason
