A father and his daughters have only so many opportunities to build a lasting memory and friendship.  It had been a long time since I had spent quality and quantity time with my two daughters, so it only seemed logical that I take advantage of a week of spring break to head east to the Missouri Ozarks for some bonding time on a beautiful river.

We arrived at the River of Life Farm on the afternoon of March 20, after a great time touring Bass Pro Shop and the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield.  The girls loved the tour of the museum and the home, having read most of the Little House series books, and I would recommend it to most families.  I have to admit it was almost as good as Bass Pro Shop.  After arriving, Myron put us up in the Chalet and we got unpacked.  The valley was quiet and peaceful, with the first hints of green and dogwood blossoms in sight.  There was only one other guest at the farm, so with the exception of my excited daughters, everything was quiet.

At about three in the afternoon, we headed to the river for a few casts before dark.  Christina and Caroline (ages 12 and 9) had a few problems fishing (one with a flyrod and the other with her panfish rod), but they were more interested in exploring the property and taking pictures.  The river was clear and normal, unlike my trip in February when it was running high and dirty.  After about ten minutes of fishing below the ____ riffle, I hooked my first fish, a small rainbow.  After several other near misses, I landed a brown and then another rainbow.  A little after five a strong hatch was in progress and I switched to dry flies.  I landed a rainbow on a size 16 lt. brown parachute dry until I lost it.  I then tied a size 16 brown stonefly imitation.  Fishing above the riffle, I hooked a strong fish but it came off.  As I continued to work above the riffle, a large brown (estimate 15-20 inches) took my fly on three consecutive casts, without a hookup.  After another smaller trout hit the fly without a hookup, I checked the fly for damage, only to realize that the hook was broken at the bend!!!  It must have happened on an earlier hookup!!  No wonder I couldn’t catch the big one. .

After a good night’s rest (thanks to Myron for letting us share in his family’s evening devotion), my daughters and I set out on Tuesday to float the river from the ROLF to Patrick Bridge in the trophy trout area, about 5.5 miles.  This was my daughter’s first experience on a canoe trip and they loved it.  The weather was mostly cloudy and cool (about 50F), and we did get a few sprinkles, but not even getting a little wet could dampen their spirits.  On most first time trips, I would be reluctant to take my fly rod and concentrate on keeping dry, but I cant resist wild trout!!