Author Bio
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Matt Tucker with a nice White River brown trout.
My name is Matt Tucker, and I am a wannabe Trout Bum. I was born and raised a bass fisherman and a deer hunter with a great respect for the outdoors (big props to my Dad for giving me the background). It wasn’t until my days in graduate school chasing my MBA, that a fellow classmate had suggested we head to the river to do a little fly fishing. I was all about needing a break, and we hiked down the Cardiac Hill access to the Meramac River in 14″ of snow with rods and gear (not to mention the Neoprene rubber soled waders). I didn’t catch a fish, but it was definitely the moment a fly fisherman was born.
2004 was the year that my pursuit of fly fishing really took off. A friend and I were selected to participate in the Fly Rod & Reel Trout Bum Tournament, sponsored by Fly Rod & Reel Magazine and Ford Motor Co., and spent ten days fishing the tailwaters of the Ozarks. It was during this time that I was emersed into the cult of ozark fly fishermen. That year, I also participated in the 2004 Hooked on a Cure Celebrity Fly Fishing Classic, where I met a ton of nice folks and was subsequently asked to be bartender to the stars at the 2005 event. Following the TBT and HOAC, and largely because of the people I met along the way, I was asked to do some promotional work in the fly fishing industry through a manufacturer rep company, which has proved to be very educational and a ton of fun. In the process of all of this, I have met a ton of great people (and a few asses) and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The nearest trout stream to me is at least a 1 hour drive from my house, but the nearest stream with monster fish is only 4 hours away. I row a Hyde drift boat, because wading sucks. I am after the total experience, from the old chick hitting on my fishing buddy in the drive-thru window to pealing off the waders after a 12hr day; you throw in a couple of 25″ trout and that is the shit legends are made of. I am just as likely to yell “Fish On” as F@#$ on the stream; so chances are i have offended you at one time or another. I can’t cast worth a damn, don’t fish very well, but I am a legend in my own mind and I am incredibly good looking for a big guy.
Fish Hard,
Matt Tucker
Matt Tucker’s News Clip Archive:
- Ozark County Times (November 2005)
- Hooked On A Cure Celebrity Fly Fishing Classic (June 2005)
- Fly Rod & Reel Magazine (April 2005 Issue)
- Outdoors With Tommy Garner (Radio Interview) (July 2004)
- Fly Rod & Reel Trout Bum Tournament (July 2004)
- Fly Rod & Reel Magazine (July/Otober 2004 Issue)
- The New Fly Fisher Television Show Guest (June 2004)
- Hooked On A Cure Celebrity Fly Fishing Classic (June 2004)
- Loon Outdoors Loonatic of the Month (May 2004)
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch (December 13, 2003)
Themocracy
Hi Matt,
Loved your site !
Actually found it from searching on Youtube for Missouri Trout.
Looks like you’re having a great time. I am planning at least one trip this spring and another late spring/early summer trip. I think from looking at your site I can see the closest places to go from where I now live in Indiana (about 3.5 hours from St Louis. I was in the US Air Force and stationed in Oklahoma for over ten years and learned about Mo. trout from that experience. Went to Roaring River a number of times YEARS ago and to Taneycomo twice – BEFORE Branson was so popular.
Anyway, thanks again and fish hard!
Jay Fogle, USAF (Retired), MBA (2009)
Greencastle Indiana
Jay:
Thanks for the kind words about the site, hopefully you enjoyed the videos on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe / friend my YouTube Channel as we are working on videos for the 2009 Trout Odyssey and a few other things as well. When you want to head over this way, drop me an email and I may be able to give you some more updated information.
–Matt Tucker
Matt,
What a great site! My son and I took our first trip to the trout parks (Roaring River) We did not know what to expect…it was crowded…we had fun….
I was sitting here planning another trip for March and came across your site! Well done. We fly fish like you, not well but determined to look like we know what we are doing.
My son is 10 and just started casting. Is Roaring the best place to take him to get some “river time”? Any input would be appreciated….
Please keep updating your site. I will get my son hooked on it today. He already loves to email Tim (Tims Fly Shop) and ask him what they are hittin’ on this week.
Shaping minds….
Thanks in advance,
Michael Miller
Oklahoma City
Thanks for the kind words Mike. Been busy at work lately, I am a bit late with a couple of reports and am going to get out again this weekend, so be sure to keep checking it out (and sign up for the email updates). With regards to you son, Roaring River is a great place, but the key i have found with my daughter is she has to be catching fish and it really helps if she can see the fish too. If you can swing it, perhaps a weekend trip to Dry Run Creek might be in order. It is a 16 and under trout stream, and the fishing is fantastic. Plus, the Norfork river is right next door, so you can fish too. — Matt Tucker
Hi Matt
Just found the site as I was looking into Missouri fishing creeks. My partner and I live N of Tulsa and are looking for those unique spots to fish. I too am a “budding” blogger so I really enjoyed looking at your site – quite more advanced than mine at this point. We belong to the Green Country FF group out of Bartlesville and I will be sure to pass your site on to the membership as well. Keep fishing and reporting!
See you on the “quiet stream” soon I hope.
charlie