After a year hiatus due to flooding at Montauk State Park, the 2026 Miles Meyer Memorial Fly-Fishing Tournament took place on what turned out to be a beautiful day in Missouri. After the FATC had to cancel their first attempt at the tournament on January 26th due to freezing temperatures, we hit the jackpot on a day the temperatures reached 70 degrees, and the park was essentially empty for the last day of catch and release fishing. So, twenty-one (21) FATC members signed up for the chance to get their name on the coveted tournament plaque. This was the “largest” number of participants in the tournament’s history.
The majority of the tournament’s participants arrived around 8:30am and suited up with their gear to fish the practice round. The practice round allows all to observe what might or might not work for the afternoon tournament. At 11am everyone gathered up to talk strategy and enjoy lunch of hot dogs, chili, chips, dessert and drink donated by the FATC. Big shout out to Mike Bisaga who prepared the lunch for all. Thanks Mike!!
Once lunch was finished, Kenny Klimes read the rules of the tournament, passed out the maps of the “beats” where each fly fisher was only allowed to fish and everyone pulled their “beat” locations from a “hat”. There was one new twist this year. Everyone pulled out a number with their “beat” location except one participant got the coveted “A” which meant he could fish anywhere in the park. That honor went to Jim Craig who was the last one to pull his number! I guess it pays to go last!?
The tournament started at 1pm exactly and ended at 4pm exactly (at the siren)! After final questions everyone headed out to their locations and the tournament was on. Most beats had three participants with two beats having four. Check the map in pictures to see the beats for this tournament. Kenny was the tournament “judge” checking if all were in their required beats and all were having a good time. He got to see several catch some nice trout as he walked the entire length of the park. Big fish honors went to Mike Bisaga who netted a 22-inch rainbow trout with the help of Mark Camerer. In the afternoon many of the fly fishers figured out what worked and what did not, but could they bring in the most trout by 4pm to win? When the tournament started to wind down it seemed most all participants caught trout during the tournament.
All participants gathered again around 4:15pm to announce the scores/catches for the tournament. Many had anywhere from 3 – 4 trout but once we got into the higher numbers the participants dwindled. A shout out to Sid Aslin who did outstanding considering he wasn’t allowed to go into the water. Second place went to Jim Bingley who netted 12 trout. This year’s Miles Meyer Tournament champion goes to Chris Beahm who blew the competition away with 19 trout in the net. I happened to watch Chris catch one of his trout and I figured out why he won by so much. His technique, ESN, was impeccable and very precise. He says he used small flies in the beginning of the tournament and then went to larger flies – like leeches – towards the late afternoon. On this day Chris tied the all-time tournament record of 19 trout held by Rick Doerr in 2022.
It was a great day and tournament. But I always say that the fellowship means so much more. Many old friendships were strengthened and new friendships were made. After the tournament we all met up at the Pizza Inn in Salem for a fellowship dinner – and laughs! Thank you to all participants for making this tournament so special.
