Ham

So far, I think I like Black/Chart and Black/Black the best, but still willing to let the dis change my mind. I think carp will get all stupid over the smaller ones. I hope so anyway. Thanks for the samples Marty!

I really appreciate Les helping me get set up with LiveScope.

I’ve had a series of frustrating fishing trips lately. I always have a lot of irons in the fire and trying to work out where and when to fish is a constant struggle for me. I decided to stay local and if I sucked at least it wouldn’t cost me as much for gasoline. I saw the wind forecast and picked Norfork because I have some spots where wind wouldn’t eat me alive. I have three of four general areas that I have positive history on in the spring for crappie. I picked Fouts boat ramp. I wish I could say that I still fished as hard as 10 years ago, but these days I walk the dogs and screw around before I get going good. I probably fished from 10 am until 3:30 pm. I wanted to catch 25 fish and keep 10 Crappie if I could. I ran to a cove that I had never fished before. I started scoping. I found a brush pile that was loaded with crappie. I got bites on my first 6 casts. Sadly, It took five casts to get a hookup and the first fish I hooked took my jig. I had a nice keeper on my 6 th cast. I worked the pile with different lures and colors and angles and got 6 keepers before they shut down on me. The pile still had fish on it, but they would not play. I had a couple of 13 inchers on the day which is as big as I want to keep. I know other people will eat a two pounder, but if I try to release em over 13.5 inches. I even got a Magnolia Crappie. I ran to another cove and searched for brush. I found the one pile I knew about. Sadly that there were no new brushpiles for to find. That brushpile only seemed to have bluegill on it, but I scoped out some crappie suspended under a boat dock and I was able to shoot a jig down beside the pontoon boats and finish my 10 fish limit. I threw back a bunch of 10 1/2 ‘s looking for 11’s. I got another 13 incher. I ran around a bunch looking and finding other brush, but I didn’t catch much on any of them yesterday. I did mark them for later. I finally got tired of eating white caps in Waldo. I retraced my steps on the two spots that worked well before and finished catching my 25 fish I wanted and went home I’ll get out there and clean the crappie here in a little bit. Should be plenary for a Good meal for 4 or 5 people. I needed a get right day. I’ll figure out a spot for early next week and try for crappie again.

I’m Sorry Phil. I wish he could have been young, Happy, and Healthy forever. It’s tough losing a beloved dog.

Sounds Great!

Bowfin?

So, did you catch em?

Im Team Pangolin. I’ve know about them since the mid 80’s. Stuff like this makes me hate people. Maybe they should drop a hammer on poachers.

I think they are an absolute blast to catch trolling. Silver Salmon caught out in the ocean are a beast. I have caught them multiple times on 10 ft mooching rods with a 1:1 mooching reel. Their power is hard to imagine until you’ve hooked one. Basically unstoppable on the first run. You have to let them run. Something is going to break if you absolutely lock. It down. The hook, the rod, the reel, the 20 lb mono one of those items is going to fail when a 15 lb Silver takes off IF you refuse to give ground.

It may look like it was fall off a log easy, but I promise it was not. Long hard days. Leg cramps three of the nights. Lots of driving. Lots of fish I was targeting that I did not get. big misses : Lookdown, Jag Guapote, and Checkered Puffer the offshore stuff made me feel like I was a total newcomer to fishing. I have a certain fishing skill set, but I have a lot to learn in salt. I’ll probably wrap this up and the next version can start up when I start pushing for 225 or 250 on fly.

So, today was the last day. Rise and Grind. Fished a bridge again. I had shots at a Checker Puffer, but failed. I got three tomtate. Then tried Jupiter inlet. Tide really wrong. Saw a few fish. No bites. then back to Phil Foster to fish until we HAD to go. Then rush and catch our flights out. I did not struggle to find flys the fish liked. I struggled to find flys the fish would eat. First fish was a French Grunt. I think. then I finally got a Silver Porgy. I finally found a fly they would eat. A small Y2K. But it was barbless and I lost some fish because of that I ended up catching three of them. I also got some Pinfish. #sopokey I got two of those. And a a white Grunt. But the best fish of the day was an unlikely catch. I was trying a heavy fly for Lookdowns out off the NW corner. When I brought the fly in a saw a bug dark fish take a look. A few casts later the look was an eat and I came tight. I was using a 3 weight for the little guys, but this guy had me walking briskly to keep up. I managed to wear him down and caught a 2 pound ish Common Snook. I had Needlefish hooked, and Sgt Majors, and a Night Sgt I think. Saw all kinds of amazing parrot fish that would not play. but a Good end to a Hard, but satisfying trip. Another day another flyer. Pretty Stressful end to the trip. Everything took longer than planned and I was worried I was gonna miss my flight. They started boarding as I walked up. No worries. On the plane flying now.

So, Tuesday we were set up to do a half day trip with a guide in some canals near Boca Rotan. Good Grief the money that’s down there. We were after Four species of snook. We were told that getting all four was difficult, but the guide expected us to get three of the four. we didn’t. I got the first fish. Real nice take. Easy peasy. Tarpon Snook Pleasy. And then we caught Common Snook, Mayan Cichlid, Jacks, and a lone Lookdown which I did not catch. We had some difficulties in the morning so the guide trip ran long and cut into our Boca inlet time. We missed most of the high tide. So many fish and so much rejected. Made me want to say that I hate fishing, but I don’t. The only bite I gut in an hour at Boca would have been a Flyfer Sea Brim. I fought him down carefully on the three weight and the tiny hook pulled when I tried to lift his chubby butt. We finished the fishing with a trip to a canal looking for Jaguar Guapote. I really want one. I still really want one. I did get some consolation prizes. Red Head Cichlid. Coppernose Bluegill and an Oscar. another great day that we topped off with Fish tacos using the Bar Jack, smoked fish dip, smoked mackerel, and sashimi.

So, where was I? Oh yeah. I was fishing in Florida. Monday rolls around. Wind isn’t awesome for Spinner Sharks, but we ca get outside. While Scott sorted out the boat, we did a little fishing. First spot, the tide was wrong and multiple people were cast netting for bait I suppose. I fished for a little bit and got this guy. it’s a Blenny. Maybe @Johnsfollyknows which one. I have caught a Blenny on fly before. So, maybe not a Flyfer. we were gonna launch at Phil Foster so you might as well fish. Soooooo many fish are there. and I caught a very few of them. John already helped me with the ID on this one. He thinks Princess Parrotfish. I’ll have to do some research to confirm. Lifer/Flyfer no matter what. I also got a White grunt and another Tomtate. Out in the big boat we go. 28 foot catamaran with twin 150 outboards. It ate big waves and was not completely miserable. My back didn’t love it, but that’s just how it goes. I didn’t get seasick so that was nice. We warmed up on the inside. I started with a Lane Snapper which I had caught the day before. Next fish I caught was my Flyfer Common Snook. then I caught a Crevalle Jack. Then I caught a Blue Runner that had been nibbled on. Flyfer. We grabbed like 60lbs of ice and headed out. Eating troughs slinging flys at the beach. I got a nice Ladyfish not a giant, but nice. We tried looking for a weed line. We looked for spinner sharks. Didn’t work out. So, we started fishing full sink lines on reefs and ship wrecks. I got a decent Mutton snapper. Flyfer.Then I caught several Bar Jacks. Flyfer. We fished Phil Foster Park again, but I got nothing but heartache. Eventful Fun day. I might not be cut out for Bluewater. Those beach swells kicked my bitt and I was told we had near perfect conditions. I am awash in pics and species. I honestly don’t know where I am in any of it any more.

I’m like a Fat kid in a doughnut shop. So many wonderful things all around me. But unlike that fat kid, I have to make them bite.

After Phil Foster park, we headed south to Homestead. We were given a spot for Pike Killifish which I have wanted for a while. @FishnDave tried this spot, but missed this pot o gold. Little pothole below a diversion culvert. LOADED with Pike Killifish. Also had several other species to try for IF you could avoid the Pike Killies.I caught so many. I was trying to keep it away from them. I wanted the other stuff too. I don’t ever need to catch them again. I also caught African Jewelfish. And juvi Mayan Cichlid We also had another spot to try for Black Acara. We found it and I managed to force feed one. so two more Flyfers in the afternoon and a couple more for the year.

Next stop was Phil Foster Park. We knew it was gonna be a zoo. We wanted an incoming tide for clear water. So does every Diver in the greater Miami area. We couldn’t find a parking spot. Drove about 1/4 mile or more away to a shopping center and used a parking app. Free for 2 hours and a little money after that.loaded up and set off. We only wanted to fish until the tide turned anyway. It is easy for me to get salty Flyfers. My cupboard is pretty bare. It’s crazy how many fish are there and how hard it is to get one on the hook. I got three hookups with Silver Porgy and landed NONE of them. F bombs. First Flyfer of the day was this guy. @Johnsfolly can confirm the ID for me I hope. Sailors Choice Grunt. then a parade of Tomtaes followed. more swats at Silver Porgy. Nope. got an eat from this guy. Surprisingly strong. Lane Snapper. I caught another Slippery Dick Wrasse. Which was not a Flyfer, but Fun to see again. Very hard to get ahold of to get the fly out. Had looks from Parrot Fish etc, but ran out of time. on the way back to the car, tried the last little spot and got a Lifer/Flyfer French Grunt. Now I am Hot, sweaty, and ready for the 2 plus hour run to the next spot.

Day one is in the books. 7 Flyfers today. I was (and am) Super Excited to get a Bigmouth Sleeper. what a Wonderful weirdo

As best I can figure, I am at 189 species on fly. Earlier this year, I worked on the Fly Fishing Lifelist and saw where I was and I didn’t think I had a chance at 200 species this year at all. Brazil was very, very Good to me. Well, I’ll be making a few special trips this year and trying for some oddball locals as well. I sort of think 200 is a fait accompli as long as I put the work in. I fly out to Florida tomorrow on an unexpected trip. I hope to catch some Flyfers and I suppose there is an outside shot that I could get 11 or more Flyfers and get over the 200 mark in this trip. I’ll post the Flyfers as they happen. Feel free to wager on the date I cross that 200’mark.

That’s Terrible!

Bussey Brake was made as an emergency water supply for the Paper Mill that was in a nearby town. The mill has been shut down. That was a Fun lake to fish back in the day, but at some point they completely drained it. It always had some really Big fish in it, but I think it was heavily stocked with Florida Bass and these are the F1’s. that was the first lake at @cajunangler and I fished together decades ago. I have not been on it since it was renovated and restocked. I would be really curious to see if they changed the bottom contours any. Good Luck! I kinda doubt that you will catch any Bowfin there since they would have to have been stocked.

I had guys on both teams that I was rooting for. I kinda hate that either team had to lose.

I’m nit sure why I don’t have a dedicated e reader yet. I guess I should just grab a mid range Kindle and go about finding more books to read, but before I get in a hurry after delaying for years, I thought I would ask for advice and recommendations for an e reader. what has worked for you? What would you do differently? What should I avoid or at least not spend extra to get an unnecessary feature? Thanks in advance!

Of note, I lived in Minden for most of Nine years and I was just as fishing obsessed then as I am now and I never ever ever considered fishing Turners Pond. I fished roadside ditches and stuff, but not that dump. Good for you getting it done in Louisiana.

Last summer. I whacked em there. I didn’t think it needed a darn thing. I’m Sad they drained it.

I can’t waste the great start to the year that I have had. I wanted to add a few species caught on my fly and specifically a Chain Pickerel. My best Chain Pickerel spot was drained for “renovations”. I don’t think McCormack will ever get back to what it was while I am able to fish. I had heard and read that Nobblet Lake a 25 ish acre lake west of Pomona, MO had a Good Chain Pickerel population. Chain Pickerel are active in cool water. The lake had a significant spring influence which I believed was going to help moderate water temps. The roads were clean and dry on the way up. I saw a little snow here and there on the shoulders, but my understanding was that they got less snow than we did. I got to the entrance to the wilderness area and was surprised at how much slushy snow was on the road. I put the Tacoma in 4 W Low and crawled along trying to keep it out of a ditch. Significant inclines and turns keep it interesting. when I got to the bottom of the last big downslope, I just had to laugh at my foolishness. The lake was frozen solid. I wasn’t gonna be able to fish there. well, I would pivot to another spot IF I was able to get out. back in 4 W low to climb the slushy hills to get back to the main road. I phoned a friend ti see if he had intel on the next spot. Specifically, if that boat ramp was gonna be manageable. I didn’t want to drive another hour to get denied again. @grizwilson did some checking for me and he gave me a Green (ish) light. off I went further east to another spring fed area. A river this time. One that I was sure would have a softer surface. The parking area was a slushy mess, but I managed. I was able to get the boat in the water and got my waders on and got after it. First cast I had a follow from a very chilly LMB. Good sign right? I paddled up a side channel and started trying. An annoying amount of wind funneled through that area. And combined with current made things complicated. I was fishing a fly that was a little light, but I was gonna change flys when the river widened out. Right before I got there, I got a take. Chain Pickerel! I managed to get it into the net. I pulled over and changed flys. First cast with one of the new flys I got my first rainbow trout of the year. I paddled back up and quickly caught a smaller rainbow on the other new fly. I fished back down through my first target area hoping for a Smallie. I hit a hard eat and a strong pull. Another Chain Pickerel. I broke my hook releasing the second chain. Back to a pull over spot for another fly. Back to where I left off and in a few casts I got another take. my first shadow bass of the year. It was Fun to get the yak out and catch a few fish. I never got a Smallie nor a LMB. I caught several more Rainbows. I finished the day with 8 or 9 fish caught. I’ll go with 8 because I am sure about that. I did not see America’s favorite rodent, but I saw evidence they were active. Everybody likes Beaver right?