@FishinDave and I just wrapped up another Dally’s All Species Odyssey tournament.
it’s a unique fishing tournament that is right up my alley. I should be able to win it, buttttttt it ain’t easy. I’m not the only guy that wants to catch everything that swims.
I will try to post a link to Dally’s blog so you can read about in more detail, but I’ll hit the high points.
there are 35 target species that are score able. You have to treat your fish with kid gloves as it is a Catch and Release Tourny. You fish as a team and have to photograph the fish with a team ID in a pic which basically makes it a 3 handed chore.
the list of fish is known and since I am known to roam around AR, I am constantly looking for places consistent and reliable populations of target species . Most species wins, but points are awarded for the various species to act as a tie breaker. Last year, we dropped from 2nd to 3rd because we had 5 less points than the second place winners. We was robbed.
You fish from approximately 12 noon shotgun start on Saturday to 8 pm Saturday. Then start again at 6 am and stop at 12 noon. You can’t win it local, but the further you drive, the less fishing time you have.
Tourny starts and Dave and immediately drive an hour away and fished a tributary of the Buffalo. It took a Hot minute, but we got the four species that I had planned on. Longear, Green Sunfish, (the all important) Ozark Bass, and a Smallmouth. The Smallie proves to be a challenge, But I got one.
back in the car for another hour. I introduced Dave to Hwy 123. Eventually, we fished a small creek that runs into the Arkansas River. I waded into some funky looking water and was rewarded with a small Bluegill. Dave stayed relatively dry and worked out a Redear. I was feeling Good about 6 species. Off to another stop. Arkansas River backwater trying for LMB and Spotted Bass. I whiffed on a chance on a 13 inch LMB that ate my popper. No idea why the hook didn’t grab.
off to our final stop of the day, The Arkansas River. I was confident that we could get at least 3 species, and was hoping for 5. We were fishing below a power station. Water was projected to be running. It was not. Undeterred, I promised Dave a Drum AND he got it pretty quickly. I hung around and eventually got us a Yellow Bass. I asked Dave to be my Hero and get a Channel Catfish AND By God, he did it!
we are running out of time and shifted locations a few times. I missed a strike and told Dave that was a gar. Followed up cast resulted in a solid hook up. Shortnose Gar! I was carefully fighting it, but it came off. That stung and still stings.
We finished the day with 9 species and a tie for first place. But then we had the 4 hour drive to our resting spot to the evening.
We got about 4 1/2 hours of sleep and then up and at em again. Hit an area we both had fished a lot previously. I caught us a Rainbow trout quickly, but we did not catch our other target a Grass Pickerel. Ran close by and tried for a LMB where I had seen some, but no soap.
Back in the car again. Another 1 1/2 hours. Another good Grass Pickerel proved fruitless, but Dave got us a LMB and his Flyfer Flier. Happy times indeed.
fished a heavily vegetated creek. Dave hooked a Spotted Gar, but lost it in some near shore weeds. Sad sad sad.
but Dave comes through again and catches a Black Crappie. Amazing.
I switched over and started fishing for Bowfin exclusively. I moved to a shaded pool and made a blind cast and a BIg female ate it almost immediately. I stuck her and the crazy started. I had her on for a while, but she said nah. Bummed but hopeful I kept plugging away. Dave caught a flier while trying for Gar and as he was bringing it in a Bowfin rushed I. From somewhere and attacked his Flier. I ran over and we pulled a bait and switch. The Red Hot Bowfin ate my well placed Fly after he missed out on the Flier. The fight was pretty epic. I was stressed, but the hook held. Dave had the dirty work of getting it in the net, but he got it done. I was stoked!!!
we tried to the last minute to get additional species, but it was not to be. We finished with 13 species and that was Good for second. The winners had 14, but would have beaten us with their bonus points even if we had gotten a 14 th species. I am fishing this thing for bragging rights primarily and I would fish it if there were no prizes, but Dave and I won certificates for Riversmith 2 Banger Rod Quivers with Standard Mounts. We will both probably be looking for a buyer. Great product, but doesn’t meet our needs really.
Another Odyssey in the books. Lessons learned. Lots of laughs. Highs and Lows and 470 miles on the odometer
Next years tourny will be June 8/9 2024. If you like to fly fish and you can catch a variety of species, Please consider fishing it next year.
