Ham

79) Neosho BassI got a Neosho Bass from Illinois Bayou today. I’d been wanting to fish there and today after the Arkansas River disappointed me, I went there to fish. Well, it was underwhelming and I doubt I will go back, but I did get a Neosho Bass. I had to hook three to land one, but it was a FUN eat.

My last day was 9/4/25. I’ve only caught 228 fish since then

So, I quit a little early or at least a little earlier than I thought I would, but it was time. I saw where a pro athlete said that if you were thinking about retiring, it was time to retire. I always hated missing great fishing conditions when I had to work, but I did not mind going to work. Well, work got more and more demanding and complicated and I would guess me getting older made it a little harder to adapt to the constant changing work landscape. There was no single event that had me thinking about leaving, but an almost daily dose of unpleasantness made me longing to get OUT. So, I looked at everything and decided I could quit. I quit. I’m done. Mostly. I might work a couple days a month for gas money. here’s an official notice to fishing buddies that my schedule is a lot more open these days. Keep in mind that I am retired, but not divorced. I don’t want to become divorced either so I can’t just do everything I want any time I want. Just saying. it’s only been a little while, but Man, this feels Great. I freaking love this. I will miss my work friends. I will not see them very often and that will gradually erode those relationships. I’ll drown that sorrow by strengthening relationships with fishing friends.

78) Bigeye Shiner aggressive little guys that are usually in fairly large groups. I often catch them a little bigger, but this is the guy I caught first. it used to be Notropis boops, but I think they changed the genus name. You’ll always be Notropis to me

It used to be that $25 got you a guide’s license in Arkansas. Their experience and abilities really run the gamut.

The Huge name pioneers of the sport are dying off. I don’t really see them being replaced because there are so many mouths at the trough now. So many You Tube channels etc. by all accounts a Good Dude. Innovator, teacher, fisherman, friend, and conservationist. He lived a Full life rich with friends and experiences. It’s hard to find fault with that.

74) Common Roach 75) European Perch 76) Northern Pike all caught in the Grand Canal west of Dublin. Trip report in European Waters forum 77) Brook Silversides I am dialed on these little guys. A small fly pulled across the surface will get attacked. Eventually, one chokes it down. Like a 18 or smaller.

Might be some redfish caught too.

I plan on releasing mine with a lip ring. All the kids are doing it.

Headed back into Dublin via rail. 6 fish caught. I wish it had been 60, but I would have been ok with one.

So I got my roach (the easiest fish in the UK I was told) and my euro perch. I switched to pike gear. i had gotten bitten off earlier by a pike and a saw another one and eventually drilled down a location. It cost me some roach and perch, but I got my pike. I know he is little. I don’t care. Happy Happy.

I’m a mutt. I might do a dna thing to find out

No license required. Fancy places you have to pay to play. I have a free spot today.

the monkey is off my back. Flyfer/Lifer/First fish from Ireland. Roach? Rudd?

I left the hotel at 8:30. Walked a bit to a tram station. Took a Lewis in Dublin. I was told Lewis means fast in Irish. I think it needs a new name. Hopped off Green Line tram onto Red Line tram at Abbey Street. I took that tram to Heuston Station. The fare was 2 Euro which is about $2.40 I grabbed my ticket and found my train headed to Sallins/Naas. That ticket was 5.10 euros. Like $6. So now, I am bumping and grinding my way to Sallins/Naas where I will fish the Grand Canal. I am hoping for Roach, European Perch, and Northern pike. Honest to God, any fish species of any size will be a blessing and a relief. We fly home tomorrow and I will have to make it up to the puppies and get things in order BUT man am I Mad at the fish. There is an event on the horizon and payback coming to the fish as a whole for my mistreatment by the fish in Scotland. Lots of it. I will update “real time” if I manage anything to catch anything today.

I’d be well satisfied with a 3 lber

Honestly, I think I have, but not in Indiana.

The best I have used are the Lucky Craft RC Wake crankbaits. I have successfully used the Jointed Redfins also.

I ve also caught them in the Spring River near Hardy, AR. I know another spot in south Central AR. A buddy caught a BIG one in the Current River and I saw them feeding before I ever caught one and tried for them without success. I owe the ones in the Current River sone payback and I might as well catch some in the 11 Pt as well. Oh yeah I have a spot on the Little Red River to try for them.

73) Mooneye This fish was a unicorn for me, but I stumbled onto a great place to fish for them. At lower flows, I can usually spot them feeding. If I spot em, I got em. I think they eat a lot of emerging bugs, but I bet they are opportunistic and eat small fish as well. well, I picked out a small nymph and fished a likely area and I got a solid take pretty quickly. I was able to hustle the fish into the boat. I lose a lot of the ones O hook. I was Happy to land this one. The eye of a Mooneye is relatively larger than that of a Goldeye. The dorsal fin base starts ahead of or equal to the start of the anal fin base.

72) Western Blacktail Shiner I made a trip down to Batesvillie hoping for chances at a lot of fish. The CFS was about 22,000 which made things very difficult. I really could not fish most of my desired areas. I saw a bunch of very Happy Shiners, but when I went to rig up I realized that I didn’t have all my gear. I had forgotten a bag at the house. I didn’t have any tippet that would go through the eye of a size 20 or smaller. I eventually found a fly with a little bit of beat up tippet still on it. I tied a fly on that they hated, but I had enough for one more fly and I was able to get a nice one to bite. I keep studying them and I caught two more. I’m pretty dialed in now.

#71

71) Tiger Trout I made a trip today hoping for a Tiger Trout. I had to fish through Rainbows, Browns, Smallies, Bluegill, Longears, Green Sunfish, and Striped Shiners, but I was able to get it done. My Tiger was fish #31 of the day. I ended up with 61 to hand. I’m a Good kind of tired.

There was one really funky looking one that supposedly really casts well, but I could never fish with one because it was so counter to what I was used to. It was some. Built in warp that loads and helps you throw.

MDC Can absolutely Price some people out of fishing for trout. In Missouri. I’m not wild about it. I’ll likely get one, but if it’s $15 or something, I’d buy one every year just in case I make a trip. At $40, if I buy one at all, it would be a morning of the trip deal and it does push against me fishing for trout in MO.