Ham

Wow! Best Wishes and Congratulations! I did not see that coming, but that’s Awesome.

#gobypoweractivate

Are you kidding me!

Wonderful Buck. I am certain you will make the most out of that harvest.

I’ve got to work late shift on the Friday also. I’m completely out.

I keep a rod rigged with a Z man 2 1/2 inch Slim Swim Z. They catch lots of species and lots of fish.

🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧 Good Post! Did you try any Swimbaits? A Charlie Brewer Slider Grub on a 1/16 oz jighead around that same bait and docks will get you more White Bass and crappie!

I want like 3000 CFS before I’m comfortable fishing immediately below the dam. There are some high spots and leftover debris from the federal money wasting project that was supposed to enhance spawning.

I work the 10th/11th for sure and my weekend shift is 10:30 am until 9:00 pm. Not sure what my schedule is for Thursday and Friday yet.

I love to fish with John. He’s my Homey. I wished he lived next door. He’s not mundane, but could learn to celebrate Fun catches more.

Plenty of people think I’m nuts for keeping up with numbers of fish caught or species or locations etc. My obsessive and hypergraphic tendencies Pale in comparison to those that John has. I’m sure that level of attention to statistical detail is essential to his vocation, but Bless His pea picking heart. I’ll just stick to my clicker and the occasional list on my phone.

Fun report John. The chickens get no love from me ever. I’ll never feed my fish to a begging bird. Never ever ever.

😆😆😆😆😆 that’s Funny! BowfunMe lol always be Happy about catching a Bowfin! Especially a pretty one like that. as always I’m Happy that you had a successful trip. Looking forward to future installments.

That’s Awesome John! I saw you lipping that little guy and I immediately thought about them snapping down on your thumb. You got the great picture, but I ain’t ever making that mistake again. I trust you a lot, but I ain’t lipping a White Catfish either.

I’ve made two trips to NC with Big Dreams of fishing. Both freaking times tropical storms rumbled through prior to my arrival blowing up my plans. I hope today is super super productive. I’ll be at work.

The whole situation just sucks and while I’m not a litigious person, you deserve compensation for your pain and suffering. I’m glad you are getting better. You’ll likely know when it’s gonna rain going forward.

I made sure to get a Lifetime Fishing License in Louisiana when I started thinking about moving away (1994). fiahing for Redfish in Louisiana is the best in the world. You can literally catch them off the side of the road at times in Venice. That would not be the way I would try to do it, but still.

CheaterScope is amazing. It’s made crappie fishing so much easier

I was Super Happy we were able to get a you a Bowfin. I wish I had been able to help you get a Giant one, but you took care of that in Spades. It been amazing and I’m Super excited for you. I thought there was no doubt that you’d get 6 on Sunday, buts that’s fishing. you’ll get to 100 next year

Guy goes from wanting to catch ONE Bowfin to trying to get to 50 Bowfin on fly in one year. Jeez.

No worries Les, you keep being you. I always have 4-5 conflicting goals going at any one time.

I have semi-firm plans to complete 7 counties next year. Three of those will likely require an overnight stay. the remaining eleven will require extensive planning and likely 3 day trips. I do not believe that I will be able finish next year. I have too many other irons in the fire.

Logan Countyon to New Blaine Community Park.a creek runs into a Arkansas River backwater basin. I was hoping for an Orangespotted Sunfish. I fished a piece of red worm on a size 16 hook on my B&M red neck tenkara pole. I caught a bluegill first.and then a variety of green sunfish and LES hybrids. I caught 15 before I decided that Logan County was complete and I should go with Operation Longshot. Back to Yell County to try the flyrod along the rip rap below the Dardenelle L/D. I got there just after 4 pm and was rigged and in position by 4:20. I started with a @BilletHeadClouser Minnow. I was swinging it tight to shore amongst the rip rap that had tons of threadfin Shad running up and down it. I was waiting for a heavy thump, but I got a light but definite tap. Strip set and lift. I got an unexpected Lifer Threadfin Shad on fly. The hook was completely in his mouth. Might have been a crazy coincidence, but I’ll take it. I will tie in a very small streamer behind a larger fly next time I’m at Dardenelle and see if I can duplicate the catch. I got a Bluegill and a mystery mix sunfish.I got four more Yellow Bass on fly too.I was surprised and disappointed by the lack of drum. That made me think I had no shot at catfish. I eventually triggered a pretty decent drum which got out into the current. I had to follow him downstream on the rocks a little bit.I really wanted a catfish and I really wanted a 50 burger, but after hitting the snooze on my departure alarm a few times, I have up and headed for home.Johnson,Scott, and Logan counties completed. That puts me at 57 counties done and 18 counties to go. I’m likely done for the year on counties, but you never know.

Scott County so I take off for Scott County ahead of schedule and fired up to see new water. I had to go through Logan County to get to Scott County, but I had an evil plan for later. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. I saw a sign for an another Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River. I was hoping for a similar set up to at Dardenelle where I can catch fish on dead water pretty consistently. I got there grabbed six weight fly rod, fly fishing bag, and Net and took off to look at the river. Man, I could see Gar everywhere and I had hoped that a spotted Gar would wander within casting range. I also hoped other fish would be on the rocks. I scramble down the rocks and see tons of bait milling about, but nothing hitting it. No flow except for a small creek running in. Nothing was relating to that flow either. I gave it a while with multiple flys. Tried for Gar and stuff closer to the bank. Never got a whiff. I picked up some trash and headed back to the car. this kinda stuff is why we lose access. I had that people are so dumb. Pack it out. Never leave line to ensnare and kill wildlife. we’ll eventually after lots of driving I got to a low water bridge over the mostly dry Petit Jean River near Elm Park, AR. so, I’m pretty short on time and I started to press a bit after losing multiple fish that were pulling drag and then mysteriously pulled off. Butttt, I got one and then another and stuck around until I caught 10.beautiful fish. Scott County Completed and one county to go.

Johnson County I didn’t plan on doing a multi-county quest yesterday, but an unfortunate series of events scuttled a float trip with Johnny. So off I go on what is likely my last county quest of the year. my route to Clarksville took me through Ponca. It was HARD for me not to stop and fish the low water bridge on the Buffalo at Ponca, but time is limited and you have stick to a schedule. I had actually gotten away from the house 30 minutes early and was felling pretty Good about myself. but I had to stop and look at an elk. so back on the road. Another quick stop at Lake Ludwig looking for Spotted Gar.nope, a metric crap tonne of top minnows though. So Spadra Creek was my target. Upper creek is more ozarky and the lower creek is connected to the Arkansas river. I decided to save the upper section for another day and do the chunk down by the river. I was hoping for an Orange Spotted sunfish out of the rip rap around boat launches. I also had hoped for flow along the rip rap and spotted Gar or catfish. I roll up, rig up, and start fishing through bluegill, Longear Sunfish, and Green Sunfish. There was no flow and I never saw a gar at all. First one after catching 15 of the various sunfish, I decided to stay ahead of schedule and depart for Scott County. I did check out a couple of other close options that looked really good in satellite imagery, but less so in person. but Johnson County completed.