Ham

What colors did you try Jeff?

That’s Terrible Daryk! I certainly Hope you heal completely and quickly. A tough experience for you both. I’m sure that you are Glad that your son didn’t have the serious physical injuries that you suffered. Please let us know as you improve and get your mobility back. I’m sure that some OA guys will try to help get you and your son out fishing

@FishnDaveThat’s Awesome! Well Done Man! I know you been grinding trying to get one. Now you have a spot where you can get bunches! I would argue that your Baby one was 6 inches long, but that’s nit picking I suppose.

Ours fight like Methheads over the last rock on the kitchen table. there's no sharing a feeder.

Dang Marty!

i went with my son back to St Francis County looking for an adult snakehead. I had caught a tiny one, but wanted an adult. On the way there, Google routed us through Cross County. I made a note to fish there on the way home IF we had time.I got my adult.Ian got a couple of nice bass. We had to go to overtime, but Ian got another Snakehead too.we really didn’t have time, but I stopped and fished ditches anyway. first three fish in Cross County were Green Sunfish, but I had my sights set on Orangespotted Sunfish.I got my OSSF at my second stop. I then tried for Spotted Gar and later more snakehead. We got strikes from both, but caught neither. #52 Cross County

Please PM me the address or shoot me an email at hamneedstofish@hotmail.com

You are correct, the boxes are worth more than that, I would like to purchase the flies and the boxes if they aren't already spoken for.

Glad that you are getting out, I sure do wish the state could get McCllenans access up and going as a walk-in access only Are you catching very many cutts?

The 20 HP will work, but if you can, get the 60/40.

Never say never. Life is tricky that way. I used to think I really fish more once things slowed down a little. Things only seemed to speed up. Maybe when I retire in a few years.

51) Poinsett County. I had a lengthy blow by blow account of my day, but when I added the last pic something happened, and all the text went down the toilet. Spillway is near Payneway, AR. Bring a trashbag. The locals are litter bugs. enjoy the pics. I’m not typing all that again.

Good to see that you've found a little time for Fun in the middle of all the work that I know keeps you Super busy March thru October most years.

This is Why I claim Dave is a Bad Influence.

Dave should 100% buy it. There are Alligator Gar to be caught and Sharks and other things that go bump in the night

#50 Yell County I was going to combine this county in another four county Blitz, but decided to make this a single county trip. Blame it on Social Media ; An acquaintance posted catching drum and gar on his fly rod at Dardanelle recently and I decided to strike while the iron was Hot. FiahnDave and Billethead have me slinging the flyrod more these days and actually tying again. (Eek!) . One of my side projects is trying to get 50 species on fly this year and boost my Lifetime Species on fly too. Prior to this year I think I was at like 37 species lifetime on fly so it was kinda a Bold gambit. So this morning as soon as I was able, I headed to Yell County. to To get to Hwy 7 from my house the fastest way means taking 123. This is hands down the most difficult section of road I have ever driven on. It’s insane. So, I got to Riverview Park or whatever version on that it is actually named. It’s right below the Lock and Dam. Satelite photos don’t do the change in elevation justice.I knew that it was gonna be exhausting going to and from the river. I am not a Billy Goat. Scrambling on the rip rap down to water wasn’t lots of Fun. and while it was not immediately Life Threatening like a few weeks ago, it was still plenty Hot. at my first stop, there was tons of Threadfin spawning on the rocks. There was an occasional pop of a predator. I started with a 6 weight with a sink tip with a couple small fly rod jigs I tied up. in just a few casts, I was into a weighty fish. I got like 30 seconds in and the hook pulled. Dang I was disappointed. 10 minutes later though I got my Lifer Drum on fly. He was small, but hit big.I was seeing a few larger Gar but nothing close to me. + I saw some guys up closer to the Power Station a decide to head that way and check that area. I headed to the car to swap out some gear and celebrate completing Yell County and getting a drum on fly. I put the 6 weight away. I Grabbed a spinning rod some tackle and a water to take with me. there were even more Shad and more fish closer to the power station. I had tied a fly specially for Gar, but the first fish on that fly was a larger drum. I stuck several gars with it, but they shook loose, pretty soon though I stuck a gar well and got him into the net (eventually.) First Shortnose Gar on fly for the year. He destroyed my fly caught several more drum and gar on spinning, but I wasn’t able to get any catfish. they blew the horn Long and Loud and conditions changed. Back to the car to cool off and rehydrate and then I went back to where I started and tried again. I hung a big Longnose, but it did not stay stuck. I was too Hot and the fishing was too slow so a crazy thought entered my mind. There was a small creek on the other side of the river that I wanted to try for a Lifer Darter. so with just minutes left before I had to cut and run for home, I headed to the little creek. The creek was on the way home which helped a little, but I only allowed myself 30 minutes of fishing time. Between the marginal amount of knowledge I had about the darter I was chasing And the appearance of the creek itself, I wasn’t Super confident. I caught a couple of smaller fish that I now think are juvi Hornyhead chubs. I caught a small bluegill. I’m looking and trying all the spots I can see that might hold a darter. I was literally down to the last minute when I dangled my tiny piece of bait near some cover and this little guy rolled out and ate. My alarm to depart went off as I was taking pics.it didn’t look like a Rainbow Darter to me and it sure didn’t act like a Rainbow Darter, but I have been trolled by Rainbow Darters so many times that I won’t let myself get too excited. but I sent pics to John and my son. I looked at the pics when I got home and it appears I caught my Lifer Redfin Darter. Not very colored up, but his Creek was pretty marginal water quality. With better water and during the spawn, they would look amazing. And as a coincidence, that was fish number 200 on my Lifelist. I’m sure my Legs and going to cramp like nobody’s business tonight, but a very successful fishing adventure for me today.

I reviewed maps and my memory of a trip I made long ago and decided that I had in fact fished Ashley County already. It doesn't mean I won't fish there again, but for now, no picture of the county signage and no pictures of gar and bowfin from Ashley County. #49 Ashley County

Dave catches a LOT of pretty fish and he does a great job getting Good pics of them.

I’m glad you guys got out Marty. Keep on Keepin on with your twists and turns. Fun stuff happens along the way.

Fish and fishermen are pretty low on the totem pole. I'm sure there are a lot of variables to consider, and unanimous consensus would never be reached, BUT I think we can all agree that > 20K to minimum flow is a Bad plan.

#48 Faulkner County Sadly, No county line pic. I was on I40 and I made too much going on to try to get a pic. I saw the sign, but decided not to wreck the car. Faulker County was the red headed step child. It didn’t get my full attention and thought. I realized I would drive through it on the way home and I had not fished there before. I hopped off I40 and fished Lake Conway. It was Super low. I managed a small Bluegill. I jumped back in the car and stopped again in Greenbriar. The town has recently made a very nice park which includes a catch and release fishing pond. I pounded some Bluegill and SMALL Green Sunfish in very short order. on my way out of town, I grabbed Dinner at Fatburger. Great Burger. Next time I will go double patty and have them add ketchup though. After that it was a relatively short 2 HR drive home. it was a 13 1/2 hour day. I drove 403.3 miles. Caught fish in the four counties. I caught at least 7 species and 60 fish total.

#47 Monroe County Drove through Cotton Plant and down through Brinkley. The times are a changing and that has not been kind to those two towns. I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but a few matches and some diesel would go a long way towards improving property values in those old towns. anywho, heading west out of Brinkley on Hwy 70 and turn north on Dagmar Road to head into Dagmar State Wildlife Management Area. It is a huge area that floods annually at a minimum. It has a major creek, natural drains and sloughs, lakes, and borrow pits from the construction of Hwy 63. Pretty Wild and Wooly. Probably a great place to dump a body, but would be better for that if it had gators. I ventured down a one lane road with steep and deep drop offs on both side to a high water (Duck hunting) boat ramp. Water was flowing slowly with clear tannic water. Water was very shallow. perfect for Orangespotted Sunfish. I caught a handful of hybrid Longear Sunfish that I think had Orangespotted Sunfish in the genetics. Carefully, I wandered up to the Gator Pond. Gator Pond is a (much) larger Borrow Pit than I realized. It has some super sketchy boat ramp and appeared to be full of a wide variety of fish. If I hadn’t forgot my natural baits, I would know more about that. I got a large angry Bluegill first. I had enough Bluegill pics. Then I got a fun looking Longear Sunfish on the 3 weight. Sorry for the shadow line. Heat so much heat. Sweat was running in my eyes and I thought I had a good pic. I tried to get some fun looking micros with a tiny piece of soft plastic on a Tanago hook. A tiny Orange Spotted Sunfish sped in and grabbed it. called it! I ended up catching 7 of the Orangespotted Sunfish! All very small. The Bigger ones are out there somewhere. it was so Hot. Sun and humidity were crushing me. I’m Pretty sure there were a Good number of Golden Shiners feeding on top. I tried multiple ways to catch one, but failed. I had one good take on a Griffins Gnat, but I did not stick him. A thunder storm ran me off. It was time to fly to my next spot anyway. A real heavy downpour started as I rolled back towards Hwy 70 so I timed that well. I have to go back to Dagmar and I really need multiple days to work out the details. Mark my words though, I’ll never, ever spend a night in Brinkley, Arkansas.

I'm certainly Glad it all worked out as well as it did. Cardiology has come a very long way, but heart disease is still the number one killer in the US. Thanks for sharing your story and educating us

Waldo drafts < 2 inches of water without people in it. I kinda like the battery weight up front to help balance the boat out. I do have a lot of boat for that size outboard motor. I'm not going to set speed records, but I have no interest in that. I usually am only trying to beat sunset back to the boat ramp. As I have gotten older, I am maybe a little wiser and try not to put myself in a bind by running a river in near darkness. Les gave me the heads up to be ready for starting battery to give up the ghost. I'll likely go the AGM route.

As I promised Rick, I have been putting the 3 Weight I bought from him to Good use. Many of the fish I am catching on fly this year have been caught with that flyrod.