Ham

45) Ozark Chub : a total surprise Lifer

I was pretty comfortable that the first one was a carp. 🤣

I'm gonna go with Make and Female White Sucker. I'm confused because I rely on Science and studies of fish found in Crooked Creek. The 2011 Journal of the Academy of Science Vol 65 Art 16 The Fishes of Crooked Creek doesn't show White Suckers as a possible species.

44) Golden Redhorse

#6 I got nothing.

#5 Northern Hog Sucker. Pretty comfortable calling this one.

Not lamprey wound and bloody fin. In the water, this fish looked like it had a stripe running down its side.

4 th guy. Help Me!

Third fish. I'm calling Golden Redhorse,

Fish #2. I'm calling it a Black Redhorse, but what do I know.

Tubby

I know Mo Carp is gonna say mid teens, but this Dude was 20 plus. It was too big for the net.

As some of you might be aware, I'm on a bit of a multispecies kick right now. You can't max out your species count if you ignore some fish that swim all around you all the time. I've struggled catching suckers in the past, but I think Spring is the time to really fish them. A coworker that has since retired gave me an old Ugly Stick and I put a crummy Lews spinning reel on it with some 8 lb nano. I tied in some P Line CXX Strong leader with a 1 oz bank sinker and a 1/0 circle hook. I put a full night crawler on there and slung it in the Creek. Before I could tie a hook on the other rod, that Ugly Stick was dancing in the rod holder. It was as I feared, a carp. A BIG carp. I took me a long time to beat it down and sort of get it in the net. I re-baited and re-cast and before I could finish tying the sinker on the other rod, I had a sucker on. Compared to the carp, the sucker came right on in. I think it was a Black redhorse, but clearly, I barely know anything about suckers. I was heaving the 1 oz out there pretty good And fishing up close with an Airstream rod, 6 pound CX Premium leader a #2 circle hook and a 1/2 oz weight. There was a decent flow and I didn't want the baits to wash away. Next fish was on the Ugly Stick and I think it was a Golden Redhorse. It was smaller. I finally got a sucker on the Airstream. I hate to guess what it is, but it had a lamprey attached. I was on a high bank area and could not net it and the dang lamprey let go before I got the fish on dry land. Close but no cigar. Next fish was on Airstream also. My Northern Hog Sucker. It eluded me last year, but not in 2021z Last sucker of the day came on the Ugly Stick. It was pretty good sized and seemed to be full of eggs. I got a few pictures and gently released it. I am asking for help IDing it I left them biting to go be frustrated by darters, but even that ended fairly well. Pics to follow. Maybe @oneshotwill chime in and tell me what I caught.

43) Northern Hog Sucker slightly out of order. I caught a couple more fish that I need to finish ID ing

Thank You for posting. Spring Tjme is so weird with fish moving in and out in coordination with weather trends. guys are catching them SOME days. I have not been on Bull this year (Shameful). I'm all eat up with the multi species thing right now. I hope to get on Bull Shoals soon. I love that part of the lake.

Y'all know you can start a TV and movie topic right?

Bantam Sunfish (Lepomis symmetricus) 1/8 th of the way home

It's a process for sure. Modern phones have helped a ton. I need to do the INaturalist thing too. Especially if I can get a free sucker species out of the deal.

Be forewarned that John's idea of "not terribly far" can be a LONG way