Ham

#inexperience

Silver CarpLifer/Flyfer Silver Carp on the last day of the STL Expedition with @FishnDave it sure made the LONG dive home better. One of those key catches that helped me get to the 100 species.

Yelloweye Rockfish My trip to Langara was so much fun. I hate that I did not have a dedicated fishing partner, but the extra challenges of doing it solo, made my successes more satisfying. We were flying out Saturday morning, but I still needed one more Silver Salmon and another < 90 cm halibut. I was the first boat out as soon as they allowed me to depart. I watched the sun top the horizon as I headed to my chosen area in pretty heavy seas. I got my Silver Salmon very quickly and started dropping my swimbait for halibut. I caught a few non halibut along the way including this beautiful Yelloweye that I was so Happy to catch. They are a total catch and release in Canada and you are required to use a descending device to help get them back to depth and minimize barotrauma. check out the isopod parasite at the base of its fin. Creepy little alien demons.

Florida Gar Dave and I saw so many, casted to so many, got strikes from so many, but only caught them when we were Tarpon fishing. So, you’re thrilled when you get a hook up, but you can’t help but be a little disappointed that it’s not a Tarpon. i really appreciated @FishnDave dragging that beast out of the water for me.

Greenside Darter this dopey looking Darter was a fun catch. They are super spooky. It ran into a pile of rocks, but there was a natural chimney that I was able to lower a tiny piece of worm on a tiny hook down to it. It freaking ate immediately.

I’m behind on my documentation. I’ll do some catching up. I knew it was pretty unlikely that I was going to even close to all 40, but aim high right? i don’t think I will be able to check any more off the list, but I’ll get the list caught up over the next couple of days

I have not. @FishnDave wants a Lake Trout. Having too many of them sounds perfect for Dave and I.

Shovelnose Sturgeon !!!@LittleRedFisherman took me fishing yesterday and I had quite the Happy Accident.

@FishnDave Awesome Fish Buddy!

Original Gangster

Heal Up and shoot me a text.

Shoot Rick, I hate to hear that. I was hoping to fish with an OG.

Nonsense.

I think they have not reproduced in that closed system in 80 years. I think there is reproduction in areas where they are native.

I like to catch them.

We should be embarrassed that people are allowed to wantonly kill native species with no intent to use the animals they are killing. It is not ethical nor sustainable. It doesn’t say a lot about us as sportsmen and conservationist and it is certainly non a good look for Wildlife and Fisheries Agencies.

Heck of a Photo upgrade Dave! #firstcastdave

Bowfin are too precious to eat. 😆 Ive never been hungry enough to try one. I do enjoy eating Snakehead though.

Growing up fishing the swamps of south Louisiana, If we caught two in an area, my Dad would change locations. I always loved the pull, but hated how they destroyed lures and trying to unhook them without getting hurt. As the years went by without catching one, I started really missing them. now that I can reliably target them, I’m all about it especially with a fly rod. They are probably my favorite fly rod target. If Redfish, Tarpon, or snook were closer, it might be different.

We had that HARD cold spell that really chilled the smaller bodies of water. Larger bodies of water take a lot longer to warm up and cool off. I wasn’t Super excited about diminishing warm water opportunities, but it’s the natural order of things so you just have to grin and bear it. With the warming trend, I had a lot of possible fishing trips in mind, but I decided to do what is likely my last Bowfin fishing of the year. I had set a goal of 10 Bowfin on fly for the year. Well, I got that done and then some so yesterday I was trying to get my 30 th bowfin on fly and get to 50 Bowfin caught on any method of hook and line (fly + spinning + bait caster + jig pole). My son took off for the Black River backwaters. I debated internally about bringing a canoe, but decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. Of course, later I wish I had brought it. First stop was the OG Bowfin Hole which overall was MUCH less productive this year. However, it was the juice on this trip. I started out with fly and in just a few casts, I was hooked up. The fly was a home crafted version on the Bass Master fly. It was noms for the bowfin. Ian drug his feet getting started, but was very effective with a 7 inch Power Worm. It pretty fun to double up and have to wrangle two Bowfin into one net. We spent less than 90 minutes at the OG. Ian had 6 and had lost another one. I had 2 and lost a third. We were both dying to get to what has been the better spot. So we bailed and made the 20 minute drive over there. well, we spent 3 hours over there trying to make it work. It did not. I got one bass. Ian got one Bowfin. I broke off on a hookset (I jerked too hard for the 15 lb fluro) and missed some bites. the second area is much larger and we gave it a full try. We went back to the OGBH to see if we could pick up another fish or two. And Boy did we. The bowfin had re-set or gotten more active or something. I was rerigging and Ian had three solid chances before I got going. He lost one trying to net it. i was using a Power Worm alongside him. I got a couple of colored up males and he got a MASSIVE 27 inch female that was just so stout. That big girl was very strong and it was a lengthy fight that I am glad he won.Here’s one of my leopards. I went back to the fly with the @billethead Saltwater Taffy WB. I was hoping for some of the non bowfin that were hitting my worm, but instead got another Bowfin. Ian really wanted a 10 Bowfin day, but lost the last good bite he had and had to settle for his third 9 bowfin day of the year. I got 32 Bowfin in the fly for the year and a total of 47 on hook and line. We ended up catching 14 bowfin on the day. Wonderful day to out and about. Saw lots of birds, but very few mammals. I hope the Bowfin over winter great and I look forward to fishing for them next Spring.

Ooooh there’s stuff coming soon

I’m not gonna throw the “o word” around anymore

Put me down for a ticket Please.

100) Chain Pickerel i had gotten a tip about a small MDC conservation area Lake that was “loaded with Chain Pickerel”. It was close to a fall back spot if I was unable to get it done. I won’t burn the spot, but if you need to know PM me. so, I dodged a lot of deer in the way in and saw multiple vehicles that I think belonged to ppl that were hunting. it was a balmy 34 degrees when I slid the boat into the water, but I had on waders and a PFD. I had spare clothes and towels in the truck if I rolled my boat. About 10 minutes in, I had a Good take from a really nice Pickerel, but he didn’t stay hooked long. I fished a while longer and had another fish flash my fly, but not take. I tried a different fly out deeper for a while with no detected strikes. So, I switched to a Circus Peanut on my 8 weight. I was struggling to get good distance with that larger, heavier fly from a seated position and in general hating my life when the pickerel devoured my fly. He had both hooks planted. He was not coming off. Kind of a weird feeling right now. Really Happy and Really Relieved to have finished it. I’m pretty proud of doing it and I’ll always be able to say that I’m in a relatively small group of anglers that have accomplished it, but I’ve been so focused on it for so long that it feels weird that it’s done. Of course, since I had a few hours of possible fishing time after I caught my Chain Pickerel so I went to my back up spot. I caught some pretty decent Rainbow Trout that were extra feisty. And I got another Chain Pickerel, I’ve gotten crazy Lucky a few times this year. And I had a lot of help and encouragement from Dave. There was a lot of travel. Burned a lot of gas. Broke multiple fly rods. Now, I still have some fish that I’m holding a grudge against and IF I get the right chance, I’ll definitely try to force feed them a fly. I’ll get em eventually, but it’s be Fun to get em this year. Thanks for following along. I appreciate it.

100) Chain Pickerel I did it. I got my 100 th.