Johnsfolly

Not yet. We are currently in KS.

Today was a day to meet the newest member of the Folly clan. Spent most of the day visiting the grandkids. Got back to the hotel and got a couple of rods and fished the pond next to the hotel. Was trying for black bullheads again to fill the bullhead group of species. No luck on the bullheads, but a few bluegill, a crappie, and a bass were caught on the worms. We did a way back machine and had Livie tie on a black striped small Hula Popper. Was one of my favorite go to baits for largemouth bass when I was a kid and teen. Caught a bunch on that old lure. I gave Livie a quick tutorial about topwater fishing with that lure. The main emphasis was to feel the tug before setting the hook. Second cast she had a small bass blow up on the bait and she got it to hand 😁 She also caught a crappie on the Hula popper before we had to head to the room.

Little Johnny went to a horse auction with his dad. While there he saw folks rubbing ther hands along the flanks and legs of the horses. When his dad did that to a couple of horses, Johnny asked him what he was doing. His dad responded that he was feeling the horses muscles and physique to determine if he would bid and ultimately buy that horse. Somewhat shocked Little Johnny said to his dad, "I think that the delivery man wants to buy Mom!" 🤣

Gret looking spot buddy. Let me ask this question, would you have found or fished this spot if you were not on your Push for 100 quest?

I was only low 60's today in Kansas. I'm starting to feel like @vernon since the weather turned cold as soon as we hit Illinois.

First Fishing stop was a quick trip to Lake Shelbyville. One of my life goals is to catch all of the species for several fish groups, e.g., all of the Lepomis sunfish, all black bass, all rock bass, all bullheads, etc. So I have been trying over the last couple of years to catch a yellow bass, which was the last of the temperate bass species that I have not caught. We have fished Lake Shelbyville last year and did not catch any yellow bass. However, I have really enjoyed the number of different species that we have caught there previously. We got into Effingham IL around 5 pm on Thurs. We had driven through 2 hours of steady and sometimes heavy rain before getting to the hotel. By 6:30 pm the rain had stopped and we made the half hour trip to the spillway. The water level had been running high the previous week but it was reasonably clear and was not running too fast. We tied up high low rigs and soaked some worms. I tried to catch some fish on lures, but kept getting more hits on the worm rig and just sat and fished that one rod only. Glad that I did since my second fish was the long awaited Yellow bass! Livie followed suit and caught her first yellow bass. She also caught a couple others while I was catching bluegill and channel catfish. We only had about 30 to 45 mins to fish before it got too dark. As it got dark, we left the spillway and headed back to the hotel. Friday morning we had about two and a half hours to fish. Back to the spillway with all of us. Goal was for Livie to catch a buffalo, Sue to catch a yellow bass, and for me to catch some new fish for the year. We chummed up an area with chicken feed and canned corn for the carp and let it sit for a bit before Livie tossed out a kernel or two of corn on a #10 octopus hook on a fish finder rig with a 3/8 oz egg sinker. Sue was fishing one of the high/low rigs with worms. I was fishing a Nuegasser silver shad spoon with a 3/8 oz egg sinker pegged about 14 inches in front of the spoon. I missed a couple of strikes then got a strong hit and pull to the bottom. Then was able to land a 12+ inch white bass, my first for the year. Sue had been catching bluegill and a black crappie before she hooked and lost a yellow bass before we could get a photo. She moved closer to where I was fishing and I had her cast upstream near the concrete wall of the spillway. She got bit and pulled in her first yellow bass! I switched rods with her so she could try for a white bass. While I had the high/low rig I caught my largest yellow bass and another decent white bass on a worm. Sue followed suit with a white bass as well on the spoon. Turns out that she had now completed catching all of the Morone species as well. Livie was getting bites on the corn but no hook ups. Since I knew that she still needed a white bass, I had her come down to fish closer to the spillway. I manned the carp rod and Livie got it done after catching a few yellow bass and bluegill before the white bass. After completing the temperate bass Slam, Livie was all business on the carp or buffalo fishing. Meanwhile Sue had a fishing encounter that she may not forget. As she was winding in a bluegill double, a large musky came up and tried to eat one of the bluegill. I tried to entice it but never saw it again. Livie was getting quite a few bites on the corn but no strong commitments and one lost hook up. We were seeing small carp in front of us and she didn't give up. She cast out a little further from shore and we chummed the spot again. It wasn't long and she got a good bite and the line wasn't moving and seemed hung. Livie gave it wa tug and set the hook on the unseen fish. As soon as it came near the surface I knew immediately that it was a buffalo! I got the net and Livie was able to get her first smallmouth buffalo into the net. I followed it up soon after with a carp that took out a bunch of line from the baitrunner reel before I engaged the drag and set the hook. @snagged in outlet 3 if you are reading this you may want to go wash your hands 🤣 We had a little rain throughout the morning, but after catching that carp big drops started coming down no sooner than we decided to pack up and head to the hotel. It was a heavy rain by the time we go to the car. Even with the rain we had a couple of good hours catching at the spillway!

JF #63 Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio

Livie #59 Smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus - Lifer #130

Livie #58 White Bass - completed the Morone species as well (Lifer) 👍 Nice to have an obssesive Dad😉

JF 62 White Bass, Morone chrysops

JF 61 Yellow Bass - Lifer and a life goal of catching all Morone species completed 😁. As @FishnDave would say that was me over there in Illinois Winning!

And if you ever ventured above Akers ferry lots of great brown trout water with some smallies tossed in. No shadows that far upstream. However he did mention staying around St Louis. Still need to work on his drive to fish ratio tolerance 😉! @FishnDave like how we speak of you in third person😁?

@rps nice flathead! Must have been a great tug on the ML rod and 6# line😁. Congrats!

Livie #57 Yellow bass, Morone mississippiensis This was a Lifer.

We'll be passing his place tomorrow enroute to Fort Riley.

I just hope to not have to perform behind a fence nor get chased by 100s of police cars on this trip.🙄

@Terrierman Looks well seasoned and sounds like a great flat top! I would love to work with a flat top when making breakfast. Really is the best way to cook everything to be able to serve at once. So when can I bring the family over 😁?!?

I want to know about ear hair. Should I braid mine?!?

Love Uecker!

There has been a calling in our family to make a trip out to Ft Riley Kansas. That calling came from a small unheard voice. So the car is loaded and we are on the road again.😁. Have plans to make stops at several water bodies along the way. So more to come.

Nice Dave! With rain expected nearly the entire time that we are going to be in the midwest, I will have to look at ponds for new annual or lifer species. A run out to St Louis area was tossed around if time permits, but now may be in order 😁

If you have to take half of a Viagra to keep from peeing down the leg of your waders you might be too old to fish! Or at least you should go wet wading more often 😅

Sounds Iike you guys had a great trip and hopefully more than enough fish for a couple of fish frys. Thanks for posting.

From MDC Website - Currently all waters are open Black Bass: Non-Ozark Streams SEASON OPEN Dates January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 Notes These regulations apply to streams not defined as Ozark streams. View map of streams. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECIES Black Bass: Ozark Streams SEASON OPEN Dates May 22, 2021 to February 28, 2022 Notes Limits apply on all Ozark streams, except those with more specific regulations. View map of streams.

We fished Jeannettes pier on Nags Head last Sept. Didn't have time to fish the beach since we were headed to Myrtle Beach. Have plans to get down that way sometime this year. You know that a post will follow 😉