FishnDave

Monster trouts! Way to go! 👍

I've heard folks recommend this guy, supposedly near Saint Louis: https://www.missouriflylifeguideco.com/

https://flylordsmag.com/breaking-news-colombia-supreme-court-bans-sportfishing/

Your popularity has gone GLOBAL, Phil! 🤪

I hear you. Such an ancient and interesting, toothy fish. I find they are fun to catch for a short while each year. The thrill factor soon drops. Then I generally ignore them, unless nothing else is hitting. Or if I see a bigger one. Or a longnose (most of the ones here are shortnose). I still want to catch a Spotted Gar and Alligator Gar on fly. Grass Carp are fun, as are Drum and Common Carp. Really, I enjoy any fish I can catch, and I like variety. I'm not eating any, so I'm not going to poo-poo any fish that is willing to play. They are all fun. If good, wadable smallmouth streams were closer, and not flooded or crowded, I'd be fishing for them more for sure. I'm doing my best to enjoy what is nearby, most of the time. Yep... like @BilletHead says, love the one you're with. Caught some more last night.

Wow!!!! NICE ones! 😍

I changed to a different fly that has hooked and landed gar for me in the past. Woolly Bugger. DID get some gar landed yesterday evening! Also caught a couple small White Bass: And a couple Grass Carp:

Good luck, Phil!

Yes, I had at least 7 or 8...maybe a dozen... gar strike and briefly on the line. Even had a couple out of the water, but didn't "land" any of them.

Maybe. Certainly some 2 and even 3 times.

Grass Carp little White Bass: Channel Catfish:

Goldfish

Black Bullheads

Koi

Goldfish

Not personally....but a Flexo Crab pattern with the legs cut off might work...or heck, just leave the legs on for movement.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/huge-redbreast-sunfish-caught-by-georgia-man-may-tie-world-record/ar-AAXdEZi?cvid=3eb11c9d28b5447eb862f793565ca328

Exactly...and if quagga are anything like zebra mussels, they must take some seriously strong crushers to crack open! Found this: "Do Redear Sunfish Eat Quagga Mussels? This research project tested redear sunfish's ability to reduce quagga mussel settlement through predation. Results showed that some fish will consume significant amounts of quagga mussels and some will not." Although breaking through the shells might take significant effort by the Redears, think how little energy would be expended in hunting for their food. Its just sitting there, like a big buffet table. No wonder the Redears get so big!

They may be feasting on the invasive quagga mussels.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/fisherman-catches-giant-5-pound-redear-sunfish-on-lake-havasu/ar-AAXcoZq?li=BBnbfcL

Happy Birthday! Catch that sturgeon!

This is still every fish for me.

Same. Spotted Tilapia in FL. And also one from Hawaii. I thought it was a Spotted Tilapia also, but looks different...may be some other kind? A little research just now suggests the one below is a Redbreast Tilapia (T. rendalli).

Rick's rod, Marty's fly....Ham's skills.... If ever there was a perfect moment when the fish didn't stand a chance, THIS was it!