Monday. Fished Duck Creek CA first. I hoped for more of those Warmouth we caught last year. Nope. Saw some gar, but they didn’t like me getting too close and casting to them. Caught a Green Sunfish.
Fished several spots, nothing happening.
Went to Mingo next. Very high water everywhere. Got a gar to bite at the first spot, but missed on the hookset. Spooked some others. At a 2nd spot I saw gar, a huge common carp, some shad and what appeared to be Goldeye. None of them wanted to play. Almost stepped on a few snakes, and found a turtle shell.
Longtime lurker, first time poster...
Its definitely the people that make this site great, and thanks to @Phil Lilley for building and hosting a place for us all.
I haven't heard of it, but that doesn't mean much. I hadn't heard of Cawker City, Kansas, and they have the WORLD'S BIGGEST BALL OF TWINE!! 😄
What's it like, have you been to it before?
Tried for Freshwater Drum again. Caught 2 on back-to-back casts again, and they were the only ones I caught....again.
Tried for Grass Carp. Caught 2 small ones, 1 bigger one (34", ~ 15 lbs), and lost another big one after a good battle.
Also caught a small bass.
We had 2 Bradford Pears in the parkway in front of our house in Iowa. The smell wasn't pleasant, but also not overpowering. Loved all the white blooms in the spring. Attractive trees. No problems with branches breaking or anything else...the only issue we had was the roots close to the surface would sprout suckers...and I never found any good way to keep them from doing that. I could pull, break or mow them off, but they always came back.
One spot I know definitely needs some predators. If I only knew where to catch some native Blue Cats, Bowfin, Flatheads, or Alligator Gar for a relocation project.... 😬
Or Snakeheads or Arapaima, if anyone has any to donate? 😅
Sunday, I tried for Freshwater Drum. Caught 2. Tried for Grass Carp, missed some strikes, had a decent one hooked that jumped out of the water, then dove and shook free. Still early.
Got hissed at by a goose guarding a nest. Saw ducks, birds, turtles, snakes, a frog, and a giant water beetle.
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There's a guy from OA that keeps introducing me to new species and new places, greatly impresses me with his ability to catch anything and everything with any type of gear, and even lets me net some of his fish! I really appreciate his kindness, patience, and knowledge.
And there are a number of other guys here I haven't met....but it FEELS like we have, and I consider friends.
Got out yesterday after work. 38 degrees. Caught 3 bluegills, a bluegill x redear hybrid, and a bass. The bluegills were nice, a couple were in the 9" range.
I enjoyed it, and really miss it now that I can't do that anymore after we moved.
I'd change it up. Often I'd go for numbers (bass, bluegills, crappies), but sometimes I'd go after bigger or more challenging fish, like catfish, carp, bigger bass, etc.
Mirror Carp scales tend to be larger and/or odd-shaped, compared to more typical, uniform carp scales. They can be fully scaled or in patches. When in patches, there is no scales in between the larger scales you see. Its just a leathery skin.
Leather Carp have no scales...or nearly no scales.