FishnDave

Mottled Sculpin: Redfin Shiner: Blackspotted Topminnow:

Wow! What a trip! Enjoy! Norwegians are good folks! For comparison.... the 2024 population of Missouri is 6.2 Million.

Cool trip! How'd you get there? Fly into Bergen, then drive north? Trondheim? Oslo?

Yes, that appears to be true. Males have red eyes, females have brown eyes. Males have more decorated shells. The back of the carapace on males flares out... that part of the female's shell usually does not flare out. So... looks like I met a fella and a lady. I bet they knew each other. They spend more time in/near water than I would have guessed, but explains why I've found their shells when wade-fishing. I was also surprised to learn they eat a fair bit of meat.... snails, slugs, bugs, worms, fish, crayfish, frogs.... Aggressive hunters they must be! They can probably spend hours stalking a slug! Prior to the feast, they probably have a very intense stare-down! Nightmare fodder, for sure! 😜

Awesome! I read that only (some?) males will have the red heads. Will only males have the decorated shells, too?

Do we have turtle afficianados here? Besides @snagged in outlet 3 and his cooters? I met a couple box turtles yesterday while micro-flyfishing a creek near St Louis. One was swimming across the creek when I saw him. I waded down and set him up on top of the steep bank, since I didn't think he could make it up there on his own. He was a handsome fella! Red head, yellow spotted front legs, colorful shell. \ Maybe 50' upstream, I met another box turtle sitting on the shore. I walked over for a picture, but otherwise left it (her?) alone. She didn't try to run away. Are they both Three-toed Box Turtles? I'm pretty sure the second one is... but wondered about the first one.

These grassies were caught at a different creek...sort of the upstream end of a small lake... but I hear you! Gotta get you some!

Not sure I've ever eaten one.... are they any good?

I believe you are right! I don't think I've seen these around when I'm fishing either... but there's so many seeds in the poo, they've gotta be really close by. I'll have to look harder!

Ok... well, I did another search online for it. Found some similar pics. So, I'm sharing them. sorry. Persimmon Seeds?

You can thank me for not taking and posting pics of animal excrement. So, while out fishing from shore, I often find animal fecal piles with really big seeds in them. And I've wondered what the seeds are from. They are roughly the size and shape of an almond nut (meat, not shell), maybe not as thick as an almond. Kind of a brown or light reddish-brown color. They must be tough, because they seem to be completely intact inside the poo.... not cracked or partially chewed. I'm not sure I've ever seen a Paw Paw tree where I fish.... but they could certainly be around. I looked online.... the poo seeds might be similar to Paw Paw seeds, but not quite as dark brown as the pics I saw online. I dunno. Just curious about it. Anybody have any ideas, or have seen what I'm talking about?

I agree with John that small jigs would work, and small streamers. Grass Pickerel are small fish, so size the lure/fly accordingly. One tip I can offer is that Pickerel often seem to enjoy a very erratic (jerky) retrieve. It seems to trigger them.

Awesome! I'm glad you were able to get out AND catch some fish! 👍😃

My BIL has been looking into this. He's thinking of not using the batteries, since they'd need to be replaced every so often. He's gonna get solar, and connect to the grid. When he's making surplus electricity, it'll go to the grid. When he's not making enough, he'll draw from the grid. When electricity goes to the grid, the electrical company gives credits, and then he'll use the credits when he draws from the grid. As long as he, on average, generates more than he uses, he'll never have to pay for electricity. He does have a small generator for emergencies.

Great job on the loaches, bowfin, and snakehead!! What a night! 😃

More deer:

Koi:

Goldfish:

Got back to StL on Saturday evening. Sunday I decided to not drive very far, and maybe just go for Redear Sunfish. I found them. They were small, but had that good color on their opercles. Also caught bluegills, largemouth bass, and green sunfish.

Had to be in Iowa on Saturday. Drove up Friday night. Got into town with enough daylight left to hit a nearby public pond. Caught what I was hoping for! Flyrod Species #82 for 2024.... Pumpkinseed Sunfish! Love these beautiful fish! Caught another that may have some mixed genetics....but is certainly mostly P'seed.

I read that if you like both men AND women, but they don't like you...you should identify as "bi-yourself". And that's how threads get derailed. 😁 Back to Ham's quest!!