Midwinter Multispecies trip with Ham

[Johnsfolly]

I was able to take off some time last week and had a fishing trip scheduled to fish with Ham on Weds the 10th. We had agreed on meeting at 9 am just to give me the time to drive the 200 miles to our meeting location. Of course I drove too fast on the way there and got to the spot about 25 min early. It was about 32 deg and a little bit of fog off the water. I got a chance to catch a longear sunfish on a yellow grub microjig. Had a couple of other fish and a possible trout follow but not take the microjig. I switched to a 1/16 oz tri-olive zig jig and caught two quick trout on three casts then no more. I moved to a spot where I could see the road. I fished a Johnson thinfisher in a pool and just hooked up as I saw Ham heading in. I land a 14" rainbow and met Ham.

My fishing goals are tracked from March 1 to Feb 28th to follow the MO fishing license year. Ham tracks his fishing goals on the calendar year. So this was one of my last trips for the year and the first for Ham in 2018. So I had a couple of target species that I knew were locally available, I also wanted to catch over 30 fish total, and try to bring home a dinner of shadow bass. Ham was targeting a total fish count of 50 fish and any fish would be a new species for his fishing year. Since I had success near the boat ramp we started fishing there just after launching. Ham saw a chain pickerel along the bank and he caught it right off the bat. We also caught a few trout as well before we headed upstream.

The plan for the rest of the day was to drift the current and fish jigs and other baits. We fished our plan using Zig jigs (1/16 and 1/8 oz; brown, orange, olive, ginger good colors), a trout magnet minnow jerkbait, and some other misc. baits. We caught several fish right off the bat on our first drift. Ham caught a very nice rainbow (15 to 16") and I caught a real nice colored rainbow trout on our first pass.

  

After our initial success, I had a stretch of the Folly Fumbles and lost several nice fish. At the tail end of one of our drifts, Ham was fishing a 1/8 oz zig jig and landed a nice male hornyhead chub, another new species for 2018. This fish had some issues and it took over several minutes active movement in the water and some time in the live well to get it well resuscitated and back into the water. I don't know many folks that would take the time to resuscitate a hornyhead chub.

I landed my first shadow bass. This was either my 59th or 60th different fish species that I had caught since March 1. The uncertainty was whether I had caught a mottled sculpin on my last trip to the Niangua. I needed one more confirmed species just to hit my goal of 60 different species for the year. With the low and clear water Ham and I could see lots of fish on our drifts. One stretch had boulder/rock near the bank, then sand/gravel, and then back to rock/boulder bottom. We could see lots of fish in the sandy transition area. I got a fish to break after my jig and I hooked (and Landed ) a redhorse sucker. We took photos that would help me ID this fish (dorsal fins ray numbers, color of the dorsal and tail fin, mouth, and total body to count lateral line scale number). I just got confirmation that this is a black redhorse sucker. My definite 60th fish as well as a new life list fish for me. Like the hornyhead chub, took some extra time to resuscitate this fish before release.

I pointed out the school of fish to Ham to get a chance at catching one himself. He did not catch one, but I hooked and lost another one on that pass. We headed downstream and to the spot where I would be likely to catch dinner. We both caught a couple of micros, rainbow darters and bleeding shiners, on the way downstream. We still caught many fish on the way downstream. Once we got into a spot with some wood and large boulders, we were expecting to get into shadow bass and a possible chain pickerel for me. I caught a few shadows, made sure that they met the minimum length limit and into the live well they went. Ham caught a couple as well, but struggled on the shadows as he caught many trout instead. He did end up contributing a couple of fish to the Folly meal total. On one cast past a very large boulder, I hooked a surprise black crappie. I did end up hooking and landing a chain pickerel off of a couple of laydown trees. Another new species for me. At 4 pm I had to head home. Ham was near meeting his numbers goal when he dropped me off at the ramp.

I ended the day with 34 fish total, enough fish for a fresh fish meal (see the what's cooking thread), and 12 different species for the day. Ham caught seven different species and caught over 50 by the time he headed home. Today I received confirmation that I had indeed caught a mottled sculpin in the Niangua, which gives me 62 different species. I am so glad that I clicked on Ozark Anglers and then onto the forums. If I hadn't I would not have met or got to fish with guys like Ham. I appreciate that he is willing to drag me around and even catch fish with him ! I hope that this next year I will have opportunity to help him towards his species goals for 2018 or if nothing more try to figure out what he just caught.

 

[timinmo]

Great trip report to warm me on a cold morning.  Enjoyed your adventure.

[JestersHK]

Looks like you guys had an awesome trip!  Been trying to get out myself, but everytime I have a window its down below 20...

[Ham]

I was desperate to fish yesterday, but by the time it was close to 15 degrees the water rise from max generation hit and the water was trashed. 

I always enjoy my trips with John. Like several other of my OA buddies, John is saved by having a > 100 mile buffer zone. Otherwise, he would diasappear down the fishing rabbit hole with me far too often and his wife would hate me and maybe him too. 

[Johnsfolly]

 

4 hours ago, Ham said:

I was desperate to fish yesterday, but by the time it was close to 15 degrees the water rise from max generation hit and the water was trashed. 

I always enjoy my trips with John. Like several other of my OA buddies, John is saved by having a > 100 mile buffer zone. Otherwise, he would diasappear down the fishing rabbit hole with me far too often and his wife would hate me and maybe him too. 

it would be fun to think about. I might even develop a little disdain for catching another rainbow trout!

[JestersHK]

Yeah... If I was any closer to trout waters is be in serious trouble.  Wife tolerates my addiction, but once I stopped going to work and the money dried up I'd be in the doghouse lol. 

Oh to only fish and not have to work... Someday... Oh wait 3 daughters you say?  I'm doomed.

[Terrierman]

On ‎1‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 10:00 PM, Johnsfolly said:

I was able to take off some time last week and had a fishing trip scheduled to fish with Ham on Weds the 10th. We had agreed on meeting at 9 am just to give me the time to drive the 200 miles to our meeting location. Of course I drove too fast on the way there and got to the spot about 25 min early. It was about 32 deg and a little bit of fog off the water. I got a chance to catch a longear sunfish on a yellow grub microjig. Had a couple of other fish and a possible trout follow but not take the microjig. I switched to a 1/16 oz tri-olive zig jig and caught two quick trout on three casts then no more. I moved to a spot where I could see the road. I fished a Johnson thinfisher in a pool and just hooked up as I saw Ham heading in. I land a 14" rainbow and met Ham.

My fishing goals are tracked from March 1 to Feb 28th to follow the MO fishing license year. Ham tracks his fishing goals on the calendar year. So this was one of my last trips for the year and the first for Ham in 2018. So I had a couple of target species that I knew were locally available, I also wanted to catch over 30 fish total, and try to bring home a dinner of shadow bass. Ham was targeting a total fish count of 50 fish and any fish would be a new species for his fishing year. Since I had success near the boat ramp we started fishing there just after launching. Ham saw a chain pickerel along the bank and he caught it right off the bat. We also caught a few trout as well before we headed upstream.

The plan for the rest of the day was to drift the current and fish jigs and other baits. We fished our plan using Zig jigs (1/16 and 1/8 oz; brown, orange, olive, ginger good colors), a trout magnet minnow jerkbait, and some other misc. baits. We caught several fish right off the bat on our first drift. Ham caught a very nice rainbow (15 to 16") and I caught a real nice colored rainbow trout on our first pass.

  

After our initial success, I had a stretch of the Folly Fumbles and lost several nice fish. At the tail end of one of our drifts, Ham was fishing a 1/8 oz zig jig and landed a nice male hornyhead chub, another new species for 2018. This fish had some issues and it took over several minutes active movement in the water and some time in the live well to get it well resuscitated and back into the water. I don't know many folks that would take the time to resuscitate a hornyhead chub.

I landed my first shadow bass. This was either my 59th or 60th different fish species that I had caught since March 1. The uncertainty was whether I had caught a mottled sculpin on my last trip to the Niangua. I needed one more confirmed species just to hit my goal of 60 different species for the year. With the low and clear water Ham and I could see lots of fish on our drifts. One stretch had boulder/rock near the bank, then sand/gravel, and then back to rock/boulder bottom. We could see lots of fish in the sandy transition area. I got a fish to break after my jig and I hooked (and Landed ) a redhorse sucker. We took photos that would help me ID this fish (dorsal fins ray numbers, color of the dorsal and tail fin, mouth, and total body to count lateral line scale number). I just got confirmation that this is a black redhorse sucker. My definite 60th fish as well as a new life list fish for me. Like the hornyhead chub, took some extra time to resuscitate this fish before release.

I pointed out the school of fish to Ham to get a chance at catching one himself. He did not catch one, but I hooked and lost another one on that pass. We headed downstream and to the spot where I would be likely to catch dinner. We both caught a couple of micros, rainbow darters and bleeding shiners, on the way downstream. We still caught many fish on the way downstream. Once we got into a spot with some wood and large boulders, we were expecting to get into shadow bass and a possible chain pickerel for me. I caught a few shadows, made sure that they met the minimum length limit and into the live well they went. Ham caught a couple as well, but struggled on the shadows as he caught many trout instead. He did end up contributing a couple of fish to the Folly meal total. On one cast past a very large boulder, I hooked a surprise black crappie. I did end up hooking and landing a chain pickerel off of a couple of laydown trees. Another new species for me. At 4 pm I had to head home. Ham was near meeting his numbers goal when he dropped me off at the ramp.

I ended the day with 34 fish total, enough fish for a fresh fish meal (see the what's cooking thread), and 12 different species for the day. Ham caught seven different species and caught over 50 by the time he headed home. Today I received confirmation that I had indeed caught a mottled sculpin in the Niangua, which gives me 62 different species. I am so glad that I clicked on Ozark Anglers and then onto the forums. If I hadn't I would not have met or got to fish with guys like Ham. I appreciate that he is willing to drag me around and even catch fish with him ! I hope that this next year I will have opportunity to help him towards his species goals for 2018 or if nothing more try to figure out what he just caught.

 

My screen wallpaper is a closeup of a horny head chub head with a reflection of me and the setting sun in the eye.  What a day you two had.  It is no wonder I love to fish with both of you.  You both help me to feel connected.  Never change.

[Johnsfolly]

15 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

My screen wallpaper is a closeup of a horny head chub head with a reflection of me and the setting sun in the eye.  What a day you two had.  It is no wonder I love to fish with both of you.  You both help me to feel connected.  Never change.

Thanks Terrierman. I would love to see that photo☺. Can't wait to fish with you again!

[Johnsfolly]

39 minutes ago, JestersHK said:

Yeah... If I was any closer to trout waters is be in serious trouble.  Wife tolerates my addiction, but once I stopped going to work and the money dried up I'd be in the doghouse lol. 

Oh to only fish and not have to work... Someday... Oh wait 3 daughters you say?  I'm doomed.

I fished with you for one night. Can't imagine what it would be like to fish with you for several days or a week. Don't know if I could keep up☺! Wouldn't mind trying maybe in Louisiana or Florida!

[BilletHead]

24 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

I fished with you for one night. Can't imagine what it would be like to fish with you for several days or a week. Don't know if I could keep up☺! Wouldn't mind trying maybe in Louisiana or Florida!

       He wore me out in the daylight!

BilletHead