Magical Mystery Micro Tour 6/18/19

[Ham]

So, I needed to run my wife’s car by the shop for a warranty issue. Tuesday was my first chance so off to Adventure Subaru I went. I had a little lead time so I used Google Maps to look at possible access points for micro / mini/ macro fishing From Piggy City to Flippin. Selected rods and a cross sampling of gear for everything imaginable. I set the goal of 25 fish and 7 species. Hoping for a couple of fish that I had not caught yet this year. Maybe a lifer. 

My furry alarm clock had me up a little early and I made good enough time to hit White River access at Hwy 45 for a few minutes. I got a Bluegill and a few Longear Sunfish for my trouble. I wouldn’t zero.

I spent longer in Fayettevillie than I intended, but I had a nice visit with my daughter so that’s cool But I didn’t hit my next spot until after 11 am. I needed to be back in Flippin at 5:30 ish. I stopped at a little creek. I found a pull over spot and rigged up 2 lb line and size 20 hook with a Tiny bit o worm. 

The descent into the little gem of water was treacherous. I did avoid breaking any bones which was a plus. Right away I spotted lots of minnows and darters. Darters were willing, but their little mouths werent able. I finally caught one of the “larger” ones. It was one of the “Orange Throated” darters. Not sure which of the five or so sub species.  Trying to move the bait towards another one and a Banded Sculpin flew out from underneath a rock. Man this is going great I thought. Then it got tougher. I got another Darter to hand hoping for better photos to ID it. He flopped off trying to get him into the photo bag. No more darters willing or able to eat. 

I dropped down into the pool and regretted having only brought one rod. I missed some opportunities there for sure. Trying to find more Sculpin and Darters was a flop, but got into multiple Striped Shiners, Dusky Striped Shiners, LES, White Tailed Shiners, and as it turned out Steelcolored Shiners. Feeling the time crunch and hoping for more darters, I left the biting. I could have stayed there and worn them out or gone further upstream or down. That would have been smart so I did not do that. 

Drove to War Eagle south of Huntsville. Missed a nice LMB. Quickly caught LES and Green Sunfish. Caught more Duskies, more White Tails, and more Steelcolored. Somewhere in there I caught a Bigeye Shiner. I was frustrated to no end by a large Darter that I think was a Greenside which would be a lifer for me. I put the bait on a platter for him, but he would not eat. 

On the road again, I stopped at War Eagle off 412. This was a bad stop. Lost a lure. Top Minnows would not play. Only caught LES. Stone Rollers blew me off. 

Next stop, King’s River. Family swimming where I wanted to fish. The fish I tried to catch largely ignored me. I did catch a Dusky and LES. They are two of the higher populations in most of what I fish. Actually hard to avoid them. 

Truly running out of time. I gave up on Osage for this trip and hot footed it to Crooked Creek at Hwy 62. Ppl again where I wanted to fish. I caught several more White Tailed. Missed my chance at a Smallie. 

Like an icthological Icarus that flew too high I fell  in failure. My desire to fish everywhere ended up being a poor plan. I will learn from this. 

39 fish and 10 species. 3 new for the year and 2 new ones on the life list. A very successful day really. I was just mad at myself for over thinking this. 

 

 

[Ham]

[Ham]

A rather poor pic of the banded. My haste to get fish back in the water combined with presbyopia  works against me. 

[Johnsfolly]

52 minutes ago, Ham said:

Would rather have seen those steelcolor shiners! Great looking minnows. Enjoyed the write up buddy! 

[Ham]

Darter

[Ham]

Fuzzy foto of Striped Shiner. They are almost greasy feeling and smell 

[Ham]

Plenty of color variation in Long Ear Sunfish

[Johnsfolly]

5 minutes ago, Ham said:

Fuzzy foto of Striped Shiner. They are almost greasy feeling and smell 

They do smell😌.

[Ham]

Running into photo limits ; more to come

[Ham]

Dusky