Post Spawn Redears

[FishnDave]

Although there's still a lot of unpacking and organizing to do, we've finally completed our move to St. Louis.

Saturday morning I flyfished a lake that was posted "C&R Only / No Live Bait or Scented Lures/Bait".  The water was fairly clear.

I used a microjig under an indicator most of the time, but switched to a Howitzer Popper for a short while as well.  Caught 2 bass on the popper.  The microjig landed 1-2 bass, some bluegills, a fair number of Green Sunfish, a few Redear Sunfish, and what I suspect were several Redear/Bluegill hybrids.  None of the fish were especially big, although a few Green Sunfish were in the 8" range and chunky.  I enjoyed it all the same.

I could see some Redears along one stretch of shoreline.  None were spawning, just swimming around or staring at the bottom (looking for food?)  I'd only ever seen them spawning in the past, so it was interesting to watch their more "normal" behaviors.  They would look for food on the bottom, mid-depth, and even come to the surface to look at potential food items.  They were pretty picky, and would look...but usually refuse my offerings & presentations.

For the record, my first MO fly rod fish was a Redear Sunfish, and I am pleased about that:

This one had an orange-ish eye.  Ever seen one like this??

This wasn't the biggest bass, but it was really dark colored:

The Green Sunfish were nicely colored...even the little ones:

I didn't take any pictures of the bluegills, although some had good colors.

And these are what I suspect are the Redear/Bluegill hybrids.  I'd welcome other opinions....they definitely aren't pure bluegills, since bluegills never have the reddish edge to their opercular flap.:

[snagged in outlet 3]

Nice!   What area did you settle in?

[FishnDave]

Also...I didn't see one here but may have overlooked it...is there a sub-forum for St. Louis area fishing?  Or is there another website that deals more with that?

I really want to catch a Longear Sunfish soon, and don't know where to try that isn't very far away.

 

[FishnDave]

1 minute ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Nice!   What area did you settle in?

We are in Creve Coeur, just a block or 2 north of Olive, and between 270 and Lindbergh/67.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Oh yeah my wife and I lived in Creve Coeur for a few years.  

[FishnDave]

I did some looking on the MDC website.  It lists January-Wabash Park Lake in Ferguson as a good place to catch Longears.  Anybody know anything about the fish in that lake?

[Johnsfolly]

14 hours ago, FishnDave said:

Also...I didn't see one here but may have overlooked it...is there a sub-forum for St. Louis area fishing?  Or is there another website that deals more with that?

I really want to catch a Longear Sunfish soon, and don't know where to try that isn't very far away.

 

You'll  have to define very far away. An hour, two, or more? I'm  not familiar with the St Louis area or the lakes there but know that there should be lots of creeks between 1 to 2 hours from you that will have longears in their more native creek habitats. Good luck.

[snagged in outlet 3]

13 hours ago, FishnDave said:

I did some looking on the MDC website.  It lists January-Wabash Park Lake in Ferguson as a good place to catch Longears.  Anybody know anything about the fish in that lake?

Haven't fished it in years.  Not a great neighborhood if you know what I mean.  And I grew up near there.  Busch Wildlife has a sub forum I think.

Other than that everything around here is listed in the other forums.  Like The Meramec River.

[top_dollar]

Redears are in all of the little lakes and ponds around saint louis.  youll see them spawning in may at carondelet park by the thousands.  THey look mostly small though.  As for longears.....Ive never caught one from saint louis, but they are very common in small creeks and streams.

[FishnDave]

I tried January-Wabash this morning.  Talked to 2 other anglers. Both said there are Longears in the lake.  I didnt catch any.  I did catch a small bass, a Green Sunfish, a few bluegills, and a Redear Sunfish.