The Push for 100

[bfishn]

15 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Sorry about that, it was full.  You should be able to PM me now.  @bfishn

I just added you to my PM with Ham. Looked like it took this time.

[Ham]

81) Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus) I had to drive, but I got it done. 
 

[Ham]

82) Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)  An invasive species that I wish wasn’t here. Silver Carp and Bighead Carp are going to become a large part of the biomass in the waters they invaded. Lots of taxpayer dollars will be used to reduce there numbers. It would not surprise me if we had to start buying a Carp stamp to generate the revenue they will need to fight them.

but if they are here, I might as well catch one of each. 

[Johnsfolly]

11 hours ago, Ham said:

Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus)

I was having a discussion about mottled sculpin in the Niangua and got confirmation that the genus for the mottled sculpin and this sculpin species will be changing. Unfortunately I didn't keep the email with the full description . This species will be known as U. hypselurus  in the new Fishes of Missouri guide book.

[Ham]

Gee Whiz. Peterson Guide Book didn’t do me any favors. I can’t use my Fishes of AR book since they decided we don’t have Ozark Sculpin.

Thanks for the update John!

[Ham]

83) Blue Cat 

pardon the distortion. I caught four baby Blue Catfish below Bagnell Dam. I was surprised at the number of Bluegill I caught while cat fishing. Makes me think flatheads might prowl There at night. 
I wish I had been able to fish a full day there. Waldo would do well  there. 

[Johnsfolly]

19 hours ago, Ham said:

Gee Whiz. Peterson Guide Book didn’t do me any favors. I can’t use my Fishes of AR book since they decided we don’t have Ozark Sculpin.

Thanks for the update John!

Actually it may be all of the sculpin at least the common ones, banded, ozark, mottled, knobfin. Not sure what the thoughts are leading to the change.

[Ham]

Well, I think that it’s time to admit my failure. I am not going to be able to get to 100 species this year. There will be no Fishmas miracle. 
my failure to add more species on the Big Piney Trip, the Mayo Ditch trip, and the trip to North Carolina kept me from getting at trouble and home and work because if I had gotten to 90, I would have driven south to salty water in Louisiana to add species and stopped to get a few more push overs in fresh water.

fishing is so quirky. Normally, I get a Long Nosed Gar w/o much trouble. I hung a half nosed and lost some boat side, but I did not consider them “caught”

. Normally, I get a few Northern Hog Sucker, but not this year

. I have a couple more chances, but no chestnut lamprey yet. 

I can’t get my poop together enough to get with @LittleRedFishermanfor a Flathead.

weather and distance cost me a shot at a Striper with @Quillback

while none of those fish where gimmies, that’s five species that I’ve got to have to get to 100.

still too early for me to roll out my fishing goals for 2021, but I promise 2021 is going to get my FULL effort to get to 100 species. Then, I will be done with trying for total number of species and just sprinkle in obsessions over individual lifer species and locations. 
I will clean up this thread and add scientific names (before they change again). I’m going to fish today, 12/25, and 12/28 so I might still add a species or two but if I get stuck at 83 and match @Johnsfolly’s high water mark that seems pretty fitting to me.

Merry Christmas Everyone! Happy New Year! Let’s Hope 2021 is Better than 2020 has been. 

[laker67]

Merry Christmas Ham. You came a far sight closer to your 100 goal than I did. I watched your numbers increase weekly and really thought you would make it easily. That is fishing for you. I set out to catch 100 lunker trout this year and fell way short. 35 is my total so far and time is running thin. I am fishing the next 3 days and hope  for another fish or two. It has been 4 years since I have had a 100 fish season, { 3lb and bigger} . I really thought this year  had promise. Then we all got hit with covid and high water, then more high water. I will probably set my goal at 50 next year and see how that goes. Merry Christmas to all. Stay healthy out there. 

[timinmo]

Ham, I have enjoyed the journey.  Wishing the best of luck in the new year, new quest.  You have entertained many of us. Thanks.