Arkansas County Quest

[Ham]

 

i went with my son back to St Francis County looking for an adult snakehead. I had caught a tiny one, but wanted an adult. On the way there, Google routed us through Cross County. I made a note to fish there on the way home IF we had time.I got my adult.Ian got a couple of nice bass. We had to go to overtime, but Ian got another Snakehead too.we really didn’t have time, but I stopped and fished ditches anyway. first three fish in Cross County were Green Sunfish, but I had my sights set on Orangespotted Sunfish.I got my OSSF at my second stop. I then tried for Spotted Gar and later more snakehead. We got strikes from both, but caught neither. 
#52 Cross County

[Hawg]

Love it

[Ham]

#53 Lonoke County Today was a Full day of goofiness. I knew I was going to be burning tons of gas so I combined some side projects with the County Quest

First stop was in …I was fishing Lake Barnett. I discovered it had yellow bass last time around. I went there to get one on fly. And I did. #51 species on fly for the yearI departed ahead of schedule from home and stayed ahead of schedule. On to Toltec.

I visited the Toltec Indian Mounds. I fished Mound Pond from an elevated walkway. I got a Nice Bluegill. Water was low and ugly green. I won’t go back. I also stopped at a couple of ditches looking for Orangespotted Sunfish which I did not catch. I stopped at a community fishing pond in England, AR. It’s BIG. I only caught panfish on fly and not. I got tagged in the ankle by a Red Wasp while trying for a lifer minnow. Sucked.

Hang with me more to come. 

[Ham]

So , I started off the day ahead of schedule and maintained that thru Toltec, but that all went to heck because of my Orangespotted Sunfish obsession. It’s real bad y’all.this ditch below the Keo Fish Farm should have held an OSSF for me in Lonoke County. It did not and worse I saw grass carp frolicking. I thought that I could pull a @FishnDaveand get one of the feral grassies to eat, but they run and hid when I was getting ready for them.

I also spent time at the England Community Fishing Pond trying for a lifer. Then another ditch that didn’t work. And another ditch by Neelam Cemetary.I hit the county line for Jefferson and tried one more promising little ditch. Time is stacked against me now. I started catching the fire out of Sunfish. Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Longears, Redspotted, and lots of weird hybrids. I hoped to eventually get to an OSSF, but I ran out of time.a frantic 1:15 minute drive to Jenkins Ferry State Park to fish the Saline Riveronce there I granted myself 15 minutes to get it done. Not a problem. I spent half that time looking for something special. It didn’t happen. I caught this Black Spotted Top Minnow and a couple of small Green Sunfish.I had the now traditional Orange Soda celebration of the counties and the Yellow Bass on fly and started my drive home.Fatburger for Supper in Greenbriar to wrap things up. 
I think I have at least one more multi-county trip left in me for the year. 54 completed, but the road gets steeper as you go. 

 

[Ham]

Johnson County

I didn’t plan on doing a multi-county quest yesterday, but an unfortunate series of events scuttled a float trip with Johnny. So off I go on what is likely my last county quest of the year. 
my route to Clarksville took me through Ponca. It was HARD for me not to stop and fish the low water bridge on the Buffalo at Ponca, but time is limited and you have stick to a schedule. I had actually gotten away from the house 30 minutes early and was felling pretty Good about myself.

but I had to stop and look at an elk. so back on the road. Another quick stop at Lake Ludwig looking for Spotted Gar.nope, a metric crap tonne of top minnows though.

So Spadra Creek was my target. Upper creek is more ozarky and the lower creek is connected to the Arkansas river. I decided to save the upper section for another day and do the chunk down by the river. I was hoping for an Orange Spotted sunfish out of the rip rap around boat launches. I also had hoped for flow along the rip rap and spotted Gar or catfish.

I roll up, rig up, and start fishing through bluegill, Longear Sunfish, and Green Sunfish. There was no flow and I never saw a gar at all. First one after catching 15 of the various sunfish, I decided to stay ahead of schedule and depart for Scott County. I did check out a couple of other close options that looked really good in satellite imagery, but less so in person. 
but Johnson County completed. 

 

[Ham]

Scott County so I take off for Scott County ahead of schedule and fired up to see new water. I had to go through Logan County to get to Scott County, but I had an evil plan for later. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. I saw a sign for an another Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River. I was hoping for a similar set up to at Dardenelle where I can catch fish on dead water pretty consistently. I got there grabbed six weight fly rod, fly fishing bag, and Net and took off to look at the river. 

Man, I could see Gar everywhere and I had hoped that a spotted Gar would wander within casting range. I also hoped other fish would be on the rocks.   I scramble down the rocks and see tons of bait milling about, but nothing hitting it. No flow except for a small creek running in. Nothing was relating to that flow either. I gave it a while with multiple flys. Tried for Gar and stuff closer to the bank. Never got a whiff. I picked up some trash and headed back to the car. this kinda stuff is why we lose access. I had that people are so dumb. Pack it out. Never leave line to ensnare and kill wildlife. 
we’ll eventually after lots of driving I got to a low water bridge over the mostly dry Petit Jean River near Elm Park, AR.

so, I’m pretty short on time and I started to press a bit after losing multiple fish that were pulling drag and then mysteriously pulled off. Butttt, I got one and then another and stuck around until I caught 10.beautiful fish. Scott County Completed and one county to go.

[Ham]

Logan Countyon to New Blaine Community Park.a creek runs into a Arkansas River backwater basin. I was hoping for an Orangespotted Sunfish. I fished a piece of red worm on a size 16 hook on my B&M red neck tenkara pole. I caught a bluegill first.and then a variety of green sunfish and LES hybrids. I caught 15 before I decided that Logan County was complete and I should go with Operation Longshot. Back to Yell County to try the flyrod along the rip rap below the Dardenelle L/D. I got there just after 4 pm and was rigged and in position by 4:20. I started with a @BilletHeadClouser Minnow. I was swinging it tight to shore amongst the rip rap that had tons of threadfin Shad running up and down it. I was waiting for a heavy thump, but I got a light but definite tap. Strip set and lift. I got an unexpected Lifer Threadfin Shad on fly. The hook was completely in his mouth. Might have been a crazy coincidence, but I’ll take it. I will tie in a very small streamer behind a larger fly next time I’m at Dardenelle and see if I can duplicate the catch. 
I got a Bluegill and a mystery mix sunfish.I got four more Yellow Bass on fly too.I was surprised and disappointed by the lack of drum. That made me think I had no shot at catfish. I eventually triggered a pretty decent drum which got out into the current. I had to follow him downstream on the rocks a little bit.I really wanted a catfish and I really wanted a 50 burger, but after hitting the snooze on my departure alarm a few times, I have up and headed for home.Johnson,Scott, and Logan counties completed. That puts me at 57 counties done and 18 counties to go. I’m likely done for the year on counties, but you never know.

[Johnsfolly]

@Ham Nice job buddy! You're getting so close. Sucks that the year is almost done, but a strong push next year is all you need.

[Ham]

3 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

@Ham Nice job buddy! You're getting so close. Sucks that the year is almost done, but a strong push next year is all you need.

I have semi-firm plans to complete 7 counties next year. Three of those will likely require an overnight stay. 
the remaining eleven will require extensive planning and likely 3 day trips. I do not believe that I will be able finish next year. I have too many other irons in the fire. 

[grizwilson]

12 hours ago, Ham said:

I have semi-firm plans to complete 7 counties next year. Three of those will likely require an overnight stay. 
the remaining eleven will require extensive planning and likely 3 day trips. I do not believe that I will be able finish next year. I have too many other irons in the fire. 

I take partial responsibility, trout trips, talk of hybrids, white bass and crappie seem to distract Ham from his task at hand....sorry😂