Fly Fishing Species 2023

[Ham]

77) Flathead Catfish 

I had invited @FishnDave down for fishing trip to try to add to his fly fishing Lifelist and his 2023 Fly Fishing species list. Dave is gonna do a thread (I hope). His wife was out of town and my wife was out of town, it was meant to be right?

Huge rain event on Wednesday hurt us on multiple fronts and made me scramble for some viable options Saturday. One of the Saturday spots was Portia Bay for Longnose Gar. Saw plenty, but caught none. However, Dave spotted something weird behind the cypress teees and eventually we got a better look at it and I figured out it was a Flathead acting weird. Clearly, this fish was acting  abnormally, but let’s try to catch it. We both had spots at it, but I had a better shot and managed to get a roll cast in front of the beast and when the fly disappeared into its maw, I set. I should have gotten wrecked, but didn’t and Dave was somehow able to fit it in the net.

Boom! I want more Flathead on Fly, but at least I have this one. I do kinda wish Dave had caught it since he spotted it first. here’s the fly that caught the Flathead 

[FishnDave]

You've achieved LEGENDARY Status!!! 🤩

[Ham]

5 hours ago, FishnDave said:

You've achieved LEGENDARY Status!!! 🤩

Thanks, but you’re being too kind. I’m just a guy. 

[Ham]

78) Bigmouth Buffalo

What a crazy day Saturday was. I was just enjoying the heck out of catching bowfin on fly. I started striping my fly to make another cast and became aware that a fish had my fly. It fought differently from bowfin and I was seriously confused about what it might be. It pulled super hard and just did not want to come up. I was so worried about losing it especially after I got a flash of color that mad me think it was a Buffalo of some sort. Thank Goodness that @FishnDave got the net under it. 

[FishnDave]

Did NOT want to come up!  Silly Buff.... and he ATE A BOWFIN FLY!!!

How cool is that??

[Ham]

79) Brook Trout

@FishnDave had to go home eventually . I gathered gear while he packed up and while he was driving home. I made good on the intell @netboy provided. 
I caught my first one in 15 minutes (I was starting to press a bit). I quit taking pictures after the eighth one. I tried for a Cutty, but caught two decent Rainbows and lost another nice one. I tried to walk out, but the Broookies kept showing off so I changed to a size 10 Pistol Pete and educated a few more.

I think Dave had 12 so I quit at 11 Brookies to let him have the title. 

[FishnDave]

13 hours ago, Ham said:

I think Dave had 12 so I quit at 11 Brookies to let him have the title. 

Ha!  No worries.  You're much too competitive for that.  You caught 13, didn't you! 😆  15?

[Ham]

I am a Man of My Word. I quit at 11. Of course, I caught two more yesterday on the Norfork. 

[Ham]

80) McCloud Rainbow

I went to Crane Creek and got a for sure MRR RBT today. I make things harder than they have to be, but I got it done. 

but still

I caught these from a small creek that shall go unnamed. Last stocked decades ago. These little guys are as close to wild as necessary. I only catch the babies. The bigger ones laugh at my crude attempts to fool them. I’m actually going to be back up that way soon and will add another couple of pics. 

[FishnDave]

3 hours ago, Ham said:

80) McCloud Rainbow

 

Is the full name McCloud River Redband Trout?  Same-same.  As long as YOU know what it is.