2024 Flyfishing Fish Pics

[FishnDave]

Got out for a short trip after work.  Hoped for darters.  Did not catch any.  Caught other stuff, including

Striped Shiner and Mottled Sculpins

[FishnDave]

The deer last night kept sneaking up on me and trying to get all close and chummy.

 

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, FishnDave said:

Got out for a short trip after work.  Hoped for darters.  Did not catch any.  Caught other stuff, including

Striped Shiner and Mottled Sculpins

if that is the creek that Livie and I fished there should be a decent rainbow darter population. We saw a bunch.

[FishnDave]

18 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

if that is the creek that Livie and I fished there should be a decent rainbow darter population. We saw a bunch.

There should be.  I just suck at darters. I was having what I thought may have been decent sized darters coming out from under big rocks to hit my flies.... but I didn't manage to land any. They'd quickly dart back under the rocks, so I couldn't really see for sure what they were.  Could have been small Green Sunfish, since I did catch those too.  Evening light didn't give me the best spotting conditions... but I gave it a go anyway.  Darn darters. 

[FishnDave]

Tuesday after work (I work from home), I joined in the St Louis rush-hour traffic to try and squeeze in a couple hours of evening fishing.  My target was Orangespotted Sunfish, from a spot I had caught them in April.  Water levels have been high since then, but were only @ 3.5' higher than April now.  Fishable.

Sadly, I did not catch any Orangespotted Sunfish.  Nor Green Sunfish, Bluegills, Hybrid Sunfish, or Longear Sunfish....all of which I've caught there in the past.  Perplexing.  Where are they? 

There were 2-3 small current seams, and at each one, I found fish.  I ended up catching 4 Common Carp, a Freshwater Drum, a Bigmouth Buffalo, a little Channel Catfish, and a Shortnose Gar.  

Some really good fighters in that bunch!  Had my 6wt fly rod bent over pretty good!

 

[FishnDave]

Took Wednesday off work to go fishing.  I needed 6 Bowfin to get to 200 Lifetime Bowfin on Fly.  I think that's pretty cool, considering I caught my first one ever in 2022.  

I went to a location about twice as far away from home as my usual bowfin spot.  Wasn't sure I'd reach the goal today, but thought maybe I'd inch closer to it.  I got there, and water was lower than when I'd last been here in the Spring.  Some decent spots were dry or otherwise unfishable.

Short story...I reached my goal!  I caught exactly 6 Bowfin.  They were smaller than the ones I usually catch, but cute little buggers!

[FishnDave]

I also caught Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, and a BOATLOAD of Warmouth!

 

[FishnDave]

 

[FishnDave]

Seen while fishing:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (some females are black, while others are yellow with black stripes like the males)

This Plain-bellied Water Snake was my buddy.  He came flying off the high bank into the water chasing frogs.  I was snagging sticks in the water...I'd unhook them and toss them onto the bank on my left.  The snake would chase the sticks and attack them as if they were another snake.  I'd pet him with my rod tip.  He never seemed to mind.  He finally came over and rested next to my shoe.

 

[FishnDave]

Had to be in Iowa on Saturday.  Drove up Friday night.  Got into town with enough daylight left to hit a nearby public pond.  Caught what I was hoping for!  Flyrod Species #82 for 2024.... Pumpkinseed Sunfish!  Love these beautiful fish!

Caught another that may have some mixed genetics....but is certainly mostly P'seed.