Down The Home Stretch

[Quillback]

3 minutes ago, Ham said:

I think so, but be prepared to walk and get wet. There are multiple access points. Im not sure how many bad you could catch in a day. 25-50 maybe 

I like the walking part, and no problem getting wet.  I like a river or lake where you can do a lot of walking (and fishing), it's fun to throw a rod in the car, bring minimal tackle and do some fishing.  

Put my dog to sleep recently which was tough to do (his liver was shot), but it does free me up to do long fishing trips.

[Ham]

31 minutes ago, Quillback said:

I like the walking part, and no problem getting wet.  I like a river or lake where you can do a lot of walking (and fishing), it's fun to throw a rod in the car, bring minimal tackle and do some fishing.  

Put my dog to sleep recently which was tough to do (his liver was shot), but it does free me up to do long fishing trips.

Oh Buddy, I’m Sorry to hear that. You helped him have a Good life. 

[Terrierman]

Jeff I know how much you loved that dog.  My sympathies.

[nomolites]

1 hour ago, Quillback said:

I like the walking part, and no problem getting wet.  I like a river or lake where you can do a lot of walking (and fishing), it's fun to throw a rod in the car, bring minimal tackle and do some fishing.  

Put my dog to sleep recently which was tough to do (his liver was shot), but it does free me up to do long fishing trips.

My sympathies on losing your pup.

Mike

[Johnsfolly]

On 8/8/2024 at 12:12 PM, Quillback said:

Put my dog to sleep recently which was tough to do (his liver was shot), but it does free me up to do long fishing trips.

Jeff I am sorry to hear about your dog. As Ham mentioned you gave him a good life. He sure seemed to like going to those Jigfests😉

[Johnsfolly]

Good luck Ham! I would love it if you could catch one of those bluntface shiners. I know that they would readily eat your flies.

[Ham]

4 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

Good luck Ham! I would love it if you could catch one of those bluntface shiners. I know that they would readily eat your flies.

Kinda counting on it. I will make a trip that way and they will be the primary target. 

[Ham]

Did some research and found a spot with a good chance for a Flyfer. More driving than fishing, but I rolled the dice anyway. 
I spooked s Big Cottonmouth on the way to the creek which is a good sign,

I immediately got lit up by Bleeding Shiners. I figured they would be the dominant minnow and I would have to fish thru them. 
In just a little bit I starting picking up what I thought was my target species, but I wanted a larger pretty one. I could see them in the water column. Very different from Bleeding Shiners. 
I got a few. 82) Telescope Shiner. 
Very much like the Bigeye Shiner, but slimmer, smaller eye. Mouth more like a Carmine Shiner. No black band across eye

[Ham]

Once I had caught a few Telescope Shiners and gotten a Pretty one, I switched my attention to darters. I had seen a big colorful Male darter earlier, but I was rigged for Shiners not darters.

I committed to one small (size 24) fly with an AB sized shot an inch or so in front of it. It seems like if you drag that weight around darters get curious and come check it out. They then might notice the fly and might peck at it, but if you feel a tug, you know unlike Bill Clinton, they inhaled and are likely hooked.

some days you drop 3 before you get one to hand, but I was really Lucky and landed most of the ones I hooked. 
 

83) Rainbow Darter 

[FishnDave]

Great job!

Darters are hard!  Or... maybe they are for just me. 😏