Down The Home Stretch

[Ham]

I really hope the AGFC can re-establish a Good population of Alligator Gar in the state.

Habitat changes will prevent it to being nearly as good as it once was and they’ll need to reign in those guys with pointy sticks that love to kill stuff for the fun of killing stuff. 
I of course won’t live long enough to see em get really big, but it doesn’t take long to get 4 footers. 

[Ham]

89) Black Buffalo

The Big Stinky Oxbow is a delightful mix of the loved and unloved. Everything from Bass, Bluegill, and crappie to three species of Gar, Buffalo, Grass Carp, Common Carp, Silver carp, Bowfin, and I suspect Northern Snakehead.

I target Gar on the outside bend while carp roam the inside edge. Last time I was there trying for a Longnose Gar, I saw Common Carp tailing on these mud flats.

Its hard to tell exactly how dirty the water is because the clay/mud/sand bottom shows through since it’s really shallow, but all those rough fish toiling away for their supper keeps it stirred up. 
If you ever want to be Super Frustrated, you should consider trying for carp with a fly rod.it’s been a struggle. The ones in Big Stinky don’t spook as bad as most places, but it’s hard for them to see your fly too.

After I got my gar, I switched to carp. I had lots of chances at fish yesterday. I made lots of presentations. I changed flys a few times. Looking for something that would land softly and settle slowly yet stand out enough for them to see. I’m learning.

I added a palsa indicator to help me see a take. It was not supposed to float the fly and it was too small to do so.

after some good chances, I finally put the fly close enough and saw the fish stop and the palsa wiggle. I Set and was into a decent fish. Nice initial run, then a reverse course and a run under the boat, and then another decent run and the hook popped out. I was NOT happy (I’m still not ok about that one). I regrouped mentally. Spotted another fish. Another good presentation. Another wiggle of the palsa. Set and came tight. Fish starts a softer initial run. Smaller fish. Another burst and hook pulls out again. F bomb.

So, I suspect that fish bumped tippet and got stuck in the face, but wasn’t an eat. I’ve got a fly that they were “eating”  and I just had to do better and land one. Another 30 minutes or so of searching for the right chance before I saw a big dopey one feeding heavy. I put the fly in there and got a big eat. I set and the carp face came up out of the water and he gave me a big head shake and the hook popped out. So yeah, I’m done with that fly forever. I guess there just isn’t another hook gap to hook and hold.

I changed flys and lost one to a tree while trying for grass carp or black Buffalo. Dark fish in a little deeper water.

Back to the area where I hooked three. Time is starting to become an issue. I tried for a few before seeing a slow cruiser. I put the fly in front and hopped it when it got close. Nothing. I recast in front of him again. Nothing. I placed it in front of him a third time and you could see him noticing it. Full stop. Head turned to the left. Head angles down. Palsa jumps. Set! The fish rolls over backward and head comes out of the water. He looked really surprised. I thought that’s a weird looking carp. The fight was not all that. Fish gave up pretty easy. I thought that was odd. It it did not like the net and would run a bit every time I tried to net him, but he got tired enough for Mr Clumsy to get him in it. 
my turn to be surprised. Not a carp, but instead my Flyfer Black Buffalo. a storm started blowing in so I bailed. Very Happy with my day.

[Ham]

90) Black Bullhead.

tough conditions. Dingy water, wind, clouds. Hard to spot em and I was rushing.

I got one though

[Ham]

91) Musky

I never, ever thought I would get a Musky on fly. Not only did I get one. I got four and one was a Monster. a 45 inch absolute Monster. I saw the eat and it was a crazy fight afterwards. 

[BilletHead]

Wowsers Ham!

[Johnsfolly]

Some awesome catches Ham!

[Quillback]

That is super getting that big musky on the fly!  

[Ham]

92) Goldfish

yep, I proudly follow up a 45 inch Musky with a 3 inch Goldfish. I kinda hold a grudge against goldfish. They torment me when I am trying to catch koi so I downsize and catch a lot of them. I think I caught 17 or so. 

[Ham]

93) Koi

so when I try for Koi, the goldfish harass me. When I try for goldfish, the koi get after me. I’m more than Happybto catch both. 
these are @FishnDave ‘s fish. I so appreciate him sharing and helping me. 
we caught quite a few. Dave always catches bigger ones and prettier ones, but I’m happy to get any of them. 

[FishnDave]

On 10/26/2024 at 7:22 PM, Ham said:

a 45 inch absolute Monster. I saw the eat and it was a crazy fight afterwards. 

@Ham had asked Augie, our guide, what the biggest one he'd seen caught here.  41" was the answer.  Should've known right then that there was about to be a "hold my beer" moment!