Down The Home Stretch

[Ham]

99) Brown Trout

It’s Good to be Lucky and to have friends. I was on the way to Bennett Springs when I realized that the Park Store would be closed. I like to restock Micro jigs for the next 12-18 months. When I whined to @BilletHead and @Johnsfolly about that, John suggested Weaver’s. I knew about Weaver’s, but they have never been open when I pass by. John have them a call and the new owner said to give him a call when I was close and he would come open the store for me.So, I did and he did. 
I bought my jigs and talked to Cody(I think) about the park and my plans. I said I hoped against all odds to get a Brown Trout. We talked about areas in the park, but he said “you should go to Barclay, they just stocked 9000 Browns there”. 👀 

As my day played out, I had time and I made the run to Barclay. I had been there once, but I had no idea where to even begin to try. 
I walked through the woods upstream from the canoe launch until I found a decent access to the river. 
I reminded myself I only needed one of any size and to be patient and trust the process.

I saw a likely spot. Some deeper slower water adjacent to a hard current seam right below a downhill tail from the upstream pool.

weather was deteriorating. High winds and ocasional light rain. 
I waded out into the high flow and made a cast into the slow water closet to the tail out. Freaking fly didn’t make it a foot before it got smashed. I couldn’t believe it, but the hook didn’t grab. I took one step downstream and pulled off about 6 more foot of line. I made a longer cast into the slower water. Again, it almost immediately got smoked. Fish On! Flash of yellow. Carefully, I worked it through the heavy current. Into the slower water on the park side of the river. It all worked out. I only needed one, but I didn’t stop at one. I only fished a little while and I would have loved to have had an hour or two, but I caught 4 Browns, a Rainbow, and a Hornyhead Chub. 
The park store being closed is only reason that I caught those fish. I only went to Weavers and got that intell because John helped me out. 
Thanks John! 

[Ham]

#100 Golden Redhorse

I had to run errands this morning and I fished for a few hours in the afternoon. I was hoping to wrap this thing up with a Northern Hog Sucker. I even tied sone small egg flys to use for them.

I know that it is a good spot for Northern Hog Suckers. I’ve caught my Flyfer there and saw several caught there recently.

Dang Rainbows got in the way and I lost the only Northern Hog Sucker I hooked. Which was sad. I was just about to leave when I hooked a large fish that wasn’t a rainbow. In the dingy water when I saw the bronze flash, I thought maybe a walleye. But nah, a Redhorse.! 

When I got it into the shallows, I was stoked! I felt like it was a Golden Redhorse which would be a Flyfer and push me over the top. 
I read about the ID features of Goldens and Blacks,. Then I did a lateral line scale count and was crestfallen because I miscounted the scales and thought it was a Black, but I was corrected by a fish nerd. My redhorse was a golden! # 100 and my 145 th species on fly overall.  

[Johnsfolly]

Conrats @Ham on a great accomplishment! A lot of hard work and a little luck contributed to this achievement.

[FishnDave]

11 hours ago, Ham said:

 # 100 and my 145 th species on fly overall.  

You did it again! 🏆 👍  2  consecutive years!  And you've passed me, likely for good!  I thought I had 146 fly rod species, but it's 143.  Thanks for all your help putting me on some really cool fish the past few years!  It's been great fun!  

[bfishn]

Congratulations Ham!

[Ham]

101) Black Crappie

I had planned on getting a Black Crappie on fly at Bull Shoals or Norfork, but I found out about a hot bite at Lake Atkins.

I made the long drive this morning to kayak fish in the face of a pretty steady cold North wind. The cold front did not help the bite. Lots of disappointed anglers leaving as I showed up. I only needed one Black Crappie of any size on fly.

Tons of threadfin Shad in the cove I fished. Water was cloudy, but not muddy. Water was fairly shallow. I played with indicator settings a bunch. 
The bite was terribly light. I was really focused on the indicator and sone bites were not detectible. I lost the first two black crappie I hooked. I didn’t get a black crappie until my 7th fish, but 7,8,9 and 10 were black crappie.

I wanted to pound numbers, so I stayed even though it was a grind. I gave up with 38 fish to hand. I couldn’t feel my hands or feet any more. I was really struggling to straighten out the inevitable tangles. Happy to add another for the year. 

[Ham]

102)  Emerald Shiner

I've been looking high and low for these little guys, but I was told by a professional fish nerd that Emerald Shiners, River Shiners, and Red Shiners are everywhere along the Arkansas River.

Today I fished the Arkansas River for a Numbers day. I got 72 fish to hand. 9 Species. A few Crappie and yellow Bass made the ride home with me.

I saw activity from small fish in an Eddy close to the bank and when I got my 50 burger, I rerigged the Bug Launcher with a tandem set of small flys. I immediately got bit and in just a minute I had the first one in hand. Then, I caught more and more and more. I had warned Dave that I would likely beat on em a little bit once I figured them out. I stopped at 10 and switched back to bigger fish. 

 

[Ham]

103) Walleye 

it took a while, but I finally got a Walleye on my flyrod. 
they are running water over the spillways and restocking the river with walleye. I took advantage of the situation.

casting was very limited, but I got it done. Not a giant, but I can work on a size upgrade later.