April 27, 2024

 First visit of the year to this spot. Its a not insignificant drive, but very doable for a day trip.  I didn't catch big numbers of fish, but managed 10 species, and some nice individuals.

I caught Largemouth Bass, Green Sunfish, Walleye, Longnose Gar, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass, Bighead Carp, and Gizzard Shad.  

The Bighead Carp... well the indicator went down, so I set the hook.  The fish ended up being hooked in the eye socket (eyeball was not damaged).  The Gizzard Shad measured 15" (BIG!) and ATE a fairly large fly!  The biggest White Bass was a male, and measured 16".  The Longnose Gar was not a large individual, and was missing the tip of his upper jaw.  May have been born that way....or certainly it was well healed-over if it was from trauma.

Bighead Carp

Walleye on fly

Longnose Gar on fly

Hybrid Striped Bass on fly

White Crappie on fly

16" White Bass on fly

15" Gizzard Shad on fly! It ate it!

White Bass on Fly

White Crappie on fly

White Bass on fly

I did not catch the fish below on my fly rod.... they were beached on shore, but still alive, so I rescued about a half dozen of them back to the water.  They are Slenderhead Darters.

Slenderhead Darters

Mid October 2021

 On Saturday, I checked out 4 new-to-me spots on a pair of rivers.  They all looked good, but I only fly-fished 2 spots.  Only caught one fish.  15.5" Walleye!

A few days later I flyfished a couple other waters.  Caught Largemouth Bass, Bluegills, Green Sunfish, a Redear Sunfish, and a nice STRONG Channel Catfish.

Early October 2020

 I hadn't run across any crappies yet in MO, but did finally catch a small White Crappie from a public lake.

I took a weekday off work and flyfished an Ozark stream, Huzzah Creek. 

I caught 3 Smallmouth Bass,

A female Hornyhead Chub,

And 3 Northern Studfish (a new species for me):

I also caught a Striped Shiner, Green Sunfish, and a couple Longear Sunfish:

On the way there, I saw a box turtle crossing the road.  In the creek, I found another box turtle shell:

I also saw a Bald Eagle, 3 Otters, Comma Butterflies, and a Spicebush Swallowtail.

I returned to an urban creek I had fished a few times previously.  I had a gar on for a few seconds, but it shook free.

I caught a Freshwater Drum:

A Channel Catfish:

A surprise Sauger (first one on a flyrod for me):

Two Grass Carp:

A surprise Walleye:

And a couple of Goldeye: