April 25, 2024

 I went to another spot looking for Orangespotted Sunfish.  It was a spot I'd fished once last year and managed to catch one on a fly that was really to big for it, but it hit it anyway.

Armed with smaller flies, I put on a #16 beadhead fly in pink.  I'm very excited to have caught 5, and lost a few others!  Such a great little fish!

Orangespotted Sunfish on fly!

This is the fly I used.  #16 60-degree jig hooks, 2.8mm tungsten bead, pink marabou tail, pink yarn body.

I also caught some Green Sunfish, Bluegills, and a Longear Sunfish.

Orangespotted Sunfish on a Fly!

I caught some very small orangespotted sunfish many years ago.  I've wanted to catch on on a fly rod, and hoped it would be larger and a colorful specimen.  It finally happened today!  Pretty excited about this:

Orangespotted Sunfish

Only fished for a few minutes, also caught a small Redear Sunfish:

These aren't very common near me in central Iowa, so it was cool to catch one today.

Speaking of unusual fish to catch on a fly rod, I caught my first Channel Catfish of the year while fly fishing last week.  I know channel cats have more spots when they are little, and gradually lose them as they grow....but this one had a LOT more spots than typical: