Lepomis Species on Fly Rod

 A quick online search will reveal that there are (were) originally 13 species in the Lepomis (sunfish) genera.  Longear Sunfish have recently been broken into some additional species/subspecies.  But for now, I'm sticking with the "original" 13, which are (in no particular order):

I'm posting a picture of each of the species I've caught... my fish pictures.  So... here we go! 

1. Bluegill:

(and here's a Coppernose Bluegill from Florida):

2. Redear Sunfish:

3. Redbreast Sunfish:

4. Green Sunfish:

5. Warmouth:

6. Longear Sunfish:

7. Pumpkinseed Sunfish:

8. Dollar Sunfish:

9. Orange-spotted Sunfish:

10. Redspotted Sunfish:

11. Spotted Sunfish: 

12. Bantam Sunfish:

13. Northern Sunfish

July 9, 2023

First stop on Sunday was a spot where I had caught White Bass and Kentucky Spotted Bass in the past.  I hoped to add those 2 species to my 2023 Fly Rod List.  Its a place I visit maybe once/year.  It was fairly crowded with anglers on this day.  I didn't catch either of those species....just Green Sunfish and Longear Sunfish.

Next, I went back to the urban creek I often fish.  I have caught White Bass and Kentucky Spotted Bass in this creek in past years, but they aren't very common.  I've tried for them here several times this year already, without success.

Well, I did finally manage to get a Kentucky Spotted Bass!  Flyrod Species #68 for 2023.

Also caught Longear Sunfish.  This one was the most colorful, in my opinion:

Also caught Hybrid Sunfish:

Finally saw a number of Grass Carp.  They were interested in my offering, but after inspecting it, would aggressively spook!  Except for this one:

I saw a Longnose Gar.  It was amongst sticks near the far side of the creek.  I tossed a topwater fly to it.  It grabbed the fly, but I could see it wasn't completely in its mouth, so I didn't set the hook right away.  It eventually spit the fly and then spooked when I tried casting back to it.

I caught a few Shortnose Gar, including this new Personal Best 29.5" specimen:

At the final pool of the day, I was stripping in a microjig under an indicator after casting to some Grass Carp.  I saw fish chasing the fly!  And caught a White Bass!  I removed the indicator and made more casts through the area, and caught 2 more!  Flyrod Species #69 for 2023!

I also caught Green Sunfish and Bluegills.  I released the largest bluegill of the day into a shallow pool that had access to deeper water.  About 15 minutes later, there was a commotion, and I saw that a Northern Watersnake had caught the bluegill and was dragging it onto shore to eat it.

Imagine being the snake... and trying to catch a fish in the water with just your mouth, and then dragging it onto shore with no arms or legs!  Much respect to the snakes!!

July 8, 2023

 Saturday, I flyfished "the swamp".  Hoped for Bowfin.  Saw many, but couldn't catch any.  Frustrating and perplexing!

Caught some other stuff, though.

Warmouth:

While fishing to a (barely) visible Silver Carp, the fly sunk out of sight.  The line twitched.  I set the hook...and accidentally foul-hooked one I hadn't seen.  Peeled lots of line, though...very fast fish!  As these are considered an undesirable invasive species, I did not return it to the water.

Grass Carp:

Black Crappie

Spotted or Shortnose or Hybrid Gar

Shortnose Gar

Saw lots of snakes, including:

Diamondback Watersnake:

Plain-bellied Watersnake:

I think this is a Northern Watersnake:

A Plain-bellied Watersnake and a Northern Watersnake hanging out together:

Also saw a deer, several large Great Blue Herons, and a Belted Kinfisher nearly landed on my fly rod I was holding.

July 7

Friday evening, I flyfished an urban creek.  Caught Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, and some Longear Sunfish.

July 2, 2023

 After not having much rain at all for seeminly a month or two, we finally got a couple good storms....brief but strong.  Broke limbs off trees and took out the power in our neighborhood for nearly 20 hours.

I visited a local creek  the day after the storms.  The water level had come up about 18" or so, but had already dropped back down to just 5" above "normal".  However, the water was very stained, and current was flowing much faster than usual.

I didn't see or catch any Grass Carp.  I did catch a Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Bluegills, Green Sunfish, a Gar...and Longear Sunfish.  I've fished this creek quite a bit over the past 4 years.  I've caught maybe 3 Longear Sunfish in the creek, EVER.  Pretty rare.  But today I caught 9 or 10!  I certainly don't mind, they are beautiful fish!

Spotted Gar?  Shortnose Gar?  Hybrid?

Why do I keep catching turtles??

Chickory!