Still Early

Flyfished Saturday. Very nice day...reached 76 degrees, but started out in the 30's, and had low temps below freezing the previous 2 evenings...I think that had a big affect on the fishing.
And fishing was extremely slow. I fished for 2 hours before finally catching 2 small grass Carp on back-to-back casts.
https://s4.gifyu.com/images/1BB310D8...97247AE6F6.jpg

Then around 20 minutes later, a really nice 21" Freshwater Drum. Impressive fighter!
https://s4.gifyu.com/images/DDC559F9...AE0CADF232.jpg

https://s4.gifyu.com/images/E13FDF1B...5F2A01D26F.jpg

Then nothing...just a Green Sunfish some time later.
I went to another place to try for a bullhead on a fly. I didn't see any, but there were thousands of Goldfish. The myriad of smaller ones were uninterested in the fly. I managed to coax a big one into eating it. Beautiful 11" fish!
https://s4.gifyu.com/images/2A83A17C...C5B75909ED.jpg

https://s4.gifyu.com/images/BE5EADF1...61CD44D36A.jpg

Nice Drum David. Good catch.

Dennis

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Originally Posted by BadBug

Nice Drum David. Good catch.

Dennis

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Thanks! Hopefully there will be more of those showing up over the next couple months.

Nice report David! Are the grassies reproducing's there?

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Originally Posted by iaflyfisher

Nice report David! Are the grassies reproducing's there?

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I'm pretty sure they are, yes. I think the Missouri River and Mississippi River and their tributaries are all populated by naturally-reproducing Grass Carp. Neither river really has much vegetation for them to eat. They seem to be much more willing to eat a fly than the hatchery triploids that are stocked intentionally in ponds and lakes.
I like 'em all.

David,
LOVE your little chartreusey thingy. Looks like the one we use quite effectively at Clearlake (where the crappie are starting to spawn....finally) and around. Grand reports!
....lee s

Still a bit early here as well. I made it out for a couple hours yesterday. Caught a nice black crappie in a lake that's never held crappie before to my knowledge which was interesting, and missed a couple others. Caught one greenie and a couple of medium sized 'gills. A second lake holds some big channel cats; I saw one prowling that looked like it would go 18-20" but I was fishing a little glass 4wt and wasn't sure I wanted him so I let him move on. I did take several nice 'gills...

https://i.imgur.com/cfhTYGLl.jpg

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Originally Posted by lee s

David,
LOVE your little chartreusey thingy. Looks like the one we use quite effectively at Clearlake (where the crappie are starting to spawn....finally) and around. Grand reports!
....lee s

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Thanks Lee! I found some crappies near shore this weekend as well, I assume they are beginning to prepare for spawning here as well.
https://s4.gifyu.com/images/02AB76B7...3B733E53AA.jpg

Also caught a bass, some nice bluegills, and this presumed Redear x Bluegill Hybrid:
https://s4.gifyu.com/images/174AF0D1...3C35CB6163.jpg

Snakes were chillin':
https://s4.gifyu.com/images/E033419F...2943E4C733.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prairieschooner

Still a bit early here as well. I made it out for a couple hours yesterday. Caught a nice black crappie in a lake that's never held crappie before to my knowledge which was interesting, and missed a couple others. Caught one greenie and a couple of medium sized 'gills. A second lake holds some big channel cats; I saw one prowling that looked like it would go 18-20" but I was fishing a little glass 4wt and wasn't sure I wanted him so I let him move on. I did take several nice 'gills...

https://i.imgur.com/cfhTYGLl.jpg

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Excellent! Sounds like you had an enjoyable day of fishing!
I tell you...I struggled yesterday. Went to 5 different waters, probably travelled a good 100+ miles....got skunked at 3 places, scraped together a half-dozen small crappies at one spot, then the very last spot finally produced a mix of decent fish. Saved the day, for sure.