July 30, 2023

[FishnDave]

We got some rain locally the previous afternoon. I visited an urban creek. I hoped for a Longnose Gar. I saw just one, and was able to get close enough to cast to it without spooking it. It followed and ate the fly. I set the hook, and it was FISH ON. I had to manuever down closer to the waters edge in order to net the fish, and in doing so, I slipped on the muddy slope at one point. But I made it down, and the fish was still on. And then it wasn't. Not a great day of fishing, but also not a terrible one. I managed to catch 9 species:Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Bluegill, Longear Sunfish, Shortnose Gar, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Common Carp, and Grass Carp. The Grass Carp was a fighter! It measured a healthy 30". Not huge, but good enough... probably weighed around 11 pounds.This turtle was just moseying by:

[sagefisher]

Dave,Sounds like you had a great day. Those are really sharp teeth on that Gar. Reminds me of a story. My father had a neighbor, a major in the army who was at Ft. Lewis and was from Tennessee. He wanted to catch a salmon so we took him out into Puget Sound and he caught a really nice King Salmon. He got it in, grabbed it by the mouth and hit it with the billy club. That is when he found out that salmon have teeth and it really cut up his thumb. But, he was happy, he had his salmon. Keep up with the photos and story lines. I do enjoy them.Larry ---sagefisher---

[FishnDave]

Thanks Larry!Yeah, really gotta be careful when we grab and unhook fish!

[BadBug]

I too enjoy the stories & excellent photos. Thanks Dave. You the man. Dennis.

[FishnDave]

Thanks, Dennis!

[iaflyfisher]

Nice fish David and great photos! Enjoy your fishing!

[FishnDave]

Thanks, Dale! I hope you're catching a bunch of fish around Ankeny!

[Rick Z]

Nice bunch of fish. You are do much better than I am.

Rick

[FishnDave]

Nice bunch of fish. You are do much better than I am.Rick

Thanks Rick! Have the rains you've gotten helped any with the algae problems?

[Rick Z]

Rain has helped the garden, but not the ponds. The last three I checked were all down from two to three feet.
We got about 3 inches of rain and there were no puddles anywhere. Still have cracks in the lawn.
Several farmers I have checked with say their ponds are in the same condition.
Rick