Traveled to Arkansas to fish with a friend and try for Bowfin on fly. Also hoped for Snakehead, Spotted Gar, Flier, and some other species. The trip had been planned for many months in advance. Then the Spring rains came and pounded the area. Water levels went up 7-9 feet above where we wanted them. Flooded areas and muddy water. Really put a wrench in our plans, but we visited other areas and fished whereever we could, despite high and muddy water. I fished solo local to my hotel and caught most of my fish for the week, in fact all 12 species.
Long story short, I had a few Spotted Gar strikes and hookups, but did not land any. I saw one bowfin, got it to strike my fly, but did not hook it. Enjoyed seeing big snakes, turtles (alive and just shells), wood ducks, American Bittern, Great Blue Herons, Snowy egrets, owls, deer, coyotes, etc.
Thanks, Dale! Yes, that’s a very fish-catching pattern for me! Pretty much every species can be caught on them…from Grass Carp to Koi to Goldfish to trout to big bass to gar to pickerel, and many many more. Various colors…all work. This feels like as good as any place to reproduce your write-up on it!
