Muddy Missy Mistakes

Well, I learned a lot today. I wish I could write I caught a slew of fish, but I got skunked at Missy. My 6ft rod with 10lb test wasn't a good choice for crappies, neither was my slip bobber. I shoulda known better--lesson learned. Folk's showed me how to set up a double jig with a spring bobber. Then they felt sorry for me cause I wasn't catching any and tipped my hooks with minnows. It didn't help. I tried though. I fished the Red Bridge area. Crappies were being caught there, just not by me. :( At least I know what I need to do for next time I fish there. I also fished below the dam. I didn't see any fish caught there.

I got the flyrod out of the truck right before I left and nymphed the eddies. The water was so muddy, I didn't have much faith that the fish could see my hot pink/bead head nymph.

Hang in there, this can be a slow tough time to get the bite. If we don't get flooded out and the water temp gets into the 55* range you can limit out in about a hour or so, just casting and retreiving a jig . Up river is a good area to fish for White bass too. We got a cold front moving in with some rain so things are going to get slower yet. A week of 65*-70* weather would really get things going. If water temp, air, temp and water level all line up it can make for a awesome spring run.

Thanks for the encouragement. It was good to just be out on such a nice day.

I'd like a closer look at your avatar please. What kind of fish is that?

It's a Longnose Gar. I catch them in the summer months in the Wabash river. They can put up a good fight making jumps out of the water. They're tricky to catch, but worth it. Somewhat hard to clean but believe it or not very good eating. Has the texture of pork and doesn't have a fishy taste, more like chicken. Just watch out for all those teeth ! :yikes

Thanks for posting the pics! They sound like a blast to catch!

I seen you fishing below the dam....I was on the other side of the river.....it was a slow day below the dam....1 walleye a few crappie and 3 catfish.....give it another 2 weeks and the whole fiver system with be on fire

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Originally Posted by crappieman18

I seen you fishing below the dam....I was on the other side of the river.....it was a slow day below the dam....1 walleye a few crappie and 3 catfish.....give it another 2 weeks and the whole fiver system with be on fire

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Wow, it sounds like you did very well! And that's a slow day? :)
Which angler are you? or Did you see me farther downstream?

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I'm the fat guy on the right side of the pic in the hoodie

How did you know it was me?

And not that I don't believe you, but where's your stringer? What do folk's on that side tie it to?

Hey Kyron you can come to SC and fish Lake Murray for all the gar you want to take home. We will bow fish for them in the summer. I've had it one time with bbq sauce never again! That's just me.

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Originally Posted by Eatmorecrappie

Hey Kyron you can come to SC and fish Lake Murray for all the gar you want to take home. We will bow fish for them in the summer. I've had it one time with bbq sauce never again! That's just me.

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Must of had prepared it wrong. Kept it alive till ready to clean it, nail it to a tree or hang it head up and cut the tail off. Let it bleed out good. Clean it ( ask me if you want to know how). Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Chill in fridge DRY overnight (optional), cut into nuggets, dip in milk +egg mix, roll in Andy's Red and fry. Soaking in milk for 30 minutes may be needed if you water is muddy. I'm telling you I've surprised a lot of people when I told them they were eating gar. It's a firm meat with a little chewiness to it like pork. I've never detected a fishy taste with any I have eaten. Hard to describe the taste, but it's not strong. Remember fresh and NEVER freeze it. And NEVER eat the row (eggs) toxic to humans.

This is from one 36" Longnose gar, doesn't that just look delicious ? :biggrin

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Originally Posted by Valparaiso_Girl

How did you know it was me?

And not that I don't believe you, but where's your stringer? What do folk's on that side tie it to?

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I'm going guess he knew it was you because you were the only girl with a fly rod at the spillway.

Yeah.....only seen one other person with a fly rod down there in the last 15 years or so!

Why is that? Is that water always so stained?

Kyron, those fillets do look real nice. I'm having trouble getting past the killing part though. My fish usually just get a lip piercing and their pic taken. How does a girl not feel bad for one that's destine for the supper table?

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Originally Posted by Valparaiso_Girl

Kyron, those fillets do look real nice. I'm having trouble getting past the killing part though. My fish usually just get a lip piercing and their pic taken. How does a girl not feel bad for one that's destine for the supper table?

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I take no joy in killing anything, but it's kind of a cycle of life thing. If fishermen (and women) didn't harvest some of the catch; fish could over populate and take over a lake, causing fish kills where hundreds of fish die off because there is not enough food or from disease. So if you think in those terms, you shouldn't feel bad for taking a meals worth of fish from time to time. Deer are the same way, I have found two deer this year that starved to death over the winter, that's why hunters are needed to keep the deer population in check or there would be a lot more deer starving to a slow death, and meat that would not go to feeding people who need it.

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Originally Posted by Valparaiso_Girl

Why is that? Is that water always so stained?

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Not sure, probably no one around here is smart enough to use a fly rod :Rofl

Not sure about the stained water, seems it's always a little stained. I don't fish there much, it can get real crowded as the weather warms. Sometimes almost shoulder to shoulder on the weekends. Further down river would make for good smallmouth with a fly rod when the waters gets slower, just need some waders.

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Originally Posted by kyron4

I take no joy in killing anything, but it's kind of a cycle of life thing. If fishermen (and women) didn't harvest some of the catch; fish could over populate and take over a lake, causing fish kills where hundreds of fish die off because there is not enough food or from disease. So if you think in those terms, you shouldn't feel bad for taking a meals worth of fish from time to time. Deer are the same way, I have found two deer this year that starved to death over the winter, that's why hunters are needed to keep the deer population in check or there would be a lot more deer starving to a slow death, and meat that would not go to feeding people who need it.

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Your reply is very enlightening to me. I will have to remember that when the time comes to clean fish.

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Originally Posted by Valparaiso_Girl

Why is that? Is that water always so stained?

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I've fished there for 34 years, and never seen anyone with a fly rod on that section of the river. Downstream fishing for smallies yes, but not up in the spillway. I've often considered going carp fishing with a fly rod, but haven't done it yet.

Really for fly fishing I'd go farther south, up around Marion, and the battleground.

Hang in there. Its still early. My dad used to take me fishing at that spillway. I remember catching lots of white bass in may. Other times we loaded up on crappie and even walleye. All though I haven't been there in a long time, I'm glad you reminded me of it. Lots of good memories there.