Who said it was easy?

If you've been following my Facebook Page or the blog over the last few weeks you know I've gotten a bad case of gar fever.  Over the years, I've caught gar by accident or just happen to cross one and get lucky.  I say "lucky" because I never knew how hard it would be to actually seek them out and target only the largest gar.  I've found a new respect for these dinosaurs.

I had made two other trips to the refuge searching for that big bite.  The first trip I caught a few small ones but I couldn't get the big ones to chase.  The second trip, I had a few follows and moved a few larger ones.  The only really good hook up came loose after a moment.  In all the commotion, I missed the clouds forming and got caught in a storm.  Not a great experience!

Landed on my shoulder at the launch on the last day...I felt it was a sign!

On the third trip, I decided to bring a secret weapon, a rope fly.  I know it's somewhat controversial for the purist but let's be honest.  I'm in a kayak, it was another 6 mile round trip paddle in temps reaching the upper 90's, I was only taking shots at gar 4' or larger, and really...a "gar fly purist?"

Finally a big rise and a quick shot

When I arrived, the gar were in the same area popping on top.  The water clarity was 1-1.5 feet, so you only get a second to get a fly in front of your target.  Most of the action I saw was from small gar.  I knew I would only get a shot at a few really large gar over the next few hours.  I could see them working the area but it's like that kids game where you try to hit the prairie dog on the head before he dives back in his hole.  There's no way to predict where they'll come up next.  Just stay ready...

About to lift off

My patience finally paid off and I saw a big gar within my range.  A quick shot and it worked.  The gar had eaten the rope, no way it actually WORKED!  So here's where it gets interesting.  Big fish with teeth and limited working space make for a tense situation.  These guys like to lunge and jump, waving their sharps all around the side of the kayak.  I eventually got the toothy critter in the kayak.  I didn't have gloves or a way to open its mouth.  I had to cut the rope out, effectively ruining my only rope fly.  I was skeptical and only tied one.

The kayak is 12 ft.

Going back to my traditional flies for the rest of the trip.  Another 2 hours passed before I saw a huge gar circling some bait about 30 feet from me.  In the water it looked massive.  It ate and on its first run came right to the kayak and confirmed my suspicions, it was massive!  Then it dove down and just pulled me for 50 yards.  When it came back up it had a friend.

Sharp teeth will cut you

I played the game for 10 minutes and felt like I might be able to get it in the kayak.  The first attempt failed.  It was way too heavy and when it started thrashing I felt like the kayak was going to flip.  I went for it again and got burned!  No hero shot with this dude, he took the fly and a piece of me with him.

The kitchen sink...

It's silly hot outside, but that's not what's keeping me from fishing.  All the rain that fell in MO and North AR had a huge impact locally and on the trout waters.  In short, the lakes in the northern part of the state are high...which means lots of generation.  No kayaking on the Little Red or the White.

favorite SMB fly's

Felsenthal NWR, which is my local water was also high, not now, BUT...it's located in the southeast part of the state...you know what they say...S$#t rolls down hill.  And I don't have time to travel.  So...

This weekend, not putting my kayak in that!

Should look like this but Sh1t rolls south

It's time to start training for my next marathon, up to 39 miles this week.  Gonna run the Tulsa Route 66 marathon in November, this will be my 8th state (10th total)...hope to cross off all 50.  Obviously, I'll be fishing those states as I travel through them (so you want to subscribe to my blog  to see cool stuff).  Running and fishing through 50 states...that's the plan!  I like running in the heat...but I stay on the trails and bring the camelbak.  Earlier, I said it was silly hot, I really meant STUPID hot.  I'm an idiot for running in this, but I do dumb things when I can't fish...

If your running in the afternoon in July or August, stay near water and in the shade!

After I run, I bang out a few patterns.  Hoping to cash in on hopper season.  I know it's getting close when the grasshoppers start bouncing off my legs when I run...starting to happen!  Plenty of high water....get'n excited.  Put a few of my favorite SMB patterns at the top.  The popper is on it's last leg, literally.  Its been money early and late.

Fish'n is in the forecast...check back in to see how it goes (road trip planned).  In parting, I want to say....the cubs got "no hit" yesterday but I'm a Cubs fan for life.  Go Cubbies!!

Fast and furious - shad it's whats for dinner!!

Planned a last minute trip after realizing I wasn't going to be able to fish this weekend, bummer.  So I did my normal stay-at-home dad routine...get the kids feed, dressed, and to school on time.  Being extra careful to not suffer from a fish brain moment.  Making sure they were wearing actual jackets and not life jacket's, I dropped them off and made my way to the refuge.  It's 8:30 am and I'm ready to start paddling out.  But before I get gone, I decided to try my gear, since it had been a few weeks since my last bass trek.  Standing at the ramp I made my first cast of the morning and wouldn't you know it....fish on, 8:24 am!!

Still at the ramp - gonna be a good day!!

I'm not superstitious, not worried about the first cast/fish stuff.  Actually it was the exact opposite, on the drive I had decided to try a shad type bait (crankbait, swimbait, or spinnerbait) and this bass made the decision easy - swimbait.  

Tree lined flat was looknfishy.  Not today.  Should have taken a selfie to show where the fish were hang'n.

Around 9 am, I was trying to decide if I should fish the tree line along the edge of some flooded flats or hit the timber towards the middle.  I made a cast towards the shallow flat with no success.  When I looked behind me I saw a gleaming spiderweb, and remembered a tip I read or heard somewhere, about breaking webs.  The idea is that no one has fished that spot or the web would be broken.  So I made a cast behind me, slightly awkward in a kayak, but I managed to stay in the kayak and hooked into my 2nd fish.  Broken web = 2nd fish of the day.

Decided to stay put and work the timber harder with the swimbait.  2 minutes later and fish number 3 was smiling for my camera phone!!  He absolutely killed the swimbait, if it wasn't for my kung fu grip I may have lost a rod/reel today.  But luck was on my side today and the bite continued and even got hotter.

Not the biggest but this little guy was a good example of how the bass were responding to swimbaits.  Choked it!!

Same fish just showing the choke hold

Kept hitting the timber with success.  The strategy was to keep moving and cover water while the fish were feeding. I knew it wasn't going to last all morning.   The biggest bass of the day, a solid 4lbr was caught at 9:21 am.

But his buddy wasn't far behind at 9:33 am.

3lb, choked again

It went like this from 10 - 11 am...but the average size went way down.  A few pics to represent how the bite ended.

Had lunch at 11:30 and started my paddle back.  Off the water at 1:30 pm.

Today's fish hang out!!

From 8:30-11 am, I caught 10-12 bass.  I packed 3 rod/reels but never reached for anything else.  It's that time of year when the bass are on the feed.  Any time is my favorite time to fish....but fall fish'n is my favorite'est!!!

Few hours to kill

Someday's you just got to get out.  Today was that day for me.  Lucky for me I keep my yak locked on the rack at all times...for all those last minute trips.  Didn't plan on being gone for very long so I took the 8wt and a few streamers.  But was surprised to catch a couple bass...only 1 was worth a picture...sort of.

I did notice that all kinds of creatures are on the move...some friendly some not so much.

He looks friendly ?

Not so much - unhappy cottonmouth!

There were 2 of them sitting on the log in the water.  He was just hang'n out.

One more reptile before I headed home.

Wild things are moving about...watch your step if you are on the move too!!  Another adventure is in the works, stay tuned!!

Hot weather, slow Bass bite - salvaging the day!

Got back out on the water again today.  When I checked the forecast last night, it said it would be hot, no surprise.  But when I checked it again this morning before leaving, the predicted winds had gone from 8-10 mph to a breezy 10-15 mph...SURPRISE!!  I had packed the 8wt but b/c of the winds never attempted a presentation (sustained at 10 gusting to 15).  Fishing from a kayak in windy conditions can be a challenge...but not impossible.  So plan "B" it is...umm...did someone, ME, tell plan "B" it was game on.  Nope..."Fish Brain" strikes again.  For those that aren't familiar w/ "Fish Brain"...imagine forgetting a VERY important item on fishing day b/c you're all-consumed with the thought of fishing.  Example, you could forget your paddle, or sun glasses, or today...it was my trusted artificial bait of choice.  I had a new package of "game changers" sitting in my truck, however, I was fishing from my prized Jackson Cuda...not helpful from the truck.  So I went with what I had...all chewed up, put away wet, and funky lookn left overs from previous trips.  I don't throw away my used soft plastics...I set them aside and store them.  Why? I know I suffer from "Fish Brain"...so I prepare to be unprepared..."1 is none, 2 is one!"

Not sure if it helps or hurts the flavor to store, Gulp, Zoom, Powerbait, Yum, and any other used plastics together but here is how it went today:

First fish hit an olive colored plastic.  Estimated time in flavor concoction, 2 weeks.  Drawback of old baits, they don't last long.  1 fish = 1 soft plastic retired permanently.  Next up, same colored soft plastic (time in juice, ~5 months).  Got a couple good hits but no connections.  It wasn't fishable after it was ripped in half.

Replaced with black/blue soft plastic (time in juice, ~1 week).  Fish seemed to like it and after a few casts, fish on and in my hand.  Not a huge fish but I'm no fish snob...I like'em all.

Decided to explore some new water so I paddled deeper into the refuge before I started fishing again.  I like the new area and the fish were there...managed 2 more on green/red flake soft plastic (time in juice, ~3 weeks).  Had to change b/c, I lost my last 2 black/blue plastics along with 2 tungsten weights after getting hung on the bottom...TWICE!!  That seems to happen more with recycled baits...big down side of my recycling program (tungsten isn't cheap).

It wasn't the most ferocious action and I didn't catch any monsters, but having a successful outing using only old chewed up, seen their better days, soft plastics was an exciting challenge.  One I hope to never repeat...but know I will.