Went fishing hook and line this afternoon for a bit, wanted to get my first smallmouth for the year but the creeks of any size were a little too high still. On my way to my fishing spot I crossed a couple smaller creeks that are tributaries to Lake Erie that didn't look too bad, when I crossed one I notices splashing along the shore and in the adjacent ditch along the road attached to it and thought to myself if I can't catch any bass I should stop there on the way back and see whats going on. So no bass and on the way back this is what was in the ditch spawning, and surprisingly willing to feed despite their spawning activity...



They both hit a jig with a minnow that I dip netted with intent for my chain pickerel but these were more fun and I had plenty of minnows. Both were released unharmed after pictures to continue their spawning. I had a third one strike and miss, and saw about 6 of them in the short stretch of ditch that was fairly deep before getting into the main stream. I think it may have missed because the water was rather murky after the first two fights and all the carp freaking out and running away. I then did a little dip netting and found some grass pickerel also doing their thing in the flooded grass along the sides.


All in all it was a beautiful afternoon and well worth it to catch a couple of nice toothy creatures!