7 replies to this topic

[MuskieBait]

In 2013, I took a trip to Illinois hoping for a chance at a Shovelnose Sturgeon. However, the Mississippi was flooded and I didn't have a chance.

Fast forward to May 2016, I've yet again planned a trip to Illinois for Shovelnose Sturgeon. And yet again, the Mississippi was flooded.

Still, all the other species made up for it. I had the goal to catch the two remaining Sunfish not on my list, the Bantam Sunfish and the Redspotted Sunfish, and finally checked off all the Lepomis species! I also wanted to catch the Shadow Bass and Ozark Bass and be that much closer to completing all the Ambloplites species.

A total of 26 new species in 5 days of fishing. That's a pretty good count!

Here are the stories (starting on Day 1):

http://muskiebaitadv...west-day-1.html

Spottail Darter (Etheostoma squamiceps) - Species #551



Stripetail Darter (Etheostoma kennicotti) - Species #552



Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)



Whitetail Shiner (Cyprinella galactura) - Species #553



Ozark Minnow (Notropis nubilus) - Species #554



Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus) - Species #555



Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae) - Species #556



 

[MuskieBait]

Cardinal Shiner (Luxilus cardinalis) - Species #557



Southern Redbelly Dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster) - Species #558



Plateau Darter (Etheostoma squamosum) - Species #559



Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus) - Species #560



Ozark Darter (Etheostoma spectabile) - Species #561



Ozark bass (Ambloplites constellatus) - Species #562



Hornyhead Chub spp. (Nocomis biguttatus)



Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)



Checkered Madtom (Noturus flavater) - Species #563



 

[MuskieBait]

Blackspotted Topminnow (Fundulus olivaceus) - Species #564



Brook Darter (Etheostoma burri) - Species #565



Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus)



Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) - Species #566!



Bantam Sunfish (Lepomis symmetricus) - Species #567!



Starhead Topmminnow (Fundulus dispar) - Species #568



Slough Darter (Etheostoma gracile) - Species #569



Central Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) - Species #570!



Bleeding Shiner (Luxilus zonatus) - Species #571



Knobfin Sculpin (Cottus immaculatus) - Species #572



 

[MuskieBait]

Sand Shiner (Notropis stramineus)



Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus) - Species #573



Dusky Darter (Percina sciera) - Species #574



Slenderhead Darter (Percina phoxocephala) - Species #575



Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)



Silver Chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana) - Species #576



Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)



Yes...we did it...even though we were faced with adversity!!!

Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) - Species #577!!!





Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum)

[Michael Wolfe]

Very nice and nice photos as well.

[NotCousteau]

Great pictures!

[mattknepley]

Some fantastic fish in there! Love that Shovelnose (congrats) and the red on the tail of that Shorthead Redhorse is amazing. The Checkered Madtom is real nice, too. Thanks for posting!

[MtFallsTodd]

Awesome pics. Look like lots of fun. Thanks for sharing.