#bullhead fishing tips

[thehuntingdomain]

10 Bullhead Fishing Tips

Do you fish for bullheads? Would you like to catch more bullheads? In this article, we share bullhead fishing tips to help you catch more bullheads.

1. Where Do Bullheads Live?

Blueheads live along the bottoms of lakes, slow-moving streams, and quiet backwaters and travel in schools.

2. Fishing Without A Float

When you are fishing directly on the bottom without a float, always let the bullhead start moving away before you strike. Bullheads like to hold on to the bait, letting the angler reel them in, and then at the last second, they spit out the bait.

3. Bullheads Swallow Hooks

Always take many hooks on your bullhead fishing trips. Bullheads have a habit of swallowing hooks. It will be easier to retrieve the hook when you are cleaning the fish at home. You can also use small circle hooks that hook the bullhead in the corner of the mouth which can easily be removed.

4. Bullheads At Night

Bullheads are more active at night when they feed. Fishing them at night can be very productive. Target the deep holes in creeks, backwater areas on rivers, weed bed edges, boat docks, humps, and long points. If you would like to learn more bullhead fishing tips, then click this link.

5. Bullheads & Wiggly Blown-Up Worm

Bullheads can’t resist a wiggly blown-up worm. Use a “worm blower” to inflate the worm with air. This lifts the worm up and makes it more visible to the bullheads. The sinker will rest at the bottom while the worms are wriggling high resulting in more strikes from the fish.

6. Bullheads Sense of Smell

Bullheads have a very good sense of smell and taste. This ability works both in favor of the angler and against him. You can use the great sense of smell to your advantage by allowing the bullhead to find your scented bait. However, it can work against the angler if bullheads detect any amount of gas, oil, insect repellant, or sunscreen that made contact with the bait. Use latex gloves before working with the bait.

7. Bullheads & Shadows

Bullheads will move away and hide when a shadow crosses the water. They conclude that the shadow is made by a predator that is close by. Anglers who fish in muddy waters don’t take this seriously as fish don’t see well in muddy waters. However, if you fish in clear water during the day, you will have a tough time catching bullheads when fishing beneath your boat.

8. Bullheads Fishing In Winter

Bullheads can also be caught in the winter. They will move to deeper water when the water temperature drops. Use a rig baited with chicken liver and drop it into the hole. Let it reach the bottom and then crank the reel handle so the bait is a foot above the bottom. This will attract bullheads.

9. Bullheads & Stationary Water

Bullheads like stationary water; therefore areas with water currents will not have bullheads. You can usually find bullheads in water that is less than 10 feet deep. On the hottest days, you can still find bullheads in shallow water as they can withstand warmer water temperatures and lower oxygen levels than other species of fish.

10. Bullhead Pectoral & Dorsal Fins

Bullheads have very sharp pectoral and dorsal fin spines. Be careful when you handle bullheads. Always grip the bullhead around the pectoral spines and position your hand to avoid the dorsal spine. Always have a towel to use as a barrier between your hand and the bullhead.

Conclusion

Fishing for bullheads is challenging but you can be successful with the right knowledge and strategies. In this article, we share fishing tips to help you catch more bullheads. If you would like to learn more about fishing, then visit thehuntingterrain.com.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Beautiful Blue Catfish

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are members of the bullhead catfish family, native to the drainages of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio river basins and the Gulf of Mexico. Because of their popularity as game fish, this species has also been introduced to freshwater systems throughout North and South America, and is considered invasive in these areas.

Like many catfish, I. furcatus is a bottom dweller. They can often be found near complex structures such as rocky outcroppings, fallen trees, or sunken structures that provide both food and shelter. The blue catfish is an opportunistic predator, consuming any fish or aquatic invertebrates it can find, as well as eggs, small amphibians, and injured or recently deceased animals. Adult I. furcatus are seldom prey for other species due to their size, but hatchlings and juveniles are often food for cormorants, willets, osprey, pelicans, and bald eagles. To deter predators, this species has serrated barbs along their dorsal and pectoral fins, each laced with a particularly painful toxin.

Though they can be difficult prey for other animals, the blue catfish is a popular target for fishermen, and for good reason; they're the largest species of catfish in North America. Adults can easily reach a length of 65 in (170 cm) and a weight of 165 lb (75 kg). As indicated by their name, most individuals are grey or blue, with a lighter underbelly. This species also lacks scales, a common characteristic of catfish, and the face is framed by long whisker-like barbels that help it detect nearby food.

While generally solitary, blue catfish aren't territorial, and tend to ignore each other until the mating season. Reproduction begins in April and continues until June, during which time males attract a female by building a nest and releasing attractive pheromones. Once a female has selected a male, she lays between 4,000-8,000 eggs per kilogram of bodyweight in his nest (i.e. if the female weighs 2 kg, she may lay between 8,000-16,000 eggs). The male then disperses sperm over the eggs. Following fertilization, the male chases away the female and guards the nest for about a week, at which time the eggs hatch. The hatchlings, also known as fry, stay close together in schools for several weeks before growing large enough to disperse. It will take them a further 5 years for them to reach maturity; on average individuals live about 10 years, but can live as long as 25.

Conservation status: The blue catfish is considered Least Concern by the IUCN. Within its native range, populations face minor threats from dams and droughts. Where it has been introduced, the species is considered invasive due to its voracious appetite.

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Photos

Missouri Department of Conservation

NOAA

Earl Nottingham

[writing-nebula]

MayBlade Day 7: Duty

(it's very late ik but at least it's Here)

—————

“Agh- Ginga no-”

Ryo lunged for the curtains, just managing to grab the toddler before he climbed much higher. Ginga of course just giggled and snuggled into his arms, not having realized he was in any danger.

He heaved out a sigh and sank into the nearest chair, smiling at the little boy and idly trying to brush some dirt off his face.

“You really need to stop trying to climb everything, guppy… I thought you were supposed to be half fish, not half cat.”

“Wanna be tall!” Ginga exclaimed excitedly, “like papa!”

No matter how many times he heard it, absolute joy welled up in his chest every time, and he nuzzled his son with a little chuckle. “Okay, well, papa gets freaked out when you try to be tall, so let’s wait until you get there on your own, okay?”

Ginga nodded, like they both didn’t know he’d be back to clambering up things by tomorrow, and started to wiggle to be put down- but a knock on the door made him pause before turning to Ryo with big, excited eyes.

“Papa! Door!”

“Yeah,” Ryo sighed, reluctantly rising from his seat, “I heard it buddy, let’s go see who it is.”

Honestly, if Ginga hadn’t heard, he probably would’ve ignored it- he hadn’t had a chance to sit down since breakfast. But his son loved answering the door, so to the door they would go.

Please be Hyoma’s parents, please be Hyoma’s parents-

He silently begged as he opened the door, and though he was quickly proven wrong he couldn’t say he was disappointed about who it actually was.

“Mr. Mizusaawa!” he greeted their neighbor with a smile, trying not to laugh at Ginga’s gleeful cry of ‘Mustache!’ -”I hadn’t realized you were back in town, how did the visit with your daughter go?”

“Quite well, thank you,” the older man chuckled, “though, I don’t believe I should have to remind you again to call me Isao. And hello to you too, Ginga!” he ruffled the boy’s hair, “have you been good while I’ve been gone? Getting into all sorts of trouble?”

Ginga nodded with as much enthusiasm as the tiny 3 year old could muster. “Me an’ fluffy! An’ it’s hot!”

“Yes, it is looking to be quite a warm summer, isn’t it?” Isao hummed, “just perfect for you kids to be running amok- how would you like two more playmates?”

Ginga gasped, eyes sparkling, already convinced, but Ryo arched an eyebrow questioningly.

“I know I’ve been distracted, but I’m sure I’d notice if someone had two more kids…”

Isao smiled, wiggling his mustache to his son before giving Ryo his attention again.

“They just arrived here with me,” he explained, “My grandchildren- my daughter allowed me to bring them up for the summer, give her the chance to rest and save up some. They’re such sweet kids, twins, around the same age as Ginga and Hyoma.”

Ginga started tugging insistantly at his shirt, practically vibrating with excitement. “Papa! Papa please? Can I? Can I go play? Pleeeaaaase can I?”

And really, he just couldn’t say no to that hopeful, pleading little face.

“Okay, okay,” he chuckled, “you can go meet them, if Mr. Mustache wouldn’t mind having you for lunch, too.”

His son immediately cheered, wiggling until Ryo put him down, and grabbing onto Isao’s leg to beam up at him. “Play now! New friends!”

“Get some sleep, Ryo,” Isao nodded to him, smiling, “he’ll be in good hands, I assure you.”

Ryo just smiled back, bid Ginga goodbye, and shut the door, knowing he’d be fine.

—————

“Mama look! They have sharks!”

More than a few people noticed the girl’s excited cry, but thankfully they all looked amused rather than bothered, and Akiko let out a chuckle of her own when she finally caught up with her daughter, peering into the tank with her.

“Let's see… Looks like a couple white-tips, that big one’s a whale shark, and I think I just spotted a bullhead in the back there.”

Growing up in the ocean meant one tended to know a lot about the creatures they live around, knowledge she was thrilled to share with Hikaru whenever possible.

“Why don’t you go ask the nice man about these ones?” she suggested, nodding to a nearby employee who was talking and gesturing to the tank, “just remember to wait your turn, mama will be right over here.”

“Okay!” the girl replied cheerfully, and hurried over to stand with the other kids gathered around, giving Akiko a chance to finally sit down, gazing out at the sharks once more.

…She did miss life in the water, she wasn’t too proud to admit that. She missed being able to flow with the tides, and going shell hunting with her sisters, and swimming with sharks, instead of staring at them behind glass.

She missed being Kaimana.

…She missed Minato.

She’s so much like you, wanting to learn everything there is to know. I’m sure you would’ve loved her.

Akiko sighed, turning her gaze to her daughter.

The girl was almost 10 now, and despite her homesickness, she wouldn’t give Hikaru up for anything. A life in the sea wouldn’t have given her this little ray of dawn lighting up each and every day.

…She was a bit worried, though.

Minato had only talked about his half-breed friend a few times, as he didn’t remember much about them, but he’d definitely said that his friend had a tail appear when they were in water- oftentimes without their control. They could breathe underwater, and he remembered them always craving salt- which made a lot of sense when she really thought about it, she found herself eating quite a lot of salty snacks herself.

But Hikaru hadn't shown signs of any of that- no tail, no gills, no excess of salty snacks. No sign of her heritage at all.

"Mama, there's a tiger shark too!" Hikaru's voice tugged her from her thoughts, the girl now watching the water intently. "Bet I can find it first!"

"I'll bet you can't!" Akiko replied with a little grin, "I'm a professional shark spotter!"

Her daughter giggled at that, shaking her head before focusing on the tank again, and Akiko sighed, rising from the bench to join her daughter at the glass.

I want so badly to show her the world underneath the waves, but… it would seem that may not be possible.

She ruffled Hikaru's hair, smiling again when the child gasped and pointed at the tiger shark coming out from behind some rocks.

…That's alright, I suppose. I'll still share with her the love of the ocean.

And I will stay by her side, no matter what.

—————

Again, a bit late I know, but better late than never! Had some things come up that prevented me from writing in any productive way but it should be dealt with now! I'll be playing catchup over the next couple days lol

[thatonegaycactus]

Added These plus an Anon's request for Coelecanths (sorry I somehow messed it up and your ask is gone now). Also updated the Sturgeon they were a bit too big.

Sorry for losing your ask again anon!

Oh and the list of fish will be under the cut if anyone wants to see! They're in order in which I drew first.

Common carp

Electric eel

Brook trout

White sturgeon

Oman bullhead shark

Banded pipe fish

Sand tigershark

Hagfish (technically a fish)

Devil's hole pupfish

Brown trout

Regal angelfish

Burbot

Cobia

Black-tip reef shark

Redtail catfish

Golden trout

Sockeye salmon

Rainbow trout

Zebra moray eel

American eel

Goliath grouper

Blackfin tuna

Longbill spearfish

Roosterfish

European perch

Blue parrotfish

Halibut

Snowflake moray eel

Mahi-Mahi

Reef triggerfish

Atlantic wolffish

California sheephead

Sea lamprey (still technically a fish)

Giant oarfish

West indian coelacanth

Indonesian coelacanth (anon didn't really specify which species so)

Goblin shark

White spotted puffer

Reef manta ray

Saddleback clownfish

Tiger shark

Gulper eel

Pacific barreleye

White-tip reef shark

[legends-live-in-memories]

“How Did All This Happen?”- A Memoire by one Marinette Dupain-Cheng 2

wow. okay. so first off i dont have an update schedule but im on winter break starting next monday so i just have a lot of time on my hands. if this progresses into next year updates wont be as frequent. hell updates probably wont be as frequent next week either. who knows not me. Also i have a few spots left open on the tag list for those who were wondering.

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

without further ado 

People Fucked Up and Now It’s All Marinette’s Mess to Clean Up II

Marinette knew how she ruined the eastern coastline, but for all that is magical she could not fathom how that team of hero proteges managed to completely decimate the western side. She knew they were capable of it though, Constantine had warned her that they had an interesting habit of bending, if not outright breaking, the rules and legislation of the UN. He had also warned her that the group of Justice League mini-me’s had a unique calling card. The symphony of everything going to total shit in the background was the declaration of their presence on the island. She hasn’t even seen them from her new cliffside perch but she knew they were there by the distinct sounds of explosions. God, she hoped that super son wasn’t there. And she really hoped he didn’t get his indestructible hands on the magical dagger and destroyed it. It was one thing to return from this mission empty handed. It was an entirely different kettle of fish to return and join her grandfather in having “Broken a magical artifact” added to her list of crimes against the universe. Adrien would never let her live it down. No, Chloe would never let her live that down. She probably would put it on her headstone or something. 

Deciding she has wasted enough time, Marinette began enacting one of her contingency plans in hopes of salvaging this night. She had brought the Tiger, the Horse and the Cat miraculouses for this mission, fearing that a Ladybug Cure would bring too much attention to her and her family. She was right in that fear because reconstructing two coastlines would not fly under international radar.

She called upon the magic of the Tiger, camouflaging with the scenery as she made her descent back to where Kobra himself hopefully still was. 

She found him making his escape from the hellfest that was once their base of operation, followed by two other members. Marinette begrudgingly gives her thanks for the intruding hero team who distracted the cult from her presence and created enough wreckage that forced the cult members into separating. Sneaking up from behind, she jumped on the shoulders of the one furthest back. A swift jab to his throat, and Marinette was using his falling body as a springboard to kick the second cultist. At this point Kobra was aware of her presence and tried to attack her. Keeping the magical dagger on his person, he moved to grab Marinette by her hair. Extending the claws from her panja bracelet, Marinette slashed Kobra by his outstretched hands and used her semi-sentient tiger’s tail to retrieve the dagger. Before Kobra could regain his bearings, Marinette merged the Tiger and the Horse and made a hasty escape to her hideout.

She was greeted to the sight of her grandfather who Marinette believed was entirely too relaxed, enjoying some mint tea as he watched the night sky be curtained by smoke mushrooms from the nearby island. He was reclined in one of the couches in their AirBnB back in Trinidad. She dropped her transformations, Roaar and Kaalki flying to the kitchenette. Plagg slowly came out of Marinette’s purse and pointedly avoided her gaze. So the hellcat did have a guilty conscience, she lamented. Who knew? Apparently accidentally sneezing from the sand on the beach of Santa Prisca, and leaving behind a new cliff, was not one of the Destruction god’s finer moments. If he had any. 

“Don’t tell Tikki,” he began. And look, actual names, he must have been really embarrassed if that’s how he’s referring to his counterpart. 

“Don’t tell me what?” The answering scream Plagg released was actually comical and Marinette decided to be merciful. “Don’t worry Tiks, just a hiccup in the mission but all is well now.” Plagg looked at Marinette like he was about to lay worship to her for not selling him out. He took it in stride and joined the other Kwamis on the counter, already with a cheese wedge in hand.

“You did well, Mei,” her grandfather began. “I will report to Constantine and we will discuss further in the morning. For now get some sleep.” That was a dismissal if Marinette ever heard one so she placed the panja bracelet and the glasses, the tiger and horse miraculouses, back in the box and retreated to her room. A quick shower and a call to her parents later, Marinette was left awake in her room. Bored.

Plagg soon joined her, and despite his earlier reservations, he was brimming with chaotic energy. He had an idea and nothing spelt trouble faster than Plagg’s ideas. Apparently Plagg was curious about what the other young heroes were even doing on the island and wanted to know more. Now Marinette had half a mind to tell him to go by himself and leave her out of it. But she was kind of curious too. They weren’t after the dagger, that much she figured, or else Constantine would have had them go for it instead. So why were they there? A voice that sounded painfully like Kagami in her head told her not to be bullheaded and leave well enough alone.

Ignoring that advice, Marinette went to the den to retrieve the Tiger and the Horse again, the two most suitable for reconnaissance missions. Plagg, of course, would still be accompanying her for it was his shitty idea anyways. 

“Going somewhere?”

The two turned to come face to face with Wayzz, Tikki and Master Fu, all wearing matching faces of disappointment but not surprise.

“We were just going to stake out the island again, figure out what the other hero team were up to.” Marinette was not going to quiver under their gazes. No. Nope. Her maman may not have been an assassin, but she still didn’t raise a weak bitch. Hell, she shadowed one of the most feared assassins for her more formative years. She. Would. Not. Break.

“Why?”

“It was Plagg’s idea.” She broke. 

“HEY!” No offense to Plagg, but he was the only one out of the two of them that was immortal, he could survive Tikki’s ire. 

“It’s not a bad idea, Master,” bless Kaalki and all their endeavors. “If the hero team were not after the dagger, but still after the Cult of the Kobra, investigating would provide valuable insight to what plans the cult had for the dagger in the first place. And perhaps, allow us to put in cautionary measures to prevent the cult from finding other magical means to meet their ends.”

“Yeah, what they said.” Marinette wasn’t all in favor of extending the mission if they did find anything concerning, but she committed to this idea and she’s going to see it through. Logical rational and self-preservation be damned. 

Taglist:

@deathwishy @neakco @ virtualreading @f-rget-lt @your-resident-chicken-nugget @nathleigh @toodaloo-kangaroo @irontimetravelflower @trippingovermyfeet @t1dwarrior-of-earth @tip-tap-tired @fidget-eep @thenillabean @officiallydarkgeek 

[peachfluffsoftstuff]

Beyond The Reef [3]

Content: G/T, Fearplay, Mouthplay, Unwilling Prey, Shark Mer Pred

Word Count: 2012

Fandom: N/A; Original Content

A/N: New chapter! No full vore this time, but not for lack of trying 😂 

-

Aless tried to calm his racing heart as he wrapped himself around a hard coral, in a low grove on the ocean floor. He could see Skim from there, and watched as his tail swung from side to side lazily in the sunlight.

A part of him had been so sure that it was some kind of trick. That as soon as he rejected the offer, Skim would grab him and shove him in between those multitudes of teeth and crush him into bits. Even if the story was true, there was no way he’d let Aless get away with wasting his time, when he could easily ‘repay’ him by becoming lunch.

Except… That didn’t seem to be the case.

Skim showed no signs of wanting to track him down or even try to go back to Hali Reef like Aless had feared. He simply basked in the sun lazily.

Maybe… Was it possible that he had really been telling the truth? About everything?

Aless considered it. His life at home was hellish and lonely, and everyone there had always talked about how he was sure to become something’s snack with how often he traveled out of the safety of their little reef. With Skim, he could go so much farther.

Even with what Skim had mentioned… It would be worth it. He could deal.

He clenched his fists, and then darted out into the open, heading towards Skim’s sunning spot with bullheaded determination. About halfway there, he suddenly felt something pinch around his tail, stopping him cold.

“Going somewhere, little fish?” An amused, unfamiliar voice asked, before Aless was jerked up by his tail in a dizzying ascent.

When his vision settled, he was face-level with yet another giant mer. This one had pale skin, a mane of red hair, and the tail of an orca. His deep brown eyes were locked on Aless, and his mouth was curled up into a threatening smile, showing off sharp teeth. “You’ve got perfect timing. I was just starting to feel a bit peckish.”

Aless paled, and his frills flared out in panic. “No!” He tried to jerk away, but was stopped by another hand pinching down on his freshly-bruised midsection, making him yelp. The giant brought him close to his lips, and slowly dragged his slick tongue across Aless’s front as he wriggled. He swiped his tongue over his upper lip, apparently savoring the taste.

“Oh, yeah, you’ll do nicely. Make sure you squirm on the way down,” the mer said, before lazily flicking his tongue out and dragging the tip of Aless’s tail into his mouth. He pulled most of Aless’s lower half into his mouth like a noodle, and Aless could feel the fleshy heat against his scales.

The tiny mer thrashed and twisted around desperately. “Skim!” he called, as loudly as he could. “Skim! Help--!”

“Mmrph?” The mer looked down at Aless, cross eyed, but didn’t stop slowly suctioning more of him into his mouth, tongue clinging to his back and tugging him in up to his waist. Aless scrambled for purchase, grabbing at the lip and nose above him and trying to dig his claws in. He could feel his tail fin grazing the back of the throat, so close to being devoured.

“Rhys?” a familiar voice said, and Aless nearly wept with relief. “What are you-- hey! Spit him out!”

The newly-named Rhys paused, and Aless took the opportunity to tilt his head back and see a worried Skim only a meter or two away. He flinched as Rhys’s hand descended on him again, this time looping fingers around his chest and pulling him out of his mouth with strength that showed how careful Skim had been being, before. Aless struggled to breathe in the bone-crushing grip, while Rhys looked at Skim, annoyed. “What is it, Inkblot? Is this one your Bonded or something?”

Skim hesitated, looking down at Aless, who was still recovering from the rapid change in surroundings. “He’s… um--”

“Because if he’s not, I found him and you can’t stop me from having a snack.” Rhys started to pull his hand back towards his mouth, making Aless writhe in panic, and Skim jerked forwards.

“Yes! Yes, he is my Bonded. So let him go.” Aless’s struggles faltered. Rhys narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

“Prove it.” He said, and dangled Aless between them. Aless looked at Skim, eyes wide and uncertain. Rhys jostled him tauntingly. “He’s your Bonded, right? So, eat him, soft scales.”

Aless saw the way Skim froze up, and felt oddly reassured. He really did care, it looked like. He kept himself carefully still as Skim reached out, and gently looped his fingers around Aless as Rhys released him. He pulled Aless up towards his face, bright eyes locked on him. There was no haze in them this time, only worry.

“If you just let him go, I’ll kick your ass.” Rhys inspected his claws casually, but his body was angled towards them, ready to pounce.

Aless thought he could probably deal some damage too, just going by his size and viciousness alone. He tensed a bit in Skim’s hand and avoided eye contact, trying to prepare himself for what was coming. It wouldn’t be like before. Skim wouldn’t hurt him. He’d be okay.

After a long moment, though, the fingers around Aless loosened, and then fell away entirely, leaving him completely free. He looked up at Skim in shock, and Skim looked back down with a sort of wry amusement, no doubt expecting him to bolt. A yard away, Rhys cursed.

“What the hell did I just say--” He stopped short as Aless flitted even closer to Skim, close enough that he could reach out and touch his face. Skim, too, seemed frozen at his closeness, gills barely fluttering. Feeling giddy with adrenaline, Aless tapped the tip of his nose playfully, amused at the way Skim’s mouth had fallen partly open in shock.

He took a second to steel himself, and then darted down to that open mouth and twisted past those sharp, sharp teeth before he could lose his nerve. A noise of surprise echoed softly around him, and Skim didn’t close his mouth, holding his tongue carefully still. Aless could still see Rhys’s face, so he settled onto the soft flesh of the tongue and made a rude gesture, acting as though he was as familiar with this mouth as the back of his hand.

Rhys clicked his tongue, irritated, and waved a dismissive hand. “I get it, bastard, I’ll find something else to snack on.” He shot a menacing grin over his shoulder as he swam off. “But if I ever find that morsel of yours unattended again, don’t think I won’t borrow him for a taste.”

Aless shuddered, and watched uneasily as the mer vanished into the deep. The tongue underneath him shifted, and he jumped a bit as Skim made a questioning sound, since he couldn't exactly form syllables just then. Right. He’d felt safe enough that he’d almost forgotten where he was for a moment. No wonder people thought he’d end up a meal.

Aless easily propelled himself out of Skim’s mouth, gaining some distance for both of their sakes. Skim seemed to be still processing what had happened, eyes wide.

“You, uh… That was some quick thinking. Sorry he caught you like that. Are you okay?”

Aless felt that same warm reassurance at his concern. “I’m fine.”

“Good… If you want, I can help you back home, or close to it. That way you won’t run into any more possible predators. I’m guessing you’ve had enough of that for a while, huh?” Skim smiled at him goofily, and then remembered himself, covering his dagger teeth with his hand. “Ah, sorry!”

Aless startled them both by laughing. “It’s— uh, it’s okay. And no, I don’t want you to take me back.”

“Are you sure? It’s dangerous…”

“I’m sure. I don’t want to go back at all.” Aless watched Skim blink, the giant mer’s face twisting with confusion.

“Huh?”

“I want to travel with you. As your Bonded. ...If that’s okay.”

Skim stared a moment longer, and then an uncontrollable grin split his face. “That’s more than okay! Are you sure?”

Aless nodded, resolute despite the way all those sharp teeth sent a shiver down his spine. “I’m sure.”  

“Yes!” Skim did an elaborate corkscrew twist in the water, clearly overwhelmed with joy. He circled back around to Aless, wiggling with excitement like a giant seal puppy. “This is great! I’m so glad! I gotta be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to more or less abducting anyone else, even if just for a bit. Once was more than enough.”

… How in the world had he been scared of someone this earnest?

“You’re a pretty straightforward guy, huh?” Aless responded, trying to hide a grin. Skim stuck his tongue out at him, and then paused.

“That’s right! What’s your name?”

Aless blinked. He hadn’t told him yet, had he? “I’m Aless. And you’re Skim, right? Or is it Inkblot?”

Skim laughed, ruffling his hair and almost dislodging some of the errant kelp strung in it. “Oh, no, Inkblot is just a nickname. I’m Skim!”

He held out a hand, and Aless darted forwards, placing his own webbed fingers on the tip of one of those huge fingers with barely-concealed awe. Skim seemed just as enchanted by the size difference as he was.

“Wow… I’ve never really gotten to interact with any bitty mers up close before,” he admitted, shaping his hand into a scoop that gently bracketed one side of the tiny mer, careful not to crowd him. “Most of them tend to be pretty skittish around us, ‘specially if they know about the curse.”

Aless leaned tentatively against the palm, able to feel that steady heartbeat again. “Really? I thought knowing about the curse would make them less worried, since they’d know you won’t eat anyone for real.”

“I wish,” Skim sighed. “But they have a right to be scared. Some sharks from the Eastern Depths decided that bonding wasn’t as efficient as just… hunting down new prey that matched their wavelength whenever they started feeling the curse’s effects.”  

Aless felt a chill. “Hunting down as in… actually eating them?”

“Yeah,” Skim replied grimly. “It’s messed up. Don’t worry, though, I promise to keep you safe.”

Aless nodded slowly, and then was distracted by an oversized finger carefully ruffling his hair. He shoved it lightly, wrinkling his nose. “Hey, quit it!”

“But it’s so fluffy!” Despite his protest, Skim obligingly lifted his finger away. A thought seemed to strike him.

“Oh man, I can’t wait to tell Devon that I found my Bonded on the first try! Lucky!”

Aless watched with amusement as the big mer fist pumped in celebration. “That’s right, you had someone with you. Where did your other… uh, friend(?) go? He wasn’t in the cove, right?”

Skim tilted his head. “Devon? No, he said this part was my job. Can’t have your mentor do everything, after all! He’ll probably be back soon.”

“Oh,” Aless replied, feeling a pit of fear form in his stomach at the thought of facing yet another giant. He mentally shook himself. He would be fine, Skim was there and had promised to protect him. If he wanted this thing to work, he had to trust the bigger mer, like it or not. “And then what?”

“Then we do the second bond!” Skim chirped. “Though… I don’t actually know what the process for it is. Dev likes to keep things pretty hush-hush.”

“That’s not very reassuring,” Aless grumbled, thinking about the scare the first bond had given him. Skim chuckled, offering the tiny mer a hand.

“We should probably get closer to the cove, that way Dev doesn’t miss us. Want a ride?”

Aless’s fins fluttered indecisively for a moment, and then he steeled himself, swimming forwards and grabbing onto Skim’s thumb. He managed not to flinch when the fingers curled up around him, and then they were off.      

[carminaxrye]

❛   skinny dipping .   go  skinny  dipping  with  my  muse . -sonofedensgate

Non-verbal starters:

The little hut up north was their little hideaway and it was going to get them both in trouble some day. Though which one would be more in trouble, she really didn’t know.

Mom would be disappointed in her, Wheaty would yell at her and just giver her that look. But Carmina knew she could explain her feelings to her family and friends. They would be disappointed, maybe give her the silent-treatment for a while, but at the end of the day she knew her family would somehow come to make peace with her actions.

Isaac’s family though? He would be shunned at the very best. Ex-communicated was the best outcome. But he wasn’t just a Chosen who was interacting with a sinner, he was Jacob’s son. The so-called prince of New Eden ... she was terrified of what the consequences could be for him.

So Carmina didn’t focus on that. She pushed it all away, along with the reasoning thoughts that she should just cut this off and not interact with him anymore. Because the draw was too strong. They were supposed to be together. They bounced off of each other too well, understood each other and connected too naturally. It was strange and new and yet completely comfortable and familiar and she yearned for him when they were kept apart for weeks on end.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Most of her clothes were already off, but she hesitated at the bank of the river, watching as the shadows danced along and reflected in the water. The campfire by the hut cast their shadows long and looming across the Moccassin River. Wheaty had told her so many amazing stories about the North and she regretted that she only knew it as such a decimated and limited region, even the small bits she could explore were beyond beautiful.

“Of course it is, I won’t let anything happen.” Isaac chuckled and Carmina sent him a dead-pan glare, a feigned expression of annoyance that only lasted a few seconds before she abandoned the rest of her clothes and took his outstretched hand, letting him lead her into the water. It was weird, because she was always so loud and sure ... but with him she could let that drop down and be vulnerable. Somewhere along the years of knowing each other, the dynamic had shifted and she had gone from the cocksure one to him being the one who stood front and foremost and there was a part of Carmina that liked it. She like being protected, she liked the safe feeling she had with Isaac. Drawing closer to him and she smiled, standing to her tip-toes to steal a kiss.

“I’m gonna hold you to that, squirt.” That was a meaningless nickname these days, because he wasn’t the short and scrawny one anymore - she was. Even now as she stepped deeper and deeper into the flowing water, he held her hand and she wasn’t nervous. Common sense told her she didn’t know the northern region, did demon fish swim up this far? Was the fog dangerous that swirled beyond the strange torches Isaac had lit? Were there still Judge wolves alive and roaming in packs? Were the whispered rumours of monsters up north true? But she felt safe with Isaac; he wouldn’t let any harm come to her. And it was a safety she relished - all her life she had been bold and brash, naive and absolutely bullheaded when it came to battling enemies. But here and with him she could be vulnerable and silly and safe. 

Letting herself be led into the deeper water, Carmina drew closer to Isaac, no clothes or barriers in the way. No pressure of a world trying to recover from a nuclear apocalypse their generation had no say in. No settlement designations that meant they couldn’t interact. Just them and the rushing of the water. The pull of the current that threatened to slowly pull her from him, but those arms around her and those blue eyes she got lost in - they kept here there. Tethered and a willing prisoner to the utter security of being with him. Only him.

@sonofedensgate

[split-n-splice]

Anon requested an update so I'm doing that in a timely manner for once.

[Chapter Guide]

24. Welfare Check – 6

A little orange bottle of her past had come back to haunt her.

The longer Shilo lay awake staring at the prescription drug, the more it felt as if the bottle was mocking her. That might have been a figment of her imagination, but one thing wasn’t: her family didn’t trust her. Why else would they deliver a suppressant disguised as a sleep aid? They still thought she was a danger to society, didn’t they? They were right, of course, but it still stung.

It had been hours since she’d gone to bed. Eventually she groaned and rolled over to face the wall, skewing her eyes shut – only to throw the blankets back and hurl the damned bottle into the bathroom trash, so she could shut the door to put that much more space between her and the pills.

Only to fish it out in the morning and stow in the medicine cabinet. She changed her mind. Tossed it at the back of her makeup drawer. Stifled a scream and put the bottle back in the cabinet next to the aspirin and generic sleep aid.

She finally dressed and sat on her bed to shovel cereal for breakfast whilst glaring at the news coverage of the bizarro clown jet that had been parked outside her apartment until ten o’clock last night. Of course it had attracted attention yesterday. How could it not? As she glared at the footage showing her residence in the background, her spoon superheated and warped in her hand. She hoped Hugo choked on his breakfast for ruining hers.

Hugo had taken her skateboard yesterday in a failed attempt to slow her down so they could chat. Bold and bullheaded as ever, he’d grabbed it from under her feet and threw it, lacking the forethought to take gravity into account or consider who the board might hit when it came down, or what window it might sail through. Without the wheels under her feet today, she had ample time to notice incognito figures darting in her peripheral.

They didn’t trust her.

They didn’t trust her with powers she’d received from Lady Fate – just as they had – any more than they trusted her to really be busy as she’d said she’d be.

If they were expecting to catch her in a drug bust or underage booze chugging or whatever miscreant activities they were so sure she squandered her days on, they had another thing coming.

As Buckley got the door for her, glaring up and down the street, Shilo couldn’t help ducking her head and hoping desperately that the presence of heroes in the vicinity due to her wouldn’t be grounds to fire her over. She liked Buckley’s Café, most of the time. It smelled nice and there were more tasty treats than she could stomach, which made up for having to fake a smile for the customers. The other gals on Buckley’s crew were starting to warm up to her too, after a sort of initiation ceremony involving dope and the robbery of the 24-Seven.

Though, they were still sour with her for her Friday disappearance. That had been alleviated somewhat thanks to serving a certain blue customer yesterday, but the elbows were starting to be prodded in her ribs in a teasing way more than distinctly passive-aggressive. She’d much rather the “accidental” elbowing though, because she’d nearly lost her cool on Abigail for whispering snide insinuations five minutes into her shift as Shilo watched the storefront waiting for a blue idiot to appear again.

She decided she would have preferred Drakken when someone she was somehow even less happy to see moseyed in.

Shilo served him like she would anyone else. In turn, her pops ordered and left like anyone else would.

The cold but peaceful exchange made her feel dumb for giving her father the stink eye upon his entry. Even if his intentions were good, she didn’t need a helicopter parent.

Aside from a couple petulant customers, that was the extent of confrontations at Buckley’s for the day. It came as little relief when she knew her brothers were out there waiting for her, probably playing up the vigilante act as they kept a lookout.

Well if they wanted to watch her, they could watch her exit out the back door and light up a smoke with her middle finger as she left for the sanctuary of the library once again.

Before she reached the end of the alley, she turned on her heel, opting out of the direct route in favor of a detour. She’d mistakenly told her brothers yesterday that she habitually hit up the library after work. They didn’t have to know exactly when she went. The library was still open for a couple of hours, so there was no rush – and hell, there was no rule she had to go to the library anyway. Plans changed. She could change her plans on a whim.

So Shilo went window shopping around Main Street, walking slow as she clutched her purse, cursing to herself for not bringing more cash than what she needed for Chow.

It was just a little too chilly out to think about ice cream, as tempting as the colorful parlor was, and the competing coffeehouse was going out of business for good reason so something hot to drink was out. Pawnshops, thrift shops, antique shops, and the likes were a dime a dozen. Shilo ventured into a couple anyway, if only because a gnarly bear trap in a window lured her into one and the other displayed fine jewelry. She might have filched a pearl necklace if it weren’t for the antique shop’s owner, an antique herself, in a rocking chair at the back with a cane and seeing-eye dog while a grandson no older than ten tended the counter. It would have been a piece of cake, but she didn’t have the heart to rob her blind or steal from the scruffy little kid. Her family might be watching her, anyway.

Shilo was venturing around one of the side streets when a gaudy purple storefront drew her eye from a block away. As she neared, she spied an equally purple arrangement of amethyst geodes in the window. Other quartz varieties were displayed around the prominent purple centerpiece, and as she cocked her head and peered in, she couldn’t shake the sense the array was familiar.

As she entered the rock shop, she realized why. A boy with fair blond hair like the sun itself sat at the counter, barely looking up from his task of polishing a stone-carved elephant as he issued a mechanical greeting, “Welcome to the Quarter Quartz.” Dazzling aquamarine eyes made up for the dull reception. He blinked as though shaking off his polishing daze and added politely, “Have a look around. Take your time, I’m here all day. Holler if you need something.”

Suddenly Shilo felt especially stupid perusing shops around town with so little cash on hand.

The quaint gift shop had a broad selection, yet was just small enough that she couldn’t hide from the aqua eyes following her. Inoffensive Gospel music played softly from speakers in the corners of the shop, just shy of obnoxious as long as she didn’t pay much attention. Which was easy, given there was so much else to take in that weren’t freakishly picture-perfect blue-eyed blond angel boys.

T-shirts with technicolor graphics, either tigers or religious hype, didn’t hold her attention any longer than bulk bins of tumbled stones and quartz tidbits, to which the shop surely owed its name. It would have been easy to pocket a few of the prettier pebbles, but she knew there were eyes on her back, even when she heard the angel boy flipping pages of a magazine. They were worthless rocks anyway.

Colorful bandanas and artsy jewelry lined the way as she crept closer to the counter, and she paused halfway there to contemplate turning and bolting out of the shop. As naturally as possible, she grabbed the first thing of interest off a shelf of shiny knickknacks made from a wide range of minerals in every color.

She inspected the small glass globe on its little pedestal. As she stared at it in her palm, a wry tune flitted through her head, and she could just hear her bluebird singing it as she mouthed to herself, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” She grit her teeth then at the distant memory of her mother plucking away at a guitar to the very same tune.

She almost threw the globe, or at least set it down carelessly, but took a deep breath and gave the golf-ball-sized sphere a spin on its functional axis. She checked the bottom for a price tag. Twenty dollars, even. She had twenty-five on hand.

Lips pursed in thought, she cast a sidelong glance to the cheap trinkets at the checkout counter, contemplating the basket of overpriced five-dollar strings of little stone beads that served as bracelets, which she couldn’t help noticing the fidgety boy was making more of now. She looked back to the heavy glass globe in her palm.

It would make a good paperweight, she decided. And it might serve to keep Drakken’s mind on track with his whole world-domination fantasy.

Shilo resigned herself to approaching the angel-turned-cashier. And not just approaching him, doing business with him. Her hands almost glittered as she came forth and set the glass decoration between them.

As she dug into her purse at her hip for her wallet, she almost jumped at the sound of the angel boy clearing his throat.

“Find everything?” he chimed.

She made the mistake of glancing up, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was busy fidgeting away with his string of beads. Her hands were warm again, try as she might to divert it, or stamp it out, or exhale a hot breath to relieve herself of an unpleasant burning not too unlike heartburn. She couldn’t wait for the day she mastered her accursed fire completely. She’d gotten clear through high school with impromptu flare-ups. She could bear to give an angel boy with some of the prettiest blue eyes she’d ever seen her business.

After a moment, she realized she was staring mute, so she nodded and fished out the crumpled twenty dollar bill from her wallet. For a second, she hoped Drakken wouldn’t miss it. She’d meant to return the tip she’d stolen from him yesterday, but she could replace it later, along with the rest of the money she’d been taking from his wallet on a weekly basis now. He hadn’t seemed to miss any of it yet.

Paying should have been uneventful. She didn’t anticipate the boy to catch her by the wrist, swiftly clasping on a bracelet of—

“Obsidian,” he supplied. “And jasper.”

Shilo clamped her jaw shut and yanked her hand back from the boy’s baby-soft touch before she could mistakenly give him a burn that would surely leave a callus. She fumbled with the clasp, trying to get the string of black and green pebbles off, just as competently mumbling, “I-I can’t buy this. I’m only—”

“On the house,” said angel boy, already shaking out a small paper bag and padding it with tissue to cushion the glass knickknack.

As he handed her the purchase, she managed to move her jaw again to utter a simple, “Thank you,” and spun on her heel to make a getaway before he changed his mind about being dull or giving her a shiny trinket.

“God bless,” he called pleasantly after her.

Déjà vu wasn’t complete without nearly running into the door on her way out.

She really wanted to damn him now. If not for getting her flustered just by being pretty, then for the knowing chuckle that followed her out as she escaped. And if not for that – well, he just deserved it. She didn’t know what for, but there had to be something. Everyone had something.

She slowed her pace as she reached the far corner and looked back over her shoulder at the purple Quarter Quartz, then groaned and shook her head to herself as she went on her way.

Once the nauseating butterflies settled and her mind turned to scouting for her brothers scouting for her, Shilo became increasingly aware how long she’d been on her feet and how hungry she was getting. She checked the receipt in the bag for a timestamp to give herself an idea of the hour, as the cloudy sky was growing dim fast, and she had to stomp down the stirring in her belly again as she decided it was late enough to head for Cow-n-Chow.

She counted herself lucky to catch the bus, one of the scarce few in town, even if she had to run for it, relieved to hitch a ride back toward the center of town. She dug out the globe to idly spin it, but try as she might to study tiny engravings on the world map, her eyes gravitated to her wrist instead.

The rocks were pretty. Even if there didn’t seem to be any particular pattern to the tiny pebbles, and they looked a little like glorified aquarium gravel.

She’d take it off, rip it off, something, but it was her stop, so discarding the freebie trinket was put on the back burner.

Cow-n-Chow was a nice enough fast-food chain as any. Specialty burgers and milkshakes were their big sellers, and there was dining with wait staff like any nice restaurant, but there was also an express-service counter for grabbing Chow to go, and a drive-thru, and Shilo’s soles were too achy for takeaway.

She was glad the joint didn’t have much in the way for windows, making watching for her brothers popping in as easy as watching the door. Well, almost as easy. Milo was still an expert in covert infiltration.

She must have been more wiped out than she thought she was, she realized when a familiar voice made her jump.

“Mind if I sit?”

Shilo lolled her head back to cast a tired glare up at Dr. Drakken, dressed in typical civilian wear consisting of a plain black sweater and slacks, as well as his preferred gloves. His hair was loose, veiling his neck and leaving the only remarkably bizarre feature about the man being his blue face, which she was grudgingly reluctant to admit she was happy to see. It meant he hadn’t been hauled off yet.

“It’s your funeral,” she sighed and kicked his shin under the table when he slid into the little booth across from her. She cast a watchful glance around the restaurant, but he dismissed her worries before she could glare too long.

“They’re down the street at the grill,” he informed, a note of resent dripping in his grumble.

“How do you know?” Shilo snipped back at him. She narrowed her eyes on him, anticipating a confession to stalking. Though the thought of her brothers preoccupied elsewhere was comforting, and she almost relaxed.

Drakken snorted, his lip twitched into a sneer. “To tell the truth, I was headed there myself but they beat me, so now I’m here for happy hour.” He took a long sip from a chocolate milkshake he’d brought to the table with him.

Curiosity killed the cat. “There alcohol in that?” she piped, nodding to the tall glass, and he grunted confirmation. “Can I get a sip?”

“No.” He jerked back a bit and pulled it further from her.

Using it as a bargaining chip, Shilo set the sack from the Quarter Quartz on the table beside her. “I’ll let ya know what’s in the bag,” she playfully bribed. “It’s a gift for you. But I guess it can wait until Christmas. Or, I dunno, your birthday, whenever that is.” She shrugged nonchalantly, and watched as the blue man’s curious eyes locked on the bag.

She swore she could see him tensing to spring as three seconds ticked by, and then he cast a quick look around the restaurant himself before pushing the glass across the table to her. “It’s not that strong,” he warned dismissively as she took a taste. “Just enough to give it a kick.” She could only hum in acknowledgment as she pushed the bag his way.

Shilo wanted to blame the spiked drink for warming her as he pulled out the globe. His weary eyes brightened up a little. His mouth quirked into a smile and he gave the tiny planet a spin, watching it rotate for a moment before flicking a glance up to her, and then his smile cracked and crumbled and he dropped his gaze.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” he chuckled, stifling his smirk and taking his milkshake back.

“Whatever do you mean?” Shilo feigned innocence and had to smother a small laugh of her own, composing herself as the waiter came around. She looked across to Drakken, unabashedly wondering, “Since you’re here, you gonna buy me dinner?” She only had five bucks for herself, which was just enough for a basic Chow combo.

He pulled a face, looking ten times more tired in an instant, and drug his hand down his mug. “Fine,” he grumped, and ordered for her before she had the chance. Lucky number 7, extra pepper jack and mushrooms, hold the onions, and large fries – not that she was complaining, but since when did he know exactly what she had in mind? Face warm, she decided it was just a lucky guess. She’d only been ordering the same Chow meal for weeks.

She supposed she could say the same for him, though, because she rolled her eyes as his own predictable order. “Leave it to you to go into Cow -n-Chow and get chicken strips,” she sighed when the waiter left.

“I like the crunch,” he defended.

Shilo reached across for the milkshake to thieve another sip, and he only grunted his objection. “You know you’re really pushing your luck here, right, Doc?”

He only gave a nonchalant shrug, taking his glass back to wipe the straw with a napkin like some kind of germaphobe. “Maybe I like the danger.”

Shilo found herself slumping over the table, holding her head up with cheek in hand. “Live for the thrill, huh?” she guessed, watching for the next opportunity to take the milkshake he now guarded.

“I don’t mind it.”

“We should go skydiving sometime.”

The man’s suave exterior was a sham, and it broke easily as he just about choked on his drink. “W-what?” he sputtered. He almost let go of the glass and gave her a chance to grab it, but then he was holding it closer, stabbing at the milkshake with the straw in an anxious fidget.

Her pinky nail found its way between her teeth as she contemplated negotiations. “Alright, hang-gliding,” she bartered. “Sound better?”

Drakken was still frowning. She decided she’d have to sway him into it eventually. One way or another, she’d bring out his adventurous side. “I was thinking skiing,” he grumbled, and changed his mind when she rolled her eyes. “Snowboarding?”

“That’s more up my alley,” she feigned, though if she were honest, she’d done neither, so she couldn’t say for sure. But she used to surf, so snowboarding couldn’t be much different, could it? She shook her head to dispel fanciful thoughts of a resort vacation, and made a grabbing motion for the drink he was reluctant to surrender. She was bound to catch something if she didn’t break the habit that was forming.

“Alright, you’re cut off,” Drakken declared in a hiss as a waitress swept by, and Shilo reluctantly forfeited the spiked milkshake. He wiped off the straw again, and hummed thoughtfully as he sculpted peaks in the dessert. “You know, if we ever need to skip town, I have a place in Alaska,” he noted. “I imagine the skiing is good there.”

She arched her brow. “Seriously?”

Drakken sighed. “Seriously.”

A minute later, Shilo was drumming her fingers impatiently waiting on the order to arrive when Drakken hummed again. Her sidelong glance cut to him, and she couldn’t shake the feeling he licked his straw from one end of the other to make a point that it was his, like some kind of overgrown child. She didn’t care. If she wanted another sip, she’d take it. It couldn’t be any worse than sharing leftovers with her baby brothers.

The food came at last, hot and fresh.

Drakken was dipping his fries in the chocolate and Shilo was having the damnedest time not watching the display. She tried to eat quickly. They were really pushing their luck, sitting around, shooting the breeze, when her family was out there somewhere, hunting for her like hound dogs.

Yet he didn’t seem to be in any rush when he waved an especially long chicken strip at her like a pointer. “That’s nice. Did you steal it?” he wondered, and Shilo didn’t have to glance to know what he was pointing at.

She all but slammed her soda down as her palm warmed over with an odd fizzling sensation reminiscent of the carbonated beverage she nearly crushed in her grip. “I got it for free,” she answered with a vague lilt. She was that much closer to tearing it off, but hid her hand under the table instead and filled her mouth with fries so she wouldn’t have to speak.

She spoke anyway before she could even swallow. “Some guy gave it to me,” she divulged, and convinced herself she only let it slip to watch the words burrow under his skin.

They really must have, because his innocent curiosity and relaxed stare hardened into a frown as he scoffed and sat back. “Imagine that,” he mumbled into the milkshake glass as he took a swig, not bothering with the straw anymore.

Shilo didn’t zip her lips shut in time. “Jealous?” she quipped.

Drakken hardly bothered to shake his head, preoccupied with dipping a chicken strip in his milkshake as if it were just another condiment.

Lip curled in disgust, Shilo sat back as he took a bite of the abomination. “Can you not be gross?” she snipped. “Cripes, I thought you had good taste.” She thought she had better taste. She told herself even angel boy fanning inexplicable hellfire ready to engulf her was preferable to sitting down to Chow with Drakken. She barely convinced herself, even watching him double-dip chicken in chocolate.

She shuddered. “I’m done,” she announced as she jumped up. “Catch you later.”

Drakken didn’t spare a farewell as she left him with the little glass globe and the bill.

[orrsoutdoors]

As what used to be a typical Wisconsin farm kid, I lived out in the country, pretty much the middle of nowhere. We had a couple of ponds that were full of bass, bluegill and bullhead. We had a great little river that ran through the backside of the property and we had fields full of corn and hay, surrounded by woods. There were pheasants, ducks, deer and fish to fill any outdoorsman’s dreams and to plant the seeds of becoming an outdoorsman into a little boy’s mind. All fed by parents who loved the outdoors and were great teachers of the skills and lessons to be learned. I took those lessons and skills and made a life out of them for many years. This site and my posts will be full of tips and lessons, stories and demonstrations and will hopefully help everyone who reads and watches to love the outdoors as much as I still do.

[dlsphchijournalism]

TVO -- How a fish in Hamilton broke a world record — for all the wrong reasons

BY GWYNETH BOONE (CHI ‘22) --  In 2015, a handful of University of Toronto researchers in a small boat hauled in a brown bullhead catfish from Hamilton Harbour, on the western tip of Lake Ontario. This summer, they reported that the fish had broken a world record — it contained 915 synthetic particles, the most ever recorded. READ MORE. 

[ultraheydudemestuff]

Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area

9 Schick Rd.

Defiance, OH 43512

Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area is a 435-acre state wildlife area located in northwestern Ohio, 5 miles northwest of Defiance, OH, near Bryan and Napoleon. The property is in Defiance county. The area is situated in the glaciated lake plain of Ohio and has a slightly rolling topography. Some steep land lies adjacent to Mud Creek, which bisects the area. Large cottonwoods and sycamores are found along Mud Creek. The upland woods consist mostly of oaks and hickories. Originally, the entire area was forested. During the latter part of the last century, the virgin woods were cut down to utilize the moderately fertile soil for agriculture. The wildlife area was purchased by the state of Ohio in 1948. The property was acquired using multiple state funds.    The 38-acre Oxbow Lake was constructed in 1953. In 1954, the area headquarters was established. A smaller, 4.5-acre impoundment, called Little Oxbow Lake, was constructed in 1958.

Fishing is popular in the area. Northern pike are taken during early spring and late fall, but winter ice fishing is best. Pike fishing techniques involve the use of tip-ups and large minnows. Largemouth bass fishing is best during the spring, using spinners, artificial worms, and minnows for bait. Summer and fall bass fishing is especially good with top-water baits. Bluegills are taken throughout the year on worms, insect larvae and artificial flies. Bass and bluegill fishing is most productive in the fallen tree and stump areas. Bullheads are caught throughout the year, especially during April and May. Good bullhead baits are night crawlers and cut baits fished on the bottom. The operation of watercraft with any motor is permitted but at idle speed only without creating a wake. Bird habitats present both brush and woodland, trails. Traffic is not usually very heavy, so sticking to the paved road while birding is certainly acceptable. There is one large parking lot at Little Oxbow Lake, and 2 lots at Big Oxbow Lake.

[fishonoutfitters2-blog]

Tips For The Best Freshwater Fishing Experience

Anglers must know how to locate the fish before they can start fishing. Unless you are living in the middle of the desert, you must have gone to at least seen a nearby body of water where fishermen love to fish. You could find fish almost in all places where there’s a large body of water that provides oxygen, food, as well as the cover. When you have a boat, you will have a better choice of fishing locations.

Where Fish Could Be and Why?

If you didn’t know yet, not all fish can live in the same body of water. Different fish species need varying kinds of environment situations like their hiding areas, water depth, water current, amounts and types of food, water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.

The Structure

Sunfish, trout, northern pike, bass, and other fish species live close to structure. It refers to the alterations in the bottom shape of ponds, rivers, or lakes caused by drop offs, ledges, humps, flooded roadbeds, manmade cribs, drowned trees, and rocks. Fish tend to concentrate in specific areas because of structure. Ponds and lakes might have shoreline structures like downed trees, grass beds, rock piles, brush, stump fields, logs, and docks that give them shade, protection, and shelter. Log jams, rock piles, sand bars, and islands in streams and rivers are also the best spots to fish. Fish live in kinds of cover since it offers them protection and places them in a better position to get a meal.

Oxygen and Salinity

Brook trout and a few fish species can’t live in places where there’s too much salt in the water, other fish, like tuna and, require salt, and some, like striped bass, could live in freshwater or saltwater. Fish also require oxygen in the water. Species like carp can reside on areas with less oxygen compared to trout. Living plants add more oxygen to water just like what moving water does when it tumbles over the rocks. Decomposing animals and plants use oxygen that comes from the water and several kinds of pollution also lower the levels of oxygen. Thermal pollution might also be an issue as water can’t take as much oxygen compared to cold water.

Temperature

Every type of fish has a certain water temperature range that it likes. Bullhead catfish could live in water that’s warm as 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while lake trout and salmon should have cooler 40s as well as 50s. Certain fish species tolerate wider temperature ranges; others have extremely narrow requirements. Serious fishermen have found that a thermometer could be useful accessory for determining when you should try for certain kinds of fish.

Choosing Fishing Methods

Why use a boat?

Fishing from a boat allows you to cover more water compared to fishing from shore and get to distant spots, mostly with deeper water. Various kinds of boats are created for various kinds of water and for conducting different tasks. Jonboats, skiffs, and canoes could be great for casual fishing on mall lakes, small rivers, and streams. Bigger water bodies as well as much more extreme fishing could demand more powerful cathedral hulls, v-hulls, or specialty sport fishing boats.

Tolling is enjoyable and effective

Baits or trail lures behind a sluggishly running boat to cover more water. Trolling is effective for kinds of fish that feed on tinier fish regularly. One way of trolling called downrigging makes use of winch as well as weight to bring the line and the lure to the certain depth where fish eat. You can use this to regulate the depth of the lure, anywhere from just under the surface to about 200 feet deep, and continue to keep it running from that depth.

Fish On Outfitters provides everything you need for a great day fishing.

Call Fish-On Outfitters now if you are thinking of going on a fishing trip.

Fish-On Outfitters 800 Sea Mountain Hwy North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 249-2600 http://www.fish-on-outfitters.com

[bernadine6591-blog]

Catfish Fishing At Corona Lake

To be successful at any type of fishing, you need to comprehend the behavior belonging to the fish you're choosing. Channel catfish are no exception. Channel cats prefer cooler, deeper, cleaner water than bullheads, and water with a sand or gravel end. During the day, they hide among rocks or logs. Channel cats feed both day and night, although they very best fished from dusk through early nighttime. They take a large part of their food from the bottom, but regular feed at the surface. As scavengers, channel catfish will eat almost anything, dead or alive. They like minnows, crayfish, and aquatic insects or invertebrates. Trot or jug lines, or rod and reel are favored fishing methods. With their impressive size and quality flesh combine to make Channel Catfish popular to be a sport fishing (get redirected here) fish. In the actual we also show the Blue Cat or also called White Hamster. This is the heaviest commercial catfish species. Every fisherman loves them; their size, active feeding habits, and raw power. It's very common as a result of creatures consume three to four times a day and another two to a few times in the evenings. Most of the catfish are now living deep hot water. The usual bait for this creature is perch, cut bait and shad. Normally, the most common bait is shad. Live bait or blood will catch their attention.

If consideration to fish for monster bass, consider Lake Dixon near Escondido. Rumor has it that striped bass upwards of 20 pounds have been caught. In addition, specialists . fish for catfish and trout. When they stock the lake with trout, this provides the bass plenty to kill which produces bigger . Once again, there is camping near by. Note that boats and tubes aren't allowed, but you can fish the shoreline or rent a dinghy. There are many different things to consider when trying to work out which type of slamming bait to use for catfish fishing. You evaluations first grasp the type of foods that catfish in order to eat. In general, catfish like consume smaller insects and bugs. The best type of food to buy a catfish is foods usually are high in fat and protein. Smaller fish generally high in fat and protein which is the reason the catfish like consume them. The species of catfish like to eat these kinds of fat and protein foods because however a fish that may be energetic. About half-hour to the south is gloomier Otay Reservoir near Chula Vista. This lake draws serious bass fishermen and occasional bass fishing tournaments are held here because it is a good-sized lake, leastwise in comparison to other people previously famous. Once again, many . a great lake for bass fishing, but hybrid cars also find a bluegill or catfish close to hook. Boats are qualified. Note that can be certainly a smaller lake linked to this one, Upper Otay Reservoir; however, this lake is for catch and release no more than. Catfish are bottom feeders. What this means is actually you need to use techniques that a person to obtain the bait documented on the bottom where they're located to become to win back their attention. They wait for food to come to them and click strike. However, the catfish is no longer that picky concerning what it eats so a lot type of bait deliver the results as long as you receive it where they notice it. Next, consider of where you have to continue being. Most of us head out on fishing trips, especially long ones, so as to get out from the city, stress, hassles and everyday personal life. If that's what you want, you might consider roughing it and camping out somewhere close fishing spot. The only thing about is actually why it means taking camping gear too, which means more the key. On the other hand, it is easy to stay inside RV strolling lodge, sleep at night in some comfort and luxury, and head in order to the remote areas to fish when you're ready to. I wouldn't state that any method better; it is all up to the tastes of your angler. Just keep planned that i believe that now time fishing, it end up being nice to curl up in a good warm sleeping! Another thing that catches the attention of anglers everywhere may be the amazing sizes that typically cats plant. That is why they are sometimes called monster felines. If you plan to seek the larger catfish, it's recommended that you use a lot of equipment or you'll essentially the most go home with a broken rod and damaged reel. When combine big size is not struggle they put up, and still have do some real problems. Then my grandfather took one folks two pronged barbeque forks and plunged it in the fish's neck of. The fish let out a loud grunt and nonetheless. I soon forgot my concerns at the catfish though after my grandmother battered him up and fried him and i got a taste. If tend to be looking toward some peaceful quality time, fishing in ponds could be a great choice. Stick to the tips in this article and next include your very own ways to get better catches by catfishing in waters.

[gaveshillvack]

A Routine

"Heads up!" was the last thing Gaves heard as the wooden tip of a practice sword smacked him across the cheek. The sensation was awful, like being burnt by a rough surface. Yelping in pain, Gaves nearly dropped his own wooden sword while stumbling back. "Gotta' keep your eyes up all the time, ok?" Gaves shook his head. He had been staring at a flower, it was dying, and it was much more interesting than this bi-weekly sparring session his father had him doing. Rubbing his cheek, Gaves groaned, upset. "Why do I have to do this?" He asked, concern clearly in his words. Like a bear, his father growled back. "Because Hillvacks fight, Gaves, that's what -we- do. My father fought, and his father before him, and his father, and his father, and his father. All the way back to the great days of the Kingdom of Arathor."  The then boy, Gaves, sighed. "But we're blacksmiths, and there ain't no one to fight." His father spat back. "-Yet-." Stubborn, large, and always scowling; Gaves' father looked like a bear that had been forced to play nice with the bunnies and deer of the world.

This was Gaves' life on Tuesdays and Saturdays... always the same routine. Wake up, make your bed, wash up, brush your teeth, new clothes on, eat breakfast, go to the forge and sweat for hours, close up shop, go home, grab practice sword, and get beaten -every time- by dad. It was simple routine, and Gaves hated it. Just once, one day, he always said. One day he would like if it wasn't about which cut to throw when you're in a high guard, or the pro's and con's of parrying with the edge of your blade rather than the flat. But no. Like stink on a dead fish, father's training was certain.

Another cut was thrown at Gaves' head, this time he blocked it. It was almost muscle memory now, and Gaves hated it. He hated that -this-, this 'art' his father so fondly called it was beginning to become second nature to him. "Good." His father grunted. "But you didn't move your feet." The tip of his sword poked Gaves toes, making the boy hop back in pain. "Gotta' keep moving in a fight." Gaves spoke up. "But I don't wanna' fight, I don't get into fights. People like me, dad, they really do. And they just wanna' talk, nobody wants to start sparring, I mean it." His father didn't retort verbally, rather he pressed the attack. Feinting with a thrust, the bear followed up with a false edge cut that snapped against Gaves' shoulder. It was swift, and unforgiving; the force made Gaves drop his sword. Well, at the least the session was over, it always ended with Gaves being beat bad enough to the point where he couldn't defend himself. His father reeled back for another hit, a beast ready to pounce... but he halted. His son, again,  had been defeated. Sighing, he spat off to the side, and nodded. "Alright, pick up your sword, and tell me what you've learned." Gaves groaned, nursing his blooming red shoulder. He gingerly bent at the knees, picking up his sword. "I've learned that you have to keep moving. That Hillvacks fight-" His father cut him off with a bark. "You already knew that, smart ass. Try again." Gaves huffed, scowling. "That you need to rotate your hips when throwing a cut from high guard, because you get more power of it..." Gaves' father rolled a finger over, nodding for him to explain further. "Annnnnd... ummm... umm. Oh, yeah. Yeah, and it's so you can transition into another thrust, or cut."

Gaves hated the fact that he had been paying close enough attention to learn this, this barbaric dance of savages. Southshore wasn't renowned for their valiant fighters, it was a damned fishing village for crying out loud, Gaves thought to himself. What his father was training him for he had no idea. "Good." The bear grunted with a nod. "Wash yourself off, and head back home for supper. Mom's making breaded bullheads, again." He shook his head before turning around, and walking away with a huff. He mumbles under his breath. "Better be making breaded bullheads." Gaves waited till his father had left before racing away in the opposite direction; the pond was nearly in sight. Without bothering to remove his clothes, he leapt into the dark blue water, submerging himself while his wooden sword floated to the top. He held his breath for several moments, merely waiting for his lungs to start burning for air. It was -his- time, a moment where all he had was himself, and his thoughts. Father had gotten more aggressive as of late with his sessions, not stopping until he had bruised at least TWO spots on his body. The positive, if anything, was that Gaves wasn't bothered by anyone else, who would pick on a boy who was smacked by his father? He opened his eyes, studying the usually murky water with intent. A few fish skittered by, but they had to get close enough for that. Gaves couldn't see more than his arm's length, if that. Gaves liked it that way, he felt safe. It was his isolated spot in the pond, no one but -him- could see himself. Finally, his lungs tapped out, signaling him to rise. Reluctantly he urged his core upwards, arms flapping underwater until his head breached with a massive Inhale. Air rushed back in, giving him life. He was at three and half minutes now. If he kept it up by the end of the month he would be holding his breath for four minutes easily. The sun was starting to set as Gaves waded out of the water, making sure to grab his 'sword' before sitting at the bank.

Why did his father want him to fight? There was no purpose, no will. Dad was a blacksmith, and just like any child, Gaves was going to follow in his parent's footsteps. It would be another thing if he was taught different techniques, or that folding metal over was used to force out impurities with the iron, but alas... For hours he would hold a stick until he couldn't.  Anger bit him at the side, compelling him at times to lash out at his father during the sessions. Not once, with all his fury did he manage to score a hit. The best he had manage was make his father stumble back, but it was only met with a counter-attack that ended up with Gaves on his ass. His father congratulated him, explaining how, in great detail, what he had done right, but what he had done wrong, and what led to him laying on the ground.  A jumbled mess of thoughts the boy was now. Huffing,  he picked himself up, along with the sword, and waddled back to his house in soggy clothing. The tip of the wooden sword scraped along the grass as he ventured home. One thing was for sure, Gaves told himself. He would never be like his father, who loved war, and the thrill of battle. Never. The forge  maybe, but only until he could leave, leave and never come back to that black cauldron of a tomb, and the hulk that resided over it.

[fishihavecaught]

Got some good inside knowledge on a location in Orange County from Pierce on where I could get Seminole Killifish and Yellow Bullheads with a chance to land a Bluefin Killifish or Flagfish as well.  I met up with him after a late start and bad traffic, but he showed me the area and gave me some tips before he had to leave for work. Within 5 minutes I had species #213 - the Seminole Killifish (Fundulus seminolis). I set up my cut bait pole for bullheads and kept fishing, but within another 20 minutes I had pulled in species #214, the Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) as well. I was about to start looking for the micros when the weather got really bad and I got drenched. I would have waited it out, but lightning ended the day. Two species up on Florida natives.

Totals for the day:

3 Seminole Killifish

2 Warmouth

5 Bluegil

4 Spotted Sunfish

1 Redear Sunfish

2 Yellow Bullhead

1 Eastern Mosquitofish

1 Florida Largemouth Bass 

[scootoaster]

A beginner’s guide to freshwater fishing

Learning to fish isn’t hard once you know the basics. (Bob McNally/)

This story originally featured on Field & Stream.

For most serious anglers, it was their family and friends who showed them the basics of the sport. But not everyone was lucky enough to have been mentored to a lifetime of outdoor fun pursuing and catching fish.

The good news is, learning to fish isn’t difficult. And it offers never-ending challenges in the outdoors. Even old hands at the game can learn about new types of tackle, baits, and lures. What’s more, there’s an infinite variety of subtle nuances that can make fishing challenging enough for a lifetime.

Fishing can be done virtually anywhere there’s water, and for little cost. America is blessed with great fishing from coast to coast—in thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and sprawling reservoirs. The following fish species are common to many of America’s freshwaters. Each has its own habits, habitats, preferred baits, lures, and methods for catching them. If you’ve never caught a fish before, this is a good place to start.

Sunfish

Bluegills are easy to catch and can be found almost anywhere. (PublicDomainImages from Pixabay/)

This generic name covers a host of freshwater panfish. Technically it includes black bass and crappies, but those species are so purposefully fished for and so different, they are covered in another section below. Sunfish are warm-water species, abundant and readily caught near shore in ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers throughout America. They can be large—up to several pounds in the case of bluegills and red ear sunfish. But most weigh well under a pound, and fish about the size of an open-hand are common.

Bluegills are likely the most prolific sunfish, followed by red ear sunfish, rock bass, and warmouths. But spotted sunfish, pumpkinseeds, green, and longear sunfish also are widely distributed and caught by countless anglers. Often several sunfish species inhabit the same water, and some species hybridize.

Sunfish are an ideal target for beginners because of their great abundance. Their near-shore availability also makes them easy targets for people who don’t have access to a boat. They have voracious appetites that allow even novice anglers to catch plenty. In clean waters, sunfish of suitable size are tasty catches. They’re easy to clean and simple to cook and eat. (The fish earned the generic name “panfish” because they are the perfect size for frying in a pan.)

Bluegills are the most common panfish. (USFWS/)

In almost any warm body of water, panfish can be found near weed beds, grassy banks, and overhanging vegetation. Shoreline areas of ponds and small lakes typically teem with summer sunfish. Bigger lakes and reservoirs also hold sunfish, especially near docks and in pockets with flooded brush and weeds. Some panfish species abound in creeks and rivers. Redbreasts and warmouths are especially abundant there, though other sunfish species can thrive in moving water, too.

The best natural baits for sunfish

Sunfish are democratic in their food preferences, and they’ve been caught on almost everything, including dragonflies, grasshoppers, grass shrimp, beetles, ladybugs, caterpillars, crickets, roaches, small minnows, and even pieces of lunch meat and bread. The most common bait is a simple earthworm, the garden variety, which many bait shops carry.

Small pieces of nightcrawler are best, since a sunfish has a small mouth. Use a long-shank light-wire No. 6 or 8 hook and barb an inch or two of earthworm multiple times onto it. Bait like this works best when fished a few feet below a lightweight bobber with a small split shot attached a foot or so above the hook for casting weight.

The best artificial lures for sunfish

Artificial panfish lures need to be small, since sunfish have very tiny mouths. Occasionally sunfish will hit large plugs and lures intended for other species, like bass and crappies. But as a rule, small lures are best.

A tiny 1/16- or 1/8-ounce single-blade spinner such as a Mepps or Panther Martin works for sunfish, as do small jigs down to 1/32-ounce size.

If you’re using a fly rod, thumbnail-size poppers, wet flies, or nymphs also work well, and they can be “sweetened” with a bit of earthworm. Fly tackle can be used very effectively, especially when summer sunfish are in shallow clear water spawning on large, visible beds. You can also use flies and poppers with small bobbers or floats with spinning tackle.

Keep a few small popper flies in your fly box for panfish. (Bass Pro Shops/)

How to reel in sunfish

Slow retrieves with bait and lures usually account for most sunfish, given that they’re careful, deliberate feeders. Bank anglers using polarized sunglasses frequently see small schools of sunfish holding near weeds, brush, stumps, and grassy shorelines. Carefully casting to fish that you can see usually results in strikes, and anglers should land hooked fish quickly to keep from spooking others.

Long shank bait hooks make for removing barbs from fish easy, and it’s always a good idea to bring a set of needle-nose pliers to help unhook a sunfish.

Catfish

Channel catfish are the most common kind of catfish. (Bob McNally/)

Catfish get their name from the whiskers or barbels around their mouths. The whiskers are sensory organs that them to locate food in the deepest, darkest, muddiest water. Catfish are chiefly bottom feeders. While there are a number of American catfish (and similar-looking bullheads) the most important catfish species to American anglers are channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish.

Channel catfish

The channel catfish is the most widely distributed, abundant, and sought-after fish in the group. Channel catfish are usually dark in color, with a gray to nearly black hue, often with liberal black spotting along their flanks. They sometimes are confused with blue catfish, but channels have deeply forked tails and a protruding upper lip.

Channel cats are commonly caught from ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers. They are superb table fare, and are commercially raised in ponds for sale to restaurants and groceries. Thousands of farm ponds throughout America have also been stocked with fast-growing, fun-to-catch, and good-eating channel cats. They can also grow to huge sizes, and offer stubborn fights for anglers using suitable tackle. Channel cats weighing more than 50 pounds have been recorded, but most weigh 2 to 5 pounds, though fish up to 15 pounds are regularly landed.

Blue catfish

Blue catfish are the largest of the American catfish, with some recorded catches being over 100 pounds and measuring more than 5 feet in length. Blue cats indeed have a slight blue hue to their sides, and have a modest fork at the tail. They tend to live more in rivers than other species, and they thrive in deep rivers and sprawling reservoirs. They have also adapted to brackish waters, especially where they have been stocked in dozens of states.

Some catfish can grow extremely big. (Deedster from Pixabay/)

Flathead catfish

Flatheads have an elongated, flat-shaped head, with a protruding lower jaw. They have a square-shaped tail and olive-brown coloration. They’re native to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River drainage but are found through much of America—especially in the middle third of the country. Their distribution spans from the Dakotas south to Texas, southeast to Florida, and north to New York and Michigan.

Flatheads grow big. Fish over 100 pounds have been recorded, 50-pounders are caught regularly, and 20-pound flatheads are not unusual.

They’re notorious loners, and adults favor live baitfish as forage. They frequent slow-moving rivers and deep reservoirs laced with channels. Flatheads have been stocked by many states, and like blue cats, they thrive in brackish waters relishing the abundance of marine foods such as crabs and small fish.

The best natural baits for catfish

Catfish are opportunistic bottom feeders, and can be caught on almost anything tossed their way. But native aquatic foods are usually best for catfish. Cut pieces of resident baitfish, earthworms, crayfish, clams, mussels, and similar indigenous baits are very effective. However, cats have been caught on everything from hot dogs to cut bars of soap. Commercially prepared catfish baits available from tackle shops are popular, and in brackish water, menhaden, crabs, eels, and shrimp are good.

Catfish are meat eaters, and in the case of flatheads, live baitfish are preferred forage. Native baits are best to specific waters, with shad and suckers being popular. Small live baitfish can be effective for blue and channel cats, too. Some anglers say small live sunfish species are especially good baits, but it’s important to check your local regulations to see if they’re legal to use.

These natural baits can be fished many ways. But, as a general rule, it’s wise to get offerings deep, using split shot, three-way swivel rigs, sliding-sinker-type Carolina, or fish-finder rigs. You can use bobbers or floats to indicate bites from cats, but suspended baits are usually not as productive as ones soaked at or near the bottom. Hooks should be stout, as all catfish are tough fighters. The bigger the catfish the heftier the hook you’re going to need. Common hook sizes are 2X to 3X wire, and size 4 to 4/0 bait hooks.

Occasionally, in colder weather, catfish will hit spoons. (Bob McNally/)

The best artificial lures for catfish

Catching catfish on lures is not easy, and when it does occur it’s usually incidental while fishing for other species such as bass, walleye, and trout. Jigs catch an occasional catfish, simply because such lures probe the bottom. Sometimes jigs tipped with baits such as shrimp, baitfish, or worms take cats, but mostly by accident.

In cool and cold weather, when food is somewhat scarce, catfish (usually channel cats) can be caught by anglers casting spoons around shell beds in large rivers and lakes. Some people believe catfish eat mussels, clams, and even oysters at times, and occasionally will hit a slowly fished spoon.

How to reel in catfish

Methodical, slow, deep-bottom fishing accounts for most catfish. Often soaking a bait near a drop-off, channel, dam, bridge, jetty, or culvert structure produces fish. Some successful anglers drift dead and live baits in deep areas, or on flats and through current zones near river and reservoir channels.­­­­

Catfish are also notorious night feeders. They spend much of their time living deep, moving shallow in low light to feed in areas with structure like logs, flooded timber, brush, docks, and tapered banks near deep water. In some lakes and rivers, catfish are drawn to lights shining down from docks, bridges, and channel markers that attract minnows, shrimp, and other forage.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass put up a good fight and are fun to catch. (scottgardner from Pixabay/)

No fish is more American than the bass. While there are no less than nine different species of black bass, the largemouth black bass and the smallmouth black bass are the most abundant and widely distributed.

Largemouths and smallmouths are celebrated because of their speed, hard-fighting character, aggressiveness, and propensity to leap above the water when hooked. American anglers hold them in such high regard that for decades they have been enthusiastically stocked throughout much of the country.

Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass have the widest distribution, found in every state but Alaska. Much of the multi-billion-dollar American fishing tackle industry is dedicated to the species. Reels, rods, fishing line, leaders, and lures of countless varieties are produced specifically to catch largemouth black bass. Many boats, motors, and electronics such as fathometers have been designed to put more bass in the hands of millions of dedicated anglers.

Largemouths commonly grow from 2 to 5 pounds, 6 to 8 pounders are not rare, and fish over 20 pounds have been caught.

The overall shape of the largemouth is short, stocky, and broad. Bass vary in body coloration, as they react to their water environment. Some fish are so dark they are coal black. Other largemouths can be so pale they are almost chalky white. Still others are emerald green. Bass have bellies ranging from ivory white to pale yellow.

A largemouth bass caught on a spinnerbait. (Bob McNally/)

Smallmouth bass

Though smaller in size than the largemouth, the smallmouth bass is no less of a gamefish. True to its namesake, it has a smaller mouth than the largemouth, with the rear hinge of the mouth never extending beyond the eye. They are also less widely distributed, but just as prized by anglers. Also known as “bronzebacks” or “smallies,” smallmouths are aggressive, tough, strong, and quick. They strike hard and never seem to give up.

Smallmouths average 1 to 3 pounds, 4 to 6 pounders are considered big, and fish over 10 pounds have been recorded. They are considered more of a northern fish than the largemouth, as they thrive in deeper, colder water.

In many waters smallmouths and largemouths mingle, but confusion between the two species is rare. Along with their smaller mouths, smallmouths have continuous or unbroken dorsal fins, whereas a largemouth’s rearward dorsal fin is almost completely separated from the forward dorsal fin.

Coloration also helps identify smallmouths from largemouths—although not scientifically. Smallmouths are browner in color (hence the nickname “bronzebacks” or in some locales, “brown bass”), while largemouths tend to be more green or black.

The best natural baits for bass

Bass have been caught on dozens of different types of live baits, from marine eels, frogs, and crabs to virtually any baitfish species of suitable size for bass to devour. Perhaps the best all-around natural bait for bass is a live crawfish, especially the softshell variety. Crawfish are relished by both largemouths and smallmouths virtually everywhere they’re found. Live native shiners also are very effective, particularly when fishing for largemouths. Smallmouths are regularly caught with leeches, and in rivers they have an affinity for hellgrammites (dobsonfly larvae).

This weedless rig keeps your hook from snagging on the bottom. (Bob McNally/)

The best artificial lures for bass

As a general rule, slightly smaller lures are better for smallmouths than largemouths simply because of the size of their mouths. However, anglers catch both species on a huge variety of lures, including many different kinds of plugs, spinners, spoons, soft plastic lures, and on a fly rod with bugs, streamers, and nymphs.

Smallmouths have a distinct preference for flashy lures, such as spinner-baits, in-line spinners, and wobbling spoons. Such lures also take largemouths, but smallmouths fall for them more regularly. Both species strike plugs, and surface lures such as the Heddon Zara Spook are a favorite because they produce showy strikes from bass on the surface of the water.

Perhaps soft plastic lures, especially worms and lizards, are the most productive artificial baits for bass. Rigged weedless with a bullet slip sinker (Texas style), such lures can be fished almost anywhere, deep or shallow, in thick cover or on barren bottoms. Bass also have been known to eat birds such as baby ducks and cattail-hopping redwing blackbirds, and artificial imitations of small birds and other animals are available.

How to reel in bass

Bass are ambush predators that often live in deep water. They can be caught deep—but many fish in holes, ledges, and river channels are not actively feeding, and they can be difficult to dupe. However, bass move to shallower areas to feed, especially around structure, like weed beds, brush piles, rock walls, flooded timber, and cover-strewn ledges. Such places harbor bass forage, like minnows and crawfish, and those are the best places to fish. Shallow areas in close proximity to deeper water are prime areas for bass fishing.

Trout

Rainbow trout are good fighters and fun to catch on a variety of lures and natural baits. (Matthew Every/)

Trout are one of America’s great gamefish, and while there are many species, the primary ones of interest to most anglers are rainbow, brown, and brook trout. All three species are similarly torpedo-shaped, though their coloration, markings, habits, and habitats vary considerably.

Trout are highly regarded by many anglers because of their speed, grace, and remarkable fighting ability. The environments in which they live are usually pristine, tree-lined clear rivers and picturesque streams, where wading is often the most productive way to catch them. Some of the best trout waters are well off the beaten track—particularly in the West, Upper Midwest, and East.

The favorite foods of trout are readily imitated by fly anglers casting an assortment of flies. Trout will also take small spinning lures and baits.

Rainbow trout

The rainbow trout are the most widely distributed trout, and they have been stocked by anglers and fisheries departments throughout much of America. Chiefly a cold-water species that frequents swift, clear rivers, rainbows often leap high above the water when hooked.

Rainbows have extreme color variations, from almost a steely chrome (mostly from deep, clear lakes), to deep stripes of red, yellow, green, and blue on the flanks and deeply speckled sides. Rainbows grow quickly, and are commonly caught in the 1 to 3-pound range, though they’ve been recorded at over 50 pounds.

Brook trout

Brook trout require the most pristine, cold waters to thrive. Further, they are arguably the most beautiful of trout. Mature fish sport red spots ringed in blue on their flanks, ivory-tipped lower fins, colorful orange-yellow shading along the belly, and uniquely beautiful swirling worm-like olive markings along the back.

In the eastern United States, book trout are usually found in small mountain streams. (Bob McNally/)

Native to the Eastern US, brook trout now thrive in clear waters in much of America, including Canada and the Rocky Mountains. Foreign stocking has brought excellent brook trout fishing to New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and much of Europe. Most brookies are small, well under 1 pound. But in large rivers and lakes, they can grow up to nearly 15 pounds.

Brown trout

Browns are the brawlers of the trout clan. They are aggressive, cunning, notorious night stalkers, and notable baitfish predators. Brown trout are native to Europe and Asia and were introduced to America in the 1880s. They adapt better to slower, deeper rivers than rainbow and brook trout, and they also spawn in autumn. They are widely distributed since they can tolerate warmer water than other trout.

Brown trout have a distinctive olive-brown coloring, with large red and black spots along their flanks. They commonly weigh 1 to 3 pounds, but in larger rivers and lakes, fish weighing up to 40 pounds have been landed.

The best natural baits for trout

All kinds of trout take insects, crustaceans, and small fish. Large nymphs such as hellgrammites and stoneflies work well in some trout waters. Crawfish and earthworms are popular, too. Small native minnows can be used, with the sculpin minnow being a favorite on Western trout waters. In waters that are heavily stocked with trout, anglers use whole kernel corn and salmon eggs with great success.

The best artificial lures for trout

A wide assortment of lures are effective for trout. Flashy in-line spinners and spoons are preferred on many rivers and streams. Spinner designs such as the Rooster Tail, Mepps, and Panther Martin work well. Spoons are good, too, like the Kastmaster, Little Cleo, Krocodile, Johnson Sprite, and Dardevle.

Small plugs can work well for trout, especially when targeting larger trout on big water. Minnow-imitating lures excel like the original floating-diving Rapala and Rebel designs.

Fly fishermen catch trout on a huge assortment of dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Dry flies and nymphs are used to match native insects’ size, color, and general silhouette. Streamer flies take plenty of trout, too, as they imitate native baitfish species. There are also generic flies that imitate a host of forage, such as the famed Muddler Minnow which works in almost all trout water. Popular patterns are usually regionally specific, and the color, size, and materials the flies are important.

An assortment of trout spinners and spoons. (Matthew Every/)

How to reel in trout

In streams and rivers, it’s best to catch trout in places that deliver food to the fish. Experienced anglers learn to read water, noting current flows around rocks, at the heads and tails of pools, near undercut banks in the river, or stream bends. Almost anything that breaks current flow creates tiny funnels that channel insects and other food, and that’s where trout station. Cast across-and-down current and bring lures and flies through such areas. Often early morning and late afternoon fishing are most productive. And during warm afternoons, insect hatches excite trout and offer great fishing for a short window of time.

Walleye

A walleye caught on a jig. (Bob McNally/)

The walleye is an extremely popular sportfish, native to the northern tier of America and into Canada. Walleyes have been stocked in many waters throughout the country—as far south as Alabama and Georgia (they were once even stocked in Florida), west to California, and throughout the Midwest and Mid-South.

The Columbia River system touching the states of Oregon and Washington has superb walleye fishing, as does Montana, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and other northern states. Lake Erie has a storied walleye fishery, offering Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Canadian anglers lots of opportunity for great fishing. They’re most at home in large lakes, reservoirs, and deep, broad rivers. Portions of the upper Mississippi River offer quality walleye fishing.

Most walleyes caught by anglers run 2 to 3 pounds, but 5 pounders are taken regularly, and the world record of 25 pounds came from Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee. Walleyes fight well and are highly prized as a fish to eat. They are olive-green in coloration, with a white belly and a distracting silver-tipped lower tail fin that’s easily seen in clear water.

Walleyes are skilled predators and they have a series of sharp, pointed teeth for holding forage. They have unusually good eyesight, with cloudy, opaque eyes that allow them to see in dark water and in low light. They are well-known night predators, and many anglers fish for them after the sun sets, at dawn, dusk, and in overcast weather.

A walleye spinner harness with a nightcrawler. (Bob McNally/)

The best natural baits for walleye

Walleyes are meat-eaters, and they consume a variety of small fish and invertebrates. Small baitfish such as shiners are popular, but other baits like nightcrawler worms, leeches, and crawfish work, too. The best baits are often localized to a specific body of water during a particular season. Local knowledge of what bait is best for the water at what time is invaluable for consistent walleye success.

The best artificial lures for walleye

Jigs are one of the most popular lures for walleyes since the fish are notorious bottom feeders. Getting a jig in front of a walleye is important for success, and at times schools of fish can be suspended off ledges and bottom structures 25 to 35 feet down. For that reason, heavy jigs perhaps up to a ½-ounce may be required, and “tipping” jigs with minnows, nightcrawlers, or leeches can be effective.

Trolling is a popular and productive way to catch walleyes. Diving plugs and spoons work, especially when fish are comparatively shallow, under 15 feet. At times, slow trolling plugs or spoons off specialized “bottom bouncer” terminal rigs can be very deadly.

Fried walleye is a classic dish wherever they are caught. (scottgardner from Pixabay/)

How to reel in walleye

The best times to catch walleyes are at dawn, dusk, and at night. Overcast weather can offer great fishing, as walleyes will move shallow to feed throughout the day. Windy weather can be excellent too, which “chops” the water, reducing light penetration and prompting walleyes to move shallow where they are most vulnerable to anglers.

Structure areas such as channel and ledge drop-offs, points of land dropping off into deep water, and man-made structures like riprap, bridges, and dams are all choice spots for catching walleyes.

Slow trolling with live bait using sliding sinker Lindy-style rigs works well. Nightcrawlers on harness rigs are superb when slow trolled, and anglers who troll with jigs tipped with minnows, crawlers, and leeches will consistently boat walleyes.

Crappie

A crappie caught on a spinner. (Bob McNally/)

There are two species of crappies, white crappies and black crappies. Both are oversized members of the sunfish family. They can be found in the same waters, and both are similar in color, being mainly silver-white, with abundant black spots. However, spotting patterns differ between the two. White crappie spots are less dark and distinctive than black crappie spots. White crappie spots are also loosely arranged in a series of vertical bars along a fish’s flanks, while black crappie spots are irregular and scattered along the fish’s side.

White and black crappies are nearly identical in shape, habits, and size. They have a small head, a deep body, and are thin across the back.

Most crappies weigh 1/2 to 3/4 pound. A 1-pounder is a nice one, and anything weighing over 2 pounds is considered a prize, or so-called “slab.” Crappies grow to 4 pounds, and sometimes to 5 pounds. They are very structure-oriented fish, and they spend much time suspended in brush, weeds, flooded timber, and around docks, boathouses, and pilings. Spring fishing for them during their spawn in shallow lake-side weeds and timber is a tradition throughout much of America.

While black crappies and white crappies can be found in the same waters, each has slightly different water preferences. Both species are indigenous to the Eastern US, but they have also been stocked throughout America.

Black crappie

The black crappie is widely distributed from Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba south through Florida and west to California and British Columbia. Only in parts of the West and Southwest are black crappies comparatively scarce, notably Utah, Nevada, West Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho. Black crappies are found in large ponds, as well as clear, deep, weedy, and cold reservoirs.

White crappie

White crappies are notorious for “suspending” in the water column, rather than being a bottom-dweller like some other species. White crappies can also tolerate warm, turbid waters, silted streams, and slow-flowing rivers. They’re widely distributed and rare only in a few areas, such as Florida and a few Midwest and Northern states. White crappies also are believed to be more prolific than black crappies, and they’re sometimes found in schools containing hundreds of fish.

The best natural baits for crappies

Crappies are highly carnivorous, feeding on insects, crustaceans, and small fish. Mature crappies are aggressive fish eaters, preferring small minnows over most other available forage. This trait is well exploited by anglers, who chiefly employ live fathead minnows, hooking them through the lips for trolling. If you want to “still” fish for crappies, it’s best to hook minnows just under the dorsal fin or at the tail. It makes them more active and appealing to crappies.

Crappie jigs come in a variety of colors. (Bob McNally/)

The best artificial lures for crappies

Jigs unquestionably produce more crappies for more anglers than any other lure. Crappies are well known for being fickle about lure color. Experienced anglers carry small 1/32- to 1/8-ounce jigs in many colors, and color combinations. Soft plastic body jigs are popular, but ones with marabou bodies, mylar, and other synthetic materials work well, too.

How to reel in crappies

Crappies are legendary for feeding during low-light at night, dawn, dusk, and in overcast weather. Because they discriminate toward lure color choices, skilled fishermen will often change colors regularly while fishing. Crappies also are very deliberate feeders, preferring slow, tantalizing lure presentations rather than fast, erratic ones. This is one reason small jigs (often fished in conjunction with minnows) suspended below a float are common crappie tackle choices.

Crappies are often found in large schools and frequently suspend at very specific levels in the water column. This is another reason why slowly fishing jigs beneath a float are so effective—as well as trolling with an electric motor. Anglers often “mark” schools of crappies suspended below pods of shad minnows before trolling jigs just above them.

Trolling can catch a lot of crappies. (Bob McNally/)

If you’re working multiple lines and lures it’s wise to employ a wide variety of color combinations until one jig hue proves to be effective.

Light line and supple rods are best for crappie fishing. Such gear allows the spunky fighting qualities of crappies to shine, plus they’re needed to cast small, light jigs, and delicate floats. Light-action rods also result in more crappies caught because it helps prevent “horsing” fish, which easily can pull hooks through their light paper-thin mouths.

Crappies are extremely attracted to brush piles, making them very vulnerable to fishing there. Huge catches can be made on good sites. For example, a well-documented man-made brush pile (10 feet wide by 100 feet long) on Lake Chautauqua, Illinois yielded over 20,000 crappies in one fishing season. If you’re planning your first crappie fishing trip, it’s always good to get some local knowledge about what kind of structure there is under the water.