Species 27 & 28

The sun hadn't fully broken the horizon on morning one of my recent Rend Lake trip when my species tally for 2014 grew. My first white crappie of the morning (one in photo is probably about the sixth or seventh) was species No. 27 for this year, according to my records. Not long after, I caught the first of several yellow bass, which was No. 28.

It's odd for me to add a white crappie so late in the year. That normally occurs early in the spring. It just happens that everywhere I've crappie fished this year, black crappie have been the main attraction.

Black crappie actually made the list really early this year. I caught my first one (actually my first several) in January, through the ice in Pennsylvania. I recorded five species from that trip to start this year's list, but I'm not really sure of the first-catch order. My first fish of this year was either a black crappie or a bluegill.

My next trip is to the Tennessee River in North Alabama. If we do any tailwater drifting, I could catch a freshwater drum or a buffalo, either of which would be add to the 2014 list. I think I've already caught most of the sport fish we'd be likely to encounter, but that's a diverse fishery, so you never know. Between that an early ice trip to Minnesota, it seems at least somewhat likely that I'll be able to bump the tally to 30 before the year ends and it becomes time to begin a new list.

Alabama Bronze

The smallmouths were kind enough to make a strong appearance today, taking a bit of the bite out of a pretty chilly November day, with skies that ranged from blue to black, at times with cold rain or even hail falling. Most fish were on Tennessee River bluffs, and the bulk of them were caught on Yumbrella Flash Mob Junior rigs adorned with YUM Mud Minnows. However, individual Mud Minnows and Rogues also produced a few fish. The best bluffs were on the windy side of the river, with waves beating the rock and with big schools of shad running close to the bluffs. The best bite occurred when the wind was blowing steadily.

We're headed for the same main-river bluffs tomorrow to see whether the smallmouths still want to cooperate. I'm guessing they will, but we'll find out tomorrow morning. I know the morning cold will have just as much bite.  For now, I guess I'd better sleep!