Ημερολόγιο της/του cosmiccat

Since Rattlesnake Ridge opened last spring, I've been planning on going this spring. I'm planning on spending a week's vacation in Little Rock, and one of things I want to do is see this park. I reserved a hotel in north Little Rock last night, so I have a date set. I'm posting about it now to invite Arkansas naturalists and anyone interested in going to come in with me so we can get as many observations as possible.

Itinerary:

Friday, May 17th: Drive to Little Rock
Saturday, May 18th: Rattlesnake Ridge Blitz! http://www.naturalheritage.com/natural-areas/rattlesnake-ridge-natural-area
Sunday, May 19th: Little Rock Audubon Center http://ar.audubon.org/about-us/little-rock-audubon-center-0

I'm not sure what I'm going to do for the rest of the week yet, besides fishing at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, but I am inviting people to join me for Rattle Snake Ridge and the Audubon center.

@arbutterflynut @royaltyler (I think you mentioned that you wanted to go?) @eric_hunt @cherrielee @mayfly1963 @gcsnelling @mfria631 @moondevg

I think I got all the Arkansas regulars there. If you know anyone else who might want to go, please pass this post on!

Just like Arkansas gives out award pins for watching birds, they give pins for catching fish! Big fish, to be exact.

First, all fish must be caught on a line and pole. The fish must be at least a certain weight to qualify for a pin. Check the weight here: https://www.agfc.com/en/get-involved/onthewater/masterangler/

Is your fish big enough? Great! Get a photo of yourself holding your fish and fill out the application here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VLwXQH0dngmlTl8E351jlgxkHqj9_f6G/view

After you get a pin in four different categories, you are an Arkansas Master Angler! Hooray! You will get a fun certificate to hang on your wall!

It's not a requirement, but be sure to share your awesome catches on iNat! Now go get those fish!

I excitedly drove to Beavers Bend SP in Oklahoma on Saturday. I really wanted to get fish observations, especially a trout. When I got there, I realized that I was unprepared. First, I needed waders to walk to around the river and find a deep spot with fish. Second, everyone was catching the fish with flies. I only brought nightcrawlers and a roostertail because that's how I catch the trout at the Kilgore fish pond. However, Beavers Bend isn't Kilgore.

I walked along a bank until I found a deep spot and decided to try for anything that would bite. I baited one pole with a nightcrawler and used my other one to cast around my silver roostertail. I caught nothing. The water is so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom, and I didn't even see a fish swim by. I must have been in the wrong place.

I'm going to get some waders later. I learned a couple of years ago that the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens gives free flyfishing classes. The next one is February 16th and I'm going to go. https://tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/visit/specialevents/flyfishtx/

I'll go back to Broken Bow in the spring and try to fish the lake above the park, which has species that Texas doesn't like the walleye and the smallmouth bass.

The next day I went to Caddo Lake SP, determined to get just one fish observation for the weekend. I caught nothing. A carp bit my hook at one point, but escaped. The other park visitors didn't get anything, either, so I didn't feel so bad.

I'm going to Martin Creek Lake SP this weekend, which has active fish all year because it's a warm power plant lake. Hopefully I will catch at least one fish for iNat.