Yep, you read that right, this is part 2. Part 1 has not been written, yet. Ha
Last year around this time, my GF and I took a road trip to visit my best friend Mike and his GF out in Toledo, Ohio. Last year we went to a German American Festival, and had a great time, but our timing this year was off. We came out a week too early for the fest, but we made due and had a good time any way.
Got out to the same spot I fished last year with some success catching smallmouth bass while wet wading on the Maumee River. When I came out here around the 4th of July, the river was unfishable, because, of high fast moving water. Hoping that the water levels have decreased since then, I was hopeful to get out there and fish. As we finished lunch at a pizza buffet, my GF and best friend Mike sat down on a bench in the shade and watched me do my thing on the river.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyDd3MBxoHRp_g7ORZKd3LkZlDfa-eRKlchOLeI6H217cA8FFty719FITlq3eppzl2S3KHm5x6e5JRJk5WU7Sm79KsIRh2Giae7989OhWAXz9at0OrIJS6rUTh-u76dWd30otS5Wgd2w/s400/PSX_20150822_003508_zpsulkbhfen.JPG) |
Maumee River - Ohio |
I brought my 5 wt fly rod and bait caster down to the water with me. I casted a few flies, but had zero luck. I waded back to the shore to some bushes I laid my rod down in, and swapped my fly rod for my bait caster. I hooked up with a really nice smallie, but lost it to some sly aerial moves done by the fish. After that, I waved for Mike and my GF to come down. Mike refused, but my GF didn't, and it was a nice surprise, because, she normally would refuse, as well.
After my GF came down it was smooth sailing from there, I had lady luck on my side, and started to catch fish....some strange fish. Haha I was tossing a chatterbait and working some of the deeper pools and runs/ripples, and hooked up with quite the eclectic group of fish. Normally this lure catches me bass and northern pike....fish that I usually fish for. On this day, there were no bass caught.
Here we have a Channel Catfish. I cannot even remember the last time I caught one of these, but I can tell you, the last time I caught one of these was on a nightcrawler.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqMjvgjgd8SAikg-mU9-_e195Zop7O5-tnRkPZUGTmoG4Y00b6X_-U2XupJ0CipgulF9V-of5TnGoeqU6s11C3lMz0jAphX9oHqqYl3y6QjH4F1YB7GkO8B5clps3YfrD-Y_DIrVyOR8/s400/IMG_20150822_115319_zpshyy8i6eq.JPG) |
Channel cats got sass. |
Next up on we have a Sheepshead. A strange fish that I do not know much about. I caught 3 of these last year, and all 3 came in kayak bass fishing tournaments.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKkSUpufLytOqA6Xoff7LlbaRy9jRwXB-3PI4nM_CSFg0Wbn3ggmfH-HM1qz7wwdzS1cIpBw6lpCTjw3XOAkQG18mG7CEb9_JfBqpMCbuED2RmGnGn8MULWEl8I3ANvyRXSxbCUHSXyw/s400/IMG_20150822_001208_zpskoi3avba.JPG) |
This one put up the best fight out of the 3 I have ever caught. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPut9yLANCrD78DCAwCqHM964gCF-bnIa-kyhl5RKWvs90_nbtQrWZPBTQsL78i_auu0ushJPxJXpdezlxHykjtQBPWVtSIH8bqKrtyY6mIvKxnypg_jYrolXoH73vsqajCjoC0_A-zw/s640/G0210843_1440210921029_high-picsay_zpsnymytih7.JPG) |
Release. |
Last but not least - This fish was actually the first fish that I caught that day, and it was right after I took that picture with my GF. She was about to go up, but I told her to give me 5 more casts, because, I wanted her to be there when I caught a fish. Sure enough, 3 casts in, I hook up with something BIG!
What was it...I had absolutely no idea. I couldn't tell what kind of fish it was by the fight, and it didn't show face until it was at my feet, and when I saw what I had hooked, I could not believe my eyes....My very first Flathead Catfish! I've been wanting to catch one of these on the Fox River back home, because, of their size and what I hear about their fight. This one lived up to the hype. One thing I will remember about this Big ole Flathead was that it smelled absolutely horrible. Hahaha Hand down the stinkiest fish I have ever caught. Cool none the less. Haha
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKu_jAg89OugeTrciIPbhczveXCE3ob56U6Z5Y8LRXLYNghSI-UGxpy6Xw1nJINOkfHrGZvETzW0M3NKVVsRCtV_mKDCVx0qYKHCzU69drdcOOB_7MytNqb-DJ8Cj6cOHaWslzsEvSJ6M/s400/IMG_20150821_235725_zpsul35cvbp.JPG) |
Flathead Catfish - you stink. |
Before exiting the water and climbing up the rocks back to the bench my GF and best friend were, I spotted some trash on the rocks. As I got closer to it, I took notice that it was a cast net. It was probably washed away and caught up on the rocks when the river was flooded. When I picked it up, a shed from a snake skin fell out. I was thankful that it wasn't alive. haha I gladly tossed that net, so, other animals would not get caught and die in it. #leavenotrace
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jpFrfSj4GXzmxRQqflhNDKLs0m-fguy9JC_AZbnd-Plaw4LwnkUExAWGegRKOxvoCitOSBhhxI7UGCcVkPGNSpKSIReWqO2GrfH-sn09JJZMTvZKz1NnVDDuwpip8bfoKopISL1oysc/s400/IMG_20150822_003008_zpsh4rogz84.JPG) |
Trash. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3PWCM6BG8ZOS2jiItux0bUdkUBGhPQ3C-83M2y_HWm_yc-p2_cpXLoX2cSaoRT-jWP2Pvj8rSp6ZO0pqFCDh2QZeRbV12jqXnAVZ_Z6gzSfccvjiKh9I0NQ-Ha1_Njn2SKxq6nLMIzY/s400/PSX_20150823_214721_zps99gexlwk.JPG) |
School of shad. |
With my limited allotted time, I caught some fish, smelled some fish, cleaned up some trash, and knocked a fish species off my catch list. It was a beautiful day.