Species #161 — Emerald Shiner

Species: Emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides) Location: Buffalo, New York Date: July 18, 2018 Microfishing is still relatively new to me, and the newness of it all is partially why I love it so much. This method has yet to hit the mainstream, but microfishing is a gem. In combination, the ability to sight fish, to actually…

Read more

Species #119 — Tidepool Sculpin

Species: Tidepool Sculpin (Oligocottus maculosus) Location: Newport, Oregon Date: December 22, 2017 After discovering microfishing in the Willamette a few days earlier, I took my time staying with my brother, Gabe, during Christmas Break to expand my microfishing horizon. After finding about as much success fishing from the pier as I’ve found dating in my late 20s, I…

Read more

Species #118 — Chiselmouth

Species: Chiselmouth (Acrocheilus alutaceus) Location: Newport, Oregon Date: December 22, 2017 Trout fishing, specifically walking and casting the shoreline with spinning gear, remains my favorite type of fishing. I also love fishing for bass with topwaters, chasing staging crappie and sunfish with ultralight tackle, tossing streamers for hungry perch It’s pretty rare to catch any sort of…

Read more

Species #117 — Torrent Sculpin

Species: Torrent Sculpin (Cottus rhotheus) Location: Corvallis, Oregon Date: December 18, 2017 This is post 3-of-4 that will just link to an article after providing some basic identification tips. Torrent Sculpin is the easiest sculpin species to identify in the Willamette River Basin. At least, in my opinion. Not only do they behave differently (they’re very skittish and…

Read more

Species #116 — Prickly Sculpin

Species: Prickly Sculpin (Cottus asper) Location: Corvallis, Oregon Date: December 18, 2017 Here’s another post that will just link to a story I’ve already written. Ideally, I’ll catch another Prickly Sculpin soon, so I can put it side-by-side with my Reticulate Sculpin to help with identification. Sadly, my only photo of a Prickly Sculpin (above), is terrible. I…

Read more

Species #115 — Reticulate Sculpin

Species: Reticulate Sculpin (Cottus perplexus) Location: Corvallis, Oregon Date: December 18, 2017 I try to provide content on my blog independent of what I publish in newspapers and magazines, but if I’ve already told a story well, there’s no point retelling it. This is post 1-of-4 that will just link to an article after providing some basic identification…

Read more

Species #98 — Frillfin Goby

Species: Frillfin Goby (Bathygobius soporator) Location: Graffiti Bridge, Pensacola, FL Date: August 1, 2017 This is likely the most aggressive fish I’ve ever caught. I buy frozen shrimp as bait, allowing a few pieces at a time to slowly defrost in the water to achieve that perfect, almost-frozen-but-not-quite texture that best allows them to stay on a…

Read more

Species #71 — Slender Sculpin

Species: Slender Sculpin (Cottus tenuis) Location: Link River, Klamath Falls, OR Date: December 15, 2015 Some #SpeciesHunters only worry about fish caught in the mouth on hook and line. Disclaimer: I’m not one of them. There are numerous ways to fish, and snagging a fish, catching one by hand, shooting it with a bow, or spearfishing are…

Read more

Species #63 — Fathead Minnow

Species: Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Location: Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, OR Date: January 15, 2015 I’m writing this post just hours after guiding The Species King, Steve Wozniak, to his first Fathead Minnow, so it’s particularly apropos that my own written species progression puts me here at this time. Read about that trip here. I…

Read more

Species #29 — Pacific Sardine

Species: Pacific Sardine (Sardinops sagax) Location: Brookings-Harbor Marina, OR Date: September 10, 2009 Rashomon Effect 4-of-6: My Eyes Black. I rubbed them. Gray. I rubbed them again. Rheumy, blurry darkness. I blinked a few times and then fumbled in the darkness for my glasses. Rheumy, clear darkness. I shuffled through the cold morning fog to the shower, the…

Read more