Been away for a while....

[Keith Owen]

Work has kept me away for a while, but I am back now. Safe and sound.

I went to lake Thunderbird last weekend to catch a few fish for a recently revamped 30 gallon aquarium. I grabbed up a very light spinning rod (my flyrods SHRIEKED as I went through the door). The rod is actually made from a seven and a half foot, two weight flyrod blank. I found some strike indicators to use as bobbers, a few small split shot and some size fourteen dryfly hooks off the tying table. After I dug some worms out of the garden plot, I was on my way.

First cast I caught a beautiful Long-ear. I didn't even know there were Long-ears in this lake! I haven't lived in the area very long. It was a nice fish but about ten times too big (how often does THAT happen?) After a couple more Long-ears and a few Bluegills, all too big as well, I switched spots. I immediatly began catching Orange-spotted sunfish!

I don't know how many of you have ever seen one of these small sunfish, but their colors are unbelieveable! They are the prettiest fish in fresh water, and equal (surpass in my opinion) any of the expensive tropicals in the stores. When the fish are a little more setteled in their new home, I will post some pictures.

I doubt there will ever be an "orangespotted.com", as the maximum length is about three inches, but you would be seriously hard pressed to find a better looking fish than an Orange-spotted male in breeding colors.