Red Shiner

by Mike Schelp
(Gnome58)

Fishing Shoal Creek in Kansas City north. I was using my Kiyotaki with about 8 feet size 2.5 line and 3-4 feet of 8X tippet and a brass wire bodied nymph. What I usually catch here are Chubs, Green Sunfish, Long Ear Sunfish and a few Bluegils. Today, though, I caught a Red Shiner. I was pretty surprised because I’ve seen them cruising and they always chase the fly but seldom actually bite. I tried to get another, but my technique is still at novice level. Hey, I’m getting a lot of practice, though! Have fun, watch for those hooks (I hear they’re sharp!) and keep your line tight and wet.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.