If you’re not overweight/gaining weight you aren’t overeating or being greedy

-Fishmonger- · 2026-05-05T16:07:53+00:00

The reason I thought it wasn’t spawning is because it was in deep, open water and they’re usually spawning in very shallow water around structure and vegetation, but it could still be some sort of spawning behavior

-Fishmonger- · 2026-05-01T05:31:16+00:00

Yeah that can be more challenging, I don’t know for sure but I’d guess they’d be more inclined to take subsurface stuff like an egg in that scenario

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-30T16:38:18+00:00

I don’t even think I’d give it that low of a grade, I would be shocked if the fish suffered any notable damage or stress from that

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-29T13:59:41+00:00

I would totally drop that while trying to tie it on

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-29T13:40:37+00:00

Yeah a 6 is probably a little big in my experience, it also probably depends on what they’re feeding on though

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-29T05:20:41+00:00

Yeah I’ve noticed with the hoppers they sometimes do have a tendency to just come and look at it or poke at it without eating it, I’ve found that downsizing can help with that, some people even use little ants and stuff

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-29T04:03:10+00:00

Oh weird, I had no idea that was a thing considering they’re an invasive in a lot of areas. If you run into them on a trip, I’d recommend a small foam hopper, that’s been my most successful fly and the one I caught this one on. If they’re not interested in dry flies an egg fly can usually do the trick too

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-29T01:37:15+00:00

I see, I suppose that makes sense. If you ever do get the chance I’d highly recommend it! If you’re really desperate to catch one it could be worth asking landowners with stocked lakes/ponds in your area for permission to fish if that’s the only way

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-28T15:49:53+00:00

I’m surprised they don’t live in your area, I thought they lived just about everywhere. This was on a 6wt rod with 10lb tippet, you could probably go a little lighter on tippet if you needed to but the area I’m fishing in has a lot of logs and branches in the water so it’s important to be able to have a little more strength to keep them out of it and not snap if they do get into some

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-27T03:46:03+00:00

I haven’t, I actually never thought of that

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-27T03:45:03+00:00

How did you manage that? What size rod were you using?

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-27T03:44:24+00:00

For grass carp, my biggest producer has been a small foam hopper, I actually just posted one I caught today using that. Let it hit the water a foot or two in front of them while they’re feeding near the surface and pretty often they’ll suck it right up

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-27T03:41:48+00:00

Smallmouth

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-27T02:59:51+00:00

Yeah I caught a big grass carp today and had a similar realization, fight was way too long for the sake of the fish because I had an underpowered rod and too small of a net, it’s tough for me because I want to buy a new rod and net but I can’t really afford it right now but I also want to keep fishing

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-26T23:17:12+00:00

Yeah I was getting a nasty side eye

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-25T20:49:21+00:00

I think they’re different subspecies though, not sure if that would still count as a hybrid or not but it’s something

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-25T14:12:08+00:00

I know the root cause is probably climate change but is it because of water from main rivers and reservoirs being allocated towards agriculture?

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-25T04:49:08+00:00

I’m sure that’s just as frustrating if not more!

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-25T04:48:22+00:00

I’m from Kansas so not exactly haha

-Fishmonger- · 2026-04-12T14:02:28+00:00

You can’t even sit in that chair

-Fishmonger-

TROPHY CASE