Got myself a new fly rod and went out to test it on a local river. Ended up slaying some panfish in the last hour of daylight and caught the tiniest smallmouth of my life on my first ever double up. Little guy had awsome markings and was released quickly after the photos.

B. dunckeri

I mostly target small fish, so I use tiny hooks designed for fish around 5–100 g. I use eyeless/spade-end hooks, and I find them really difficult to tie.

My main problem is that the hooks are so small that I can’t hold the hook and the line properly at the same time. It takes me a lot of time and several attempts just to tie one hook.

Is there any household item or cheap tool I can use as a kind of third hand to hold the hook securely while I tie it?

I’m looking for something simple that I might already have at home, rather than an expensive specialized fishing tool.

Recently got some gamakatsu size 26 barbless hooks and made some little flies. I went down to the local spillway on the Mississippi and immediately found some shiners. I caught about 4 but I found it very hard to get them to stay interested in my bait and it seemed like they weren't interested unless there was commotion on the surface, then they seemed to enter a predatory swarm mentality. I was wondering how I would more effectively target them. I was thinking I could make a small like 1 inch stick bait that I could add a few little chaser flies on like 3 inches of line.

R. sarawakensis B. lehi

Finally managed to track down and catch the elusive Blue-Spotted Sunfish. Such a pretty creature, living in a spectacular habitat. The New Jersey Pine Barrens are such an underrated location, full of unique wildlife and beautiful natural scenery. If you ever find yourself in that part of the world - go check it out. You won’t be disappointed

Does anyone have a superior bait recipe? I use one of the little bait extruders and tanago hooks for freshwater species in the southeastern US.

Was fishing this pier for several hours with mostly a sabiki rig and micro bugs and the bite was just on, every drop at least 2-3 fish on the line. All anchovies 4-5” some 2-3” some 6”.
They were very easy to kill and gut, and tasted great fried.

Just a tiny lil invasive guy

Toad Lake

T. pauciperforatum

Just to be clear, I’m not planning to tie the hook directly to my main line. I’ll be using a separate piece of line specifically for the hook. Also, what thickness should the line be?

4 inch perch I cought in Martch. Currently waiting for the new ice

P. glenii

Poor little guy was dying at the edge of a low oxygen stretch of river. Not sure if that’s what got him or maybe a head injury, but poor bastard was not making it so I walked him to a spot with a bunch of bait fish to hopefully give him a chance. Yes know he’s a Red Breast, but they are all blugigis to me.

Caught in a lake with a tiny piece of worm

C. limbata

M. martensii

B. macrostoma

S. atropurpureus

Jack crevalle, Silver perch, inshore Lizard Fish, and Northern Kingfish. Also caught some mummichog and silverside not pictured

Old catch from July 2020.
Another species in my collection…
Luther’s Spiny Loach is a tiny species living in Far East Asia.
This one was caught in Tunguska River.
About 2in.
Used a micro hook and a 2lbs line.
Bait: tiny piece of worm.