Catch 50 different species of fish on a fly rod

I took my son and his friend on a fishing trip while we were in Panama City last week. We chartered a fishing guide hoping to catch some speckled trout and catch we did!

Even though my son’s friend had fished very little in life by the end of the day the 3 of us had caught over 100 trout. Most were small but we did catch 6 keepers which we gave to the Captain.

I fished with my fly rod all day and caught about 30 speckled trout, which was a new species for me on a fly rod.

Hickory Shad leave the Atlantic in the early spring and make their spawning run up the James River every year. Fisherman, birds and other larger fish are always there eager for their arrival.

American Shad used to make the run also but recently, due to over harvesting, the numbers of these fish has dropped sharply.

I’m guessing I should have bought a lottery ticket because both my friend and myself caught an American Shad on fly rod yesterday which was a first for me!

22 down, 28 to go!

I’ve been fly fishing since the mid 90’s and I’ve long wanted to catch 50 different species of fish on the fly. I’ve traveled from Labrador to Tierra Del Fuego and a few places in between in search of fish.

I’m going to Costa Rica in October and try to add a few more to my list. So far I have caught:

1. Largemouth Bass
2. Smallmouth Bass
3. Chain Pickerel
4. Northern Pike
5. Chinook Salmon
6. Hickory Shad
7. Sunfish
8. Brook trout
9. Brown Trout
10. Rainbow Trout
11. Greater Amberjack
12. Great Barracuda
13. Black Sea Bass
14. Striped Bass
15. Bluefish
16. Bonefish
17. Summer Flounder
18. Jack Crevalle
19. Ladyfish
20. Spanish Mackerel
21. Little Tunny