Plus…what to expect in 2026
““If you’re too successful to fish whenever you want, one could argue that you’re not really a success.”
John Gierach
When I shared the above words of wisdom in my closing post of 2024, I assumed that the days ahead would hold far more fish than the year prior. 12 months later, that has proven to be wishful thinking. While certainly eventful, 2025 was not the Year of the Fish.
The paltry 40 species tallied in 2024 towers above the 20 species that have graced my line in 2025. Trips south and north were simply not in the cards and even forays into the local marsh seemed a stretch. Still, I made the most of the time I had and managed to add a few new species in the time I found.
Content has also been lacking on the pages of this blog, and 15 months have now past since I last posted a Step-by-Step. I am resolved to change that in the year ahead, however, and have begun the process of compiling new Step-by-Steps for release beginning in January.
While I make no promises of maintaining the weekly publication pace that I once did, I’ve set my sights on one Step-by-Step per month with the occasional lagniappe post when time allows. Though still a work-in-progress, a list of Step-by-Steps currently in the queue for early 2026 can be found below.
First, however, here are a few of the rare fishing highlights that I experienced in 2025.
#3 – Ditch fishing
Days on the water were admittedly rare this year, but every once in a while the stars would align just long enough for me to wet a line. I stumbled onto one such day in early October, a sunny Tuesday afternoon where my presence wasn’t required at either my day job or my wife’s clinic.
Beginning the afternoon at only 14 species on the year, I set off to add a few common sunfish to my tally with hopes that I might stumble across a bowfin along the way.
Starting in town, I made quick work of the sunfish as my first green, dollar, and redspotted sunfish of the year came to hand. Moving on, I headed closer to home with bowfin still on my mind.
First featured in the post “Roadside Ditches” back in 2021, my second stop was once one of my favorite fishing holes. Shallow and weedy, it had produced at least 11 species for me over the years. By late 2023, however, a lack of rain had reverted this panfish paradise to a meadow and I had long given up on visiting the site. Still it had begun to refill by this past winter, and I was curious to see if the tall grasses had finally begun to die off.
What I found upon arrival was a shallow, weed and algae-choked mess no more than 6-12″ deep. The fish were present though, and I rigged up a small nymph on my 1-weight as I watched bass and sunfish navigate through the slime. Carefully placing my shots, I picked off bluegill, warmouth (Species 18!) and finally a respectable bass in quick succession. Content with four new species, I prepared to call it a day when a bowfin breached in a distant pothole.
Swapping out my 1-weight for a 6-weight, I dropped a rust-colored Clouser’s Madtom into the 2′ opening in the weeds. Feeling weight as I lifted my rod tip, I strip set and witnessed a muddy explosion. Battling the weight of the weeds as much as I was battling the fish, I began slowly dragging the mass toward shore. My net was 30′ away in the bed of my truck, however, and I owe a debt to the passerby who stopped, retrieved the net and assisted me in landing the fish.
Content with five new species added (and stinking of Louisiana swamp), I decided to close out the afternoon on this high note and headed for home.
#2 -New Orleans Exotics
There’s no lack of exotic wildlife to be seen on the streets of New Orleans, but my preference is that which can be found in the urban canals that transect the city and its suburbs.
The type of water that likely requires an updated tetanus shot to brave, these canals are home to a number of species including giant alligator gar, bass, catfish and a variety of sunfish.
The big draw for species hunters, however, are the exotics. New and established invaders native to areas far removed from south Louisiana.
While carp (both common and grass) represent the big game options among these species, it is the smaller members of the family cichlidae that drew my focus earlier this fall.
Long home to two species of the genus Herichthys (Rio Grande & Lowland Cichlids), these canals have recently seen an explosion in Tilapia of the genus Oreochromis. Notoriously difficult to land on the fly, local anglers had begun to find success targeting these fish in recent months. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, I tried my hand at it. And, with some advice from other local anglers, I managed to fool a single wary tilapia on my first attempt. A new species for the lifelist, it also represented species 20 on the year.
#1 – Pensacola Surf
In early April, I paid a rare visit to the Floribama coast. My father was running his first Triathalon at the age of 65 (he survived), and the family was gathering to cheer him on.
Knowing I’d have access to the surf at some point during this brief visit, I tossed my 6-weight in the car as I departed a little before 2:00 AM that Saturday morning. The race over by mid-morning, I’d have the rest of Saturday and a brief window Sunday morning to wet a line in between time spent with family.
My goal, as it has been going on three years, was to land my first Pompano on the fly. A seemingly impossible task based on past experience, my confidence was not raised after Saturday afternoon produced little more than the tiny Gulf Flounder shown above. Admittedly a welcome addition to my life list, but still a far cry from the fish I was looking for.
Sunday morning proved equally slow, and, after an hour, I decided to size up my fly in hopes of possibly lucking into an errant red. The fly was a large Clouser’s Minnow I had tied up the week prior. Tied on a 1/0 hook with XL Tungsten eyes to break through the surf, it was tied in “Electric Chicken.”
On the heavy side for my 6-weight, my double haul devolved into surf side chuck-and-duck as I blind cast into the nearest trough in search of anything big enough to take the fly. When I felt a solid thump a dozen casts later, I immediately assumed red. As it neared the beach, however, I realized that it was in fact my original target that had taken the fly. Snapping a few quick pictures, I sent the fish on its way and hung up my rod for the brief remainder of my trip. Given I was had been in Perdido Key for less than 30 hours, I was content to leave with two lifers including one that had been high on my list for years.
What’s in Store for 2026
As promised above, here are the three patterns that I’ll be featuring during the first quarter of 2026. Dates are still TBD, but expect at least one SBS per month as the year progresses.
 UV-Resin Glass Minnow |  Bionic Ant |  Shrimp Slurpee |
With that, it’s time to bid farewell to 2025. Thank you all for continuing to follow along this past year, and welcome to those who have subscribed since my posting hiatus began. This site has come a long way in six years (from less than 60 clicks that first full month to nearly 60k clicks in 2025), and I cannot thank you all enough for the support. Can’t wait to start ramping back up as we enter 2026.
Until then, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and fish-filled New Year!
Chris
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well. Gotta admit, it was nice to see a notification in my mail box. Looking forward to what next
Merry Christmas, Jim!
Hope you have a joyful holidays and a fish filled 2026.
Thanks for sending your reports into the weboshere! I enjoy every one that appears in my in box. I am retired from the fisheries field and enjoy seeing the photos of what you manage to catch on a fly. Makes me want to get back out there! And, it reminds me what fun it is to say “Electric Chicken”
Pete
Thanks, Pete! I appreciate the kind words and am hopeful that these posts will become a much more frequent occurrence in the new year!
Hey Chris, Merry Christmas. Very good to hear from you. Hope your 2026 is happy and healthy and goes as planned and you have many fishing adventures. Tight Lines always. Rick S
Merry Christmas, Rick! Can’t wait to see the monster sunfish you bring to net in 2026!
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a great 2026. Although I’ve only been a subscriber for a short while, I really enjoy your step-by-step’s and have tied some flies that I never thought I would have previously. Looking forward to a RV adventure to Goose Island, Texas in about 3 months and my first experience at saltwater fly fishing for Redfish and Speckled Trout and to see if what I have tied will actually bring success. Thank you and stay safe!
Merry Christmas, Luke! Thanks so much for following and glad you’ve enjoyed the content.
Best of luck on your Goose Island adventure. Can’t wait to hear how you do. Be sure to let me know which patterns work best. I love to hear which patterns are paying off in different parts of the country.