2016 US Midwest

In 2013, I took a trip to Illinois hoping for a chance at a Shovelnose Sturgeon. However, the Mississippi was flooded and I didn't have a chance.

Fast forward to May 2016, I've yet again planned a trip to Illinois for Shovelnose Sturgeon. And yet again, the Mississippi was flooded.

Still, all the other species made up for it. I had the goal to catch the two remaining Sunfish not on my list, the Bantam Sunfish and the Redspotted Sunfish, and finally checked off all the Lepomis species! I also wanted to catch the Shadow Bass and Ozark Bass and be that much closer to completing all the Ambloplites species.

A total of 26 new species in 5 days of fishing. That's a pretty good count!

Here are the stories (starting on Day 1):

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot...est-day-1.html

Spottail Darter (Etheostoma squamiceps) - Species #551

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-848R5flJY..._7469_post.jpg

Stripetail Darter (Etheostoma kennicotti) - Species #552

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7P0PLeTB..._7496_post.jpg

Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqA-iPWo4..._7507_post.jpg

Whitetail Shiner (Cyprinella galactura) - Species #553

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dypaN6fU8..._7528_post.jpg

Ozark Minnow (Notropis nubilus) - Species #554

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GEvktmqQK..._7530_post.jpg

Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus) - Species #555

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHM1EHahD..._7546_post.jpg

Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae) - Species #556

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z51vqBu8a..._7550_post.jpg

Cardinal Shiner (Luxilus cardinalis) - Species #557

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxa6YYSI3..._7619_post.jpg

Southern Redbelly Dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster) - Species #558

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EnR-m_LNf..._7586_post.jpg

Plateau Darter (Etheostoma squamosum) - Species #559

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-haBePpf_2..._7596_post.jpg

Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus) - Species #560

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IW4f8sX0s..._7698_post.jpg

Ozark Darter (Etheostoma spectabile) - Species #561

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zpLAuSD8l..._7718_post.jpg

Ozark bass (Ambloplites constellatus) - Species #562

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfRXuhL-Z..._7735_post.jpg

Hornyhead Chub spp. (Nocomis biguttatus)

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZWtjAupJ..._7758_post.jpg

Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXKITVBUm..._7772_post.jpg

Checkered Madtom (Noturus flavater) - Species #563

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sED2rIZVV..._7776_post.jpg

Blackspotted Topminnow (Fundulus olivaceus) - Species #564

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xjZ6G_hEx..._7860_post.jpg

Brook Darter (Etheostoma burri) - Species #565

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJav6Gy_9..._7898_post.jpg

Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus)

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSJtQvnnE..._7859_post.jpg

Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) - Species #566!

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5MRLZqH6u..._7887_post.jpg

Bantam Sunfish (Lepomis symmetricus) - Species #567!

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmWlKAXNc..._7811_post.jpg

Starhead Topmminnow (Fundulus dispar) - Species #568

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syhVMb8PC..._7812_post.jpg

Slough Darter (Etheostoma gracile) - Species #569

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTR7HN45Z..._7835_post.jpg

Central Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) - Species #570!

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vvC64AaLd..._7908_post.jpg

Bleeding Shiner (Luxilus zonatus) - Species #571

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvgCMWKfZ..._7921_post.jpg

Knobfin Sculpin (Cottus immaculatus) - Species #572

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZidkXoP6..._7960_post.jpg

Sand Shiner (Notropis stramineus)

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9x2l6Oez..._8027_post.jpg

Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus) - Species #573

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qXBm3dCU1..._8042_post.jpg

Dusky Darter (Percina sciera) - Species #574

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuFCK1YZh..._8071_post.jpg

Slenderhead Darter (Percina phoxocephala) - Species #575

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7OqoxgKxX..._8078_post.jpg

Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfwDE3ElU..._8089_post.jpg

Silver Chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana) - Species #576

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpN4iWW-K..._8107_post.jpg

Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndPe9ZUT8...0/P5234339.JPG

Yes...we did it...even though we were faced with adversity!!!

Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) - Species #577!!!

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WAYUOkrDu..._8120_post.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smeVlUUuI..._8112_post.jpg

Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum)

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qetLHP3G..._8136_post.jpg