A Matter Of Attempts

When conditions are tough, then getting the carp to eat is also tough.  Right now the water in our carp creek is still quite cold and for the most part the carp are static.  Of all the carp I saw yesterday in the hour on the creek there wasn't a single one of them eating. 

Even though they weren't in the feeding mode, I still believed I could entice one of them to eat the Aftermath carp fly.  And, it would simply be a matter of attempts. 

I must have made thirty casts to the carp and out of all those attempts I may have had one suck.  Now I don't know how I knew, but I did.  I'd been watching this one carp and he was slowly cruising almost in a circle - like he was on the prowl.  I told myself that carp would eat my fly on my next cast so I made that throw.  The fly landed beyond and slightly upstream from him and I turned my attention to the fly line.  He slammed the Aftermath. 

 

 

 

It's in the numbers sometimes.  Persistence pays off. 

 

January Fish

Van Stacey introduced his brother Marty to fly fishing this season at Blue River.  All in all, Marty has probably been a half a dozen times or so.  He has taken to fly fishing like a duck to water and it's easy to tell he's hooked and now in love with the art. 

Saturday morning the two of them had a planned trip to the catch and release area at Blue.  They invited me to go, but the mercantile store had my early ownership and since I was at the catch and release area on Wednesday, I politely said, "Thanks anyway". 

At the end of their day they had landed twenty-seven trout.  The flies that produced for Marty and Van, were brown and black buggers, the Frenchie Pink, and I think maybe Van said a midge pattern.  Also, out of simple curiosity Van tied on a pink bugger to see if it would catch trout... and it did.  The pink bugger landed four trout.  Sure a lot of pink floating around on Blue River these days. 

Marty netting a rainbow.

 

I did have plans to go to the campground area of Blue on Saturday.  Ralph Fullenwider and Steve Wolf were both camped for the weekend and I hope to sit around their camp drinking coffee or cold beer - whichever presented itself the best to me at the time.

 

However, I became bogged down at the mercantile store and instead of making a rushed trip to Blue, I decided to stay around home and the local creek.  Over the years, I've made plenty of rushed trips to the river. 

 

Several days ago I caught a rare January carp.  Around mid-afternoon on Saturday I decided to hit the creek and see if I could repeat the rarity. The water is still quite cold and carp are generally not active when the water temperature is in the 30's or 40's. 

 

Rock Creek is as clear as Blue River right now - gin clear.  I could easily see the carp bunched up together and they could easily see me.  My roll casts sent them packing long before the line ever hit the water so I had to think of something else.

 

 

 

With a low profile side arm roll cast I got the Aftermath carp fly to the carp without spooking them and while employing a slow retrieve a rather nice carp slammed the Aftermath.

 

 

 

This fellow had some spunk in him and wasn't lethargic like I expected him to be.  The battle lasted a good long while, but finally he tired.  I simply put him up by the bank and without so much touching him removed the Aftermath. 

 

We're still in a drought here in Oklahoma and although we have received a fair amount of moisture back in the fall and early winter, the drought has raised it's ugly head again.  Hopefully, the spring-time rains will come this year and fly fishing for carp will be possible this season. 

 



Good Timing

Scott had already arrived when I pulled into the parking area of the catch and release section. How long he'd been on the water was a mystery to me, but my hope was that he was finding the rainbows.  It was ten in the morning when I opened the back hatch of the white wagon and laid all my gear on the ground.  It didn't take long to strap, snap, and hang everything I needed to fish.  I ducked under the pipe rail fence and began the long walk to the river.

My walk yesterday morning was measured, but at the same time deliberate.  I walked with a hung head because of heavy things on my mind.  For me, the walk to the catch and release area is an arduous one to begin with.  Not a lot of scenery as you go unless you like native grasses and scrub oak.  Walking is not what I mind, but I do prefer to walk alongside the river. The river is what I love, more than native grasses, or trees, and even the trout.

Although I was deep in thought about other things, I wasn't completely inattentive of the things around me.  A good example is the good size paw print impressed in the middle of the road.  A fair size animal made this track and the question came to mind whether Boone and his best friend Josie had recently made a trip to the catch and release.  Josie is a big enough dog to make such an impression.

 

Finally arriving at the catch and release I begin at the middle section.  With the Brown Bugger and a Pink Frenchie following, the first cast was made and a bow ate the Frenchie. 

 

 

I would go on to catch another bow with the Frenchie, but to tell you the truth the fishing wasn't all that great... so far.  I walked to the far side to try and find Scott, but he wasn't fishing the middle evidently.  I started to go downstream a whit, but then decided to check the top first.  It was almost noon now, and that's when the stocking truck showed up.

 

 

Scott was at the top fishing off the middle part of the near side falls.  He had already caught a couple of bows using the Frenchie and Red Midge.  Clint with the wildlife department started dumping the trout in and it seemed like he dumped a good number.  Generally, I don't like to fish on a stocking day. It seems to be these newly stocked trout need time to acclimate and they are too busy exploring, and rejoicing in their new home.  You can almost sense their happiness and almost hear them scream, "Freedom!"  Freedom... at least for a short while.

 

Within a half hour Scott hooked up with the first of two nice bows back to back.  I stopped fishing and ran to where he was to shoot a short video.







This bow and the next one Scott landed were beautiful, fat trout that measured sixteen inches.  If I remember correctly one took the Red Midge while the other ate a yellow egg pattern. 

 



Yesterdays stocking was a mixed bag according to Clint.  Some of these trout were from Nebraska, while others came from Arkansas.  I saw a lot of quality fish yesterday, but there are a number of stockers that will measure twelve inches also.

 



 

Merc and Charlie would arrive shortly after the noon hour.  When I caught up with Merc he had just released a 18 inch bow and on his way to look for more.  Charlie had caught trout and later on I would see him battling a bow that he had enticed with an Adams.  I armed Charlie with the Frenchie and I believe later he told me he had taken another fish with it.  Later in the day, two Frenchies went to Merc also.

 

The river today was super clear - as clear as I've ever seen her.  Thinking back about yesterday, the thing to have done was to go small on size.  I watched trout spook when they saw my fly line coming. 

Unfortunately I would have to start back to the parking area around 2 o'clock to get back to the mercantile store where things are real peachy right now.  I didn't want to leave the river and good friends, but sometimes things don't work out. I didn't catch a lot of trout today, but did catch some quality trout.  At the end, six bows had become known to me.  The Frenchie took five of them, but the Brown Bugger took the largest of the day.  Brown Bugger was feeling pretty good about himself.

As I walked out, with my head still down, and that measured gait, I came upon something else on the road.  I guess this fellow decided to come out of his mud hole and got stuck.  He sure would have made a good meal for a small mouth. 

Carp Campaign 2014

Yesterday, I was on the Blue River catching trout.  I had the pleasure of meeting 37 beautiful Rainbow trout with a single pattern.

Last night, I read a dispatch from Charlie telling of sightings of our favored fish the carp.  Today, I tied two Aftermath patterns and even though the wind was howling like no tomorrow I headed for the carp creek.  I was only there about twenty minutes, but I walked away with the first prize of the 2014 season.

 

May 2014 be a good year for all of us who love fly fishing for carp. 

Bamboozling The Bows

Thirty-seven bows came by way
Thirty-seven for a short day
Thirty-seven bows by Frenchie pink
Thirty-seven plucked from the drink

To bamboozle is to trick or deceive or to dupe by sometimes questionable manner.  The fishing on Saturday was off the charts - almost obscene at times.  The weather the creator gave the angler on Saturday was also off the charts - a little cool early, but once the sun topped the tree line a nice warm-up began. 

The tricking of the bows started with the very first cast around 7:30 yesterday morning.  The Frenchie would be sent to sea, the fly lands, a count of ten and then a twitch.  The strike takes place, quickly followed by a hook-set.  Sounds easy doesn't it?  Yesterday it was and the twitch seemed to be the bamboozling.

Shortly after wading into the river I hear a voice and when I turn I'm greeted by Dan Ham.  Dan was hoping to get the same sweet stretch I was fishing. Like me, Dan also knows that this run can be quite a rewarding place.  I almost felt guilty that I had the hole and Dan had crossed a branch of the river to get there.  But, Dan was all good with it as we chatted and I handed him a pink Frenchie pattern.  Later on, Dan would report he caught a few trout with the Frenchie before the fly was lost at sea. 

It was almost a fish on every cast and before the trout would grow pattern weary, twenty-one souls would come my way via the Frenchie.  The Frenchie was once again in competition with the Brown Bugger - the bugger leading, Frenchie following.  Brown Bugger was getting shut out at this point and before the day would be over the score would read Frenchie 37, Brown Bugger 0. 

 

 

Moving on upstream I came to one of the two trout hotels that are below the Cove.  Sometimes there is full occupancy at these boarding places, sometimes there is plenty of room for more.  Nine more souls would come to the hand and all courtesy of the Frenchie. The bugger was still at zilch.

 

Scott Dittner finally makes it to the river and starts fishing the flats above the falls at the Cove.  I had just made about three casts with no results except getting terribly tangled in a tree behind me.  I move across the river to the east side and when I come back over Scott is gone.  Upstream is Dan and he is precariously perched on a boulder in the middle of the river.  How he got out there without drowning I haven't a clue.  Dan has already lost his Frenchie, but still he is catching a lot of trout.  Once he lost the pink Frenchie, he looked in his box for something else pink.  He found it and that was the ticket.

 

Dan starts to walk out and I go downstream with him to look for Scott, but no Scott there.  Then it's back upstream and finally I see Scott.  He had just landed another bow also courtesy of the Frenchie.  It's probably 10 o'clock and a fellow I was suppose to meet today has yet to show.  Telling Scott I'm going downstream to look for Eugene I strike out.  No Eugene at the Cove, or hotel, or Coyote Pass, so it's down to Desperado Springs and still no Eugene.  Back to Coyote Pass I go and begin fishing again. 

 

 

 

 

When trout number 37 came in for the branding I knew I had stayed well past my time.  My aching back had been trying to tell me so for an hour or so already.  The Brown Bugger was crying "calf rope", and the Frenchie was worn out.  It was time to go.

 

Mauled

 

I walked out of the wilderness with two fly anglers from Norman, Oklahoma.  Although they had a great morning on the river, the fish didn't come to their flies much at all.  They had one fly between the two of them.  At the top of the hill I gave them both a Frenchie and invited them to try it on their next visit. 

 

I really didn't want to leave the river, but my body sometimes limits my duration on the water.  Blue was really pretty today.  The rain had little effect on the river and she is fishing great right now. 

 



 



 

Guess The Mystery Fly - Clue #5

It's time for the fun and games department to launch the Guess The Mystery Fly contest.  You can submit your answer one of three ways or you can use all three.  Submit your answer to email at prairieoceanflyfisher@gmail.com or you can post your answer on the Blue River Fly Fishers Yahoo Forum, or you can simply leave a comment here on the blog.

The winner will be the first person to correctly guess the name of the mystery fly.  As the winner you will receive a 24 piece assortment of finely tied Copper John patterns.

Here is clue #5.

Although the mystery fly is not a streamer, it is well known to do battle with trout.

Good luck.

Guess The Mystery Fly - Clue #4

It's time for the fun and games department to launch the Guess The Mystery Fly contest.  You can submit your answer one of three ways or you can use all three.  Submit your answer to email at prairieoceanflyfisher@gmail.com or you can post your answer on the Blue River Fly Fishers Yahoo Forum, or you can simply leave a comment here on the blog.

The winner will be the first person to correctly guess the name of the mystery fly.  As the winner you will receive a 24 piece assortment of finely tied Copper John patterns.

Here is clue #4.

Blue River Fly Fisher member Harold Beck was seen tying the mystery fly on Blue River this past November.

Good luck!

Guess The Mystery Fly - Clue #3

It's time for the fun and games department to launch the Guess The Mystery Fly contest.  You can submit your answer one of three ways or you can use all three.  Submit your answer to email at prairieoceanflyfisher@gmail.com or you can post your answer on the Blue River Fly Fishers Yahoo Forum, or you can simply leave a comment here on the blog.

The winner will be the first person to correctly guess the name of the mystery fly.  As the winner you will receive a 24 piece assortment of finely tied Copper John patterns.





Here is clue #3.

The mystery fly is certainly not a classic.  It's been in existence less than 20 years.


Good luck!

Guess The Mystery Fly - Clue #2

It's time for the fun and games department to launch the Guess The Mystery Fly contest.  You can submit your answer one of three ways or you can use all three.  Submit your answer to email at prairieoceanflyfisher@gmail.com or you can post your answer on the Blue River Fly Fishers Yahoo Forum, or you can simply leave a comment here on the blog.

The winner will be the first person to correctly guess the name of the mystery fly.  As the winner you will receive a 24 piece assortment of finely tied Copper John patterns.

Here is clue #2.

To tie the mystery fly, you will need a total of six components.

Good luck!

Guess The Mystery Fly - Clue #1

It's time for the fun and games department to launch the Guess The Mystery Fly contest.  You can submit your answer one of three ways or you can use all three.  Submit your answer to email at prairieoceanflyfisher@gmail.com or you can post your answer on the Blue River Fly Fishers Yahoo Forum, or you can simply leave a comment here on the blog.

The winner will be the first person to correctly guess the name of the mystery fly.  As the winner you will receive a 24 piece assortment of finely tied Copper John patterns.

Here is clue #1.

If you're looking for the origins of this fly my best advice to you is to go west young man.

Good luck everyone!

The Tour

"And to your left is Chuck's Ledge, followed by the Boulder, and then we have the Sandbar.  Just downstream you will see the Island, the Flats, and finally the Riffles.  All this water is prime trout territory." 

That's kind of how I spent much of the day yesterday at Blue and I thoroughly enjoyed introducing two fine gentlemen from Allen, Texas to some of the pleasures of this river.  Dan and John both live in Allen, Texas and about six months ago they decided to take up fly fishing.  Both Dan and John live less than ten minutes from Cabela's in Allen and that must be a terrible hardship to have.  I must say they were geared up rather nicely. 

Yesterday's trip would be the first for John and the second trip Dan had made to Blue.  The week prior Dan was trying to get to the catch and release section, but he unfortunately walked up the east side of the river and never got to see the middle or upper section of the C and R. 

We got on the water about 7:30 and immediately began getting hammered by the wind.  The wind was brutal and unrelenting.  I decided to have these guys fish a tandem rig and most likely did these gentlemen a disfavor.  Trying to throw a tandem rig in gusting wind is like asking for a lot of tangles... and tangles we found.  However, we overcame all those minor problems and found some trout. 

Dan would find the first trout of the day fishing upstream from Cottonwood Pool.  He would end up catching two in this pool on a brown bugger.  There were a good number of missed hook-sets due to being a little slow on the rod lift, but that's natural to someone brand new to this game. 

Dan Wilson

 

 



We were hoping to get on the sandbar, but it was occupied most of the time. When a vacancy would come open we would start that way, but before we could get there someone else would be wading out.  So in trying to practice what I preach about etiquette we yielded this sweet spot. 

 

Down at the Island, Dan would find more trout with a Frenchie pattern and John would find his first trout of the day with a Copper John.  There would some more tangles, more wind,  and for Dan a good number of missed hook-sets.  If he'd caught all the trout that ate his flies he would've had a dozen fish for the morning. 

 

John with bow on line.



One of the most rewarding things for me during our morning time was how Dan learned to make a back-handed roll cast and I have to say he had some good distance on it.  I can't imagine the distance he'll have in six months with this back-handed execution.  It was a pretty sight to watch. 

It was near the noon hour and the sun had yet to break through the soup in the sky.  With numb feet and aching fingers, we decided to hit Scotty's for a lunch break. 

When we walked into Scotty's, there sit the one and only Chris Adams.  Chris, being the good soul he is, bought lunch for the lot of us.  Over Scotty burgers, tots, and a corn dog to try and satisfy my incredible craving, we talked about a good number of things as Chris was trying to sell us on the idea he was probably rusty because this was his first trip to Blue this season. 

Now, Dan and John may have believed Chris but I didn't  As far as fly fishing, I know Chris pretty darn well and the guy is never rusty - he's like a well-oiled machine.  And, about a half hour later Dan and John would get to see this for themselves in the south wilderness.

As we walked into the south wilderness, Chris opened up and shared his knowledge with Dan and John naming the landmarks, showing them sweet spots, and soon he would gift them both with the famous Bubba Bugger. 

At the bottom of the hill we came upon one of the "Too Lovely To Litter" stations that Matt and his crew have established.  Chris and his son did a good job building these stations and hopefully they will help the litter problem at Blue.

At Coyote Pass, Dan would find another trout with a Frenchie pattern.  Upstream a ways John would find his second trout of the day with a Copper John.  And further upstream, Chris was putting on a demonstration of "How To Catch A Ton Of Trout With The Bubba Bugger". 

John with a south wilderness bow.

Yours truly didn't spend a whole lot of time fishing yesterday.  My concern was being more attentive to the guys from Allen since this was all brand new to them. However, I did get some time in and ended the day with sixteen to hand.  In doing the math, the Frenchie pattern accounted for 88% of the bows I met today.  The brown bugger accounted for the remainder.

 

 

 

 

Before we knew it, three o'clock had already come and gone and it was time for me to head out.  I said so-long to Dan, John, and Chris and begin my walk out, but did stop for about ten minutes at a really sweet spot and found five more bows on five casts.

 

I am so delighted that the guys from Allen, Texas have discovered Blue River.  I can tell you just with the time we spent together today, that this river has gained two more devoted stewards and they inasmuch said so.  Dan and John will be back many times and each time they come they will discover something new about fly fishing and something new at Blue River. 

 

 

 

 

Two Bonus Fish For Blue River Fly Classic

Blue River Fly Classic

For the last two one fly events at Blue River, the small mouth bass has been the bonus fish earning six points to any participant regardless of the size of the small mouth.

This year, the same will be true - the small mouth will be a bonus species.  However, this year there will be an additional bonus fish.  In honor of the exclusive Blue River Redhorse Sucker Club, (which, I am still not a member of) the Redhorse Sucker will also be a bonus fish. 

Any participant that captures a Redhorse Sucker with the mystery fly will be rewarded eight bonus points during the event.  Last year, Mike Littrel caught a Redhorse Sucker while participating in that year's event. 

So, good luck to all at the Classic and if you do capture a Redhorse and you've never caught one on a fly before while at Blue River, not only will you get bonus points, but you will also become a rare member of the Blue River Redhorse Sucker Club.... and I will hate you until I become a member.