Celebrating Fish

Most of us who angle have our favorite species to fish for.  In my case it is trout and carp.  However, if it's in the water I wish to pursue it.  It's a celebration of fish. 

Here are a few pictures from yesterday. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the smaller the fish, the prettier the fish.

 

 

 

 

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. 

 



Dear Carp - Shutdown By Gridlock

Dear Carp,

In the world I live there are times that my kind seems to loose sight of any good sense we once owned.  This past week is a perfect illustration of rationale thinking going by the wayside as the gridlock in that place known as Washington brought parts of our government to a halt.

Now you know why me, or Van, or Charlie have not been to see you.  We have been locked out and kept away from the places you live due to the closure of the national recreation area.  I feel quite sorry for Charlie because he just returned from Mexico with a great enthusiasm believing he would be able to come to you. 

 

How long this lock out will last is anyone's guess at this point.  Hopefully, some sanity will return to those that make decisions for my kind, whether we want them to or not. 

 

Van did get some time with your lot before the shutdown occurred.  He met a trio of your community members and enticed them all with the Aftermath.  I am sending you a postcard that Van would like you to have.

 

 

My friends, we hope to see you soon and until we do take care and live happily.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher



Dear Carp - The Color Of Fall Carp

Dear Carp,

In coming to you today, the second week in a row, I feel like a rich man.  As I stood at the fringe of your home the cool morning air was refreshing and mindful of the approaching autumn season.  I wonder if you sense the same?

Having lost all my Aftermath gifts, I tied a new one before leaving the place that I live.  With the Aftermath tied on I show it to the first of your kind I encounter.  He is a long fellow and wide in the shoulders - a beastly sort and he likes what he sees.  My hook-set is firm and employed with great conviction.  This beastly fellow wastes no time however in showing me his determination and runs me to the edge of my backing on a downstream path.  Finally I get him turned, but he is not done showing me how the cow eats cabbage.

As he turns to come upstream I realize how clever this beastly one is.  He goes to the far bank and entangles himself in the thick weave of the root system along the eroded bank.  I see him floating on the surface unable to go forward, back, or to either side.  I decide to call it and break him free and as I attempt to do so, I somehow pull him out of the weave.  Our battle continues, but not for long.  My line suddenly ricochets out of the pool and lands near my feet.  Gathering the line I inspect the end of my tippet and sure enough there was the tell-tale sign of a bad or giving tie - a curly-q at the end of the tippet. 

With no more Aftermath gifts I tie on one of Charlie's Creek Critters.  Looking upstream I see a juvenile and cast the Critter about twenty-five feet.  He gobbles it.  

Bringing the young chap in for the branding by my hand I notice the colors your kind are taking on.  In years past I always enjoy the orange hues in your tails and fins that come about this time of year.  Perhaps it's a thing of nature - I'm not sure, but whatever it is seems like a great artist is using you as a canvas. 

 

My friends, I have much to do in preparation for my bucket list trip to North Carolina.  I do hope to return to you soon and certainly would like to see you more often.

 

Until our next meeting, live, love, and prosper. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher 

Dear Carp - It's Been Way Too Long

Dear Carp,

In the last eight weeks I have been to visit with you one time with the exception of this morning.  In my one previous visit, conditions were so poor I simply walked away and it was only today in this long period of time I would have a conversation with any of your kind. 

As to why I have been absent, my story is much the same as it always is to you.  Therefore, I won't ask you to listen to any of my excuses any longer.  Let's just say that my work life has paid off in the form of a very nice fly fishing dividend coming my way soon.

On the fringe of your home this morning I had a connection with one of your citizens via the Aftermath gift I often bring to you.  The chap was a beast and not at all interested in continuing a conversation and he quickly broke talks off taking the Aftermath as his spoil of battle.

With no more Aftermath gifts I tied on a Creek Critter and found citizen number two.  Hooking up with this fellow in an odd place on the creek required me to jump down from the bank and when I did I begin to sink in the silt.  With each step I continued to sink a little more and once I was up to my knees I had to put it in high gear to get to a more sturdy sandbar. 

 

Now, I spoke of how my work ethic has paid off and it indeed has.  When I was a young man I was on my way to Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  The trip required a drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains along the fringes of the Pisquah National Forest.

It was on that winding road through the mountains and forest I laid my eyes on the prettiest water I'd ever seen.  However with a young baby, the wife and I never had a penny to spare for things such as fishing and I never got to fish those beautiful waters - a regret I have carried all these years.

 

But, my employer somehow found out about this story I was telling to a co-worker and he recently approached me handing me an envelope with a message in it.

 

 

I am sure you can appreciate my joy and excitement about this trip - a bucket list for this aging chap for sure.  Here, some forty years later, I am returning to western North Carolina to fish the famous Davidson along with more intimate mountain streams.  My buddy Van will be going also and we plan on making the best of the five day adventure.

 

As a matter of fact we've already started gearing up.  Both of us have new Sage rods coming along with new Ross reels and yesterday we made a small gear haul

 

 

With summer almost over, my workplace activity should begin to slow down and therefore I hope to see more of you my friends. 

 

At least that is my hope. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher





Dear Carp - In The Chocolate Brown

Dear Carp,

It has been two weeks my friends since I've been able to come to you.  As you already know, my kind has been slammed by violent weather - the kind that takes life.  Our long and consistent prayers for rain has paid off and we have been rewarding handsomely. 

The downside to the wonderful bounty of rain we've received is that it does keep the angler from having much chance, if any, of communicating with your sort. 

 

Yesterday I could bear no more and came to you home in hopes of seeing one of you at least.  Visibility was nil to none however, but I remembered a tactic that Gregg in Idaho uses - he fishes the bubbles. 

 

Fairly close to the fringe of your home I saw bubbles and watched patiently as the bubbles were moving along and this told me that one of your kind was making tracks. 

 

The Aftermath that I so favor now went out in front of the bubbles where I let it set for just a moment.  Upon lifting my rod tip I felt a presence and then the water exploded.  Fishing the bubbles worked on this occasion and a fine young member of your clan came in for the branding.

 

 

Although it felt wonderful being with you today, I figure it will be another week or ten days before your home clears enough for me to return. 

 

Enjoy the bounty of water coming into your home - more may come, more may not come.  You do indeed live day by day. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher 



Dear Carp - The Monsters

Dear Carp,

I hoped to come see you yesterday my friends, but the weather was extremely threatening as the monsters were on the ground laying devastation as they went.  Before they were through, the monsters had claimed 91 souls and it's still early in the rescue and recovery. 

I did enjoy my time with you mid-morn on Saturday.  Within two minutes after arriving at your home I met the first citizen of the morning in the form and fashion of a young and fascinating Mirror. 

 

 

Several minutes later the second citizen latched onto the fluro chartreuse bug I have been sending out lately.  Of the last eight or ten citizens I have met, all but one have favored this bug called Aftermath.

 

 

 

Deciding to leave the pasture at Honey Hole, I traveled to the pasture Big Well Springs.  Here, I make a long distance call with the Aftermath and a rather brawny member of your clan grabbed it and ran.  Our conversation lasted a good time, but then my call was suddenly disconnected due to the line being broken. 

 

As I sent out a new Aftermath, by way of long distance, another citizen took my offering on the blind and our talk begin.  As we were talking someone in my world was wanting to talk to me.  I could tell this by the buzzing in my pocket, but that call would have to wait. 

 

Turns out the caller was Van and he was headed for the fly shop in Fort Worth, and friends guess what he was going to get me?  Some more fluro chartreuse body material so I can tie you many more of these gifts you so favor. 

 

 

My friends I have news to share with you.  There is a new lass that has come into my workplace life and she is one dandy firecracker of a gal.  She brings to the workplace great knowledge of the work I do and that means I can have more time with you now.  At least this is my hope.

 

The rain is coming as I close this letter and it's a good rain.  Rejoice in the bounty my friends, rejoice.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher 



 



 

Dear Carp - The Rematch And The Blessing

Dear Carp,

Yesterday I went to the mercantile store extra early, where I worked in a fevered pace and harder than usual in order to leave the store early and come to you.  I came to you and yours looking for a redeeming rematch to the whipping I took the day prior. 

When I arrived at your home the thunder clouds had begun to form and take a firm stance.  The thunder was rolling and lightning streaked across the western sky.  The sky was letting go of only a few sprinkles of rain, but they seemed to be drops of hope.

In the upper shallows I saw one of your citizens that was quite impressive, so I sent out a Creek Critter his way.  My gift landed to his right and I watched his movement, which told me he liked what he saw.  A soft jab followed and we were connected in the rematch that I was looking for.

This fellow was stout with big shoulders and it wasn't long until he took me to the center of the mat, if you will, and there we found ourselves in the middle of the creek as the sky opened up and the good rains came.  The thunder was now louder and the lightning even more threatening.  I felt like I was in an unsafe place, but it was the place I wanted to be in hopes of making my comeback. 

Ten minutes passed and I finally worked my opponent into a corner and in this case the corner was the fringe of the creek.  With a gentle and subtle hand I took his tail in my hand and with my other hand cradle his underside to lift him out of the water.

 

 

After visiting with this citizen it was time to get him back in the drink and say adios.  He swam away quite healthy.

 

 

It wasn't long after the battle the real blessing for you and your kind not to mention angler alike came.  The sky opened up even more and the most delightful thunder shower began.  An inch and half of rain is what we received and although we need much more, this event certainly helps us all. 

 

Blessings sometimes come in short portions and perhaps more will come our way.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher



 

Dear Carp - Unanimous Decision

Dear Carp,

If the ring-side judges had been positioned at the fringe of your home today, they would have declared a unanimous decision for you and your kind declaring you the victor.  Thanks for the arse kicking.

In round one I choose to lead with the original Aftermath gift I tied some weeks ago.  With the brightly colored body, appetizing worm tail at one end, and the tantalizing fibers that undulate, this gift is hard for any fish to refuse.  It's a Trojan horse of sorts. 

With the Aftermath I threw the first punch, but evidently the punch was quite faint.  The citizen that took that blow threw a counterpunch and it was hard enough to knock the Aftermath out of commission and the gift became the property of that citizen. 

In round two I choose an olive Curiosity with brown tail and targeted a rather large citizen of your community.  With a long distance haymaker that missed it's mark, this citizen decided to catch me off guard and claim victory in round two by knocking out my second contender.

I was well behind in the early rounds, so for round three I tied on a brand new Aftermath that had just been created about an hour prior.  In this round I would begin to make a comeback and was able to put a younger citizen on the mat.

 

When the bell sounded for round four I was feeling quite confident as I sent the Aftermath out into the middle of the ring.  I took a hit and as I counterpunched, the Aftermath came sailing out of the ring and landed high in a tree where, unfortunately, this pugilist was lost.

 

I then threw in the towel.  My arse had been kicked. 

 

It's good for the angler to have a good old fashion arse kicking every once in a while.  A arse kicking knocks us off that high and haughty horse we sometimes ride when we begin to think we can come to you and capture you at will. 

 

An arse kicking is also good for the angler because once we accept our defeat we can spend more time enjoying the beauty that surrounds us.  Today, I took great pleasure in simply admiring the trees and the fine details they own. 

 

 

 

As I sit under the tree with a refreshing breeze cooling the summer-like temperatures I enjoyed a most delightful musical courtesy of the birds above.  Never have I heard the birds put on such a wonderful concert. 

 

My friends, I do not know when I will return for a rematch.  The mercantile store is still robbing me of much time and it's time I miss so much.

 

Of all the time with you that I am denied as a result of my servitude at the store I think the time I miss the most is that time I find myself standing at the fringe of your home as day breaks. 

 

Maybe soon I can stand there again.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher

 



Dear Carp - A Long Time Coming

Dear Carp,

It has been well over two weeks since I come to you last.  My reason for not visiting with you is the same as usual.  My employment is keeping me away from you and your kind.  With a new project under my wing at work I find myself in a do or die situation.  Unfortunately, I have no choice but to see the new project to a path of success and have given my word to do just that.  So, my time in coming to you may very well be scattered and scant.

It still seems the rain fall cannot find us.  In the last two weeks there have been many promises of rain but simple traces have been delivered.  They say that this situation is a cycle, but I would argue that the cycle we are experiencing has been far extended past the usual length of a drought. 

It pains Charlie, Van, and yours truly to see you in such a situation.  Drought is not good for fish nor man, but you are the ones that will suffer the most.  We will continue to hold out hope that the good rains will come soon.

Today, as I stepped at the threshold of your home, I spotted a feeding carp in the upper shallows.  I sent out a yellow bug like the Aftermath and he tried to eat it, but I missed an easy hook set.  A few seconds later I saw another of your citizens and he too liked the yellow bug and this time the hook set was good. 

 

 

Perhaps I will get to visit with you again sooner rather than later. 

 

Perch Plucking With A Goose

Today I did something I haven't done in a long time and it felt good.  Today, I went fly fishing for the perch.

Yesterday while getting blown away by the wind on Blue River fly fishing with my buddy Van, I commented to Van that I thought I would fish the pasture known as Forty Foot on the sea lane Rock Creek in pursuit of the carp Van has been telling me about.

However, the sun stayed hidden all day today behind a totally overcast sky and that's when I decided to leave the carp flies behind and grab the small and vividly colored flies that the little fellows so like.

 

I've noticed I am a totally different fly fisherman when pursuing the carp compared to pursuing the perch.  When seeking communication with the carp I become a stalker and hunter and carry a heavy conviction to successfully meet one of the grand ones.  However, when pursuing the perch I have none of the aforementioned tendencies and I carry only a state of relaxation, a peace with existence, and fond memories of my youth fishing alongside my grandfather.  My grandfather taught me to fish by introducing me to the perch.  To my grandfather... and the perch, I owe more than I can ever repay. 

 

Upon arriving at Forty Foot I was the sole human being, but I did have company in the form and fashion of one solitaire goose.  He was looking at me looking at him looking at me, or maybe I was looking at him while he was looking at me looking at him.  I'm not for sure... it gets kind of confusing where your staring at a goose. 

 

The goose seemed quite unconcerned about what I was doing and stayed around for a good bit until he took flight and flew directly over my head like a B-52 on a bombing mission.  Fortunately he didn't bomb me.

 

 

 

As in most cases, the perch today were more than willing and I think this is one reason they are simply fun.  Perch, whether it be the Long ear, Redbreast, Blue Gill, Red Ear, Rock Bass, or any of the others that make up the menagerie of the pan-fish community, always give as good as they get.  I'm not for sure if it's their curiosity or voracious appetites that cause them to absolutely inhale a bright colored or small imitation fly, but I have learned that we always need to make sure to use barb-less hooks or mash the barb completely down.  With perch, there is a high probability they will swallow our flies down deep. 

 

 

 

Today, the perch brought a little sunshine to a somewhat gloomy day. 

 

I am a fortunate man to live such a wonderful life through fly fishing.  I wish the goose would have stuck around a little longer.  

 



 

 



Dear Carp - Not As Planned

Dear Carp,

Saturday morning I was looking forward to my second day off in a very long time.  My plan was to get a good night of rest Friday evening and therefore come visit you early on Saturday morning.  However, in the late evening hours of Friday my best friend Drift begin to have seizures.

His seizures is something I became aware of shortly after he came into my life.  A visit to the doctor that tends to dogs, and other creatures, resulted in a controlling medicine that will shorten the ferocity of the seizures themselves.  After his first episode Friday evening, I administered the medicine followed by another does a short while later.  The medicine wasn't working it seemed and after the seventh or eighth seizure episode... as the hopelessness fell over me... I decided to talk to God. 

Over all the years I've talked to God I've learned that God doesn't have much to say in return.  I figure this is due to the fact God is too busy listening to all of us. 

Sometime after the midnight hour the seizures subsided, but a good night's rest would not come my way or the way of my friend.  He was exhausted and I was too.

However, I rose early the next morning with the plans I had made, but decided to run by the mercantile store just to check on things.  Upon arriving at the store I discovered that the young assistant I have fell prey to the follies of whatever takes place on Friday night's.  I use to know what those follies entailed myself, but that's been many years ago.  My plan changed status to "Not as planned." 

In the afternoon yesterday I did see a opportunity of possibly one hour at your home where we could visit so the waders went on.

Standing in the upper shallows of one of our favored pastures, I knew that your citizens had formed a herd in this area because they felt protected by a thick weave of natural debris that had been crocheted by the strong winds of late.

This blanket was so thick it hid your citizens well and getting my gift, the Aftermath, past the fabric would be quite a chore.  I did see an opening though and on my first roll-out a young member of your clan sent me a signal with the tell-tale movement in my clear tether. 

 

Moving downstream, the Aftermath went out again and one of your kin attacked the gift as if he was quite concerned of any of your other citizens laying claim to it before he could. 

 

 

With some time still left I moved to the big pool to send out some gifts on the blind.  The wind was strong yesterday and the riffles also his your kinship.  I sent out two new gifts, but they drew no interest from the lot of you and therefore I bid you farewell.

 

 

There was a lot going on in these parts this weekend my friends.  At Rock Creek campground there was a conclave of a vintage fiberglass rod group that I hoped to attend.  Your friend Charlie got to go and cast some fine glass rods and see some fine reels.  I, unfortunately, didn't make it.  Also, there was an outdoor expo taking place, but I didn't get to attend that function either.

 

From left to right are Carl Sims, Larry Compton, Les Jackson, Jeff Mitchell, and Kurt Jackson.  Members of the fiberglass flyrodders conclave.

 

Tomorrow is Earth Day my friends and knowing my schedule is full, I decided to come to you today and rid your home of a good deal of trash.  I carried two 39 gallon trash bags with me and that seemed suffice today, but there is more to deal with.  All the trash in your home and along the bank at the pasture known as Honey Hole was removed.  However, there is still that steep hill to deal with, so I will return with a rake and rope and bring it down to within my grasp.

 

 

 

There was lots of hand trash in your home such as Styrofoam, plastic bottles, snuff cans, and plastic bags. 

 

 

 

 

This little fellow, that shares your home, seemed to appreciate the trash being removed.

 

I do not know what to tell you about the rain that has not come our way.  There has been rain all around us like the six inches that fell on the prairie ocean current at Medicine Park.  We received only a trace and I don't understand what is going on. 

 

Guess I can talk to God about that also.

 

I hope to see you again soon my friends.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher 

 

 



 









Dear Carp - More Aftermath

Dear Carp,

I hope this letter finds the lot of you well and thriving.  What a splendid morning it was my friends.  This morning was the first morning in 42 days that I did not have to report to the mercantile store to serve employment.  How grand it felt.

To celebrate I took my coffee under the elm tree by the water garden.  It didn't take long to saucer the coffee and as I did I enjoyed the most delightful spring rhapsody from the birds in the branches above, as the homeless cats that I carry stewardship over swished around my feet in hopes of just a wee bit attention.

Of course... you were on my mind and I knew I would be coming to see you even though the wind was quite strong.  At your home I decided to use the new gift I spoke of yesterday - the Aftermath.  It wasn't long until a young fellow by the order of the Mirror latched on to my gift.  He had a lot of spunk and that seems to be inherent to the Mirror order. 

 



After letting the young fellow go to explore other treasures that lay in wait, a most beautiful sight caught my eye.  In yesterday's letter I made reference to how we can find both pretty and ugly on the creek and the woods, the wild. 

I think the following postcards will further illustrate both pretty and ugly and serves as an example of which I speak.  I am sure you will agree with me that the geese navigating your current this morning are quite a beautiful sight.

 

Now my friends, for the ugly I present to you another postcard as the geese are taking flight and as you already know there is ugly in your sea lane in the form of a blue trash barrel and school desk - both courtesy of the hands of man and the school system. Most certainly not are they sailing vessels... they are simply trash and I have plans to remove their flounder selves before they end up further downstream.

 

 

Perhaps someday you will understand why I prefer to be in the company of you and other wild creatures rather than those of my own kind.  It is my kind who pollute and destroy and I think Utah Phillips may have said it best with these words, "The earth is not dying, it is being killed.  And the people who are killing it have names and addresses."

 

My friends, if your home becomes any more compromised I am thinking about letting you be as far as holding conversations.  As I told you in a previous exchange I will come to you and serve your needs as best I can, but I will not fish for you in hopes of a connection - at least not until things improve. 

If I decide to let you be, I want you to know... I will miss you dearly.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher