Carp Redux 2011 - Carp On Glass

It's hard to recall another time that it's taken the creek so long to start clearing.  Here we are, almost a week after the much needed rain and the creek is still quite dingy.  By no means am I saying the creek is beyond fishing, however, it's a difficult situation when sight fishing for carp.

We are quite thankful for the rain we received, but, this spring season has been a strange one indeed.  The wind has become absolutely ridiculous and if it's a result of La Nina, El Nino, La El Nina Nino or whatever, I wish they would get gone for a good, good while.

Although it's difficult for the angler to see the carp in these conditions, the carp seem quite able to see us.  When it comes to the seeing game, the carp certainly seem to have an advantage.  So even with the water being quite off, we still need to make use of the tools nature offers, such as native grasses, and use them as camouflage. 

 

I believe Saturday could have been a good carp by fly day even with the off water conditions, if the wind hadn't shown up.  When we have off water and add wind strong enough to create an almost constant riffle, it adds up to a very long day trying to capture carp by fly.

Saturday I carried an Eagle Claw Featherlight.  I don't fish the Featherlight often, or any glass rod as a matter of fact, and for the life of me I do not know why I don't.  Glass is wonderfully sweet.  It would be quite easy for me to forever fall in love with the feel of glass rods and I may just migrate to that discipline... sooner rather than later.  Probably, like many, I've grown accustomed to the lighter graphite rods and how their lighter weights keep from wearing me out. But, glass is indeed sublime. 

My timing was a fortunate situation Saturday, getting on the creek about an hour after sunrise and half hour before the tormenting wind showed up.  With the Crazy Charlie I roped a carp in fairly shallow water.  This youngster carp put a good bend in the glass and brought a smile to this old wrinkled face.  But, the relentless wind wouldn't stop and my smile soon flip-flopped as I give in to the blowhard gods of nature's breath. 

Older guys like me, quite often enjoy taking siestas and after having a rather good one I decide to return to the creek to further pursue the carp. 

With the same Crazy Charlie, the second carp of the day was lassoed by waiting the fish out until he came to the shallows.   

THE KILLERS

This may very well be my last posting regarding carping by fly.  I have reason to believe the killers have found our precious carp water.  Killers do what they do for the joy they find in simply killing.  They kill not to harvest, but, kill just to be killing.  I guess somehow it makes them feel mighty, tough, superior, and they actually get some kind of rush from their senseless acts.  I don't like killers and I figure they don't like me, so that makes us even.  But, I'll be damned if I give them any information that will help them pursue their wanton taking of life.

It saddens me that sharing the joy carping by fly brings to me along with my friend Charlie with others who share the same passion will come to an end.  No, I won't stop pursuing these wonderful creatures and I'll continue to keep a close eye on the creek. 

A really close eye on the creek.   



Carp Redux 2011 - Crazy Charlie Gone Wild

Usually on an afternoon outing, either Charlie or I can expect capturing a carp or two if we are lucky.  If we capture one then we consider it a good outing.  Two carp and it's a fantastic outing.  So, you can imagine my delight Thursday afternoon when six carp came to my lasso in less than two hours. 

For several weeks now I've been commenting to Charlie about my belief that the one thing that could improve our carp fishing would be rain.  Late Wednesday afternoon we did in fact receive the rain I've been wishing for.  It wasn't a long extended rain event, but goodness did it ever come down in buckets.  Charlie taught me sometime ago to go to the shallows after rain, but, there wasn't a chance to do that Wednesday since the creek immediately turned brown. 

Thursday morning, in taking an early break, I discovered the creek had already started to clear.  Also, Thursday was a completely overcast day which is my favorite fishing condition.  Even though a cloud laden overcast sky is good for me, I actually think it's to the advantage of the carp.  In my journal notes I have recorded a good number of times fishing on overcast days and in those accountings I have noted how it seems the carp see me much easier.  My theory is when the sun is shining brightly the rays somehow distort, diffuse, or impede the carps' vision when looking up.  I don't know if this is truly the case... it's just a theory.

All six carp came courtesy of the Crazy Charlie.  It was a case of Crazy Charlie gone wild.  The first five were taken on blind hook-sets - I couldn't see the fly, but, could tell the carp were on it and went for the set.  The last carp was on the alert and leaving the scene, but, the Crazy Charlie landed about a foot in front and to his side and the fish turned on it.  I easily could see the suck and the carp was roped. 

I dare say this has been the strangest spring I've seen in some time here on this prairie ocean.  Since the beginning of May we've had days flirting with record high temperatures.  Then, three or four days later we are flirting with record low temperatures.  This morning the wind chill is 36 degrees and the wind we usually get in March is still present.  It's crazy stuff. 

The next three or four days looks like a no-go for carping by fur and feather.

Carp Redux 2011 - Crazy Charlie Reincarnated

Since my favorite Crazy Charlie fly gave his life at sea yesterday, a little vise time was dedicated last night and a new white holographic with peacock underbody Charlie came to life.

At 7:59 this morning I clocked out at work telling my co-workers I'd be on the creek for a short while.  I am extremely fortunate to have an employer that tolerates my fly fishing addiction.  The boss doesn't understand it, but he's been quite charitable in allowing me to get my fixes.

By 8:10 I was on the water with the new Crazy Charlie ready to go and a lone carp was targeted.  The cast went well and the carp sucked ol' Charlie straight up. 

I take my usual crappy picture (all my pictures are crap), slip the beast back into the drink, and return to work...wet socks and all. 

Pretty sweet.

I was only required to stay at the workplace until ten this morning and decided to make a second run at the creek before the winds gathered. 

Going back to the same pasture the first carp of the day was secured, the Crazy Charlie quickly found carp number two.  

Carp number three was a dan, dan, dandy, but, the hookset was a little iffy barely catching the fringe of the creatures top lip.  The hook pulled out after a minute or so.  The big ones always get away don't they?

After losing the leviathan, it's time to explore another pasture upstream.

Once at the next pasture it's time to give the Crazy Charlie a rest and tie on a Mysis Shrimp.  I know... there aren't any Mysis shrimp in this local water.  So?  Maybe that's why the next carp liked it so much - something new on the menu.

The Mysis dropped about six inches in front of this carp and he sucked it up right away.  Another crappy picture and the beast returned to his watery den. 

At 11 o'clock, the wind was blowing me off the creek so I go to the bunkhouse. 


The last carp of this morning took fancy to a simple tie Mysis Shrimp pattern. 

 



Carp Redux 2011 - Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Carp

Some countries that border the Mediterranean Sea are in turmoil currently in the pursuit of fairness and freedom.  The revolution seems to be growing by the day as the people of these nations look for relief from tyranny and insane rulers. 

This great country of ours had it's own revolution at one time and that led to the freedoms we enjoy today.  Jefferson drafted most eloquently the words life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Today on the creek I felt better than I have in some time and therefore I celebrate life.  Today on the creek I enjoyed a privilege known as fishing and therefore I celebrate that liberty.  And today on the creek... I chased carp and thus I celebrate the pursuit of this wonderful creature that brings me so much happiness. 

Good boy, good boy.

Charlie brought some new dry creations this morning that look remarkably like fallen blossoms.  At the creek I tie one on and give it a toss.  On that first toss a perch comes up and grabs it.  After releasing that little thief, I make the second cast with this tantalizing morsel and five or six more perch swarm it.  So... I give up on trying to attract the few sipping carp that are present.

Leaving this particular pasture, the pasture known as the Beach is the next stop.  My goodness is the moss ever a problem here - large islands of moss floating down the creek.  But, there are carp.  I quickly tied on a Crazy Charlie pattern.  It was one of a batch I tied last night for my friend Charlie.  Now... no association between the crazy part of Crazy Charlie and Charlie... even though he does seem crazy sometimes when it comes to fly fishing for carp. 

The fly seems a bit heavy for shallow water and the plop seems to un-nerve the carp.  Patience shows me a carp feeding on the surface in water I know is as much as three feet deep, so I deliver the Crazy Charlie just upstream from him and watch him follow it down.  The leader or tippet never move, but I slowly raise the rod tip and feel the pressure.  Hook-set!  That's the fellow in the picture above.

I decide to go to the bunkhouse, but once I get there Miss Carol tells me of her desire to go play bingo... so hey... I'm go back to the creek.

At the pasture known as Honey Hole I patiently wait twenty minutes or more waiting on sipping carp.  The cloopers are far and few however, so I go downstream.  Once again, the Crazy Charlie goes on.  I see four or five feeding carp in the shallows and even though I'm crouching they seem to sense my presence and leave... with the exception of one.

As it is with fly fishing for carp.. it's sometimes, or oftentimes, smart to target a single carp and as the Crazy Charlie sank in the water column above this lone carp he went straight to it.  He put up a really good battle for not being all that big of a beast.

It was a good day.  Life, liberty, and the pursuit of carp.

Crazy Charlie patterns.  I kept one to use today.

Carp number two of the day on his way in.

Favored the Crazy Charlie.