The Prairie Ocean - Tools Of The Trade

At our bunkhouse, Miss Carol and I do the majority of our cooking outdoors.  There's something that's just earthy or wholesome about cooking outdoors, at least to us. 

Whenever we are using our cast iron and Dutch ovens, I am mindful of the early explorers, settlers, and the cattle drive cousie.  Sometimes I think I was born way too late.

Here are some of the cast iron tools we use when preparing our meals.

Carp Redux 2011 - Under The Influence

Chances are I should have just stayed at the bunkhouse today. 

First off, the prairie schooner was out on loan and away from my wagon mastery, and it just so happens that the lanyard, carp fly box, and carp rod were stowed in the wagon of the schooner. 

Leaving the mercantile store at noon, I was able to persuade sweet Carol in letting me have the brown pony, and therein was the chance to get to the creek.  Without my precious carp gear, I grabbed a rod (not meant for the carp) and a poorly tied Carpola Charlie (tied it way too bulky and it fishes like crap). 

Getting to the creek around 1 p.m., I knew there was only 45 minutes before my duty of fetching Carol was scheduled.  Standing at one of of the more significant, in size, pastures, it was easy to see the carp were extremely active in mudding.  This large pool looked like a ginger-colored milk shake. 

Although I missed the carp fly box, the carp rod, and the lanyard... the one thing more importantly missed was the polarized sunglasses.  They are vital.  The only saving grace today was the cowboy hat I wear... it has a wide brim and that helps shade the sun. 

Forty or more feet out, the images of carp could be seen, but, getting a fly to them would require what I call a "prayer cast", where we simply cast and pray like heck the fish will stumble into it.  This didn't seem a good option today.

After about twenty minutes there was a waving orange colored tail about fifteen feet out, so the crap-tied Carpola Charlie in olive and black was flipped to the fish.  Immediately my attention was turned to the tail, but suddenly the corner of my eye was caught by the image of a rather good-sized Mirror carp coming from the bottom.  This fish sucked the fly mid-column and it caught me so off guard it was too late.  Going for the hookset anyhow, the fly landed in the arms of a young tree some ten feet behind me. 

I was peeved.

Another ten minutes passed and it was nearing time to fetch Miss Carol, but, just five more minutes... please, and I'll be damn, if another Mirror (maybe the same one) came toward the bank.  The fly was again flipped and the darn fish took the fly mid-column.  I saw the fly go in the fishes mouth! 

I missed!  Again! 

With the first Mirror carp that took the fly mid-column there was a Keystone Light tucked under my right arm, which just so happens to be my hook-set arm.

With the second Mirror carp that took the fly mid-column the same Keystone Light was squeezed between my knees.

Hmmm....  is there a correlation? 

Begins With "C"

The Carpola Charlie carp fly begins with "c".

Of course, our friend the carp begins with "c".

Alas, the catfish also begins with "c".

Having less than an hour to spare, I waited until almost 7 p.m. to catapult to the creek thinking the searing heat would be absent.  The problem, however, is at such an hour the sun is deep in the western sky creating almost total shade on the water.  I couldn't see squat.

Fortunately I had a beer in tow and sit down on a sandy shoal to take in the suds.  With only a couple of sips down the hatch I saw a swirl in the pool directly downstream.  With a rather desperate Hail Mary attempt, the Carpola Charlie penetrated the plunge and almost as soon as the splashdown took place, the swirl turned toward the direction of the fly.  The fly and fish collided and there was a rather noticeable jolt in the leader, followed by a quick lift of the rod.  It was easy to tell the hook-set was quite solid and at that point I would have bet my last dollar I had a dandy determined carp on. 

It was a catfish, with the Carpola Charlie planted in his upper lip.  Catfish are okay... it's just the hope was for a carp. 

I left the creek without a carp.  Catfish begins with a "c"... so does choke.  



Grand Grandchildren And Fly Fishing

Right now, here in the middle of June, we are experiencing July and August like temperatures.  For this old salt of the water that equates to slowing down a tad bit... as far as time on the water.

The truth is... this body is growing older and I'm not the pony I use to be.  The heat hurts.  Dehydration comes way to easy.  The cramps are, at times, unbearable.

Crap... I can't hop across the rocks like I use to, and now I've have finally accepted this fact that really chaps my ass.  Hey... it's just life.  I'm living the dream man!  Yeah right.

I guess all of us who love fly-fishing want to leave or pass on some of our fishing experiences in an attempt that the art will continue.

When grandson Tanner was eight years old he has his own set of waders, rod, and everything necessary to fly fish.  Tanner and I, along with friends such as Jonathan Boeck, spent some good time on Blue River chasing those beautiful and bright Rainbow trout.  Unfortunately, Tanner would move a good distance away and we didn't get to pursue the art.

Now... there are grand-daughters.

Since it's so hot, I decided to ease-up a bit and concentrate on passing on the fly-fishing culture.  Granddaughter Brilee spends a good time with Carol and I, so on her last visit I took her to a casting stream. 

Putting a four weight rod in her hand, Brilee also received about five minutes of verbal instruction.  As she stood parallel with the stream I simply said, "Go". 

Now, if you would have been there you would have thought Brilee had a spey rod in her hand because she was flinging the darn thing.  And... that was okay.  The important thing was she took an interest... the refinement can come later.

The most impressive thing to me about Brilee was she wasn't a bit intimidated by the rod or the fly line zinging by her head.  She just kept flinging. 

Plans are to get in her in the water and on some fish soon. Perhaps, one more generation of fly fishing faithful will be born.

Brilee with four weight in hand, giving it a go.

 

Confidence in a small package.

There's another grand-daughter named Payton.  Payton is like this world-class softball player so I know getting a rod in her hand this time of year (softball season) is out of the question.

However, there is always fall... and trout season at Blue River begins in fall... and I hope Payton doesn't blow her arm throwing a runner out at first.

Payton going for gold.

And Why Do Carp Jump?

It's a question I've found myself asking over and over.  Charlie and I call these jumping carp clown carp because they are reminding of a circus clown doing somersaults and acrobatics. 

For quite sometime it's been my belief that these carp jump in order to cleanse their skin, fins, or some part of their body.

Jim Burns over at LA River  Fly Fishing has now asked the question and even put a poll up to get other opinions from the fly fishing for carp community.

Visit the LA River Fly Fishing blog and participate in the poll... it will interesting to see the answers. 

Carp Redux 2011 - Short And Sweet

Stepped into the creek at 12:30 today, which is the wrong time at this time of year.  It was hot... no, it was hot and humid.  The air was thick and like a blast furnace. 

The addiction that is mine simply got the best of me.  Feeling challenged in body and soul, I needed to feel better.

The Mysis Shrimp has been missing in action lately so it went on as an offering to the grand and golden ones.  A lone carp was spotted; a cast... a unremarkable cast was made and fortunately fell lightly and within acceptable range of the creature.  In watching the fish it was easy to see notice was taken.  Attention turned to leader and then there it was... that ever-so subtle movement.  Side sweep hook set and fish to hand.  Picture taken, fish released, and the creek is left behind to another day.

A stop at the beer store and then to the prairie home.  Short, sweet, and to the point.

Bass, Carp, And Summer Early

Seems like summer has arrived a little early here on the prairie ocean.  Yesterday, the thermometer reached 96 degrees, and today... was a repeat performance. 

The creek continues to struggle even though we have received some rain over the last thirty days.  Most life in and along the creek seem to be holding their own especially the Johnson grass - which most certainly is thriving.  Right now, the Johnson grass is about a foot taller than this fly-fisher and that makes it about six foot and seven inches.  There are few things I can think of that are more aggravating to the caster of fur and feather than Johnson grass and that grainy millet the grass wears as a crown.  I swear this grass, also known as switch, seems to somehow reach up and out and grab the flies we are trying to offer.

When temperatures get to be where they currently are, I'm forced to limit my fishing activity due to some heat problems of years past.  It's either fish early or late, and if that doesn't pan out then time on the water is limited to a couple of hours.  Yesterday, I fished an hour shortly before noon.

Carrying that sweet fiberglass rod, the first fish of the day was a spunky bass that believed he was wall-hanging size.  This fellow put quite a bend in the glass and just wouldn't give in or up easily. 

Although I'm trying my best to protect the carp, those grand and golden ones, from those who wish to end their lives... I'm still fishing for them.  In order to protect this special creatures, out of the way efforts won't be a problem.  If I have to park at one location and walk a long ways to get to the actual fishing spot... I will.  In addition, the locations fished will no longer be divulged.

A young carp came to hand using the same orange pattern that took the bass.  Seems like all the fish, particularly the perch community, favored the color orange on Saturday.

Calling it an outing around the noon hour, a return trip to the creek would take place late in the afternoon.  Two more carp came to hand on the orange colored fly, but, one wouldn't count because the hook somehow impaled in the top portion of the fishes snout.  In other words, the hook was outside the mouth.  The other carp was a young twenty inch Mirror and this little fish took me within two or three feet of the backing.  What a tremendous determination to win and this is why these fish have my admiration.

There is a tremendous amount of life in the creek right now even with the water level being low.  The fry were slashing the water with a frequency they would make one think their numbers would equal a krill community. 

The rest of the late afternoon was spent admiring the life along the creek.  It was a good day.

Future meal for fish or fowl?

Beautiful butterfly contrasted by ugly mud.

The Prairie Ocean - Campsite Cooking

Fly-fishing has led to a greater enjoyment of the outdoor life.

Whenever fly-fishing is not possible, another great passion is campfire, campsite, outdoor cooking.  Here are some of the dishes fixed in cast iron and on the grill in the last several days. 

For Memorial Day we prepared slow grilled pork spare ribs and served them on top of creamy potato salad, draped with roasted peppers and two opposing sauces.  

Along with ribs and potato salad, we fixed brown sugar baked beans in the Dutch oven.  Oh, how sweet it is. 

Tonight, the bunkhouse crew wanted Mexican so we prepared crab stuffed Anaheim peppers draped in enchilada sauce.  For the stuffing you will need crab meat, cream cheese, about 4 ounces of Mozzarella, 4 ounces of pimentos, and 4 ounces of finely chopped yellow onion.  Combine these ingredients to a substantial, but still workable blend.  Bake seeded and naked peppers in Dutch for twenty minutes, then fill with stuffing and bake for another fifteen minutes. Drape with enchilada sauce.  

These beauties have a sweetness on the front end and a bite on the back.

We served them with tamales, Spanish rices, and an avocado-grape tomato-crumbled egg salad. 

All of this can be easily cooked at the campsite.