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.  



Lights, Camera, Carp

Videographers for Outdoor Oklahoma, Blake and Darrin, arrived in Sulphur shortly after 7 a.m. today and we were soon on Rock Creek fly fishing for carp. At the end of the day, I would come away with a greater appreciation for what these guys do. Although it was tremendous fun, at times it was almost like work. There are certain things that have to be done from several angles or directions to make film work, so Charlie and I went through the routine.

We knew that rain was headed for the Prairie Ocean, but we didn't expect it until Wednesday. We knew for sure we'd have sunshine today which is vital in sight fishing for carp. We didn't have sunshine... not a drop. We fished all morning under an overcast sky which made fishing tough.

We started out at the big hole at the place we call the Courtyard, but neither Charlie or myself had any luck. The carp would come have a look at our flies then simply turn away.

We then started the rather long journey upstream while Darrin was carrying that forty pound camera with him. This guy had to work today. Upstream, I finally found a carp with the Carpola Charlie and the guys got that on film. Then Charlie hooked into something and I knew for sure it was a carp, but it turned out to be a dandy little catfish who fancied Charlie's San Juan Worm. I had another opportunity for a carp and saw the carp come to my fly, his mouth open to suck it up, and as I set the hook...somehow...someway... a perch picked that fly like a linebacker intercepting a football. My hookset... the one I knew was on that carp, caught the perch. What a thief!

On the way back downstream we fished the big hole again with the same results - refusals. We then decided to fish a new stretch of water, but found few carp. I went further downstream and hooked up with another carp and I thought the video guys were far behind me. But, when I looked around Blake was there filming.

The most exciting part of the day came at the end. Darrin and Blake were getting ready to wrap things up and Charlie started blind fishing with the San Juan. All of a sudden I heard the water explode and Charlie had a nice carp on that worm. Blind fishing!!!

That experience right there was a day-maker.

Darrin and Blake said they work a year out but promised us an earlier DVD. They also commented it was some of the best footage they've ever shot. Can't wait to see it.

Here are a few pictures I managed today.

Osmosis

Fly fishing for carp has become an osmosis for Charlie and I - we've taken it all in, soaked up as much as we can. We can't seem to stop.

I lied like a dog this morning. I told Miss Carol I wouldn't fish today... most likely. However, since my workplace morning was short and she was stuck at work, I didn't see any harm in sneaking to the creek for an hour.

The Carpola Charlie fly continues to amaze me. Of the last fifteen carp I've captured, all but one have been on the Carpola Charlie. This morning's color was the yellow and brown Carpola.

Here are the carp of my morning outing.

Rush Hour

I was hoping to have much more time this morning at Charlie's Pasture, but Miss Carol required a breakfast out, and therefore I made short order of the fly-fishing.

Arriving at Charlie's Pasture just as morning was breaking, I went to the upstream shallows. As the sun was beginning to kiss the tree tops; casting a sheen on the smooth-as-glass water; I watched a thousand insects dance and hop in the reflective light.. where they looked like prancing crystals on the surface. However, the carp were not in the shallows, so I ventured back downstream to the big pool.

At the big pool there was also an absence of carp. I found the lack of activity as strange, but figured the community was hiding on the far bank, thirty-five feet across, laying in their den, waiting for a call. So, with a roll cast I knocked on their door and they answered.

Using the olive and orange Carpola Charlie I immediately hooked-up with one of the Leviathan carp of Rock Creek. Our meeting would be short and sweet though, and in less than a minute the carp would bid farewell to this fisherman. The short, but frantic, fight aroused the rest of the community as they come to the middle of the pool to investigate.

I spotted a lone carp that looked of significant size and cast him the Carpola offering. He sucked it up right away and from thirty feet away I went for a hook-set. The hook-set was successful and the fight begin. These carp know their territory well, and with this fellow he kept going for the far bank, the root balls along that bank, and any structure he could find that would play to his advantage.

The fight came to an end ten minutes later as I immortalized the carp by picture that will go in my archives. He was a hearty fighter and very nice fish.

The New Carpola Charlie Kicks!

Tied up a new version of the Carpola Charlie fly this afternoon - olive and orange. Took it to Rock Creek and gave it a test drive. Started off with the original Carpola in olive and white and landed one, but the rest of the action came on the new version. I did learn one thing however. I left the legs on the olive and orange and little long and three carp came to the fly and felt the legs with their barbules and just stared at it. After cutting the legs the same length of the marabou, the action heated up.