The Easiest Carp In The World By Fly

Just recently I had a fellow fly fisher for carp suggest that the carp Charlie and I fly fish for must be the easiest carp in the world to catch by way of fly. 

Hmmm. 

Now, I don't know why a fellow that has never seen our creek firsthand would suggest such a thing.  If he was indeed here the first thing he might notice is the intense vegetation we have to deal with.  Both banks on this creek are littered with trees that form a canopy over the creek robbing us of that vital sunlight that is so important in seeing carp.  Also, since trees have limbs and many of these limbs are low and over-hanging along the creek that adds to the difficulty of getting a fly in position.  On our carp creek there are just a few places a back cast can be employed.  Most places, even when the carp or thirty, thirty-five, or forty feet away require a roll cast.  Oh, and then there's the Johnson grass, which during the summer months is taller than a man.  And, let me not forget the obstacles in the form of green briar and grapevine orchards that stand in our way getting to where the carp might be feeding. 

 

 

I also wonder why someone that has never watched the behavior of these carp would suggest that they are easy.  These carp are no different from carp anywhere - they are as wary, savvy, and smart as any carp anywhere.  Since this creek is an intimate and tight creek, I actually think these fish are even more alert.  At so many places there's not much distance between fly angler and carp and that often works to the angler's disadvantage. 

But, the fellow that suggested that these are the easiest carp in the world to catch with a fly is exactly right... and there's good reason. 

You see, Charlie and I have trained these carp.  Think of them as circus carp.  We've trained these carp so well they'll jump through a hoop to get to our flies.  And, that's what makes it so damn easy. 

This year, we changed our training program and taught the carp to concentrate on one fly - the Creek Critter.  Put a creek critter on the other side of that hoop I'm talking about, and watch the carp go airborne. 

With the easiest carp in the world to catch in mind, I set out this morning to catch some more of them.

With the Creek Critter tied on, I begin an easy day. My plans were to fish for a good amount of time, but on my way to one of our carp pastures I passed an event the federal park people had organized.  Today, was "pick up trash in the park day" and since this creek has been so good to me it was time to reciprocate.   Pulling into the station I explained I would wade the creek and collect trash and so the rangers gave me a trash bag and sent me on my way.  It certainly cut into the fishing time, but still I managed to catch a special kind of carp while collecting trash.  It's not often I encounter a carp on the prowl, but today I did.  Putting the Critter a little beyond the fish and then stripping, the carp was on the fly like a duck on a June bug.  Awesome.

Carp taken on a back-handed roll cast.

 

Also taken on a back-handed roll cast.

 

Yes... on a back handed roll cast.

 

They'll jump through hoops for this!

 

The divan cushion collected from the creek today took the prize for best piece of crap.

 

Gotta love those bait fishers with such keen stewardship.

 

Now, yesterday evening with only a short period of light left, Charlie goes to the creek and lands a wonderful Mirror carp.  Guess that Mirror was one of the easy one's too. 

 

Whatever.

 

 

 

 

 

Conversations With Carp - Vacation Day Talks

To me the best time to take vacation is autumn.  When autumn comes around the air is cooler and crisper, and the leaves begin to put on a stage performance of beautiful gold, burnt orange, and yellow colors.  Also, trout season rolls around at Blue River and this serves as a perfect chance to see fellow fly fishers that have been absent since the spring. 

So, I try my best to save my vacation time for the fall season, but sometimes things build up on me at the workplace and I make myself burn a vacation day... just like this morning. 

The bill of fare I had in mind for the carp this morning was the black bodied, red tail Curiosity fly along with the chartreuse Creek Critter.  Beginning with the Curiosity, this fly would find the fattest and largest carp I've ever taken from the pasture we call Honey Hole.  This would be a lengthy conversation to say the least.  For some reason I decided to carry a net with me this morning and having this big carp on the line made me thankful the net was at hand.  However, I would learn after four attempts of scooping the fish that this poor quality net was simply too small. 

I would finally wear the fish down where I could get him close to the bank and grab his tail.  I wish I would have taken a better picture that would show the length and girth of this creature.  It was a sow carp and I feel lucky in landing this fish.

It wasn't long until the second fish was on the line and it would turn out to be about a 4lb. catfish. Between the first carp and this catfish the Curiosity had begin to come unraveled.

The red tail Curiosity was retired to the dry patch and this afternoon this great little pattern will be reincarnated in the fly tying room.  His cousin the tan tail Curiosity went on the tippet.

Traveling from Honey Hole pasture to the pasture known as lower Well Springs the second carp of the morning was targeted.  The tan tail cousin came through and the fish came to hand.

From lower Well Springs I travel to the pasture we call the Beach.  Here I see three carp feeding in close proximity of each other.  It seemed best to simply put the fly in the middle of them and see what would happen.  The chartreuse Creek Critter fell dead center of this trio and it was a race to see what carp would get to the fly first.  I honestly couldn't tell which carp was going to arrive first, but set the hook as soon as I saw the tippet twitch. 

There was a problem with where I hooked-up with this carp.  A small tree with lots of branches has fallen across the creek and this carp kept going dead-on for those branches.  Bypassing the drag I played the creature with my line hand.  Finally I hauled the carp to the edge of the sandy beach itself and was sure this carp had been whipped.  But, as I let pressure off the rod to approach the carp, the fish flipped, hook came out, and it was adios.  The carp won this battle.  Kudos to you fine sir. 

Charlie stopped by the mercantile store the other day and we begin to talk about how our fly selection, particularly to size, has evolved over the last several years.  When we first begin to seriously fly fish for carp we were tying patterns on size 6 scud and straight shank hooks.  We were churning out rather large Backstabber style flies, Carpolo Charlies, and San Juan wormballs.  Now, we are using size 12 scud hooks and this smaller patterns seem to catch more carp.  The one thing I've noticed is that the smaller patterns seem to spook less carp from the fly itself.  The only down side to smaller patterns so far has been there have been several occasions where the fly gets a little deeper  into to the mouth of the fish.  Not damaging deep, but if given preference I'd rather the hook go into the lip each time.  

Once large patterns were used, now smaller is better.

Both Charlie and me have been fly fishing for so long we could easily be considered seasoned anglers.  However, when it comes to carp-by-fly, we always recognize our phylogeny.  We will continue to learn and evolve as we go.  Next up is to improve our take ratio by blind-fishing, and then there is carp-by-fly at night. 

I don't know about the snakes though with this fly at night thing.  







Conversations With Carp - A Rush To Talks

That one day off from the mercantile store didn't last long.  It seems the young man that was helping fell prey to the delights of summer vacation.  Most likely his friends bombarded him with grand tales of summer night fun and it simply became more than he could bear.  He went to lunch on Monday only to never return.  His decision has put me back to seven days a week. 

I'm an old dog.  Old dogs have to create ways or avenues that make it easier to obtain our goals - goals that once came easy when we were younger dogs.  Also, old dogs don't sleep as well as they once did and tend to rise early. 

This morning I arrived at the mercantile store at 5:30 and in a forty-five minute flurry got things presentable, or "acceptable" as the big boss likes to say.  At 6:15 I announced to the rest of the cast and crew of the mercantile store that I was headed for the creek and would return in one hour or little more.  Also, I told them it was my hope to return in the air of victory. As it ended up, only half that time would be needed to have a say-so with the carp.  Within thirty minutes two carp would be brought to hand for branding.

Armed with the red tail, black body Curiosity pattern the first carp was taken by sight.  This fish was a respectable fish and put up a rather worthy fight.

The second carp of the morning came on a blind roll cast.  No more than three or four seconds passed from the time the fly entered the plunge until this fish inhaled the fly and ran.  These kind of takes don't happen much on this creek and when they do they serve as a most pleasant surprise and experience.  This fish was a good bit larger than the first, but you can't tell from the picture.  Full of fight the fish took me past the backing and line knot for a length of fifteen or twenty feet.  Finally, I would recover some line and the tug-of-war would begin.

Oh how easy it would have been to stay longer this morning - my soul did not want to leave the creek.  However, never have I been one to totally shirk responsibility.  There on the creek bank I said a small prayer thanking my creator for the opportunity of this morning and then went to my prairie home where I washed off the carp, slipped on the khaki trousers, white shirt, and return to the mercantile store by 7:30. 

Hell'ava life huh?

Now, what about Charlie?  Charlie has had one complicated time in getting quality carp-by-fly time on our beloved little creek.  One thing is that he's still nursing that bum foot, and this has limited his once spry (for men our age) movement.  Then, there's the inn he owns and operates.  It seems to me that business at his inn has been much more this year compared to last and this dominates a lot of Charlie's time.  Now, there has been a new chapter opened addressing what is slowing Charlie's carp time down.

Last Saturday after spending about three hours on the creek I return to my prairie home and pick seven ticks off my person.  As soon as I discoved the ticks had attacked me I sent Charlie a message telling him ticks were thick as molasses - a fact Charlie already knew.  The intent of my message was to remind him that he and I owe to ourselves due dillegence when it comes to ticks. 

I think it was sometime Thursday that Charlie ended up at the emergency room with high fever and severe body aches.  The attending doctor informed Charlie he had tick fever.  Fortunately it can be treated with antibiotics and it's stay will be temporary. 

Ticks are nasty little critters that carry disease and can make us quite ill.  Lyme disease is something that nobody wants to deal with. 

So Charlie is off the water and out of the woods until he gets clear of this round of tick fever.  I think it's time we start thinking about some kind of tick defense strategy in our carp-by-fly life. I say this because I know Charlie... and I know of little that will keep him from his cherished carp.

Conversations With Carp - Too Many Talking

It's nice to watch the sun come up.  Rarely do I get to see a sunrise unless I step out the back door at the mercantile store.  Somehow standing on a concrete dock isn't the same as standing on a sandy shoal watching darkness give way to slowly approaching light and the promise of a new day. 

Time on the creek has also been rare lately.  Seems like when there is a window of chance something comes along and slams it shut.  In the last week it has rained twice and both times was enough to cloud the creek.  Then there are simple day to day activities that tend to catch up with a fellow and vie for time. 

During the month of May, weather in Oklahoma often demands attention.  There's been a lot of cloud cover and threats of storms lately.  Yesterday, fellow fly fisher Donny Carter captured a funnel forming just a short way from his prairie home.

Today, however, promised to be a nice day and I found myself burning a morning of personal time and watching that sunrise I speak of. 

There has been much interference in the communication channel and hopes of conversation with carp.  It seems everyone has something on their mind and simply want to get a word in. 

The drum have stopped being closed-lipped and suddenly want their time at the table of talks.

Catfish are still wanting their say-so including this fellow that also wanted to fight. 

And of course there are always these chatter-boxes. 

This morning started off much of the same with a drum being the first fish to hand.  Next came a catfish, and then after about a half-dozen perch, or so, I finally spotted a favorable carp.  This fellow has just finished a feeding frenzy and he looked to still be hungry.  As a gift, I sent the offering of a War Pony and the gift was quickly accepted. 

Meanwhile, over at the Sulphur Springs Inn, Charlie has been casually making trips to the creek in search of communicating with carp.  Sometimes he goes early, sometimes late.  And, like me, he has also met with interference in the conversation channel.  However, Charlie has broken through most of the fray and picked up several carp with his Biter Critter and new version he calls the Sweet Critter. 

He picked up one carp using a run-of-the-mill black bugger and tried to take a picture with a camera that owns a broken lenses.  A camera with a broken lenses doesn't quite take the good picture, but a picture... still it is. 











Conversations With Carp - And Conversations About Water

I've always loved to fish early.  It comes from my youthful days fishing with my grandfather.  In the spring and summers of my youth, it was normal for grandfather to have me at the fishing hole as the sun was coming up. 

As far as fly fishing for carp I can't say that fishing early, as the sun is just coming up, is all that productive.  In fly fishing for carp, good light is often a necessity.  But still, I like fishing early.  Anymore, chances of being at the water by daybreak are few.

However, this morning I informed the headmaster at the mercantile store that the day would be burned. Stepping out the door at my prairie home there was the scent of rain in the air.  A morning shower had just passed and it just enough to freshen the air and moisten the grasses. I headed straight for the creek arriving before sunrise.  Shortly after seven this morning the first fish of the day was on the reel. 

Using Charlie's Biter Critter, a football shaped carp had found the fly as it landed on the bottom of the creek and the suck was detectable in the line.  A good hook set came my way and the morning talks begin. 



Several times this fish was hauled to the fringes of the creek only to have the carp somersault and make another run.  This carp had good fight and that is something I always admire. 

The fight with carp seemed to roust other species from their slumber and soon the Biter Critter would find catfish, bass, and of course those frisky little devils the perch.

As I was standing on the creek bank this morning, watching the water slowly flow by, another conversation came to my mind.

There is currently a lot of talk about Oklahoma's future water needs and management.  For the last couple of years the state has been working on a statewide water plan that will address Oklahoma's water needs and management for the next fifty years. 

In this process, two tribal governments - the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations have asked for a seat at the table in the planning of Oklahoma's future water.  Their requests for such a place at the table were not answered and feeling excluded and concerned, the nations had little recourse except to file suit. 

In response to the nation's suit, the state of Oklahoma has threatened stream adjudication - a lengthy, nasty, and terribly costly process. 

The tribal governments have now launched an educational and informational campaign through print media and television. Their presentations are top notched, well thought out, and based on science.  The message the nation's have sent are both polite and intelligent. 

In looking at both viewpoints, from the state and the tribal governments, the tribal governments arguments are making the most sense.  And, they continue to be patient and polite in asking for a say, for unity, and careful and thoughtful planning that will sustain springs, creeks, rivers, and water basins.

I hope the state of Oklahoma will reconsider and invite the tribal nations to the discussion table regarding water.  Oklahoma's future water needs must be addressed now and cannot wait ten years or more for the adjudication process to be complete. 



Chapter 58 Day 22 - Trout Season

And Oh... How The Rain Came

You see that weather map above... the one on my boob tube last night.  That was the prairie ocean at 6 p.m. last night.  All that green, yellow, and red was different rain systems plowing across the prairie. 

Here on the southern sea of the greater ocean it begin raining mid-afternoon and rained steady for six or seven hours. 

The Blue River area received even more rain and a report from Blue River Area Manager Matt Gamble reveals the river has gone murky and might be on it's way to turning into a beefy colored stew. 

The good news is that we received much needed rain after such a miserable spring and summer, record heat, and terrible drought.  The rain is good for this river since much of the river is spring fed. 

Although many people stay on the river through the Thanksgiving holiday and following weekend, the fishing may prove to be tough.  If you are a fly fisher, and you must go fly-fishing or go insane, then pack the darker color patterns.  My favorite is a rust brown - fish brown in brown water. 

Even though it is trout season I'm constantly thinking about carp.  Today, after work, I decided to check Rock Creek to see how the rain changed this prairie ocean current.  Much to my surprise the rain did little to disturb the color or flow of the creek.  While standing on a high bluff looking down at the creek, riffles caught my eye.  Directly below was some really nice carp feeding against the bank.  I say really nice - they were like sows. 

Figuring they needed their picture taken, I rushed back to the schooner and grabbed the memory maker. 

Oh grand and golden ones, sweet beasts - I will visit you this spring.  You should expect a visit from Charlie also.