Dear Carp - Reminiscing

Dear Carp,

On my most recent visit with your kind I found myself reminiscing about a time that Charlie and I came to your home together.  It was three years ago to the day when not only Charlie and I came, but two young chaps with the television show Outdoor Oklahoma also came.

Outdoor Oklahoma wanted to do an outdoor show about fly fishing for carp and of course we were excited about helping.  Yes, we captured several of your lot and all of it was captured on film.  It was a day of Lights, Camera, Carp.

Since that filming the show has aired numerous times and most seemed quite pleased with the production.  One exception was the local game ranger.  He reported that upon the initial airing of this film his phone began to ring and didn't stop.  The outdoor public was highly interested in fly fishing for carp and on one hand that is a good thing.  On the other hand though, it caused Charlie and me some concern.  Of course we will always be willing to introduce new people to this sport, but we also know how some species have become pressured to the point it almost becomes exploitation and we do not want that to happen to you.

Now on my most recent trip to visit your lot I brought the gift that has seemed to be your favorite - the Aftermath.  The first three citizens I would connect with all broke off our talks rather abruptly, which seemed highly unusual and gave me cause to inspect the line I use to connect with you.  That inspection revealed a severe roughness in the line and that roughness was dispensed of.  A new Aftermath went on and the next citizen would come in for the branding.

He was a pretty lad. 

 

Still, I am not getting to spend near the time I wish with your community, but things may change someday.  Until then, I wish you well.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher

The Carp Crusades - Lunch Hour Carp

I am quite thankful to be so very blessed with all the water that surrounds me. Generally I don't take a lunch hour but today being so very slow at work, I knew I was close to a meltdown... so forty-five minutes was taken for lunch.

Of course there wasn't a cheeseburger involved in all of this but there was a San Juan worm ball. The wind has been absolutely incredible the last two or three days and Rock Creek is again one big waterway for a flotilla of tassels. Also, the creek has turned milky again which makes seeing extremely difficult.

I got lucky and spotted a lone carp in the shallows on the near bank and made a cast to him. For me it was a good cast landing about eight or ten inches in front of him and he was on it in less than five seconds.



After battling this gladiator I looked for others to joust with but saw few, and the few that were seen were hiding in the dark shades from the over-hanging trees and such. I did target one shadow being able to see the head of the beast. He turned and came right on top of the fly, but not being able to see his mouth I relied on Zen... and my Zen proved short today.

Perhaps my Zen will be better in the days to come.

The Carp Crusades - More Of Charlie's Notes

Charlie has captured three nice carp in his last two outings and as I am writing this he is currently on Rock Creek searching a new stretch of water we discovered today.

The thing I like about what Charlie does is he makes observations and mental notes not only to use in his future outings, but also to share with others.

Here are Charlie's most recent observations.

1. The big ones lead and alert. The followers are less alert and often feeding. So go for the back of pack.

2. If they are cruising at a pace don't waste time.

3. If they are stationary they are looking for suspended food, so throw them your favorite worm pattern.

4. If their nose is down, sucking and moving slowly throw your crawdad or something found in sand/gravel.

5. The really big ones are almost untouchable, they know your presence early and move to far side out of sight and reach.

Charlie Wright

The Carp Crusades - "Another One Bites The...

...no, not dust but black Backstabber.

I went to the same place at the same time and fished the same fly as yesterday. The only thing different about today is that I planted the fly directly in front of a duo of carp and both took notice. Yesterday, I had to plant the fly several feet upstream and let it bounce down.




I still don't know what triggers a take. There are so many refusals and then all of a sudden one carp decides he's hungry and sucks the fly in. Interesting.

Both days I started fishing at 3 o'clock and the sun is behind me at this time which causes me to cast a shadow and that's not helping. Also, at this time of day the glare on the water is a lot to deal with even with polarized glasses. Think I'll try a mid-morning adventure and see what happens.

The smaller fish wanted to play also and this cause some competition for the fly. I could see bass swimming here and there and a good number of panfish also.




I ended up loosing the black Backstabber to a rock so I better get on the vice tonight. There was another fly I had picked to try today but guess it fell off my dry patch. I'm pretty sure Chris Adams tied this fly and it had a tail of super hair or something, body was flash-a-bou, and it had beadchain eyes painted green. Don't know the name of it but it reminds me of an olive damsel imitation. Think that fly would've worked today if I hadn't lost it.

The Carp Crusades - Numbero Uno

For the last three warm water seasons I've caught one carp per year on my fly rod but this year with sparked enthuiasm and inspiration from Charlie Wright, I decided to get serious about carp on the fly.

Now... I can't scream to the world that I'm a fly-fisher for carp with this prize today, but I am on the way I feel to a fun-packed spring and summer.

Not all fishermen are liars and I'll tell you straight up I must have made fifty casts before getting a hook-set with this carp today. As a matter of fact I was quite frustrated at the point when this rodeo begin. The sun kept ducking behind the clouds which made it extremely difficult to see and the wind was riffling the water once again which added to my problem in trying to sight fish.

I have to say Charlie is spot on with his observation that these creatures are extremely sensitive to sound in the water. When the black Backstabber pattern I tied last night would hit the water the carp would spook. I kept trying to cast directly to the carp and getting the fly down in the column quickly but it wasn't working so I put my casts about six or eight feet upstream and let it bounce along the bottom.

I was fishing a trio of carp with the largest one being in the lead and he was the one I was trying for. However, this fellow decided he liked the fly better and before I realized it he had sucked the fly up. I never saw the actual take but did see my leader jolt and that's when I set the hook.

It was at least a good ten minute fight and each time I would try to beach the creature he would sense the shallow water and launch to the deeper water... again and again.

Think I'll tie up some more of those Backstabbers or at least my version. I'm nowhere as good as Zimmerman is with his Backstabbers but at least now I know mine will suffice in attracting carp.

The Crusade Begins

I think Charlie and I both are quite earnest about improving our abilities to battle and capture carp on Rock Creek with fur and feather.

In the last ten days... two weeks or so, Charlie has been on several scouting expeditions and I've been on several myself. This morning, carp dominated the conversation Charlie and I had and as we talked I could sense the excitement in Charlies voice and see wonderment in his eyes. I share the same expectations.

After work today I could feel the nap fairy tugging at me which has become a daily routine for me. But today I wanted to resist the afternoon sandman so I asked Miss Carol to scout for some carp with me.

At Rock Creek, we were met with a clear creek but the strong winds had a solid riffle on the surface which made scouting difficult. Miss Carol has good eyesight but also brought a pair of binoculars and as she purveyed the water I heard her say, "There's a flash". Sure enough, the carp are still there in the same spot I scouted last week. I brought my fly-rod but with the water being so riffled I knew I would simply be blind casting and from what I've read that's not the way to capture carp.

The crusade will continue and Sunday I hope to go upstream and see what communities exist there.

Photo by Sonya