Dear Carp - In The Chocolate Brown

Dear Carp,

It has been two weeks my friends since I've been able to come to you.  As you already know, my kind has been slammed by violent weather - the kind that takes life.  Our long and consistent prayers for rain has paid off and we have been rewarding handsomely. 

The downside to the wonderful bounty of rain we've received is that it does keep the angler from having much chance, if any, of communicating with your sort. 

 

Yesterday I could bear no more and came to you home in hopes of seeing one of you at least.  Visibility was nil to none however, but I remembered a tactic that Gregg in Idaho uses - he fishes the bubbles. 

 

Fairly close to the fringe of your home I saw bubbles and watched patiently as the bubbles were moving along and this told me that one of your kind was making tracks. 

 

The Aftermath that I so favor now went out in front of the bubbles where I let it set for just a moment.  Upon lifting my rod tip I felt a presence and then the water exploded.  Fishing the bubbles worked on this occasion and a fine young member of your clan came in for the branding.

 

 

Although it felt wonderful being with you today, I figure it will be another week or ten days before your home clears enough for me to return. 

 

Enjoy the bounty of water coming into your home - more may come, more may not come.  You do indeed live day by day. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher 



I Just Couldn't Stand It

Dear Trout,

I'm sorry guys, but I just couldn't stand it any longer.  It's not my fault I tell you.  It's Charlie's fault.  You see since trout season opened at Blue River, Charlie has never stopped scouting for the carp of Rock Creek.  And, I should point out, he has tormented and teased me with his reports, and some quite recent, of great carp activity in a month that they are usually wintered up. 

So today, with the temperatures being in the low sixties, I hurriedly rigged up a carp rod and grabbed one fly - the Creek Critter.  On Rock Creek with the Creek Critter ready to go the carp were hiding under a cover or blanket of leaves.  However, there were openings in this weave and with just a little luck the fly could be rolled into those clear spots. 

 

It didn't take long for the Creek Critter to find a carp.  The conversation begin and it was a chore getting the carp through the weave, but he finally came to hand.

 

 

On the next cast things went south really quick.  A pesky little perch swallowed the Critter and again this was the only carp fly I brought.  It was just rod and fly on the creek today and the forceps were still in the prairie schooner.  The choice was to kill the perch and retrieve the fly or break off and let the perch do his best to survive and they often will.  So, the Critter was sacrificed and the perch went back in the drink.

 

Back at the prairie schooner I searched in what I thought was vain for a carp fly, but knew full well they were all back at the bunkhouse.  But suddenly a fly caught my eye - a fairly large (a little big for trout if you'll beg my pardon guys) olive, long hackled soft hackle pattern.  It is similar to a fly the boys in Colorado and Oregon and that part of the country use on carp with great success.  I was back in action.

 

At the creek again, the soft hackle went out and a carp sucked it right away.  Good fighting carp and good sized for this creek.  This fish took me downstream to more clear water and was much easier to land.

 

 

 

I know, I know... this is November and November is trout season, not carp season.  Never have I caught carp this late in the year and to tell you the truth these carp fellows probably need a rest from Charlie and me.  We've wore them out over the last ten months or so.

 

So, that's the story guys and I'll probably see you this coming weekend sometime.  I'll be bringing the pheasant tails, hare's ear, copper john's and such.  If you want to be pissed at me you have ever right. 

 

I just couldn't stand it any longer.

 

 

 

Barry

 





Conversations With Carp - Hot Line

At 6:15 this afternoon the heat index was still at 104, but I decided to go to the creek anyhow.  Arriving at the pasture we call Courtyard fifteen minutes later, the humidty was so thick you could almost cut it. 

In the shallow part of this pasture were three young carp feeding and I wanted to fish them.  However coiled in the way was a cottonmouth.  This was the first cottonmouth I've seen on the creek this year - a short, blunt, nasty looking sucker.  I could tell he wasn't going to budge and I wasn't about to try and make it, so I passed on this water.

Upstream I stuck the first carp feeding at the upper end of a large pool.  Then upstream to another set of shallows and more young carp feeding.  Took a young fellow while he was grazing. 

I saw a lot of young carp today, which is good.  Young carp grow and become big carp and hopefully we will have a good crop of carp to fish for years. 

It didn't take long to begin to lose light and that would result in blind fishing.  I decided to leave the blind fishing to another day and leave the creek hot and sweaty... but, happy. 

Conversations With Carp - Talks Cut Short... but,

Being in fine fettle yesterday morning, I planned to make it a day of extended talks with carp.  At five minutes after six, while dawn was still announcing itself, I was standing on the creek bank.  Within fifteen minutes two carp would come to hand.  At that point I was telling myself it could possibly be an outstanding carp-by-fly day. 

The fly yesterdays carp fell for.

But, an outstanding carp-by-fly day it would not turn out to be.  It seems one of the young hands at the mercantile store didn't make it to work, and this old man went in to take up the slack.  I should say this old grumbling man went in to take up the slack.

However, since I was giving time to the mercantile store I was deserving of a lunch hour and I quickly returned to the creek for a short hour reprieve.  In that hour one more carp would come to hand and this would be the extent of my carp-by-fly day. 

Even though my planned extended talks with carp was cut short on Saturday, I have nothing to complain about.  Last week was one of the more enjoyable weeks I can recall. 

A week ago Saturday, my youngest daughter Kempy married an outstanding man in Van Stacey.  As her father I could not be more pleased or proud of the happiness Kempy has found with Van.  Besides, Van likes to spend a lot of time in the outdoors fishing and hunting, so we will get along just fine.

On Monday I watched the Oklahoma City Thunder take one step closer to winning the NBA Western Conference by beating the Spurs for the third straight game.

On Tuesday, I had one of the best carp experiences of my carp-by-fly life in capturing five carp in less than an hours time on the water.  It was efficiency at it's best.

On Wednesday, I watched the OKC Thunder slowly dismantle the Spurs and win the Western Conference.  Now, these young talented men are on their way to the NBA finals.

The Thunder will face the Miami Heat for the NBA title.

On Thursday, the UPS driver delivered the replacement rod for my broken Temple Fork six-weight.  This rod has been missing in action for a good while and I've truly missed the rod.  How can we not love lifetime warranties on our fly rods?

On Friday, our friend Charlie waltzes into the mercantile store and hands me a Carp On The Fly window decal.  I love this thing!  Having a window decal like this makes a guy feel kind of official.  I wasted little time in slapping the decal on the prairie schooner along with other decals such as Fly Fish, Aztec Anglers, and The Fiberglass Manifesto.

Of course there was yesterday and I've already reported about Saturday.  Let me add that even though the outing was much shorter than I hoped for, any time spent on the creek chasing carp-by-fly is good time. 

And then there was this morning.  This Sunday morning, as most, the mercantile store owned my being.  Around 8:30 this morning the call of the creek was simply too much.  I inform the girls in the office I would be taking a break and would return within an hour.  Actually, I would be back at the store some forty-five minutes later.  So, it was out the door and to the creek, white shirt and all.

On the creek I would miss the first two carp sucks from simply not paying attention.  The third carp, a rather prodigious fellow, would snap my line like it was nothing.  This is the second time this week I've had my line broke by one of the larger carp that make Rock Creek home. 

Finally, I would capture a young carp using the same red tail stinger fly used yesterday.  The fly that attracted the two missed opportunities along with the broken line was Charlie's Biter Critter.  It was a fly I had just tied to replace the last one that was lost due to a carp breaking the line.

It's been a good week. 

Conversatons With Carp - High Level Talks

This morning, standing on a high bank overlooking the creek, I knew there was a carp up against the bank.  The fish was out of sight however, hidden by the overhanging shrub and vines.  The waiting game begin.

After five minutes or so the carp emerged.  Once the fish was out ten feet, maybe a little more, Charlie's Biter Critter was flipped to this beeve.  Fly landing on the right side the fish made a hard right flank and sucked the critter in.

High level talks begin.

With the bank being about eight feet above the creek this angler wasn't about to Geronimo like I would have in a younger day, instead opting for the ol' butt slide down the bank.  Of course there was some grapevine in the way and the rod had to be worked from one hand to the other, but all worked out and the carp came in for the branding.

I was fishing this morning with ill weather approaching.  The western sky was full of thunder - thunder that continued to increase with the rumbling serving as a warning signal.  About the time the carp was returned to the creek, the sky turned dark blue and it was easy to see it was windswept. 

Although I was reluctant to leave, it seemed best to do so.  Time on the water, here of late, has been rare.  Increased pressure from the mercantile store has left me, for the most part, high and dry. 

When I fail to get time on the water my spirit becomes restless.  The walk in life is short.  We should make every minute count, but few of us do.  The daily stress of simply getting by gets the best of us. 

It is only when I'm in the woods or on the water that calmness claims my soul.  It is in these places that I can breath.  These are the places that worries take flight.  In the woods or on the water I stand straight, shoulders square, frown gone, eyes clear, taking in all of the wonder. 

Hopefully, a way to spend more time in the place I should be will come this way. 

Carp Redux 2011

Today, during the lunch hour, I stood high on the bank overlooking the pasture Charlie and I call Well Springs.  To both my delight and amazement there were twenty-five to thirty carp sipping the surface.  Most of the carp I saw were absolutely huge. 

The problem in fishing for these creatures during lunch was not having any gear with me.  Earlier in the morning I had traded the fair lass Miss Carol the schooner for her little brown pony, and therefore my gear was nowhere near.

However, two hours later I traded back and went directly to Well Springs.  Upon arriving most of the sipping carp had left, but, there were still six to eight gently sipping the fallen spring time blossoms.  Twenty feet from the edge of the creek I started duck walking.  Ten feet from the edge of the creek I was on all fours, and at five feet I stayed on my knees taking a half rising casting posture.

I chose a non-weighted white San Juan Worm as a offering to the slurping carp.  The wind was brutal at gusts of twenty and thirty miles per hour and it sent my offering everywhere except where I intended.  On about the eighth or ninth attempt I had adjusted enough to get the fly into the sight of the carp and a youngster of about sixteen inches slurped the fly and took off like a bat out of hell. 

It was fun, but, the fishing was over.  The excitement of the moment sent the rest of the pack a-packing.  

Counting Down As The Count Goes Up

There is less than three weeks until trout season begins at Blue River.  Here lately, my mindset is Rainbow trout and Blue River.  However, the end of my tippet and dry patch says everything carp.  I need to be gearing up for trout when I am geared for carp. 

It's Charlie's fault.  I've tried to quit carp on the fly several times now, and thought I was done on June 1st when carp number fifty was brought to hand.  As a matter of fact, I didn't fish much at all through June and July, but Charlie did.  With Charlie's fishing expeditions came those wonderful and entertaining dispatches.  I say dispatches... they're words, exciting descriptive words... accounts of his adventures, outings and success.  With each new modern day telegram, e-mail if you will, my curiosity was intrigued a little more, and sure enough, gradually and slowly I migrated back to the carp on the fly crusade. 

Yesterday, carp number 110 came to hand and that's his picture below.  I should be thinking trout, but I am captive by carp. 

There have been several failed attempts to stop my fly fishing for carp obsession.  Just last Sunday, I enlisted the help of Miss Carol in my meager effort to start gearing up for trout season.  I asked her to enter that fly-designing/mini-fly fishing museum located in the spare bedroom of our home.  I do remember Miss Carol suggesting that the contents might qualify for a future episode of "Hoarders: Buried Alive", and I must agree with her analysis. 

"Okay Carol, I'm looking for my trout flies, and keep an eye out for the split shot sizes four, six, and eight.  No, no, no, those are carp flies.  Trout flies, trout flies!  You know, the hare's ears, pheasant tails, soft hackles, little fellows like that!  Oh, there should be three new spools of tippet in here too - just bought them two weeks ago at Bass Pro.  Strike indicators!  I hate them damn things, but since I don't see so well, and slower on the trigger these days, I have to use them.  So keep your eyes out for those dad-gum things."

As far as being ready for trout season, I'm in bad shape, so in an effort to get more inspired I am offering some information for those that may be new to Blue and will be fly-fishing her for the first time this season. 

THE RIVER HERSELF

There are basically three main areas and one special reg area at Blue River.  The three main areas are the Campground Area, the south wilderness (Landrum Wilderness), and the north wilderness (Landrum Wilderness on east side and Bill and Valerie Plaster WMU area on the west).  Then there is the Delayed Harvest/Catch & Release Area.

The catch & release area is one-half mile of river, while the other six miles or so of river is designated as put and take.  Just because it is put and take water, doesn't mean you can't practice catch and release in these waters. 

The reason I'm pointing this out is because in the whole of the fly-fishing world, there seems to be some abrasive air, or discord, between the catch and release crowd and the keep for the dinner table folks.  Personally, I respect both disciplines as long as they are legal and within wildlife department rules and regulations.  In other words, I certainly will not serve as custos morum.

If an angler wishes to keep fish for the dinner table and he or she stays within the limits, then they should be spared fatwa from someone with a different discipline.  At the same time, if the wildlife department allows us to slip the trout back in put and take water, we shouldn't receive denunciation from the other side.

Please be aware that the catch and release water is strictly that... from opening day until the last day of February, and then the area is open for harvest.

LICENSES

To fish Blue River, you must have an annual fishing license, regardless of whether you live in state or not.  The trout stamp requirement will disappear January 1st, 2011. 

LODGING

One of the most frequent questions I get each year is about lodging near Blue River.

If you like to talk fly fishing and don't mind a short drive to Blue River then check out Charlie Wright's historic bed and breakfast, Sulphur Springs Inn.  From November 1st through February 1st, Charlie offers a 50% discount to all fly-fishers staying at his inn.

Now, if you are looking for a quicker way to Blue and want a cabin experience, then check out Blue River Landing. This rustic cabin will sleep up to eight and puts you about fifteen minutes away from the river. 

I'm going to go look for those split shots again, and hope this information helps a little to those coming to Blue for the first time this season.  

Good luck this trout season. 

Carp On The Fly Catchin' On

Last night I received a most wonderful fishing report from brother of the angle Larry Middleton of Texas.  It seems that Larry has discovered the joys of carp on the fly and reports good success, which is evident from the pictures above.

Now, I probably shouldn't tell you where Larry caught this grand carp because he may not be through exploring that particular water.  I did ask Larry what pattern he used and he was indeed good to cough-up that precious piece of information.  Larry used the Sucker Punch and since that guru of carp on the fly Dave Speer (Longhair Dave) of the Dallas area created this fly, I'm sure it's okay to disclose said information. 

I believe we will see more of the fly fishing community turn to the carp as an alternative, especially as our prime water becomes more and more pressured.

Mucho thanks to Larry for sharing his story and the great pics.

And, let me go ahead and plug Larry while we're here. Check out his site at Floatpros.com. 
 

Still Carpin' And Television Show

I have slowly migrated back to the carp on the fly thing. My goodness, it is terribly addictive, and I really don't know what to do in breaking the spell, and perhaps... I don't know if I want to know.

This morning I was met with weather there was reminding of trout season at Blue. The temperature at 7 a.m. was in the low fifties - crisp and quite refreshing. My goal today was to find some new carp water. Little did I know of the great failure that would soon become mine to own.

I put in at the low water bridge near Rock Creek campground. The first fifty feet of wading is like trying to maneuver a submerged mine field of boulders - boulders that trip you, make you stumble like you're terribly clumsy or perhaps... terribly hungover. Hungover I was not... clumsy as a buffoon I am.

Shortly I would find a deer trail on the bank and was able to make the next two-hundred or so feet following the trail. At the end of the trail, the creek widens and the bottom of the creek here is smooth and sand-filled.

At the end of this wide pool is a series of stair-stepped riffles and they are beautiful, but you're shortly back to more mine fields. This run, which is about one hundred and fifty yards long is no wider than six feet at any given point. You'll pass some large boulders on your right and this place is known as "Cat's Eye". Cat's Eye was a favored fishing place of mine when I was a kid and many a big bass and catfish came out of this hole. But today... I didn't see a single fish.

At the end of this narrow run was my target - a large oval shaped pool with shallows all the way around. I just knew there would be carp in this pool, but after fifteen or twenty minutes of searching, I hadn't seen a single carp. The wade was at least a half mile, and it was now time to return the same way I came.

I would end up salvaging my morning by going to known carp water and capturing one magnificent carp. I say magnificent in the sense of the fight in this fish - had me in the backing before I knew it. Later in the day I would return to Rock Creek again and capture one more carp.

It seems the carp are fewer and much more difficult to capture these days. Charlie noted just the other day how strange these beasts are acting and after more observation we are convinced that certain communities are trying to spawn.

The television show Outdoor Oklahoma is coming Tuesday to go carping with Charlie and I, so wish us luck in catching some carp. It should be a fun trip regardless.

Here are some of my recent carp catches.

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.