Dear Carp - March 19th, 2013

Dear Carp,

My friends, my visits to you seem to be less frequents these days.  It's a matter of work I must tell you.  My kind is a funny lot.  We work to reward ourselves with things that are appealing to our senses.  Once we acquire the things we desire we see even more things we covet and we work even more.  Before we know it, we work, work, and work failing to remember the things that truly bring us pleasure. 

You home is looking quite poorly and I am growing more concerned for you.  The current has little flow and it looks to stop soon unless the rain comes.  There is a chance for that this week and let us pray the winds push the rain to this southern sea of the grand prairie ocean. 

If the rain is not enough and the flow stops then the food washing down to you will also stop.  I will keep a close eye on your condition.  If you need food I will bring you corn from a can, sweet feed from a bag, take bran and sweeten it with strawberry pop as the old salts say they once did. 

What I can't do for you is bring you rain - that is the creator's job.  What I can do is pray to the creator to let the rain come.

I met one of the citizens in the commune known as Big Well Springs.  He was a crackerjack of your kind, feisty and full of fight for being such a young one. 

I recorded his image with my memory maker and noticed how in the battle he had wrapped my leader around his pectoral fin and tangled it in the dorsal.  After preserving his image I grabbed my leader to untangle the chap, but he became alarmed and flopped breaking off the gift I had offered him.  He shouldn't be hard to spot now with a black curiosity with red tail in his lip as an adornment. 

 

Charlie has sent you another postcard.  He is spending his time at the grand pasture that bears his name and your kin there is still favoring the worm. 

 

 

I may come check on you today if time allows.  The rain is schedule to arrive in two days and I hope it will indeed come and stay around for a good while.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher



Dear Carp - January 24th, 2013

Dear Carp,

My friends... I feel like I lied to you.  Yesterday I told you it would probably be a couple of days until we meet again due to the weather.  The cold front scheduled to hit this sea lane stalled sixty miles north of here and we ended up with a blue bird afternoon.

I want you to know I did not intentionally mislead you because I was relying on the reports from those that predict the weather.

I had my doubts on having any conversations with a member of your clan today.  My arrival to your home was several hours later than usual and there was only a short time of light left. 

Knowing that the sun would be lower than when we normally meet, I decided to offer you a gift in a different color than you've been seeing here of late.  The color you have fancied so far has been a natural color constructed of deer hair.  Today however, I brought you yellow.

After tying the yellow backed Critter on I suddenly became embarrassed realizing I had tied this creation backwards.  Yes, embarrassed... and the only excuse I can give you is due to my tendency to sometimes have a pilsner brew too many.  It's an innocent I own you must know. 

As I was thinking about tying on another creation, one of your clan - an adolescent fellow, teenager for sure, caught my eye upstream.  He was gingerly traveling downstream.  Being upstream from me I employed a back-handed roll cast and as I watched the Critter slowly fall in the column... he ate it midway. 

That was one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen. 

 

This teenager of your ranks was beautifully colored and indeed a fine citizen.  He learned a good lesson today and will grow in wisdom as time goes by. 

 

Time was short for us today, but as promised I removed more trash from your home.  Not much, but some.  With my declining ability to remember things and with my discipline and organization also being on the skids, I keep forgetting to bring the big trash bags with me.  I'll work on that.

 

 

I may go see the pretty little fish of Blue this weekend, but I promise to return to you soon.  And, I won't bring that ugly fly with me next time.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher



Dear Carp - January 23rd, 2013

Dear Carp,

Standing at the threshold of your home today, I realized the advantage you had over me thanks to the phenomenon known as Snell's Window.  When you are in the shallows only a foot or so deep, the window you peer through is quite small and narrow.  However, today you were in deeper water - three feet or more and the window you were looking through, at me, was much larger.

My hope though was the angle of the sun would mask the shadow of my offering and the line it was attached to.  To further increase my chances of meeting one of you, I employed a sidearm roll cast that has a much lower arc. 

I thought you had me for good today - a couple of missed sucks and a quick release.  However, I would come to meet one of your children. 

 

 

I must tell you... he was a feisty little chap and I know the day will come he will make a fine fighter. 

 

I wonder if Charlie has been by to see you?  I do know that he is feeling better and said something about going to see the pretty little fish since he hasn't had much chance of visiting them.  If I were you, I would keep a keen eye out for Charlie. 

 

I am compelled to tell you that I've always watched the animals and their actions in trying to get a sense of what the coming season will do.  Here of late, in watching you, along with noticing the gleeful play of the squirrel in the trees, along with the joy warbling from the throats of the birds, I can tell you we will have an early spring. 

 

An early spring is an exciting thing, but there is still troubling concern.  As I stand along the fringes of where you live, it is hard to ignore the fact your home is continuing to shrink.  The prolonged and exceptional drought continues to plaque us.  Now, the men and women who tell us what to expect in the future are saying that this part of the prairie ocean needs 9 to 12 inches of rain to come out of this drought.  The question is will we receive that much.

 

The beaver may be trying to show us the answer.  At Charlie's Pasture, the animal Charlie calls Little Beaver has constructed a dam that has raised the level of that sea lane by two feet.  Today, just upstream from you, I found the makings of another dam.  Perhaps the beaver senses something and is trying to build reservoirs to ride out the rough times. 

 

Before leaving you today, I rid your home of some more refuse.  There is so much this year it seems overwhelming at times.  A little each time though will make a difference and also gives me an excuse to come see you and your lot. 

 

 

I probably won't see you for a couple of days.  A juggernaut of a cold front is headed our way arriving tonight.  Tomorrow's daytime temperature will be thirty-five degrees colder than today.  So, I will stay home and tie you some more presents in hope you will like the gifts I bear. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher



 

 

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. 

Chapter 58 Day 49 - Trout Season

One More Big Ugly Hole In The Ground?

Each time the schooner is hitched and a course set for the river Blue, the sea lane taken goes past a group of big ugly holes in the ground. 

They're big ugly holes created by the significant mining industry that exists within this southern current of the greater prairie ocean. 

It's rather simple what they do.  They start digging, first downward, and then outward, and it isn't long until their efforts take the shape and form of a big ugly-ass hole in the ground. 

There's a bunch of them already, and now it appears they may be one more on the way.  Recently, application was made to create another big ugly hole in the ground.  How big and ugly?  Uh, about 575 acres of ugly. 

What do we get in return for all these deep holes in the ground here on the prairie ocean?   Well.... we do get some jobs - dirty jobs they are.  Then, there's most likely some ad valorem taxes floating around.  Big ugly holes result in less habitat for wildlife, and a whole lot of extra dust in the air.  The worst part of big ugly holes is they result in a sensitive sole-source aquifer being punctured time, after time, after time - where pristine water percolates upward, resulting in less streamflow for the local creeks, streams, and rivers.  Oh yeah, we get another hole in the ground too. 

Big holes in the ground result in the taking of the natural resources of this area.  There is mining of sand, along with dolomite, granite, and other rocks.  Basically, they take big rocks and pound the daylight out of them to make little rocks.  Then those little rocks are loaded onto train cars and a locomotive pulling a 100 car serpent heads south; on it's way with a payload of our natural resources to a destination where the resources will become road material.

Along the way, there are mesa's of rubble, waiting for transport in becoming a road, highway, or interstate somewhere.

It would reason that with all the stuff each and everyone of us throw away on a daily basis, there could be a process to reclaim all that stuff - stuff like plastic bottles, used tires, ripped-off shingles and roofing material and then smash, mash, slice and dice it, mix it all up with some kind of super binding agent and make road materials that will last 75 years or better.  Most likely this has already been thought of, but, most likely the process is cost prohibitive and it's easier and cheaper to simply dig big ugly holes in the ground. 

I don't like those big holes.  They have been, and will continue to rob this area of precious water.  Over the last forty years I've watched a good number of springs disappear.  Since 1981, I've watched Blue River grow slimmer, skinnier, and less vibrant.  It's to the point we could have a good number of wet years, instead of drought, and our streams and rivers would only recover to a mere shadow of what they once was.

The really sad part is the caretakers, those who own these big holes, will someday abandoned them.  And once that happens, we who harbor in this southern current of the greater prairie ocean will find fewer jobs, less ad valorem taxes, less wildlife habitat, dried-up springs and streams.... and be left with a lot of big ugly holes in the ground. 

 

Blue River - Princess Of The Prairie

In spite of the exceptional drought the prairie ocean is experiencing, Blue River is holding up well with good flow and a rare beauty.  This morning's trip to Blue revealed she is as pretty as a porcelain-skin redheaded young lass.

Early morning on Blue.

 

Early morning catfish anglers with lines in water.

The current flow of Blue is remarkable.

Panfish were active this morning.

Placid pools.

Tremedous insect activity this morning.

Riffling water making music.

So many wonerful falls on Blue.

Contrast - arid associated cactus borders lush river.

Downstream from Hughes Crossing.

Nearby stock ponds not faring as well as Blue River.

Difficult Times On The Prairie Ocean

A couple of weeks ago, while sitting on a bank on Rock Creek, a sense that the carp and other species would soon be in trouble came across my mind.

The creek the carp and other species make their home is slowly wasting away. Absence of rainfall along with extreme temperatures are robbing the water of sufficient oxygen.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife is already dealing with the loss of certain communities of fish in this part of the country.

Here is a current article about Fish Kill.

Carp Redux 2011 - A Discouraging Word

Drought - that's the discouraging word. 

Here on the prairie ocean, along with the south and southwest part of our country, we are experiencing what is known as "exceptional drought". 

Now, we're not exactly a stranger to drought.  Probably, most people when thinking of Oklahoma, automatically draw pictures of tumbleweeds and the stark images of the Great Dust Bowl era.  Although, we have been associated with being an arid land, a large part of Oklahoma is truly an oasis.  Even though drought is nothing new here, this year is particularly discouraging for this fly fisher along with my fellow carp by fly friend Charlie.

Our precious creek has grown threadbare with virtually no flow.  Day by day, the situation seems to worsen and the creek seems to diminish.  Last year, we didn't hit 100 degrees until July 31st.  This year, we hit 100 degrees in a row the last thirteen days of June.  There is no rain, and no relief from the tormenting heat in sight.

What is most disturbing to Charlie and me is not the effect the drought is having on our carp by fly activity.  The discouraging part of this years weather is what effect it is going to have on the dramatic comeback of the bass and pan-fish population.  For years, five, six, or maybe seven years, the pan-fish and bass communities were seemingly non-existent, but, this year they have bounced back in what would seem record numbers.  But now, with the drought, low flow, diminishing water, these fish are in a battle to stay healthy.  It saddens both Charlie and me. 

As far as carp by fly, yes, it has had an effect on our efforts.  Charlie feels like he's in a slump, but, I would argue he's not in a slump at all.  It's simply the situation - the conditions.  There are a half-a- dozen places on the creek we found carp regularly last year and this year we have found none.  The beeves have migrated to the wider, deeper and shaded water.  When the beeves go on the feed, they muddy the water as they graze.  Since there is little streamflow the pastures become muddy and cloudy and turn into constant darkness.  Here, the carp are beyond the sight of the angler and leaves the angler to blind fishing, which, is nowhere near as effective, or fun, as sight-fishing.

Saturday on the creek, the locust were in concert performing their raspy music for the inhabitants of the creek.  Normally, the locust don't make music until mid or late July.  Two prolific springs appear to be near stopping their flow.  One appears to have already done so, the other is discharging at three gallons a second.  Three gallons a second is scarce in itself and then there is the processes of evaporation and absorption.  Three gallons a second discharge into a struggling creek during drought is like fighting a three alarm fire with a single fire hose.  Things here on our creek are not looking good.

Fish are a lot like us - they feel stress.  Even the durable carp has a point that conditions will start to take a toll on the creature. 

Think I'll take a summer sabbatical of sorts and let the carp be until the rain comes.

Some branches have ceased to flow.

Creek running thin during drought.

Despite the absence of rain, shaded areas remain green and wildflowers are battling to stay bright.

Carp Redux 2011 - Record Heat Carp

It appears that Oklahoma is going for a record in 100 degree days during the month of June.  Undoubtedly, the record will fall come tomorrow and then there are three days left in June with predicted 100+ days.

It's hot!  In chatting with fellow fly-fisher Robin Rhyne of McKinney, Texas this morning, I told Robin that it's so hot right now the fish I am catching are already fried.  Of course it's not quite that hot, but still it's quite miserable.

It's not just the heat, but, the extreme drought too.  Over 70% of Texas is suffering from extreme drought and here on the prairie ocean we're experiencing the same.  The drought is taking a toll on the local waters and the stream that serves as home to the grand golden ones has become thin - as skinny as I've ever seen.  Currently the stream is running at 3 cfs compared to the normal 18 cfs for this time of year.

When fly fishing for carp in thin and narrow water, there is no room for mistakes.  Everything, whether it be our approach, our casts, presentation, and patience becomes twice as important.  With the thin and narrow water, we find ourselves closer to the fish... and that means they are closer to us, which translates to them being able to detect us easier.

Not having any opportunities to fish in the last four or five days, the addiction was getting the best of me today.  Problem with today, however, was work and I wouldn't get on the water until 11 a.m., and the sun was already blazing at this time.  I would only last an hour, but, did find a couple of carp.

There really wasn't that many carp out, at least early in the expedition.  The few detected were in muddy and shaded water and to fish them would had been nothing less than an hopeful attempt.  Heading downstream I do encounter two young carp feeding underneath a log jam.  With the patience of a heron I wait for the fish to exit from under the fallen lumber.  Finally one does and the gift I bear is offered to the youngster.  He likes the gift and comes in for the branding.

Using an orange body soft hackle with black beadhead, I would miss a couple of more opportunities as the carp eat the fly.  Thirty minutes into the trip the heat was already telling on this body, so I decide to go back upstream. 

Upstream, there is a group of carp on the feed and the olive and black Carpolo Charlie goes on.  The Carpolo finds another young carp.

Although I wanted to stay longer I've come to listen to what the body tells me and it was quite apparent the heat was having an effect, so, I leave the creek and grand golden ones for another day as they swam under a blue sky with white-stretched pillows.

 

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.  

The Prairie Ocean - Currents 5-22-11

OH, HOW SWEET THE RAIN

Carp by fly will be on hold for the next several days it looks like, and this is perfectly fine with me.  Over the last two days this prairie ocean has received four inches of much needed rain.  The rain indeed can be considered a drought-buster and it came just in time for our precious little carp creek that was nearing that dire straits status.
        
Even though fly-fishing for carp or any other species will be out of the question for the next three or four days, the rain will make fly-fishing overall better.  The rise in creek level offers new and exciting table fare for the carp in the form of fresh green vegetation that was out of their reach before. 

It is possible to capture carp by fly when the creek is chocolate milk colored, but, it requires tremendous patience waiting for the figure of a carp to come to the fringes.

The rain brought with it some wild weather also.  For the second time this spring a tornado came quite close to the prairie home Carol and I call our bunkhouse.  Fortunately the twister that touched the ground Saturday was slightly north and east of our home. 

Little did Carol or I know that friend and fellow flinger of fur and feather, Donny Carter, was right behind the wall clouds and rotation, chasing the dipping and dancing twisters as they tracked northeast.  Donny is the finest flinger of dry flies I know and evidently he's one heck-of-a storm tracker also.

  

Photo courtesy of Donny Carter of the Blue River Fly-fishers.

I too wanted to chase this storm on Saturday, but was over-ruled by the lass with the big brown eyes and those eyes were just a bit excitable as the winds and hail came through on Saturday. 

About an hour earlier I acquired a new camera to replace the poor little Sony I finally killed.  The Sony took four different plunges either in Rock Creek or Blue River before finally giving up the ghost. 



I happy about the new Fuji because it's a step up for me.  However, a more functional camera makes not a photographer and this is so particularly true in my case.  I take some crap pictures for sure, and hopefully I will get better over time.

POACHERS ARE BUTTHEADS

There is little doubt as far as who will be the latest recipient (or recipients in this case) of the Prairie Ocean Butthead Award. 

It seems two Washington state men thought they had outsmarted law and game officials in what was an easy money-making plan they had launched. 

This dumb and dumber, Beavis and Butthead duo were caught with 305 pounds of paddlefish eggs which is 100 times more than the allowed amount. 

Now, paddlefish may very well have not a thing to do with fly-fishing, but this is a case of outdoor ethics and one of the core values of fly-fishing is that ethic. 

Here's the full story from the press service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

Two men have been charged with three counts each relating to paddlefish possession violations following a traffic stop near Blackwell in April.

Anatoly Natekin, 36, and Fedor Natekin, 27, both of Kent, Wash., have been charged with three counts each, including illegally transporting paddlefish eggs with the intent to leave the state, unlawful possession of more than three pounds of processed paddlefish eggs, and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.

A rental vehicle occupied by the two men was pulled over by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on I-35 April 23. Inside the vehicle were 305 pounds of caviar packaged in unmarked jars and several pounds of fish fillets, all believed to be harvested from paddlefish. The charges for possessing more than three pounds of paddlefish eggs and transporting them with intent to leave the state each carry a maximum penalty of one year in jail and $10,000 in fines. In addition to fines and possible jail time, courts are required to order violators to pay restitution payments in all fish and wildlife cases.

Native to Oklahoma, paddlefish swim upstream in rivers and tributaries each spring to spawn, particularly in those rivers that empty into lakes in northeast Oklahoma where most paddlefish angling activity takes place. Anglers who flock to northeast Oklahoma each spring to fish for the spawning paddlefish are legally allowed to possess no more than three pounds of paddlefish eggs - which can be used as the primary ingredient for caviar products - and crossing state lines in possession of paddlefish eggs also is illegal.

Game wardens with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation were called to the scene, and the two men were taken to the Kay County Jail in Newkirk. They were released April 26 after posting bond of $5,000 each. Their next court appearance date is set in September, and the evidence was cataloged and is being stored until the trial.

"If convicted, these wildlife violators could face significant consequences for their actions," said Bill Hale, assistant chief of law enforcement for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "This is an extreme case of violating our state's fish and wildlife laws, but this is a good time to remind our state's many law abiding anglers to read all regulations before going fishing this season. The Wildlife Department's 'Oklahoma Fishing Guide' tells you all you need to know, and it is available free anywhere that fishing licenses are sold and online at wildlifedepartment.com."

Oklahoma draws paddlefish anglers from across the nation. The sport has grown into a booming recreational pastime in northeast Oklahoma, and the Wildlife Department has found a way to manage the fish and learn about the anglers who catch them to sustain long-term angling opportunities through its Paddlefish Research and Processing Center. The center is a site where anglers can bring their paddlefish to be cleaned and processed for free in exchange for biological data from the fish. Fisheries personnel with the Wildlife Department use the data to help manage the state's unique paddlefish population, and eggs from female fish brought to the center are collected and sold worldwide as caviar, the proceeds of which are used by the Wildlife Department to fund the paddlefish program.

The Wildlife Department is the state agency charged with conserving Oklahoma's fish and wildlife and is responsible for enforcing laws related to hunting and fishing. More information about the Wildlife Department, including regulations for hunting and fishing in the state, is available at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com./

A VICTORY FOR WATER

Senate Bill 597 looked to place the mining industry under the same rules of water usage as all other significant users of water in Oklahoma. 

This past week SB597 passed the senate by a vote of 44-0 and proponents were confident the bill would be signed by Governor Mary Fallin.

Once signed into law, new mines will come under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and existing mines will also be under jurisdiction as far as monitoring their pit water use.

CPASA (Citizens For The Protection Of The Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer) did an extraordinary job in educating the public at large about this issue.

The future of Oklahoma rivers, streams, and waterways looks a little brighter in light of this legislation.

Carp Redux 2011 - Just The Three Of Us

So there we were, just the three of us.  Me, a new variation of the Crazy Charlie, and a beautiful day upon the prairie ocean, a day given. 

It's hard to say whether it was the tug of nature or the possible tug of a carp on the line that called more today.  Perhaps both?  Regardless of which it was, it was enough to chance an extra early departure through the backdoor of the mercantile store on the way to the workshop for the soul. 

Leaving an hour earlier than normal, when there is no normal in my schedule, carried additional reward with it today in the form of time of day.  To understand how important time of day is, you have to try and imagine the water that Charlie (the fly-fisher) and I fish. 

Our carp water is an intimate creek that at points is as much as 35 or 40 feet wide, but, is only three or four feet wide in other areas.  Along the way both banks are lined by trees - trees that stretch their arms toward one another forming a canopy.  This canopy creates a great deal of shade on the water.  Sometimes shade works to our favor, but, more often than not, when sight fishing for the carp shade is a great hindrance.

It would reason as gorgeous a day as it was on the prairie ocean today, the carp would be on the move, frolicking in the beauty of the warming water that spring has delivered.  They were not.  However, it should be noted than our temperatures are running about ten degrees below normal, and this may very well have an effect on the carp movement. 

Starting at the pasture known as Shipwreck, there were few carp to be seen.  Ten minutes into the outing however, a rather good size and lone grazing beeve was spotted.  The new offering, that one mentioned as a variation... that variation being a single set of rubber legs dangling from the thorax area, was presented as a gift to this lone fish.  It must have been eye-candy to this beeve as he deliberately swam to it and sucked.

This carp was, without a doubt, the largest carp I've caught this season.  Even though we never weigh our carp, we have a good sense of what their weight is.   Looking at this beast, I dare say he would tip eight pounds.  The carp in our creek do not reach the size of the carp is some of the Colorado reservoirs or the water of Idaho, or a lot of other fisheries.  But, with that being said, these fish we fish for have tremendous heart and dogged determination to escape the clutches of our sharp-pointed hooks.

A lesson learned last season, a lesson learned through bad experiences, is to always re-tie the fly after battling a significant sized carp.  In battling a large and powerful carp the knot does become stressed, and far too often last season I would loose a fly on the next fish after roping a large beeve... because of not re-tying.

With that chore being done, a course upstream was struck.  A half mile of water was covered without a glimpse of a carp.  The poor performance of this fly fisher, on the stage of this great theater nature had given today, was rather... disappointing.

It was the damn shade I tell you.

It has come, however, as a part of frequent trips, to realize that when the shade hinders sight fishing for carp, it also affords opportunity to fish for the bass that have the tendency to favor the shaded water.  Two fat Kentucky bass, or spotted bass as another moniker owned, came to hand courtesy of the Crazy Charlie with legs.

Reaching the pasture known as the Courtyard, the nexus of carp social and necessary interaction was discovered in bountiful form.  Here the carp were grazing heavily, but here... throwing the rope around the beeves, is at times... insurmountable.

The bank at the Courtyard is a steep and sheer one.  It is a good eight to ten feet above the water.  On the fly anglers right and left, above and behind, is a thick blanket of nature's greenery.  The only option is roll casting and that in itself is often tough to accomplish.

After a number of attempts, a risk in spooking the lot was taken.  In one corner of this pasture a good roll cast can be made, but again, spooking the fish is highly probable.  Making my way to that corner, the one lone beeve detected my presence.  As the fish turned to swim away,  I sent the offering rolling anyway figuring there was nothing to lose. The Crazy Charlie caught his eye... and he sucked the fly mid-column.

The afternoon range ride had come to an end as I made my way back downstream and thankful for the beeves branded.

Charlie, the fly fisher, is one hell-ava scout.  Of all the pastures we have to fish, Charlie discovered the "Pasture", the "Courtyard", and "Dry Gulch".  Now it seems that he may have discovered a sea of it's own on the greater prairie ocean.  A sea that has the promise for leviathan sized carp.

Tomorrow, if the promised rain permits, a course for that sea, in a journey of discovery, will begin.

Carp Redux 2011 - Crazy Charlie Gone Wild

Usually on an afternoon outing, either Charlie or I can expect capturing a carp or two if we are lucky.  If we capture one then we consider it a good outing.  Two carp and it's a fantastic outing.  So, you can imagine my delight Thursday afternoon when six carp came to my lasso in less than two hours. 

For several weeks now I've been commenting to Charlie about my belief that the one thing that could improve our carp fishing would be rain.  Late Wednesday afternoon we did in fact receive the rain I've been wishing for.  It wasn't a long extended rain event, but goodness did it ever come down in buckets.  Charlie taught me sometime ago to go to the shallows after rain, but, there wasn't a chance to do that Wednesday since the creek immediately turned brown. 

Thursday morning, in taking an early break, I discovered the creek had already started to clear.  Also, Thursday was a completely overcast day which is my favorite fishing condition.  Even though a cloud laden overcast sky is good for me, I actually think it's to the advantage of the carp.  In my journal notes I have recorded a good number of times fishing on overcast days and in those accountings I have noted how it seems the carp see me much easier.  My theory is when the sun is shining brightly the rays somehow distort, diffuse, or impede the carps' vision when looking up.  I don't know if this is truly the case... it's just a theory.

All six carp came courtesy of the Crazy Charlie.  It was a case of Crazy Charlie gone wild.  The first five were taken on blind hook-sets - I couldn't see the fly, but, could tell the carp were on it and went for the set.  The last carp was on the alert and leaving the scene, but, the Crazy Charlie landed about a foot in front and to his side and the fish turned on it.  I easily could see the suck and the carp was roped. 

I dare say this has been the strangest spring I've seen in some time here on this prairie ocean.  Since the beginning of May we've had days flirting with record high temperatures.  Then, three or four days later we are flirting with record low temperatures.  This morning the wind chill is 36 degrees and the wind we usually get in March is still present.  It's crazy stuff. 

The next three or four days looks like a no-go for carping by fur and feather.

Carp Redux 2011 - Thoughts Under A Diamond Sky

There hasn't been much time, here of late, to go to the place of fly-fishing - the workshop for the soul.  In the last two outings, three beeves have come to carry my brand and all three came as a result for their affection for the Crazy Charlie. 

My friend Charlie has had fewer hours than I on the water, but, he is still managing to rope and brand a beeve here or there with the Carpolo Charlie pattern in olive and yellow. Yesterday he decided to check on the herd at the pasture that bears his name.  On the ride in he found a stray beeve and quickly roped it.

Charlies stray beeve taken on a Carpolo Charlie olive/yellow.

Several nights ago I was sitting in the prairie open under a diamond sky thinking about the recent chatter as to the demise of the local and small fly shops across the country. 

Although, I've never been privy to the pleasures of having a nearby fly shop, I can certainly understand and see myself visiting quite often, only if one was near.  I would think there is something personal about a fly shop to a fly fisher in the same locale... such as good solid information on the water and the fish, and friendships formed.

As to why the small fly shop industry is in such a nosedive, there are most likely a number of factors. One factor most certainly is the sluggish economy we all have been wading through for the last several years.  Another reason may very well be the decline of interest in fly fishing altogether.  And lastly, there is the increase of on-line marketing by Internet fly shops. 

The Internet fly shop has become the convenience store for the fly angler and fly tyer. With just a couple of clicks, Metz or Hoffman, Sage or Winston, or Ross and Abel can be on their way to our doorstep.  Although Internet fly shops are convenient, they leave much to be desired - I, for one,  really like to look at hackles and capes before buying. 

There was a surge in fly fishing interest during the mid 1990's and as it is with most surges there comes a peak or leveling-off that is sometimes followed by a marked decline.  It appears fly fishing as a whole is in this declining stage. 

The economy is slowly recovering, but, unfortunately when there are monthly overhead costs the small fly shop owner can only hold out for so long.  Sad, but brutally true.

By and by the fly fishing genius will look for an answer to stop the decline of fly fishing.  Failing to do so may very well result in a continuum of the art much like the demise of local fly shops.

Already we are hearing that the answer that will remedy the decline is introducing more youth to our sport, and why would any of us argue this point - it simply makes sense.

I would hope however, while we concentrate on bringing more young people to this fine and noble art, we fail not in rememering that they, the young ones today, will need adequate water to fish... in their future.

We are not exactly growing new fishing waters and do well to hold on to the existing waters we have.  With the way it is with water currently, and the competition for the resource from agriculture, municipalities, business and industry, water for recreational purposes (i.e. we who fly fish) gets the short end of a very short stick far too often.

There are water wars being waged in some states with California being one of the most notable.  Here on the prairie ocean, Oklahoma is currently undergoing a statewide water plan and hopefully the planners will have the same insight that Robert S. Kerr owned, making sure we have enough water, whereas our fisheries will not be threatened.

Carp Redux 2011 - Thinning Pastures

Like yesterday, today seem like a good day to ride the range in pursuit of carp.  Today is the 5th of May and it's more like the typical spring day we are accustomed to on this prairie ocean.  The wind is present of course, but, somewhat mild compared to the last month or so.  The sun is in full bloom tracking on a south by southwest plane. 

Slipping out the backdoor of the mercantile store, only the essential gear is once again stowed.  There is the rod, lanyard, and possibles pouch. 

Arriving at the pasture known as Shipwreck, I perch upon a large boulder overlooking a deeper pool.  Within is three carp, and they have stirred the bottom.  With the same carrot on the stick, the fly plunges deep into the pool and I await.  Soon there is a slight tug on the leader and the hook set brings in a youngster carp.  He becomes number twenty-seven this season.  This year, there is not near as much time to spare compared to last carp season.  Hopefully, more time will come this anglers way in the near future.  

The memory recorder did come back alive this morning after taking the plunge into the stew yesterday.  However, when the forever button is pushed... no memory results.  I'll give the machine a couple of more days to dissipate the moisture hidden within it's nooks and crannies.

From Shipwreck, a trail is blazed to the pasture called Courtyard.  There is only an hour, or little over, to spare today, so the search for carp is somewhat rushed.  However, it's not so rushed that movement will alert any carp that lie in waiting.  Sadly, only two images of carp are seen in this entire stretch. 

The Carp Carrot has retired and a spawning shrimp pattern is placed into employment.  Since the carp, as a lot, are not visible, blind casting is pursued.  No carp come, but a smallmouth, spotted bass, redbreast and green sunfish come to hand. 
Our pastures are thinning by the day.  It's not hard to recognize the lowering of the creek and when it progresses more each day it is a certainly concerning to the angler.  From what I am seeing in the upstream section of this creek, I fear this little stream will run dry within two weeks... unless we receive rain.  The lack of rain this season will have a profound effect on the whole of this prairie ocean.

It comes time to go as thanks is given and I leave the creek.

On The Prairie Ocean - Knives

Knives hold a certain fascination or appeal to many of us.  To the outdoor sportsman, the knife can be an invaluable tool.  For over two million years now, the knife has proven to be a wonderful tool that often meant the difference in surviving or not.

Personally I only had one incident in all my years in the outdoors that a knife actually saved my life, so it's easy to understand why knives are so dear to me. 

 

The first knife I come to own came courtesy of my grandfather - he presented me with a Schrade Walden.  Next came a Case and then it seemed to be one Barlow after another - Barlow's seemed to be quite the rage at that time in my life. 

When my grandson Tanner came along he also developed a fascination for knives and so we've been picking one or two up, now and then, here and there.  We probably have around 100 knives right now. 
 

This is one of my favorite knives.  I picked it up at a garage sale for a lark.  It has some problems in it, but still I love it.  My favorite kind of knife is one that can be used in the outdoors.  A knife that can cut, dig, chop, and is easy to sharpen.



These are what I call "show" knives.  They're the kind you usually get as a gift and they are more suited to "look at" than to use.  We probably have fifteen of these sets in our collection.


These little pen knives have been with me for probably close to fifty years now.  They were handed to me by my grandfather and mother.  They are quite sentimental.


Everyone loves a pocket knife.  Sure wish I would've held on to every pocket knife I ever owned. 



A hand crafted knife picked up at a mountain man rendezvous.

Carp Redux 2011 - The Day After "I Do!"

Charlie has told me a good number of times to seek out the shallows after a rain.  Of all the fly fishers I know, Charlie is one of the finest and the one that owns the keenest sense of observation - he studies these carp like a student prepping for a test.

Early this morning, about midway between the midnight hour and dawn, a thunderstorm tumbled across this prairie ocean.  It was loud with bright flashes and brought rain.  It didn't bring a tremendous amount of rain; a drought-buster my no means, however, it was a much needed rain and enough to turn the creek brown.

I decided to take Charlie up on his advice, and like I should have known, his advice was solid as a rock. With the creek being discolored, I dismissed the white Mysis Shrimp from duty and tied on an olive and orange Carpolo Charlie. Within thirty minutes I had battled and brought to submission three carp... including two of those fascinating looking Mirror carp.

It may be my imagination, but, Mirror carp seem to have more spunk than the Common carp does.  The Mirror just never quit and make run after run.  Sometimes I have to simply bulldog these Mirror carp and beach them.

Today the carping by fly was a mixture of sight fishing and blind fishing at the same time.  The creek wasn't dingy to the point the image of the carp couldn't be made, but, once the fly pierced the surface it was gone from sight.  I depended on the behavior of the carp to know when it was time to set the hook and if the creatures suddenly moved forward and stopped, or gills flared... I went for the hook-set.  This practice worked like a charm. 

First Mirror of the day.

Fascinating looking Mirror.

Fishing today was a total muddy mess.  The usual structure of felled trees and root balls were certainly present and today there were additional tree limbs that had been washed down the creek.  How the fish and I came through all that without a break-off amazes me.  Although it was fun, it was a work-out and in the end my rod was dirty, the reel was dirty, I was dirty, and the Carpolo Charlie looked like it had been through a meat grinder.
 

Speaking of Charlie again, I think he come up with the perfect coinage about fly fishing for carp.  In a dispatch I received from Charlie last year in regards to fly fishing for carp, Charlie said, "This ain't pretty fishing."  Charlie my friend, you're absolutely correct - this is sometimes down and dirty in the trenches fishing. 

It's not pretty fishing.

While I was having fun battling the carp, I didn't realize the creek was on the rise.  It wasn't a threatening rise or anything like that.  However, within another thirty minutes the creek had become unfishable, discoloring even more with a significant increase in flow. 

I gave thanks and left the creek.