Down in Charlie's pasture is a warrior carp we call Ol' Scarhead. He is most appropriately named with a half inch wide scar running from the top of his head down to the top of his mouth. He is a large beast and his most noticeable marking seems to add more attitude to this carp for some reason.
The first time Charlie and I fished his pasture is when I saw Scarhead and told Charlie about his existence. Later on Charlie also spotted him.
Scarhead tends to hold in the deeper water of the far bank. This water has seemed to become a safe haven or launching area for the fish. He lurks in this water much like Grendel lurked in the high hall of Hrothgar. However for Grendel, in the high hall lay Beowulf... waiting for the chance to take Grendel into his grip.
Will Charlie or I step up and become the Beowulf of Scarhead? Only time will tell.
It would be to our advantage to lure Scarhead to the level battlefield of the pasture, but, if we fail in this attempt, then we have no other choice but to go to the arch of the high hall. Once at the entrance of his high hall, we will pretend to be asleep, standing in the water in quiescence, waiting for the right time to cast our sharpened swords, and hoping Scarhead will pick up our throw down. If indeed he does...the battle will begin. Either Scarhead will rip away from our grip, or he will come to capitulation.
One of the goals of the Carp Crusades is to do battle with Scarhead. Anything less will be a disappointment.
Blue River Fly Classic
A One Pattern Fly Event
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Carp Crusades - Friday's Fish
I knew there was something I was forgetting this morning heading out the door to work. My plan for the day was to work until about 2:30 p.m. then hit the creek for just a short while... long enough to look for carp number thirty in the Carp Crusades.
After work gearing up at the creek I realized what I'd forgotten... the camera. But that was okay because I've taken plenty of pictures so far and wasn't planning on spending much time on the creek today at all.
The only reason I'm posting this is for a record of memory since mine seems to fail me quite often these days. I require some kind of record to the events to call back on in future months and years.
Standing in the creek I saw a foursome of slow cruisers coming upstream. If they'd been road rage cruisers I wouldn't have even wasted time on them because it is time wasted. When they got within twenty feet or so I started casting trying to judge their distance and speed. My casts were falling short so I waited until they were closer. When they were about eight feet out a cast landed right in front of the two lead carp but it was too close to them and too far from the carp nearest the far bank. However, the San Juan worm ball did attract the attention of the tailing carp in the formation and he actually made a dead run for the fly and a sudden suck. Hook-set!
I've only had a couple of carp actually make a run for the fly and this fellow was one of them. He wasn't all that big of a carp... maybe five pounds, but he was one of the toughest gladiators I've yet to do battle with. Finally landed him and we said our greetings and so-longs.
Carp number thirty came to reality today. I push on for the ultimate goal of carp number fifty in the Carp Crusades.
After work gearing up at the creek I realized what I'd forgotten... the camera. But that was okay because I've taken plenty of pictures so far and wasn't planning on spending much time on the creek today at all.
The only reason I'm posting this is for a record of memory since mine seems to fail me quite often these days. I require some kind of record to the events to call back on in future months and years.
Standing in the creek I saw a foursome of slow cruisers coming upstream. If they'd been road rage cruisers I wouldn't have even wasted time on them because it is time wasted. When they got within twenty feet or so I started casting trying to judge their distance and speed. My casts were falling short so I waited until they were closer. When they were about eight feet out a cast landed right in front of the two lead carp but it was too close to them and too far from the carp nearest the far bank. However, the San Juan worm ball did attract the attention of the tailing carp in the formation and he actually made a dead run for the fly and a sudden suck. Hook-set!
I've only had a couple of carp actually make a run for the fly and this fellow was one of them. He wasn't all that big of a carp... maybe five pounds, but he was one of the toughest gladiators I've yet to do battle with. Finally landed him and we said our greetings and so-longs.
Carp number thirty came to reality today. I push on for the ultimate goal of carp number fifty in the Carp Crusades.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Carp Crusades - Charlie's Pasture Carp
Fellow Carp Crusader Charlie Wright went a long time without a camera with him while crusading. But with a little prodding Charlie has acquired one. Heaven forbid anything happens to that camera while Charlie is a-fishing because if it does... I'm gonna feel terrible.
Here are a few of the gladiators Charlie has battled to submission.
Here are a few of the gladiators Charlie has battled to submission.
The Carp Crusades - Nothing For Granted
Inasmuch as I live a hurried life; always rushing in whatever I do, I am forcing myself to a slower and more measured pace in the pursuit of the elusive and unpredictable carp.
When it comes to capturing carp on the fly, there is nothing we can take for granted. That white tee shirt on a hot summer day may seem insignificant but it’s the same as waving a white flag in surrender because wearing it while fly fishing for carp is giving the carp an upper hand right out of the box. We may think the reported super-vision of carp is over-rated but my experience with these creatures confirm their incredible sense of sight.
Sometimes it’s the little things that we take for granted like being absolutely sure we cut the tag end of a just finished clinch knot. Again, this may seem trivial but it’s not and here is a good example of why. I was fishing on a Tuesday with a Clouser pattern that had produced the day before, however the carp seemed totally uninterested in the Clouser on this outing. The Clouser was replaced with a red San Juan worm ball and I was sure I’d cut the tag end of my clinch knot. As soon as the worm ball hit the water the carp started showing interested but after watching six or eight carp come to the fly, go nose down and tail up, but then suddenly spook… I knew something was wrong. Pulling the fly up for a closer look revealed the one inch tag end of tippet was still hanging and I’m convinced that is what was spooking the carp. Six or eight opportunities missed for not rechecking a small detail.
Never take for granted that just because your standing on the bank the carp can’t sense your being. Carp seem to possess an almost uncanny extra sense which I have to categorize as an awareness of the fly fisher in the area. Seriously, carp can sense movement and motion and perhaps it’s in part as a result of their keen vision but also they hear quite well. The human voice, talking to perhaps a fishing buddy across the way, can send carp into a frenzied panic alerting other carp up and down the waterway.
The after-shave we put on four hours earlier has probably dissipated from our smelling senses but can the carp still pick up the lingering effects from our hands? Chances are they can. Anything our hands come in contact with can be transferred to the body of the fly tied on. If you’re a tobacco user most certainly you’ll transfer this strong odor to your offerings. Some of the more famous fly-tyers who tie carp patterns will not use head cement because they feel the carp can pick up on that particular smell. With carp having such a strong sense of smell, it’s a good idea to wash our hands in the river or creek mud before handling the fly, tippet, or leader.
You may be an excellent caster but never take for granted you will plant that fly exactly in the vision range of the carp. As good a caster as you may be always take into consideration any wind that will come into play along with the position and tailing speed of the targeted carp. You will immensely increase the chances of capturing a carp if you fly lands in front and travels across the carp’s line of vision which is quite narrow. Throw outside the line of vision and you’ll find yourself making another cast increasing the chances of spooking the fish altogether. Economy of casting is critically important - make every cast count.
There is probably a whole laundry list of things we often take for granted when fly-fishing and lots of times we can get away with most. However, when it comes to a savvy and unpredictable fish like the carp, we should take nothing for granted.
When it comes to capturing carp on the fly, there is nothing we can take for granted. That white tee shirt on a hot summer day may seem insignificant but it’s the same as waving a white flag in surrender because wearing it while fly fishing for carp is giving the carp an upper hand right out of the box. We may think the reported super-vision of carp is over-rated but my experience with these creatures confirm their incredible sense of sight.
Sometimes it’s the little things that we take for granted like being absolutely sure we cut the tag end of a just finished clinch knot. Again, this may seem trivial but it’s not and here is a good example of why. I was fishing on a Tuesday with a Clouser pattern that had produced the day before, however the carp seemed totally uninterested in the Clouser on this outing. The Clouser was replaced with a red San Juan worm ball and I was sure I’d cut the tag end of my clinch knot. As soon as the worm ball hit the water the carp started showing interested but after watching six or eight carp come to the fly, go nose down and tail up, but then suddenly spook… I knew something was wrong. Pulling the fly up for a closer look revealed the one inch tag end of tippet was still hanging and I’m convinced that is what was spooking the carp. Six or eight opportunities missed for not rechecking a small detail.
Never take for granted that just because your standing on the bank the carp can’t sense your being. Carp seem to possess an almost uncanny extra sense which I have to categorize as an awareness of the fly fisher in the area. Seriously, carp can sense movement and motion and perhaps it’s in part as a result of their keen vision but also they hear quite well. The human voice, talking to perhaps a fishing buddy across the way, can send carp into a frenzied panic alerting other carp up and down the waterway.
The after-shave we put on four hours earlier has probably dissipated from our smelling senses but can the carp still pick up the lingering effects from our hands? Chances are they can. Anything our hands come in contact with can be transferred to the body of the fly tied on. If you’re a tobacco user most certainly you’ll transfer this strong odor to your offerings. Some of the more famous fly-tyers who tie carp patterns will not use head cement because they feel the carp can pick up on that particular smell. With carp having such a strong sense of smell, it’s a good idea to wash our hands in the river or creek mud before handling the fly, tippet, or leader.
You may be an excellent caster but never take for granted you will plant that fly exactly in the vision range of the carp. As good a caster as you may be always take into consideration any wind that will come into play along with the position and tailing speed of the targeted carp. You will immensely increase the chances of capturing a carp if you fly lands in front and travels across the carp’s line of vision which is quite narrow. Throw outside the line of vision and you’ll find yourself making another cast increasing the chances of spooking the fish altogether. Economy of casting is critically important - make every cast count.
There is probably a whole laundry list of things we often take for granted when fly-fishing and lots of times we can get away with most. However, when it comes to a savvy and unpredictable fish like the carp, we should take nothing for granted.
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Carp Crusades - From Carp To Crappie
Took a break from the Carp Crusades to go a-fishing with a couple of good friends. At the invite of my boss and friend Curt Tully, I along with another great friend Francis Rozzel with crappie fishing. Also, Francis's son Mark and grandson Justin went a-fishing too.
I say it was a fishing trip but actually it was more of a friendship trip. Francis has been waging a personal battle the last several months with lung cancer. Everyone involved is delighted that Francis is doing well enough to want and be able to wet a line. Now, you'd have to know Francis to appreciate what I'm about to say. Francis is one of the kindest and gentle souls anyone could ever want to meet... and he's been one hell'ava crappie fishermen for many years.
Our trip was hastily put together so we were ill prepared as far as gear went and Francis was hoping to fish with minnows but we couldn't find any.
The crappie were willing off and on as were the black bass in this farm lake. The water was quite murky today due to recent rains but not murky enough to keep the fish from biting.
Francis didn't have any luck today but his high spirit was evident as it always is. I do believe that it's his high unbreakable spirit that has allowed him to put the beast inside him to the side for the most part.
As Francis would say at the end of the day, "There will be another", and he is planning a trip for us to Cumberland Pool - one of the more famed crappie fisheries on the Prairie Ocean.
A number of years ago I got Justin, Francis's grandson his first fly-rod, but he ran off and forgot it today. However the woodpecker figured out a way to fish a wooly bugger with an ultra light and it was the wooly bugger that would rule the afternoon. Justin used buggers in black and brown, and I used black then switched to white cactus chenille. The crappie fishing was good for quite a while but then slowed down.
Francis tires easily these days so we ended the day after about three hours. It was a great day to be with great friends.
Francis is in the middle of this group photo.
My boss and friend Curt Tully with Francis.
Some of the crappie were nice sized.
The black bass were also active today.
Crappie, crappie, crappie.
Mark, son of Francis with black bass.
I say it was a fishing trip but actually it was more of a friendship trip. Francis has been waging a personal battle the last several months with lung cancer. Everyone involved is delighted that Francis is doing well enough to want and be able to wet a line. Now, you'd have to know Francis to appreciate what I'm about to say. Francis is one of the kindest and gentle souls anyone could ever want to meet... and he's been one hell'ava crappie fishermen for many years.
Our trip was hastily put together so we were ill prepared as far as gear went and Francis was hoping to fish with minnows but we couldn't find any.
The crappie were willing off and on as were the black bass in this farm lake. The water was quite murky today due to recent rains but not murky enough to keep the fish from biting.
Francis didn't have any luck today but his high spirit was evident as it always is. I do believe that it's his high unbreakable spirit that has allowed him to put the beast inside him to the side for the most part.
As Francis would say at the end of the day, "There will be another", and he is planning a trip for us to Cumberland Pool - one of the more famed crappie fisheries on the Prairie Ocean.
A number of years ago I got Justin, Francis's grandson his first fly-rod, but he ran off and forgot it today. However the woodpecker figured out a way to fish a wooly bugger with an ultra light and it was the wooly bugger that would rule the afternoon. Justin used buggers in black and brown, and I used black then switched to white cactus chenille. The crappie fishing was good for quite a while but then slowed down.
Francis tires easily these days so we ended the day after about three hours. It was a great day to be with great friends.
Francis is in the middle of this group photo.
My boss and friend Curt Tully with Francis.
Some of the crappie were nice sized.
The black bass were also active today.
Crappie, crappie, crappie.
Mark, son of Francis with black bass.
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Carp Crusades - Today's Journal Notes
Arrived at Mother Hole at 2:45 p.m. Sun had been shining brightly all day but now tucked behind solid billowy blanket of clouds. Creek still somewhat dingy but much improved. Visibility is quite poor with no sunlight. Carp difficult to see, only shadows and few shadows at that.
Red San Juan Wormball tied on. Have only five carp flies to existence since losing box yesterday. A medium sized shadow is cast to and wormball slowly stripped to shallow water for better sight. Fish sucks, straight up hook-set, good hook-set. To hand, a beautifully fascinating young Mirror.
Hang wormball in ten foot tree limb on next cast. (SIDE MENTAL NOTE: Make homemade extensions for pruners to retrieve wormball). Chartreuse and white Clouser goes on, heavy metal fly, sinks fast. Cast to medium shadow and twitched in, fish sucks, straight up hook-set, good hook-set, big surprise comes to hand... a drum. Note: Drum do not have the power of carp but quicker in short bursts and acrobatic like trout.
Few carp to be seen, holding to far deep bank, same thing last couple of days, has to be something with cooler temperatures of late or barometric pressure. Ambient temp today 67 degrees, water temp 64.6.
Go to try and accomplish reason for flying for carp today - sneak up on carp in the shallow and riffles. Crouch low duck walking through weeds, remove hat thinking it's round shape is stark contrast to my slender frame. On knees near bank edge in thigh high weeds, see a carp plainly. Cast to him but miss going way too far upstream, he turns and goes downstream, wait, lift line out of water and over weed line. Cast again in front of him but ignores it. Cast again in front and slightly to his right, he sees, he follows, he sucks, straight up hook-set, good hook-set, in current, hold steady but must turn him from rocks and root lined bank. Comes to hand.
Forty five minutes on water, sun never came out. Wait for better day.
Red San Juan Wormball tied on. Have only five carp flies to existence since losing box yesterday. A medium sized shadow is cast to and wormball slowly stripped to shallow water for better sight. Fish sucks, straight up hook-set, good hook-set. To hand, a beautifully fascinating young Mirror.
Hang wormball in ten foot tree limb on next cast. (SIDE MENTAL NOTE: Make homemade extensions for pruners to retrieve wormball). Chartreuse and white Clouser goes on, heavy metal fly, sinks fast. Cast to medium shadow and twitched in, fish sucks, straight up hook-set, good hook-set, big surprise comes to hand... a drum. Note: Drum do not have the power of carp but quicker in short bursts and acrobatic like trout.
Few carp to be seen, holding to far deep bank, same thing last couple of days, has to be something with cooler temperatures of late or barometric pressure. Ambient temp today 67 degrees, water temp 64.6.
Go to try and accomplish reason for flying for carp today - sneak up on carp in the shallow and riffles. Crouch low duck walking through weeds, remove hat thinking it's round shape is stark contrast to my slender frame. On knees near bank edge in thigh high weeds, see a carp plainly. Cast to him but miss going way too far upstream, he turns and goes downstream, wait, lift line out of water and over weed line. Cast again in front of him but ignores it. Cast again in front and slightly to his right, he sees, he follows, he sucks, straight up hook-set, good hook-set, in current, hold steady but must turn him from rocks and root lined bank. Comes to hand.
Forty five minutes on water, sun never came out. Wait for better day.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Carp Crusades - A Mixed Weekend
Saturday
Charlie and I both fished for the carpes on Saturday and I guess you could say it was a banner day for the both of us.
For me the satisfaction came in the success of the white colored aquatic worm named The Great White Hope. This fly captured four carp with ease. One note worth mentioning is that all four carp were taken in shallow water and three of the four were taken with an upstream cast.
Charlie was down in his pasture on Saturday and he battled carp using crawdad, San Juan Wormballs, and the Clouser.
He showed me some pictures today of the fish he battled yesterday and they were some very nice, and I do mean... very nice fish. Hopefully he can get the pictures uploaded soon and we can share them.
Here are some of Saturday's catches.
Shortly thereafter, Charlie hollers again and I grab my camera and rush upstream. Sure enough he has another dandy on and as I raise my camera... the tippet tie gives.
This would prove to be pretty much the extent of our hooking success on Sunday. Larry Compton joined us and Larry, like us, was finding the same... which was few carp to target.
Matters got worse for me however. Charlie had lost his Great White Hope that attracted one of the two carps so I said, "Hey, I've got another right here in this fly...ba, ba, ba, box?" The fly box dedicated with flies for carp... all fifty or so flies... was no longer on my person. The only place I could've lost that fly box was right where I was standing because I had just tied on a fly from this box a few minutes earlier. We looked, and looked again, but no cigar.
Oh well... more vise time I guess.
So, on Sunday the catching wasn't all that good but the friendship was. Larry and I stopped by Charlie's Inn and had a good cold beer and some delightful conversation.
The crusades will continue shortly.
Charlie and I both fished for the carpes on Saturday and I guess you could say it was a banner day for the both of us.
For me the satisfaction came in the success of the white colored aquatic worm named The Great White Hope. This fly captured four carp with ease. One note worth mentioning is that all four carp were taken in shallow water and three of the four were taken with an upstream cast.
Charlie was down in his pasture on Saturday and he battled carp using crawdad, San Juan Wormballs, and the Clouser.
He showed me some pictures today of the fish he battled yesterday and they were some very nice, and I do mean... very nice fish. Hopefully he can get the pictures uploaded soon and we can share them.
Here are some of Saturday's catches.
Sunday
What a difference twenty-four hours can make sometimes.
On Sunday, Charlie and I met at the Pasture parking area and begin our carp adventure for the day. A park ranger noticed our fly rods so he stopped and started a conversation about fly angling. Seems like the young man is from Arkansas and quite familiar with fly fishing and the White River system. He told us he never dreamed of fly fishing at Rock Creek and had never heard of Blue River. Think Charlie and I probably hooked him to picking up the fly rod while he's here on the Prairie Ocean.
Charlie has just got lined up when a lady came screeching into the parking area, jumped out of her car and said, "I want to talk to that man (pointing at Charlie). The lady had a request from her grandson in the back seat of the car and it seems he wanted to talk with Santa Claus before Santa went a fly-fishing. So Charlie put on his best Santa Claus imitation (which he does regularly I found out) and entertained the youngster.
Guess the young fellar wasn't all that sure about seeing Santa up so close and personal after all.
On the water today things seemed much different from yesterday Charlie told me. There seemed to be few carp to really target and of the few we seen they were mainly cruisers. I would hook up with one in quick order but quick-released that fish. Then Charlie hooked up with one and oh boy this is what I've been waiting for because I have my camera with me. I get one picture of Charlie battling the beast but then... his fly pulls out. 
Shortly thereafter, Charlie hollers again and I grab my camera and rush upstream. Sure enough he has another dandy on and as I raise my camera... the tippet tie gives.
This would prove to be pretty much the extent of our hooking success on Sunday. Larry Compton joined us and Larry, like us, was finding the same... which was few carp to target.
Matters got worse for me however. Charlie had lost his Great White Hope that attracted one of the two carps so I said, "Hey, I've got another right here in this fly...ba, ba, ba, box?" The fly box dedicated with flies for carp... all fifty or so flies... was no longer on my person. The only place I could've lost that fly box was right where I was standing because I had just tied on a fly from this box a few minutes earlier. We looked, and looked again, but no cigar.
Oh well... more vise time I guess.
So, on Sunday the catching wasn't all that good but the friendship was. Larry and I stopped by Charlie's Inn and had a good cold beer and some delightful conversation.
The crusades will continue shortly.
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