Conversations With Carp - Dry Conversation

It seems like it has taken forever for our little carp creek to clear.  Today is the eleventh day since the big rain came and it's just now that the creek is returning to what we consider normal.  Normal in how clear the creek is running, however the flow is still up more than we're use to.

While we've been waiting on the creek to settle down, we've been exploring other pastures.  You remember the big pasture I spoke of recently - a pasture that seemed to hold all kind of carp possibilities?  Well, that big pasture just got bigger.  The rain has raised the level of this lake by about three feet and where we once could wade, we cannot now. 

This week Charlie and me have spent a fair amount of time pursuing the blossom sipping carp with dry patterns.  I'm not for sure how much time Charlie has invested, but I have probably a good six or eight hours spent trying to get a carp to hand by way of a dry pattern. 

We have zero results to show for our effort. 

But, there was some of those heart-pounding, exciting "this is it" moments that unfortunately turned into those "could have been" realities. 

Around 5 p.m. today I missed carp number five (by way of dry pattern) on a size 14 yellow Stimulator pattern.  Earlier today I missed carp number four on that same pattern and once that happen I returned to my prairie home and contacted Charlie.  I asked Charlie his thoughts of whether I'm trying to set the hook too quickly and too hard.  We're so use to sight fishing for grazing or tailing carp, and when they eat we really set the hook, it's easy to carry that habit over to other methods of fly fishing - in this case fishing a dry pattern.

With carp number five I decided to wait before setting the hook and set it easier with a more gentle rod tip lift.  The carp was upstream and I watched him sipping the blossoms.  Deciding to cast the fly to this fish, the fly lands about a foot to his right side.  As soon as it lands the current catches it, but this fish turns, chases, catches up, and then eats the fly.  I wait.  A lift of the rod tip and there was nothing but air. 

I swear I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  It's beginning to eat on me mentally. 

Problem is right now that the majority of the carp are gorging on the surface and that's the best chance of capturing one of these beeves.  Guess I could just blindly blind cast and hope my fly crosses path with a carp. 

We're facing a good number of obstacles right now.  We've had two weeks to do a survey of the carp population in this little creek.  It looks like we have about half the carp we had last year or the year prior.  Over the last two years we had probably close to 250 carp in about two and a half miles of creek that we could fish.  This year, we have less than half that many.  The big flood of November certainly carried carp downstream to the big lake.

The creek is just now clearing, but more rain is predicted for Monday and Tuesday.  If the rain comes then we could be back to square one. 

Then, there is the unseasonably warm temperatures.  Sunday is April 1st and the temperature will reach 90 degrees on Sunday - a temperature more associated with June rather than April. 

If we have a repeat of last summer, then it's going to be another long, record-setting hot, and not very productive carp season.  Hopefully, something will give.



Conversations With Carp - Party Line

Damn Perch.

You know... I shouldn't be like that, about the perch I mean.  I... love... the perch.  Yet, as beautiful and delightful as they are, they, at times, can be the most aggravating creatures on the face of the earth.  And, today they were. 

It's been twelve days since a carp has come to my hand, and honestly I am beginning to feel a little like Santiago. 

No, I'm not blaming the perch for all the failure, even though they were responsible today.  It's been the weather for the most part and even that has an ironic twist.  This time last year we were praying for rain.  This year, we are still praying - giving thanks for the bountiful rain we've had, and at the same time praying our little carp creek will finally clear.

It's been eight days now since the rain sent the creek into a rage and as of today our favored carp current is still struggling in regaining some normalcy.  But today, the carp could clearly be seen feeding on blossoms at the surface. 

Seeing what was taking place I quickly change to a size 10 Elk Hair Caddis - the same fly used last year to lasso these Longhorns of the water.  Getting this pattern to the carp was the biggest challenge.  The carp were sipping blossoms directly underneath two to three overhanging tree limbs.  A sidearm cast was the only choice and the cast would be across a strong current - a recipe for producing a lot of foul language from the angler. 

As soon as the fly would hit the surface I would roll mend the line to the far side followed by an immediate high stick hoping I could avoid the current and the fly would drift into the feeding lane of the carp.  It seemed to be working and with the fly well on it's way to the open mouth of a carp, a perch decided to join the conversation by party line. 



Upon releasing the perch back to the water, I totally forgot about the necessity of making a side arm cast and as the fly line went up in the air I suddenly knew how screwed I was soon to be.  There in the clutches of the outstretched arms of a tree, dangled the Elk Hair Caddis swinging high on the gallows.  I considered it a case of the fly giving his life at sea.

With the Elk Hair Caddis lost, Charlie's creation the Thistle Missile was called to action.  On the very first cast, as the fly drifted into the lane intended, another perch interrupted. 

Not once, not twice, three times, but four, would the perch interrupt a possible conversation between angler and carp.  Each time they would, the surface feeding carp would be "put down" for ten or fifteen minutes. 

It wasn't long until I was out of time and the beer I had brought was ancient history. 

The rain always washes stuff downstream and in the middle of the creek was this dandy that made be wonder if someone upstream was still clueless they were shoeless.  Said item was retrieved and deposited in the handy trash can Charlie fished out of the creek not so long ago.

The thin and shallow parts of the creek are clearing and hopefully by Wednesday the rest of the creek will be much better and that will improve chances of connecting with a carp.  What do to about the perch is another question. 

Good News For The Prairie Ocean

In the long waged battle over water there came some rather good news this week for this prairie ocean here in southern Oklahoma. 

The state water board (Oklahoma Water Resources Board) dramatically reduced the amount of groundwater that can be pumped from the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer.  The Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer is the lifeblood for many streams and rivers including Blue River, Pennington Creek, Turner Falls, and many springs and smaller streams. 

The new allowance for withdrawal of water from the aquifer has been reduced from the current 2 acre feet per year to .20 acre feet or a 90% reduction.  In gallons per acre the reduction is from 651,792 gallons to 65,170.20 gallons. 

This action will ensure a sustainable way of keeping the streams, creeks, and rivers flowing in south central Oklahoma. 

As an angler I am delighted there will adequate water for the carp, trout, bass, perch and other species of fish along with water for the whole community of wildlife. 

More importantly there will now be adequate drinking water for people and water for everyday use along with water for business, agriculture, manufacturing, and yes recreation. 

The Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer is the only sole-source aquifer in Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board recognized the significance of this special and unique aquifer system.

Conversations With Carp - "Hold Please"

It seems that Charlie and me are definitely on hold right now.  While we've been waiting for our little carp creek to settle down and get back to normal, Charlie has been scouting for other carp water.

Yesterday he sent a dispatch and through his words in that message I could tell he was very excited.  Charlie described the latest pasture he's discovered as a possible carp heaven. 

Of course upon reading his message I had to go have a look for myself.  This new possibility is a big pasture... a really big pasture and it's full of challenges and obstacles.  However, if we can overcome some of the challenges of this water there are some dandy carp that await us. 

Yesterday, shortly after arriving at this new pasture guess who else showed up... again?   Yes, it was mother once again and she had more rain in store.

Within an hour it was raining.  Today, and some twenty hours later it was still raining.  So, the message we're getting from nature is "Hold please." 

The weekend weather looks much better and hopefully we can get on the water and start dissecting this new pasture. 

Conversations With Carp - Conference Call

Mother nature likes to have her say from time to time and has joined the dialogue in our conversations with carp.

Who amongst us can understand the mystery of nature? All things that take place in nature have a distinct purpose.

In the case of this flooded little creek I will say it needed a good flushing - the algae accumulation was getting out of hand. Secondly, we simply needed the rain after years of exceptional drought.

No gripes here. Carp by fly can wait for another day.

Conversations With Carp - Discovery Through Exchanges

The big rain was riding the tracks of a western freight yesterday.  Having finished a day of servitude at the mercantile store I knew I would do well finding any significant time on the water.  However, I felt compelled to go to the creek because the rain predicted, if materializing, would wash away any chance of carp by fly for at least a week.

In the dimness of the dismal day I take a familiar trail to the little creek that is home to the grand and golden ones.  The sky is heavy and full, threatening and ominous. Clouds are steam-rolling from the west, packed with stampede-inducing thunder, full of rage in unforgiving lightning.

At the pasture we call Upper Shallows there was a bright spot within the dimness of the afternoon.  This bright spot I speak of came in the grand ones gently sipping blossoms from the surface - casually sipping the shedding of spring freshness, like a southerner imbibing a Mint Julep. 

On this day I would learn, or perhaps discover is a better word, that surface feeding carp will take notice of subsurface flies even though they are fixated on what's in or on the film. I knew that on my person somewhere was a size 10 Elk Hair Caddis in hiding.  It was the same fly used last season to capture carp while feeding on top.  However, the first drops of rain had arrived and I chose to send out what was already tied on - the Mysis Shrimp. 

The lesson learned was if we put a subsurface fly in front and near a surface feeding carp, the fish will dive for the fly.  If the fish is quick enough it will capture our gift mid-column and if not then the fish will follow it to the bottom where there is an excellent chance the fish will eat.

Three times yesterday I put the Mysis within inches of a blossom sipping carp.  Three times the fish went for the fly.  Three times a fish ate the fly and three times I failed to bring the beeve to the hand for branding. 

My dilemma with solid hook-sets continues. 

Upon thinking about the recent number of carp I have missed on the hook-set, gives pause to examine all aspects of what is taking place.  Sometimes in fly fishing for carp the most minor details makes all the difference. 

I begin to think about the fly used - the Mysis Shrimp.  The Mysis is tied on a straight shank hook and even though it is counter weighted, which theoretically makes the hook point ride up, this particular hook has a narrow gap.  So, now I am wondering if the narrow gap in the hook bend is the reason the sharp point is not lassoing and holding the carp. 

One of the more interesting things about the fly fishing for carp life is the continued wonderment of what all is involved, and what all can be achieved. 



Conversations With Carp - Little Less Talk, Lot More Action

Charlie has done most of the scouting here of late and yesterday I felt like it was my time to step up and help out in the scouting department.  Of course, the fly rod went along just in case. 

For the most part, I can tell you my scouting expedition was a big flop.  Never have I been on the creek in search of a communication channel with the carp under such poor conditions.  There was the rather strong wind, an completely dark and sullen overcast sky, an already blurred creek, blossoms that were quickly weaving a blanket on the surface, a new set of amber colored polarized glasses that are not working, and then... the pickpockets of the prairie ocean - those lovely, but aggravating pan fish.

All these things came together yesterday to form a perfect storm of frustration and strained eyesight in the hope of striking up a conversation with the carp. 

Not to say I didn't have opportunity - I did.  Several opportunities came my way, and with each offering of opening a dialogue sent to the carp the pan fish would intercept the call picking off the fly and alerting the carp. 

There was one carp that sticks out.  This fish was sipping blossoms off the surface, but his location, underneath some over-hanging tree limbs prevented me from offering him a dry pattern.   At the time I had a Mysis Shrimp pattern tied on and I could side roll cast that fly where it would land about two feet upstream from his position.  Therefore, I flipped the fly that direction. 

The fish immediately took notice and quickly rushed to the falling shrimp.  I swear, I saw the fly enter the center of this fishes mouth and straight down the gullet, but upon employing the hook-set the fly cleared completely.   This is the third time in a matter of days my hook-point has failed to find flesh and I am beginning to believe these creatures are still a little on the lethargic side.  Their sucks seem lackluster and lack the volume that usually occurs. 

Staying with the Mysis I show it to another carp and this fish circles on it but can't find it.  Another cast made and losing sight of the fly I go into blind-set mode.  Soon, the tell-tale movement in the line and pressure felt tells me to set the hook.  Finally a fish on.

A youngster carp comes to hand and is quickly released back to the stew. 

I think it's still a little early for these fish.  Charlie and I are about two weeks ahead of our regular starting time for carp season.  Right now it's more talk than action.  

Hopefully, with the warm weather and warming water temperature the conversation and action level will increase soon.

Conversations With Carp - Charlie Says Hello To Lake Carp

Last Wednesday, Charlie and yours truly were fishing for lake carp and we knew very well we were drifting uncharted waters. 

Somehow, and luckily, I managed to begin a dialogue with a very nice carp and this was the first lake carp I've ever caught.

Not to be outdone, Charlie returns the very next day and captures his first ever lake carp and misses a couple of more.

Charlie took his carp on his favored San Juan worm, a feat he has pulled off many times in the past couple of years.

We are hopeful the carp will keep returning to the more shallow sea-lane to feed.  This will be our only chance of continuing our conversations with these creatures.  The main lake is too big and way too deep for us to have any chance of meeting these fish at all. 

Hopefully, our conversations will continue.