Conversations With Carp - And Conversations About Water

I've always loved to fish early.  It comes from my youthful days fishing with my grandfather.  In the spring and summers of my youth, it was normal for grandfather to have me at the fishing hole as the sun was coming up. 

As far as fly fishing for carp I can't say that fishing early, as the sun is just coming up, is all that productive.  In fly fishing for carp, good light is often a necessity.  But still, I like fishing early.  Anymore, chances of being at the water by daybreak are few.

However, this morning I informed the headmaster at the mercantile store that the day would be burned. Stepping out the door at my prairie home there was the scent of rain in the air.  A morning shower had just passed and it just enough to freshen the air and moisten the grasses. I headed straight for the creek arriving before sunrise.  Shortly after seven this morning the first fish of the day was on the reel. 

Using Charlie's Biter Critter, a football shaped carp had found the fly as it landed on the bottom of the creek and the suck was detectable in the line.  A good hook set came my way and the morning talks begin. 



Several times this fish was hauled to the fringes of the creek only to have the carp somersault and make another run.  This carp had good fight and that is something I always admire. 

The fight with carp seemed to roust other species from their slumber and soon the Biter Critter would find catfish, bass, and of course those frisky little devils the perch.

As I was standing on the creek bank this morning, watching the water slowly flow by, another conversation came to my mind.

There is currently a lot of talk about Oklahoma's future water needs and management.  For the last couple of years the state has been working on a statewide water plan that will address Oklahoma's water needs and management for the next fifty years. 

In this process, two tribal governments - the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations have asked for a seat at the table in the planning of Oklahoma's future water.  Their requests for such a place at the table were not answered and feeling excluded and concerned, the nations had little recourse except to file suit. 

In response to the nation's suit, the state of Oklahoma has threatened stream adjudication - a lengthy, nasty, and terribly costly process. 

The tribal governments have now launched an educational and informational campaign through print media and television. Their presentations are top notched, well thought out, and based on science.  The message the nation's have sent are both polite and intelligent. 

In looking at both viewpoints, from the state and the tribal governments, the tribal governments arguments are making the most sense.  And, they continue to be patient and polite in asking for a say, for unity, and careful and thoughtful planning that will sustain springs, creeks, rivers, and water basins.

I hope the state of Oklahoma will reconsider and invite the tribal nations to the discussion table regarding water.  Oklahoma's future water needs must be addressed now and cannot wait ten years or more for the adjudication process to be complete. 



Conversations With Carp - Clouded Conversation

The Dutch oven cook-off that was part of the festivities of the Arbuckle-Simpson Nature Festival was yesterday.  It was a fun event, lots of great recipes were created, and the event sponsored a good cause.  However, I'm glad it's behind me and there will be time to get back to the water and possible conversations with carp.

At the Dutch oven cook-off I prepared the recipe Chicken In Cherry Sauce and it was good enough to win the People's Choice Award.  I am quite thankful for that honor.

This morning, after leaving the mercantile store, a trip to the creek was in order to see what the carp, if anything, had on their minds.

To say the least it was a cloudy affair today.  The sun was somewhere hidden behind a slate of blue-gray.  The color of the creek this morning is hard to describe - somewhere between green tea and tannin color.  Yesterday winds dislodged a flotilla of leaves and with a southerly wind this morning there was a steady riffle on the surface. In other words, it was difficult to see.

Today's offering to strike up possible conversation was Charlie's Biter Critter pattern.  About ten feet from the bank was a lumbering carp and the Biter Critter was put slightly upstream of this lallygagging fish. It was easy to tell the carp came to the fly, but seeing the suck was another thing. 

We have to rely on those gut feelings we get when seeing is difficult.  Lifting the rod tip, pressure felt, a sudden and resolved upper heave of the fly rod, and the fish bolted downstream.

Not knowing it at the time I had waited just a second or so too long to go for the hook-set.  When the carp finally arrived at hand, the hook was about an inch or little more down the fishes mouth.  However, with the forceps the hook backed out rather easily with no damage to the creature.

This was by no means a big carp, probably five or six pounds, but the creature was thick and had some shoulders.  The conversation was extremely awarding and seemed to serve as enough for the day. 

After lugging heavy Dutch ovens yesterday this body was in need of rest and I returned to the prairie home to do just that.  

Conversations With Carp - Lunch Hour Chat

There are times at the mercantile store that things become more than I can bear, or more than I care to tolerate any longer.  Today was one of those days, so my thought was the best course of action was to take a lunch hour and see if any of the carp cared to carry on a... civilized conversation, which didn't seem to exist at the mercantile store this particular Thursday.

Today, Charlie's Biter Critter fly caught my attention and this variation of the Bonefish Biter went on the lasso.  At the creek bank I wanted to get the fly wet, so out she went to fairly shallow water above the Honey Hole pasture.  Not paying attention I begin to strip the fly in when I saw the carp on it.  But, I had already given the fly too much life and the fish turned away. 

Going downstream a position on a fallen tree was taken.  About twenty-five feet upstream there was the beautiful sight of an orange tail waving in the drink.  A tailing carp is what the carp by fly angler dreams of, what we hunt, the thing we always hold high hope of encountering. 

A problem existed however.  There wasn't any room for a back-cast.  In addition there was thick and heavy tree limbs both on my left and right.  With the fish being upstream and tree limbs extending far over the bank, a standard roll cast was out of the question.  The only way to get the fly to the fish was with a back-handed roll, so I let one go out.

When the fly landed a foot behind and to the right of the fish I figured a golden opportunity had just been lost and the fish would surely spook.  The carp did not spook, but turned and came straight to the Biter Critter, slowed, then lunged.  The rod tip went up hard and fast, the hook-point penetrated deep, and our lunch hour chat begin. 

This carp was a strong fellow, peeling line off, taking me to the backing.  While line was being taken out, I was trying to figure how to land this fish.  There wasn't much to think about really - to land this fish required getting wet and here I was still with my work clothes. on.  There was plenty of time left in my lunch hour break and this would provide time to go to the prairie home to change socks. 

Stepping down on another fallen log I was only about ankle deep in water.  The carp eventually yielded in his run and this give me some chance of gaining ground on the fish.  After a fairly lengthy fight a message was sent to the carp with a hard pull-up on the rod.   The fish answered with a riposte in the fashion of peeling all the line I'd just gained. 

Our meeting and chat would soon come to an end as I placed my right hand under the belly of the carp and removed the hook with the left.  It was a nice chat.

And as promised, since the perch require their due, here is today's Biter Critter perch.



Conversations With Carp - Crowded Conversation

The opportunities for carp by fly outings have been few lately primarily because of other activities that are looming.  Hopefully, after this weekend some decent time on the water will come about. 

My last outing resulted in much of the same as the previous two outings with other fish butting in the attempted conversations with carp.  Although I vilify the perch at times I'm pursuing carp, the truth is I love the panfish.  Why wouldn't I love them?  Panfish have brought me countless hours of enjoyment over a lifetime. 

It seems Charlie, while on an outing yesterday, experienced the same things I have lately.  He tells me there was nothing, nothing at all, as far as fish activity, going on when he first arrived but shortly after noon a wide variety of fish gathered where Charlie was fishing.  There was carp, redhorse suckers, blue suckers, drum, catfish and most assuredly the perch and bass. 

Of course Charlie wanted the carp, but just like what's been happening on my outings, his fly was intercepted.  Charlie ended up catching three catfish and two drum.  He probably caught some panfish too, but didn't bother to mention it. 

We've already resigned ourselves to the fact we have far fewer carp to chase this year compared to the last two seasons.  There are carp though but their presence is scattered and spotty.  With other fish species being ravenous right now, our situation capturing carp is compounded. 

The only thing to do with hungry fish is simply catch them... and that's what we've been doing.  Here are some pictures from my last outing and Charlie's trip yesterday.

Saturday catfish taken by red San Juan worm ball.

Sunday catfish taken on a Ugly Dame.

Charlie's first catfish of the day.

Another channel catfish from Charlie.

Capturing other species while hoping for carp by fly is certainly not an indigenous condition that Charlie or me own.  Yesterday, I received a message from Gregg Martin in Idaho.  Gregg spent eleven hours on the water and was quite successful in capturing carp.  However, other species that came Gregg's way included the crappie, bass, and yes... the catfish.  Again, when fish are hungry we catch them... whether we want to or not.

Gregg had an excellent outing recently.

Dutch Oven Gathering Coming Soon

Next Saturday, April 28th, will probably be an excellent day to fly fish, and as much as this possibility intrigues me, the angling will give way to a worthwhile event - The Arbuckle-Simpson Nature Festival.

As part of the festival there will be a Dutch oven gathering and cook-off held at Sipokni West Old West Town near Reagan, Oklahoma.  Dutch oven cooks will gather in fun and fellowship to prepare their favorite recipes in their black pots. 

Miss Carol and I both will be attending this event, dressed in our time period clothing and cooking in our Dutch ovens. 

Miss Carol will be preparing Dutch oven Chicken Pot Pie

The attending public will be able to sample he various dishes fixed in the black pots by cooks from across Oklahoma and Texas. 

All proceeds from this event go to the support of the TREES (Tishomingo Refuge Ecology and Education Society) program through the Arbuckle-Simpson Nature Festival. 

Miss Carol will be preparing Chicken Pot Pie in her Dutch oven and I've yet to decide what to cook in my Dutch.  Perhaps Crab Stuffed Anaheim Peppers are in order, or maybe good and tasty Roasted Potatoes.  Maybe my favorite Dutch oven recipe, Chicken in Cherry Sauce, will be in order.  No matter what, the event will be fun and a good time for all.

Again, this event is Saturday, April 28th.  Dutch oven offerings will be ready at 11 a.m., so make plans now to attend and sample the wonderful food prepared in Dutch ovens over open fire.  

Conversations With Carp - New Communication Tools

Flies are a tool we use in the pursuit of communicating with carp.

Due to the generosity and kindness of Gregg Martin of Idaho, Charlie and I have received new tools in our pursuit of holding talks with the grand and golden carp. 

In today's mail there was a package from Gregg containing ten of his hand-crafted egg patterns along with a personal hand-written note.  Honestly, I don't know what is more special to me - the flies or Gregg's note.  There is a tendency with this angler to hold on to flies that have been gifted this way, put them in frames, along with the name of the giver.  However, I think I'll fish a couple of these patterns and keep the others. 

As soon as the flies were received I contacted Charlie, telling him of Gregg's gift.  Charlie will be by the mercantile store in the morning to get his share of these creations. 

Rarely have I used an egg pattern for any type of fish so this is going to be something new and most certainly a learning process for me.  Most likely this will also hold true for Charlie.  Gregg, though, is good to offer tips and advice from his outings using this pattern.

Hopefully, we will soon get a chance to try Gregg's Eggs and see what happens, but... the forecast shows more rain possibly tonight through tomorrow.  In the last six weeks, the rain has kept us off the creek and away from the carp for half of this time. 

Rain is good though, and there will be bright, sunny, and clear days ahead when we can show the carp what an egg from Idaho looks like. 

Thanks Gregg... you're a good guy and fine brother of the angle. 

Conversations With Carp - Weather Has A Say

Come the angler
   ...to a still upset and disturbed creek

Water, confused dirty water, much less
    than pristine

The dome overhead dark, not inviting,
   not a fresco chapel Sistine

Nary a carp to be seen,
   but the occasional  jester

Tempting the angler, salting wounds,
   left to only fester

Something taking place in nature
   this dark day

Weather speaking it's mind
   nature having her say

The sky eerie at times
    tree limbs making rhymes

Winds that make the hard gust
    then stop

Rain that would begin to pour
    then stop

Sunlight that would break through
    then stop

Birds singing in chorus
   then stop

Like God had a finger,
   on the divine switch

Squirrel scampering to the tree
   hiding in the burrow

Carp hunkered down low
   hiding in a watered furrow

How can creatures tell
   when us land-dwellers can't

Of ill and mean weather coming
   weather not of faint

The angler that come today,
   for some kind of crown

Leaves the upset water behind
   owning just a frown

SUNDAY 

Storms rolled through at four this morning.  Loud and blistering storms that added only more misery to a struggling creek. 

No chance of sight fishing carp today.  Blind fishing though is always a possibility. 

Today, however, another species would interject and disrupt the attempt at more conversations with carp. 

The Carpolo Charlie carp fly seemed to be quite favorable to this fish that seemed to own a heightened sense of possible food.

  

Conversations With Carp - Talks Broke Off

There should be pictures here.  There's not. 

There should have been carp to hand today.  There wasn't.

At the carp creek today it would be all blind fishing.  The creek still has yet to clear and is running the color of beef broth.  Blind fishing was the only option. 

Three times today the War Pony would find a carp... or the carp found this fly.  Three times today a lengthy conversation was begun.  Three times today, the carp suddenly broke the talks off.  The War Pony barbless creation didn't hold the beeves. 

One carp must have been a real beast.  The War Pony was sent to the beef colored sea with a cast that ran parallel to the east side bank.  Here, the water is about three and a half feet deep.  While making one inch strips, the fish picked the fly up and ran.  It was upstream, then down, then back up never leaving this deeper off-colored water.  Several attempts to hoist the fish toward the surface proved fruitless - the fish wouldn't budge.  The rod was bent almost in half and finally the fly pulled out. 

The two other carp were caught across the way - about thirty foot on the far bank near an inflow.  Both of these fish ran with the fly also.  The last carp seemed a sure bet and wading into the creek to work the fish downstream to the shallows, the fly let go.

There are days like this.  There have been days like this in the past and there will be days like this in the future.  It goes along with fly fishing for carp.

It's disappointing the creek has yet to clear.  Of course as far as clearing, each passing moment is in the angler's favor.  The problem here right now is three days of severe weather ahead and that could mean more rain. 

These days when a trip to the creek is planned, the Stimulator is always the first pattern tied on just in case the blossom sipping carp are active.  For the most part, the blossom sippers seemed to be off the surface feeding.  But, I remain hopeful. 

With the Stimulator, there have been nineteen dial-up's and nineteen disconnects. 

Monkey... on the back.  Monkey... must go.