Dear Carp - January 27th, 2013

Dear Carp,

I came to your home on this gloomy day in hopes that a conversation with one of you would brighten my spirit the weather has dulled.  This morning was a thick and sticky foggy occasion.  The sun did not break through the overcast at anytime today. 

The darkened skies, along with the southerly wind causing a solid riffle on the surface gave you and your kind a good advantage today. 

But, even if these things hadn't been present I would have fell to you in defeat regardless - a defeat that I certainly suffered today. 

Shortly after arriving at your home I spotted one of your citizens that had a good number of wise years accumulated.  He was a brawny beast. 

I offered him a yellow winged and brown bodied Critter.  He liked it.  He liked it so much he took it with him snapping my line with ease and handily defeating me. 

Tying a natural colored Critter on next, the second citizen of the day and I would connect.  This chap would also defeat me with the aid of a brush pile. 

Looking into the offering box there was only one Critter left and of course it went on the line.  The third citizen could easily been seen for he was in the shallows.  The Critter landed a foot or so in front of him.  He rushed to the offering, opened his mouth and sucked.  As I went for the connection the fly and leader sailed above me becoming entangled high in a tree.  Not only was the Critter sacrificed, the leader was dismantled.

You defeated me this afternoon and you are always humble in victory.  Of course, I try to be gracious in defeat, but never quitting is a large part of me.  I left your home to return to my prairie place.

At my home I begin to take my waders off, but then changed my mind.  At the tying desk two Critters were quickly fashioned.  A new leader was unpacked and assembled on the fly line.  I headed back to your home.

Although your victories were grand today my reward for returning would be equally nice.  A shadow of one your citizens could be seen below the riffled surface.  A yellow winged, burnt orange bodied, with pumpkin colored legs went to him.  I could see him move toward the offering, but could not see his mouth.  My gut kicked in and I went for the connection.  Our conversation begin.

This citizen was of a slightly different order than the most of your community and he was indeed a fine looking fellow. 

 

By now it was late afternoon and I still had to keep my promise to you by removing more trash from your home.  Today, I would go to the middle of where you live to reach down deep in the water and remove something that certainly doesn't belong. 

 

 

 

As I said earlier, you are always humble in your victories and I must tell you that I am humbled by your victories.  This is a good thing though because it reminds me of your power and just how grand you are. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher 



In Getting Spanked

I went fly fishing with Van today.  I got my butt spanked my Van today.  Actually, I got my butt kicked my van today. 

We had a 75 fish day.  Van caught 50 of the trout today.  So, do the math and you'll know how badly Van kicked my arse. 

Now, you might ask why anyone would beat up on an old man like Van did today?  I don't know.  It's a damn shame though and should be against the law. 

The truth is that Van had the goods today and he brought em.  The amazing thing about this guy is that he's been fly fishing hardly anytime at all, but he has taken to it like a duck to water. 

Of course some credit should be give to the guy who introduced him to fly fishing and perhaps this is some small part of his success.  And that guy is me!  See how he repays me for my kindness. 

The usual hot spot today wasn't so hot.  Van did pick up some and I only picked up a few.  So Van went downstream and this is where he found his hot spot for the day. 

For Van the morning action came courtesy of the brown bugger.  Later around noon, his action got hot again using the Hare's Ear. 

 

I wouldn't find my sweet spot until close to noon.  I decided to fish the oxygenated water below a falls and the trout here were loving the Hare's Ear and Pheasant Tail.  When they grew pattern weary of these two flies, I simply tied on a size 16 dark olive baby bugger and the action was back on.

 

All in all it was a fine outing.  I hate to admit it, but I tired out early.  Seems like I do that a lot anymore. 

 

Think I'll get on a Geritol regimen and get back in the game. 

Trout Derby In February

The President's Day Weekend Trout Derby will be held on February 16th and 17th and Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. 

$1.000.00 in cash and prizes will be awarded.

This event is sponsored by the Johnston County Chamber of Commerce and Blue River Association. 

For more information contact Scotty McCarthick at 580-371-9288.

Update On Lost And Hopefully Found

A big thank you goes out to Wanda and Lou Barbaro for contacting me today saying they have found the lost Frabill wooden landing net lost by that poor fly fishing chap from Arlington, Texas. 

They have each other's contact information now and hopefully they can come together so the poor hapless lad can get his net back.

Now... we all can see how it pays to network when it comes to lost nets.  No pun intended.

Thank you Wanda and Lou... you are fine folk. 

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



 

 

One Fly 2013 On Line Entry Form

Blue River One Fly 2013
Entry Form

Name:___________________________________________

Mailing Address:____________________________________

City:_____________State_______________Zip Code______

Email:____________________________________________

Cell Phone*_______________________________________

*This is the cell phone you will be carrying the date of the event.  This is for contact reasons only.

Check appropriate boxes

____Entry fee enclosed (Please check or money order only)  IMPORTANT:  Please make check or money order payable to the Blue River Association.  Entry fee is $25.00.

___Yes, I want a mulligan fly on the date of the event for $10.00

Total enclosed:_____________

PLEASE NOTE:  Make check or money order payable to Blue River Association.  However, mail completed entry form along with fees to the following address.

Barry C. Shrader
One Fly Contest
700 E. Wynnewood
Sulphur, OK 73086

I will deliver all entry fees to the Blue River Association where they will be held until the event is completed.  Once the event is completed the Blue River Association will issue payment to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife in support of the Catch & Release area at Blue River.

Lost And Hopefully Found

This past Friday (January 18th) at the Catch & Release section of Blue River, a fine gentleman and fly fisher known to many of us lost his Frabill wooden landing net.  He believes he lost it in the C&R parking area located furthest west of the highway 7 bridge.

If you did happen to find this fine chap's net and you'd like to get it back to him then contact me at fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com and I will put the two of you in touch. 

It's tough to lose fly fishing gear, especially when it has served us well. 

Thanks everyone.