It came together today. After covering a lot of water last time out and only seeing a few fish, this time every fish within 10 miles was hanging out in a 1/2 mile stretch...including this guy:
Even missing half of his tail, he broke the 20 lb mark, but (understandably) he didn't put up much of a fight. You gotta hand it to carp though...they are tough! Every year I take a day off near my birthday, and I picked right this year. The sun was out, the water was down, and the fish were everywhere. I saw hundreds and hundreds of fish, and while I didn't attempt to keep track of how many I landed, it was a lot. Please excuse the lack of pictures, but when a guy has that many targets in front of him, who has time for pictures?
Best take of the day was from a 16 lb apex athlete type fish. With the carp slow cruising towards me in about two feet of water I dropped the soft hackle 8 inches in front and 3 inches to the right of the fish. He came to a complete stop, turned to the fly, and dropped his head to the bottom like he was kissing the sand. Seconds later and my backing got a tan.
Look closely...there is a fly WAY down there.
Just a killer day. With so many fish around I wasn't worried about spooking any, so I just waded through the smaller fish and targeted the mid size and bigger ones. I lost a monster to some sharp rocks and sawed off tippet, but I caught a lot of fish in the 13-16 lb range, and two that scaled out at 18 lbs. The carp woke up today, and I was right there with em.
18 comments:
John, you need to stop these posts. You're making the rest of us feel bad.
And I need to get back out there on the water and do my best impersonation of you!
Today was crazy. So many fish around...
Are you friggin' kidding me? You've caught more total carp poundage in the past couple of posts than I'll see all year. Killing me over here.
Airplane ticket Ty...what is it, a six hour flight?
Target rich is key; it's the key asset of your scenario out there. Add in a deadly technique and a solidly driven and skilled carper... look out.
And happy birthday BTW. This worked out perfectly, which is great man. Nice work.
Hell yeah! I'm hoping this weekend will be hot by me
Big favor!!! Just starting to fly fish for carp. I'm having quite a bit if success, but would appreciate if you shared some of your rigs and favorite flies with us. Thanks a lot. Loving the photos
I knew you would slay 'em! Ever since the sun turned up the fish really turned on. Very nice mirror too. Good job man! Glad you had a good b- day holiday.
That is too cool! And crazy carpin! Spent all day, I mean all day, for 3 well under 10 lb. yesterdy. And I felt good about it. Confused emotions now.
Gregg
You're awesome. And that mirror is the grooviest thing ever.
So there's that.
Thanks Erin...mirror carp are my favorite. i'll take a 7 lb mirror over a 20 lb common any day of the week.
You and Jay need to come check out the columbia. I guide for flies (ask Mctage).
We will have to do that...for flies we have. :)
Great fish John!
John has my nose to the grindstone! Slave-driver! Two more tonight and perhaps I can get them there for next week.
Great day John. Looks like things are setting up perfectly for Montana/Berrell slay-fest 2012.
Your flies are almost too pretty to fish Mctage...almost! Wendy and I will catch some monsters on those and then you and I will replicate that this summer.
Man, I don't care if it's 12 hours. I'm coming out there next year.
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