There are really two things that come into my head with regard to this trip (aside from the obvious good company, bad food, etc). First...and this cannot be understated.
This shit is tough.
Catching carp on the fly is not easy. Basically everything has to go perfectly, and even when it does, sometimes you still won't catch the fish. They are finicky, spooky, and somewhat strange. Today we had monster carp tailing heavily well within casting distance, and we didn't put any of the slabs in the net. We did a lot of things right, but we rarely did everything right.
Which brings me to thought number two. Near misses. This trip was full of near misses and close calls. If we had stuck every 20 plus lb fish that was feeding visibly within casting range I am not sure anyone would have believed us. The big fish were out in force, and they thoroughly defeated us. And when I talk about "big" fish and 20 plus lbers...I really mean it. I have caught and scaled a lot of big fish, and my fish eyes are calibrated pretty well. I don't mean 15 lbs like
this fish...I mean 15 lbs.
So it just never came together for us. We got a few today, but the trip will be remembered for just how tough and difficult our chosen target species really is...and how close we came to an epic outing.
Thanks to
McTage...appreciate you making the trip and sticking with those tough fish. So close to a few truly memorable monsters...guess you will just have to come back.
Posted with Blogsy
13 comments:
"Carp fishin' ain't easy. And neither is pimpin'".
Seems like you guys had a killer trip. I still think we need to get a big carp on the fly meeting set up. It would be hard to find water to support more than a few anglers at any given time, but I am sure we could come up with something
Also...I am updating the blogroll - wanna swap links?
I swear i already had you on the blogroll Brookfield. My bad man, i'll get that fixed asap.
It would be tough to do a huge gathering...lake MI might work.
Done. you are up there now...my bad. i really thought i had you on there, but i must have been clicking over from facebook.
It's tough fishing for doctors v. third graders. But oh to see what you saw that day!
Gregg
No worries! I think lake mi would be awesome. I am dying to do a flats trip. I just dont know where the flats are.
I hear there are several in a few different states
pretty sure every shoreline on lake MI has "flats." The Traverse City area is the most famous...that big bay is just covered in shallow water. i have only fished lake MI 3 times...still learning.
I think the fish in that video was made of lead...only way i can figure him at 15. Sounds like you guys had a good carp trip.
Agreed Dan. Easily the worst example of over estimating fish size that I have ever seen. The YouTube comments are funny. One guy said he has caught 15 lb carp that would have eaten that fish!
Great report!! Those are some impressive fly caught carp.
Way to persist boys. Some nice fish. And as you note shit ain't easy.
Way to persist boys. Some nice fish. And as you note shit ain't easy.
Of course if it were easy we'd all be looking for something else to do. Seems like one of the common threads running through carpheads is that we don't mind getting our asses kicked once in a while.
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