Invasive Species

Invariably, I end up drawn into the whole "invasive species" debate with regard to carp. Recently, I couldn't avoid this thread on Westfly.

Catch and Release Carp?

 

Overall, a much more civil discussion than I usually run into on the web. My thoughts are pretty simple. Protect native fish wherever and whenever we can. I just don't see how we can eliminate invasives on systems like the Columbia or Willamette with any effectiveness at this point, and I don't like useless killing. Also, and more to my point on the thread, carp deserve the same respect as other, more glamorous invasive species. I get tired of the call to kill all carp, but save the smallmouth? Fish that prey directly on our native species (like smallies, largemouth, and walleye) impact our fishery as much, if not significantly more than carp. Mostly, I get tired of the attitude and ignorance of many people when it comes to carp. News flash folks...these fish ain't what your daddy told you!

 

 

Irony

I turned to move upriver just in time to see a guy leap from the truck before the driver could even squeeze it into the tiny pullout already containing my jeep. He sprinted up the road to claim the head of the pool I was clearly walking towards. A second guy leapt from the truck before the engine turned off and he promptly low-holed my buddy Scott. I stood on the bank, stunned, with no where to go but back to my jeep. I climbed the bank as the driver of the truck got out and casually strung up his Spey rod.

"Any luck?" I asked with total sincerity despite having been completely cut out of the spot we had just been fishing.

"No, and some jerkoff bait fisherman just chased us out of the run we were fishing up river!" He snarled.

I looked at his truck...CA plates. Not that that mattered.

"Yeah, it happens" I said, then I broke down my rod and Scott and I went off in search of other waters.

Meat

I don't get to fish stuff like this on my home waters. You gotta love lake MI carp.

 

 

Lake MI

 Getting there.  Podcasts and rabbit strips this afternoon.

Home Again

 Spent the past few days back home in Whitefish,MT.  As much as I love Portland, I do miss that place.  Great to see my parents, and sister Dani and her family. Will be home tomorrow, and hope to get out fishing soon!

 

 

A Blast from the Past

Seeing lots of first carp of the year posts...I am jealous.  All I can do is look at old pictures and dream of warmer days.

 

I will be back in the game soon enough folks.

 

River City Flyshop

 A man without a fly shop is like...Well, I can't think of anything.  I suck at analogies.  But I can say that I would be lost without the boys at River City.  Don, Pete and the crew are great guys and I do my best to spend my fly fishing cash at his shop whenever possible.  Like all great shops, it is the kind of place you can pop into and talk fishing, tie some flies and tell some lies.  My kind of joint...and they put up with my carp fetish well.  Don cut me a sweet deal on some dumbell eyes in bulk this year.  A set of 100 will be winging to Wendy Berrell shortly, and the carp of lake MI should be quaking in their boots.  We intend to lay the smack down this spring and with Don's help we will be locked and loaded this time around. Dumbell eyes and rabbit strips...a deadly combination.

If you are in the area, you really need to go see River City Fly Shop.  When is the last time you had to argue with the guy behind the counter because he was not charging ENOUGH for what you were buying?  Happened to me today.  

Long live the local fly shop!

 

Yuck

 It might be a while before I get out fishing.  That is the Willamette Falls as of this morning...and the rivers have actually dropped in the past day.  Non stop rain outside now though, so expect another spike in levels.  I may have to talk myself into a run to the deschutes or crooked.  

Flies are done for the swap, in the mail tomorrow.  Can't wait to see the results.  

A solid start

Most of my flies fall in the "flies that catch fish, not fisherman" category...these included.  

 

 

Game time

Time to start knocking out some flies.