Great pictures here, taken by KB. It helps to have a professional photographer for a fishing partner!

Here is a picture of the crazy CAG crew from WA and OR. That is me on the left, then David, Mr. P, Rich, MagicWrench, and KB. Pretty eclectic group of fisherman. We had a great time together.

Quick picture of a typical Banks Lake flat...what incredible water. The scenery and company made the trip worthwhile. The fish didn't cooperate and just weren't on the flats, but I can imagine how much fun it would be if they were!

I got back Sunday night from a three day marathon carp fishing weekend. KB, David and I headed out Friday and fished en route to Banks Lake in central Washington. Once there, we joined up with Mr. P, MagicWrench and Rich for a day on Banks. I'll get some pictures and details up later, but it was a great weekend with good company. The catching at Banks was tough, but we surrounded Saturday with a few really good "catching" days, and I certainly can't argue with the scenery or spectacular flats we fished. I hope to see everyone again at another outing! For now, here is a video from Sunday on a nice flat...many carp were caught Sunday...

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I added a couple of new blogs to the sidebar, and just found this great site: WarmFly. Check it out when you get a chance.

Just a few quick pictures below. I have not had the time to write up a full report about the two days spent fishing with Justin in MN, but as always...we had a great time. I somehow managed to break not only my albright exs 7 wt, but Justin's 7 wt Redington Wayfarer. Carp are tough. We caught many fish, had lots of laughs, and got some great video. I'll try to get a more detailed report up when I can, but I just want to say thanks to my good friend. I look forward to this trip every year, and no matter what the conditions are like or whether the fish are biting...we put together a winner.

Check out Fishing and thinking in Minnesota for a more detailed report.





I stole this last picture right off of Justin's blog...It was so cool I had to post it again. None of these fish were thinking of eating, but what an amazing sight!

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More pictures to come, but here is a quick video we took while fishing near Rochester. The carp were spawning and thick in the shallows, but not in the mood to eat, so Justin improvised.

Elia and I hooked 4 fish today, but she is quick to point out that she caught two, and I only caught one. I somehow managed to lose #4. It was a great morning, despite a major allergy attack that had me sitting in the car for 20 minutes waiting for my eyes to stop swelling so that I could see again. Eventually we found a spot where the allergies weren't killing me. The water was unbelievably murky, but if we focussed on fish that were cruising near the surface, we could see them. Tailers were impossible to see, just muddy water even a foot or two from shore. All 4 fish reminded me why carp fishing is so challenging at times. Several of the fish simply veered slightly from their cruising path and slowed just enough to make me suspicious. In those instances I set the hook despite never seeing the mouth open or the gills flare, and each time I was rewarded with a hookup and the fly planted firmly in the upper lip of the carp. No big fish, but they were big enough to put a bend in my 7 wt, and Elia was just a few wraps of flyline away from being taken to the backing with a fish she was fighting. Elia is still pretty little to fight fish on the big rod and I have to reel for her, but she holds onto the rod with a death grip and pulls back everytime a fish makes a run. The 4th and final fish hooked on the day (and 3rd landed) was a nearly invisible tailing fish. I dropped the fly into position (size 12 carp wooley) and waited. A moment later I knew the fish was on top of the fly, but again, could not see any reason to set the hook in the murky water. I set the hook anyway, and the fly was right in the top of the fish's lip. I've learned this lesson a hundred times by now...if the fly is on the fish's dinner plate and the fish does not spook, he probably ate it.

Great day out with Elia. She's quite the little fisher girl!