Spawning Carp

Yeah, not my favorite targets, but ask yourself this. If you were sitting on a couch, relaxing after an extended spawning session and someone handed you a sandwich would you eat it? Granted, you probably are not going to get up, walk to the kitchen, and make yourself a turkey sandwich, but if someone hands you one? Yep, carp will eat to if you feed it to them.

So Van and I walked into this scenario today. Carp everywhere, and 99 percent of them spawning. I think yesterday's sun bumped the temps up and every carp in the area flooded the fields and had a good old time getting down. We heron stalked through their midsts, and stuck some decent fish...including Van's first, second, and third ever carp on the fly. The obligatory Statue of Liberty pose.

Nice fat belly for a handhold on that one. A few more of Van's fish:

Three things played heavily into your success with these fish. First, we needed a heavy fly to punch through the blades of grass and general vegetation surrounding the fish. Second, targets: if the fish were moving on this day, they were spawning...casting at sedentary fish (preferably with their mouths pulsing) was the key. Third (and something that is always true) was stealth. Spawning fish are NOT spooky, but if you are inching closer to a perfect, laid up fish and you step on, or move quickly and spook the spawners they blow a lot of fish in a hurry.

All in all, a great day. Thanks for the company Van! Full sun, 80 degrees, and carp all over...I even caught a couple myself!