Four Takes, One Broken Tippet, Two Landed, One Unglued

My intention was to fish yesterday morning but the Lake Barrett trip the day before just took too much out of me to motivate myself to hitting the water. Last night I thought I might have regretted that decision as Sunday was a perfect breezeless day. Also by 9pm we had a light misty rain that may have affected the fishing today. My fears proved unwarranted.



The carpin' was amazing today. I hooked up on four landing two losing two. The first fish was huge. Making a long cast to the other side of the river, I hooked a big angry runner. He pulled drag making three blistering runs. On the third I got alittle too zealous and yanked and reeled while he was making a dash. That stupid move cost me the fish as the tippet of trailing hare's ear broke off.



I made it to another area and casted to a lone feeder. Fish on! A bit of comedy ensued. I strip set my carp and once he runs I point my rod at him and let him run a few yards before I lift the rod. In doing so, the rod disassembled at the second and third section. I had to try and fight the fish with half a rod. Thankfully these carp only run when they feel pressure and let up when it gets slack. Managing to reattach my rod I continued the fight but for some reason I could not reel any line in. Perplexed I looked a the rod, and in assembling the rod the line had wrapped around the guide essentially creating a brake. Quickly I disassembled the rod, cleared the line and put it back together. I thought the fish had been lost but no he was still on! Having no intention on losing another, I cautiously fought the fish. Eventually landing him. This time the fish took the legless aggravator, my go-to fly.



In time I found a pod of 4 or 5 rummaging around. Making at least 30 casts, I finally hooked up on the largest in the group. I was within a forest of cattails and had to fight the fish while trying to get out to the clearings by lifting the rod high, hoping the line would not clip the high cattails. Making it without losing the fish, I finally landed it. I really should bring my boga, I always forget. Its hard to judge weight when you have nothing to go by.



The wind had really picked up by now so I decided to head back to the truck when I suddenly saw a lone feeder near the bank. Casting to him on the second try, he took. I fought him but on his third run the fly flew back toward me. After that I had enough and left for lunch.

Fly Fishing Barrett Lake Continues to Impress

Barrett Lake continues to please. Ed and I made what is starting to become an annual trip to this fishery. We've been excited by recent reports of 100 fish per angler days by gear fishermen. Although we knew fly fishing numbers were most likely not going to reach that high, both of us knew we were likely to get into some respectable numbers. We were right between the two of us we landed at least 70.
Since Barrett has some unique entrance requirements, getting here can be brutal for anyone not living in San Diego County. Ed made it to my house before 10pm last night. We made our two hour drive and made it to the gate just after midnight. We slept in my LR3 until the gate opened at 5am. Outside temperatures according to the temp gauge went below 35 degrees. Managing a few hours of sleep we patiently waited until we could fish.
Before 5am, the gatekeeper checked us in and let us through the gate. Once we set up our boat, we set off to a point just at the opening of the Hauser arm. Dahlberg Driver was Ed's first choice. I would start of with a Mega Clouser in blugill colors. On Ed's first cast a largemouth blew up on his fly once it landed and proceeded to miss the strike. He would eventually landed at least 4 largemouthes here on topwater. Seeing Ed with some sucess I abandoned the big fly and moved onto my 6 weight loaded with Webb's popper fly. As the sun was starting to come up, the topwater bite slowed down. As always it seems, Ed starts off with a huge lead. He must have had 5 or 6 fish before my first take. I moved on to the Thomas and Thomas Helix 5 weight SW, my favorite rod, loaded with 150 gr line. Pretied with an Articulated Super Sexy Fly (ASSF). This new fly proved its worth. I lost the first fish just at the boat but it produced at least eight or ten before I lost it in the submerged matter. I moved on to the Barret Shad fly. That fly continued to produce numbers as well until I lost it.
Ed was producing some serious numbers as well but ran into some bad luck. His Airflo 200 gr line ripped when he was trying to extricate his fly from the branches. He began fishing his 6 weight floating line with a long leader and a purple wooly bugger. Although he had success, he definitely was limited in where and what he could fish. Its both our opinion that he'd had much greater numbers if he'd had his 6 weight sinking line with him all day. He did fish for sometime his 300 gr 8 weight but gave that up as he, as with I, doesn't much care for bigger rods unless its really called for such as the blue waters.
My top flies were in order of most fish caught: ASSF, Formal Jig Hook Clouser with Propeller, Barrett Shad, Floating Tail Bunny Leech, Bluegill Clouser. Also I did catch one LMB with a size 12 Enrico Puglisi's Bluegill until I lost it in the submerged structure. The largest fish of the day was 2.5lbs taken on Propeller clouser. The second, a 2 lber, was taken on the ASSF. All fish for the were decent sized, no dinks in the bunch for either of us. The several crappies also were of good to better than average size.
None of the Big Flies produced, not so much as a bump. Even for Ed who had slightly smaller but nonetheless large flies failed to tempt a fish to take. I had several SDR (short distance releases) most were just a few feet from the boat. I was at least able to see most if not all of them. Some including my first crappie were of very good size.
We did not keep track of all our fish but we had at least 35 a piece. I do not recall Ed catching anything but LMB. I, on the other hand, had at least 5 crappie, losing several that I did not count as catches along with several LMB as well. We had quit fishing so we could make the first train out at 2pm. Our intention was to stay until 3 but the wind began to howl quite hard, effectively putting the fly rodding to an end. This has been the best I've experienced Barrett. It appears that Barrett is back to its old self which is nice. I hope to make it out again this year but that seems unlikely for now. If I do make it out there it will be most likely next month or the following during the African hot days of summer. Those days are not very pleasant.

Ed with the first fish of the day. Taken on a Dalhberg Diver.

More fish taken on the Driver just before the sun came out.

My first bass on the Articulated Super Sexy Fly.

Articulated Super Sexy Fly (ASSF) takes a two pounder.

ASSF strikes again.

This crappie was taken on a blugill clouser.

Jig Hook Clouser with propeller was the top fly of the day for me.

Two and half pounder on a propeller formal jig clouser in chartreuse.

One of many crappie of the day on a Barrett Shad Fly.

One fly I forgot to try, since Ed was having so much success with the Dahlberg Diver early, was my Lazy Man's Driver. I even tied one with a rattle. I shall remember to try it next time.

Finally!!!

"All good things come to those who wait." If you had told me that days ago or even earlier this morning, I would have probably punched you in the crotch or at least told you to F-Off. But I guess that old saying has alot of truth to it.

I awoke around 7am today and let the dog out to piss. Originally I did not feel much in the mood to go out and attempt another try at carp. I've been just too frustrated lately. After all I'll be fishing one of the best bass fisheries in all of California tomorrow. But since there was absolutely no wind today I thought what the hell.

Once I hit the water, I saw two carp feeding together only a few yards from me. I threw out a cast and promptly plopped the fly right in front of them with a big splash. Spooked, the fish bolted. Great I thought way to F-up that great chance. Much of the day went as such. Several of the first few fish I saw I was getting way too impatient or too cute with my casts. I'd either splash the fly too hard, hit them in the head with the fly or line, or just throw a tailing loop. If it weren't any of these I'd hook my backcast in the cattails every 10 casts. In my mind I was cussing up and down the river. I kept my line in the water and walk up the river. When I retrieved my line, I noticed a bass fry on the trailing San Juan worm . Well I thought at least I'm not skunked for the day.

It seemed that every carp I saw and I saw many, that I'd screw up somehow. Then I saw a lone fish while I was in forest of cattails. I had to cast high, so not to hook up behind me and shoot the line out. Landing in front of the carp, the fly was presented perfectly. It took, I strip set it and ripped the fly of of its mouth. Perfect, just my luck. At this point I was alittle pissed off, alittle meaning alot. I moved up the river and much of the same. eventually I noticed that I had a wind knot. So I changed my leader. All I had was a 9ft 0x, I had for years. Tying it on , I decided to forgo the trailing fly as I'd been casting like an asshole all day. Better keep it simple.

I saw several more fish and I'd make a perfect cast but none would ever take. So for every cast, I'd wonder if the leader was too heavy and being seen by the fish. Since I had no other leaders but 5x, I'd just have to make do. I eventually found a loose group of three and casted at least 30 time before one decided to take. Seeing the fish flare its gills but not feeling any resistance, I wondered if I should set the hook harder. The dilemma was if the carp had not taken the fly I'd spook him off, I set it anyway and sure enough it took. It bulldogged me for a while and I thought perhaps I'd hooked a bass. I reeled the slack line and then it decided to make some runs. In time I landed him and finally accomplished catching my first carp. Unlike Hemingway's Santiago, it did not take my 84 days to get my fish. Thank god. As most people don't care for carp, I decided to keep the carp, I normally do not. Its been at least 15 years since I'd kept a fish. I will use it for practicing Gyotaku.

Although the remaining fish had not spooked I decided to head home and end it on a high note.

Some New Flies For Barrett Lake

Two more days until Ed and I hit Barrett Lake for the first time this year. According to recent reports, gear fishermen are having 100 fish days. It sounds like Barrett is back. Although lately much of my attention has been on carp, I've been spending alot of time at the vice tying new flies for bass. This year I'm trying something different, I'm going BIG. Most of the flies are much larger than I usually fish. I'll be bringing my 9 weight so casting them shouldn't be much of a problem.

These shad flies were actually tied several years ago but I never gave them a real good chance. Originally I had tied it with Icelandic Sheep as the wing. But since I didn't like how unruly sheep can be I cut them off and replace it wth SF blend topped with angel hair. The big eye version has a large rattle.

These articulated shad patterns were my attempt to mimic a crankbait action. The trailing hook is first wrapped in foam before wrapped in estaz so it will ride above the front hook as it dives tbeacuse it has a conehead. I've not tried it yet some I'm not sure if this theory actually works.

I've had these Marc Petitjean Magic Heads in my drawer for a long time and I decided it time to give them a try.

This is another articulated fly with the trailing hook is wrapped in foam before wrapped in mohair.

This leach pattern is nothing new but I did make one addition. As you can see in the photo, the end section of the tail I've glued a small piece of foam so that the tail floats up and undulates. This ideal is not mine I got it from one of Conway Bowman's friends who invented a much more elaborate fly. I liked the ideal for a stationary fly that still entices bass. Such a fly, I would guess, be and amazing fly during the spawn and placing it on the bed and let it sit. I'll have to try that theory next year's spawn.

This is my version of Enrico Puglisi's bluegill fly. I used SF Blend instead of EP's fibers.

This is nothing new, a clouser with a propeller. I tied it big and on a jig hook.

Mega Big Eyed Clousers on 1/0 TMC 800 hooks. These are six to seven inches long and I added weed guards on some so I can throw them in some really nasty stuff. Tied in bluegill colors, olive/white, purple/white, orange/white, and chartreuse/white. These will becoming with me to Newport Bay this year.

A comparison with a clouser I normally fish for bass and at local bays.

More Bad Luck, Two Takes, Two Unglued

Waking up early this morning, I noticed that the air was absolutely still. No breeze at all. After letting the dog out to do his business, I drove to the river. Water was completely glass-like. Not long after reaching the water I was on one small carp near the bank. Without looking behind me I casted hooking up on some tulies behind me. Oh Brother, I thought to myself. Having lost track of the fish while retrieving my fly, I moved on. Within a few yards I found another fish, even larger than the previous. This carp was in the shallows heading toward a deeper pocket so I casted A few feet in front of it into the deep water. I couldn't see him but I slowly stripped line and felt him tug and tug again. Having messed up on all my previous takes (I had set my hook with trout sets, I strip set this one. In doing so I strip set the fly out of its mouth. Crap!!! I just can't get a break.

Moved on, and again within a few yards I noticed more fish. These were tailing. I was in a forest of cattails so there was no way to cast. So I repositioned myself by entering the water slowly and carefully. After several casts there were no takers. I felt that the my trailing fly (a Filo Fly) had not enticed any fish so I decided to try something new. Going through my fly box I decided to tie a yellow glo-bug. While trying to get the fly on the line two carp feed so close to me that I could literally touch them with my rod. Those fish stuck around so when I finally had the fly on I casted to one of them. In time I had him take but I was not quite sure as he was moving directly toward me. I saw him shake few times and I strip set the hook again to make sure he was on, sure enough he was. I got the line tight, he jumped and shook his head like a bass and the line flew limp. I checked the leader and it had broke again at fly. Unbelievable. This is getting absurd.

I saw a few more fish later but I'd screw those up eventually with bad casts. Man, I am Santiago from Old Man and the Sea. Hopefully all this pain will pay dividends this weekend at a Barrett Lake. This bad luck better not follow me there.

Wind Picks Up Right When I Get There

While driving to the water, there was absolutely no wind. It looked as if it was going to be a perfect day for sight casting. Once I arrived and saw the first carp from an elevated position, I made my way down toward him. Just when I made it to the river the wind began to pick up making spotting fish nearly impossible. I stayed just under a hour before giving up. With the exception of one carp, the few fish I did see basically spooked long before I could make a decent cast.

Six Sighted, None Taken

These carp are starting to drive me nuts. All six carp seen today were cruisers, opportunities were tough as soon as you see them the chop on the water hid them. So shots had to be quick and accurate. I had several chase or looked but none took. Frustrating.

Fishing the Evening (No) Bite

After a nice holiday dinner, I thought to work off some of those calories. With this morning's debacle, I had to give it one more try. The shadows, glare and the slight chop in the water made it impossible to see any fish. Skunked again. I'm starting to feel like Santiago, I can only hope it does not take me 84 days to get mine.

This How I Feel

This widgeon has seen better days.

Ed and I planned to fish for carp this afternoon but I received a call from him at 7:40 this morning. He told me his plans were canceled so he could fish now and as there was absolutely no wind we thought we better give it a try. I told him lets meet at 8:15. Arriving on time, we met at the parking lot and began to rig up. Having bought a new leader at Marriott's, I put that on with a BH prince nymph and san juan trailer. We began fishing and saw a few fish cruising. Eventually we split up and I saw a mudding carp in very shallow water only a few feet in front of me. In three casts I managed to hook him up. By this time Ed had reached me and watched the carp come unglued. The leader for the second time failed on me. Originally I thought that the knots must have been tied poorly but the more I think about it, it must have been a wind knot in the leader. Throughout the morning I was casting like an idiot and most likely, although I did not check, must have had formed a wind knot. Once the carp took the fly it turned it and rushed at that moment that is when the line flung back toward me. That was it for me for the rest of the morning. Ed managed to cast to a cruising carp but spooked him once his line hit the water. No fish for either of us. Carp continues to elude me. At least Ed and I will be hitting Barrett Lake on saturday, I know there we'll be hooking up.

Last Shot Till the Holiday Weekend

Before the holiday crowds hit the waters, I gave carp one more try. Fish were hard to find. An hour on the water only three carp were seen. Only one gave me a quick opportunity to cast to it which I failed by throwing a tailing loop that wrapped around the tip section. That's what happens when you get too excited and rush. After fixing the mess the fish was no where to be seen. It was cruising rather fast so even if I made a cast it probably be a one shot deal. While searching along the bank, I saw the second fish was huge at least 20 pounds. It was mudding along the bank, it saw me 20 yards before I saw it. It fled before I even had a chance to take the fly out of stripping guide. The last fish I saw while walking elevated high above the water. Cruising in the shallows, the fish was easily seen from above. When I managed to make it down to the water the fish was no where to be seen. After that I gave up and headed home.

Afternoon Try

After this mornings heartbreak, I chose to hit the water one more time this afternoon. A slight breeze caused chop on the water making it difficult to see any fish in any water deeper than calf level. So all I could spot are fish near the banks. The first carp I saw, I didn't even have a chance at casting to it before it spooked. Moving down stream I saw a small bass or perhaps a bluegill and before I could cast it fled. The second carp I had a good chance and threw the fly just in front of it but it chose not to take my offerings. With only three casts to it, it moved into slightly deeper water and I then lost him in the choppy water. Eventually I got bored of trying to sightcast so I blindcasted into a narrow ambush point and foul hooked a turtle. After releasing it, I moved down the river to see at least 4 bass jump. All out of my reach so I wader toward them but no fish were willing. I decided to head back but before I left I decided to check out one more time the area I got bit this morning. I saw the hump of a feeding carp in the shallows. I moved out of the area and headed 15 yards upstream so I would not spook him. Feeding facing the cattails, the carp gave me a difficult cast especially with the wind in my face. All my casts missed the mark, not one landed toward its face. With a errand cast, I plopped the fly too hard on the water and the fish was gone. I headed back to the car spooking three more carp all of which gave no opportunity for a cast.


Notice the rings at the top left. The hump of the carp may be seen.


Sorry pal that was unintentional. The turtle just before release.

Leader Fails, Frustration Grows

My quest for carp was almost accomplished this morning. Close but no cigar. Having been on the water for only a few minutes I noticed a sunning carp, so I casted to it but had no luck in hooking up. I saw another carp cruising in my peripheral vision and waited to intercept it with my fly. Once the fish came near my fly, I started my slow strips. It did not take. Once I knew it cleared my fly and line, I picked up the line and recasted. The fly landed 2 inches from the carp's face. All the sudden the line went tight, I set the hook. I felt the weight of the fish and all the sudden, dink, the line went slack. Retrieving my line, I saw that the leader was broken at the fly. Its just my luck that I finally get a fish to bite and my equipment fails on me. My quest continues...

Cynara Cardunculus

After a morning meeting at the office, I hit the water to scout parts of the river I'd not fished. I saw no carp or bass but I did make a nice find,cynara cardunculus, or more commonly known as wild artichoke. These plants, from my limited understanding, are edible and taste just like its domestic counterparts although one must be careful as it contains very sharp thorns just about everywhere. Perhaps next time I hit the water I shall forage a few and see how they taste. Since I'm no expert, I just want to make sure there are no poisonous lookalikes.

Third Attempt at Carp, Pleasant Surprise

This was my third attempt at these local carp and I've still have nothing to show for my efforts. The water has cleared somewhat at least to the point where I can at least spot fish in slightly deeper water. Having the sun come out here and there did help for that though. I arrived at 10:30am and once I hit the water I began noticing carp. The first one was tailing and I managed to get a fly in its face and it refused. My next cast sucked and I spooked him. So I moved on to notice some cruising carp and others sunning. None wanted to take. I moved on and saw no other carp as I moved down stream. At the Bowman seminar I asked him if carp ever jump out of the water, he stated he'd never saw any. One guy next to me said he'd seen them jump. I've seen (more like heard) several jumps on this water before and today was no different. Although I've never heard of any bass ever inhabiting these waters, I had always wondered if a rogue bass ever made it way in this river. When I was pointlessly blind casting to practice my double haul, I heard a jump just behind of me to the left. Backcasting I plopped my tandem flies of clouser swimming nymph and San Juan worm rearward. My line quickly went tight and I set the hook. Noticing an outline I knew it was not a carp, I initially thought maybe its some sort of sunfish. After a quick fight I pulled and noticed it was a largemouth. I casted again toward the direction I was originally casting towards and after a few my line went tight again. Unfortunately my leader broke at the first fly and the fish was gone and so were mt two flies. I moved toward my car casting at a few spots and decided to call it a day around 12:30pm. Carp will continue to be my main focus on these waters but its nice to know there are other species I can target as well.

Interesting Item Hitting the Market Soon

Sportdog looks like the first e-collar company to integrate the e-collar and a GPS tracking system. It looks like it will be available in July. Branded as the Sportdog TEK 1.0LT they will not be cheap at a MSRP of $699.99. I really like this idea but I don't plan on getting one anytime soon. Although I am in the market for a new GPS unit, I don't think I can justify paying that much for this unique e-collar. After all my Dogtra 3500NCP is relatively new and currently serves its purpose, I also have a perfectly functional Tri Tronics Sport Basic G3 as a backup. Besides I suspect the GPS will be very basic with no topo maps or any maps for that matter. I know my Garmin GPS Vista is way outdated but I bet its features will be much better than this new Sportdog. Perhaps latter models will be more add these additional features, only time will tell,and if that is the case I may get one then.

Gyotaku

Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form to record natural history particularly fish that dates back to the 1700s. The art form is even still practiced today by sportsmen. There are two ways to make these prints. One way is to cover one side of the fish with ink and then place the paper on top then remove. The other way is to place the paper on the fish first and then add the ink with a small blotter.

They make excellent decorations to any home or office. I plan to add one to mine one day, in fact I asked my father if he could find one when he goes to Japan in September. I'm not sure if he'll find one but I asked him if he comes across one to get it. I've been researching how to make one and maybe someday I'll record my catches. The only problem with that is that it requires you to keep the fish. Perhaps I'll do it to carp as no one cares if one keeps carp.

Another Attempt at Carp

Although I thought it would be a pointless endeavour as the last few days have brought light morning rains and high afternoon winds, I decided to make another attempt at these local carp. Because the last few days I've been tying flies for carp and my upcoming trip to Barrett Lake, its given me a strong desire to get my line wet. The weather has not been cooperating though, in spite of this I decided to I'd give it a try. Once I made it to the water I noticed that the water clarity is next to nil. When I reached an opening in the river, I saw a tailing carp in some cattails in about ankle high water. I thought maybe it won't be so bad after all. I couldn't cast in front of its face as it was digging around the tulies so I casted just at the front edge of the cattails and waited for him to reach that area. Soon enough he came. I began my slow short strips but to no avail. This would be my only shot at fish to today as sight casting was nearly impossible. I hiked up and down the river to check new spots but no fish were in the shallows.

A lot of waterfowl were on the water including these two drakes. I'll see you two in the fall. Afterwards I headed to a nearby community lake to try my luck at some bass. This too I thought was somewhat pointless as I've not caught a bass in that lake in quite sometime. I spent about 40 minutes there and finally decided to go home skunked for the day.

Conway Bowman on Carp

This afternoon I spent my time at Bob Marriott's listening to Conway Bowman's seminar regarding Carp on the fly. It was quite good timing as my interest for carp has peaked. The presentation was filled with good info that I can use on my quest for the elusive golden ghost. Some info I gathered:

Ideal water temperature is 63 degrees but water from 66 to 80 degrees is good. When above 80 degrees, fish the mornings as the fish will usually shut down as temps rise. Use floating lines with 12ft tapered 3x leaders with subtle slow one inch strips. Limit false cast to 2 at most. If you miscast or the fish turns away from the fly, slowly lift the fly out of the water do not rip the fly out as it will cause the fish to spook. Although Conway admitted to not having much sucess in the rivers I'll try to use what he suggested on my local waters.

Local Carping

For the longest time I've wanted to catch (legitimately) a carp on a fly, so this morning I headed out to some local waters that I could attempt to do so. This piece of water is only 10 minutes or so from house right in the middle of the city. Although I've known about this water for over 10 years now, I've never fished it for some reason. Today I decided to change that.

I started at about 10am and fished until about noon. As soon as I hit the water I noticed three carp in about a foot and a half of water. The whole day I was sight casting to fish. Unfortunately this carping thing is new to me and I was unable to get any to take my fly. But that did not deter my joy, I can see why this game is so popular in the UK and elsewhere. In America, carp are just now starting to get a following but it is nowhere near that of the rest of the world.

I must have seen at least 20 or more fish within the less than 2 hours out there. The fly I started with was a wooly bugger with rubber legs and beadhead. Even though I did not hook up with any, I understand the appeal for these fish they are challenging to catch and very weary. Someday I'll figure it out and get one at the end of my line. Hopefully that will be the next time I head out there.