Quick carp trip

Last Friday, me and a buddy headed out to the flats to chase grass carp from kayaks.  I think it's his second time fly fishing from a kayak.  He's not new to the carp game just the kayak.  Didn't take him long to hook-up.  The process was repeated many times over the afternoon.

 In the beginning, we split up and worked the flats from about 50 ft apart.  Sighting and pointing out fish for each other and taking shots at those in range.  It was nice having another set of eyes scanning the flats.  In ideal conditions getting a 30ft shot is great.  Gives you enough space to make a presentation, possibly 2.  Anything closer and the odds of spooking the fish are really high.

The water wasn't clear on Friday but it wasn't chocolate milk either.  We've had a lot of rain and all the rivers and lakes in my area are high and stained...if not chocolate milk.  From the pictures you might think sighting a 20lb grass carp would be easy.  It was anything but easy.  But that's part of the challenge and I love the challenge.

The chrome colored scales and limited movement of the fish really conceals them in the off colored water.  We spooked a ton but we felt the pull of many.  It was a great day.  June starts the travel season for me.  Got a few trips lined up.  Stay tuned for reports.

Carp /ˈkāˌäs/

It's true I have several addictions.  My newest is video edits.  When I get to put some grass ghosts on film it gets worse.  Here's my latest edit.  These guys pull back...you be the judge.

A month in 2 minutes...go!

Made a short video covering the last month of fishing.  Check it out.  Best viewed in 1080p.

"En Fuego"

March has been "en fuego!"  Lots of days spent on the water.  I've been chasing bass, grass carp, took a trip to the FL Keys, and ended the month on the Little Red River.

I'll pick up with the Keys.  The fishing was good but the company was great.  It's rare to spend a week on the road and not have complaints about something.  I have none.  I had never met the other roommates but consider them all friends now.  The winds however, were terrible most days.  We basically had 2 good days on the flats.  But thanks to JK team member and guide Randy Morrow we were on fish everyday.  I can't say enough about how professional and detail oriented Randy was.  He knew all of our names after the first meeting, identified our techniques, and developed strategies for the trips based on what our strengths/weaknesses were.

sharks are fun on the fly

PC Jonathan Meyer

I may have the details off a little (I can't remember my own name most days) but he's been in the Keys ~15 yrs guiding and hosting Eco tours.  Here's his FB page (doesn't post often).  Lower Keys Kayak Fishing  

Like any good guide he spends his time on the water and lets word of mouth do its thing.  Highly recommended for both conventional and fly.

The nights were spent prepping for the next days trip and riding/falling off the Onewheel.  Proud to say I only ate it once (I'm 39).  Mostly because I was smart enough (I'm 39) to not get on it again.  But it was cool...just didn't want to break something on this trip.

Onewheel in action...I almost broke myself on an EMPTY street!

I won't share more than that because Jameson and Brooks killed themselves trying to film the entire week.  The group would be spread out and they'd paddle like crazy, into 30 mph winds, trying to get to the action.  I'll share the video when it's out.  If you saw their last video, "Salty" St Marks, FL,you know it'll be insanely good!

all over the Keys...and our lunch guests.

PC Brooks Beatty

After I got home I spent a few days recovering.  Really the winds were 30-40 mph here in SEAR and I had enough fun dealing with that stuff in FL.

When the winds subsided I went and spent a few afternoons stalking grass carp on the flats.  It's still fairly early and they aren't aggressive but they'll eat.

Celebrated Easter weekend in Mayflower, AR with family.  Its become a tradition to "unofficially" open pool season on this weekend.  Yes, it's still way too cold for the adults.  But kids don't care, even in their Easter outfits.

Before I left for the weekend I checked the COE generation schedule and was shocked to see a half day of low water on the Little Red.  I stayed up way too late Saturday night and got up way too early on Sunday, 3:30 am.  But I was way too excited to pass up on the first low water in months.  

The first hour was silly.  My dead drift and mending looked like I was working a frog for bass.  Eventually I got it worked out and found a few fish.

I'm always amazed that trout will chase down and crush a bugger that swims like a drowning caterpillar.  But won't rise 3 inches to eat a nymph because it's the wrong shade of olive.

Once I got the depth figured out I had a great day.  I didn't move much because I knew high water was on its way and didn't want to be far from my kayak when it arrived.  Around lunch it showed up and carried me back to my truck.  Good way to end the month.  April looks to be just as fun...


 

Finally back on the fly!

Finally found something to throw a fly at.  The grass carp are back up.  My bass fishing is slowly ending.  When the grassies eat on top I can't pass them up.  Instead of writing about how awesome it was here's a video from the trip.  

Good things happening at Looknfishy

Keeping up with the theme from last week.  Fish all I can and spend as little time as possible thinking about...anything not fishing related.  I've been fishing during day light hours.  Reading about fishing when I'm not fishing.  When I can't fish and get tired of reading about fish, I write about fish.

Grass carp rapidly departing my presence

 If you like to read fishy stuff check out my Crazy about Trout story in the Nov issue of The Fisherman's Journal. 

Just an image, click link above

Back to the fishing.  The bass have been really fired up.  There are certain times when chasing bass on the fly is better than others.  Anytime I can go is the best time.  Spring and Fall are great times also because bass are more aggressive and actively fattening up for the winter.

Photo was featured on the Orvis FB page

Meaning they'll move away from cover to eat.  Awesome for me b/c I suck casting at distances further than my shadow.  When they get on a seek and destroy mission I start throwing streamers and working them very aggressively.  My streamers come off the vise looking like "Gizmo" but end up looking like a "Gremlin" when they hit the water.  So I'm going for a reaction strike.  The results have been good.  But I hope it picks up more as they really start to key on bait fish.

Still found some time to chase grass carp but that bite is slowly but surely fading.  I went yesterday afternoon and it was more work than I'd like.  Not sure but I might call it a year on them.  Hopping ponds to keep from paddling wasn't fun.

taking a short cut...you can do that in a kayak

So Much Water and Mile High Fly Co decals...send me some swag and I'll put fish in front of it.

A few are still up in the shallows and seem willing to eat after the water warms.  Which has been lunch time for me and them.

Its been an exciting week as I had a photo (bass from above) featured on the Orvis FB page.  That was pretty cool.  I was asked to speak at the Arkansas Fly Fishers monthly meeting in April, really cool!  Plus I've been connecting to some other people on my FB page.  I enjoy talking fish to anyone who will listen...love social media for connecting those w/ similar interest.  Lastly, I have some great news I really want to share but I've been asked to wait....so when I can tell everyone I will!

Good stuff on the web:
The Fisherman's Journal http://www.thefishermansjournal.com/
So Much Water http://somuchwater.com/
Mile High Fly Co http://milehighflyco.com/

Techniques for targeting grass carp on the fly

Below is a collaboration from myself and a buddy** covering nearly 3 years of chasing grass carp.  They're a very challenging fish to take on the fly and it's taken some time to learn their behaviors and develop some techniques that offer repeatable success.  Over the years I'd estimate we've caught hundreds, if not more, grass carp on the fly.  I'm not an expert but here are some techniques that have helped me bring grassers to hand with regularity.   

The first thing I do is look for aggressive behavior and eliminate the carp that won't eat.  In life, there are situations that no matter how hard you work or what you do...you have ZERO chance of being successful.  Searching for carp in the right mood and moving past the ones that only offer rejection will help you in your quest for success.  Some things to look for include:

Caught this sequence of a grass carp porpoising...

If you see this and your w/ a buddy...you throw his fly rod in the water and move fast b/c that's an eat in waiting

Tailing - Fish feeding on the bottom, tail out of the water. 

Tailing in the shallows

Cruising - When you see them shining or porpoising in the distance.  But don't confuse with fleeing.  When a large group of carp are spotted moving in the same direction, away from your general direction, they've decided they don't like you.  In my experience these carp are on guard and grouped for protection.  Pack up and find new water.

Feeding on a hex hatch - epic days!

Feeding - Obviously if you see a grasser come up and eat something...bees, wasps, water bugs...go that way fast!  Feeding carp are aggressive and seem oblivious to their surroundings.  Example, a few weeks back I saw a group schooled up eating water bugs.  The water looked like bass schooling on the surface (hope you've experienced that situation).

After I find a target, the next part is getting a fly in front of the grasser.  I never blind cast.  I always sight fish them.  Having a kayak is a huge bonus in my opinion.  I've chased them from a boat using a trolling motor and feel like they can sense the motor turning.  The kayak allows me to access the skinniest water without making a disturbance.  The small footprint of a kayak allows me to get close (20-30 ft) to them and make accurate presentations.  I don't have much success outside of the dinner plate area.  They just don't go far to eat in most situations.  

I try to go in the middle of the afternoon with the sun high and when the wind is calm.  The water I chase them in is usually clear so spotting them is easy.  Conversely, it also helps them spot the kayak ninja.  Dressing to match your surroundings will help but it really doesn't matter how many buffs you wear, you'll never blend in all the way.  In the end, I still look like a a$$ clown standing behind an island in the picture below.  

Kayak ninja in action...can you see me?

What I've noticed and feel is vital to my success is how close I can get when I don't move.  See pic below.

2 grassers within 10 ft.  I was eating lunch and drifted into them.  They never knew I was there...until I stood up.

I'm convinced they pick up quick movements very well and react to them in sheer panic.  I try to avoid witnessing such behavior by doing my best to move slowly and being deliberate with my movements.  Example, if I need to squat to put my paddle down, I'll be casting from a squatted position...it's good for the glutes!   

Small bream poppers have been fantastic when they're looking up.  If you can make your own upgrade the hook and you'll lose fewer fish to straightened hooks.  Start with no movement and let it sit motionless on the water.  If that doesn't get any interest I'll give it a little twitch or drag it slowly across the water.  It's 50/50 on freak out or eat.  If they won't eat on the surface I drop something off the hook.  Droppers are typically small bugger types, nymphs, and other slow falling carp patterns.  I've had very little success dragging anything to a grass carp.  They don't like to see things moving around them.  A slow fall seems to elicit a better response.

One of several grass carp posts I have on my blog.

http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/2015/08/poor-mans-redfish.html

If any of these tips (cough), help anyone land a few I'd love to hear about it.  You can post directly to my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/looknfishy. Or send pictures to me here: looknfishy@gmail.com and I'll share if that's cool.

**My buddy goes by ark_salmotrutta on Instagram.  He's got some killer pictures from fly fishing around the US...if he'll ever share them.  He just got on social media (has a real job) so keep an eye out for future posts.   

Never ending fishing

It's been a while since I checked in on the blog.  If you've been following on facebook (thanks for the "likes" and comments, always appreciated...keep'em coming!) you know I've been fishing non-stop. The weekdays have me chasing grass carp.  Trying to get in as much carp'n as I can before the water gets to cold for them to be active on the flats.  Last time I checked I had over 500 pictures of carp swimming, running, pulling, flopping out of my hands, tail slapping me, and posing with me!  The fishing has been great...not 500 fish great, but it's been pretty insane.

In the middle of the carp'n a buddy invited me to the Little Red River for the weekend.  We had a blast camping and fishing 3 days...it was nice to be in a boat and not my kayak.

We were hoping for some high water and trowing some streamers...tied a few special for the trip but the COE never cooperated.  It didn't matter, we caught some beautiful fish.  Sight fished a few nice browns and 1 huge 25" bow.  Fish like that make it nearly impossible to get a good presentation.  I ended up snagging a branch on a roll cast and spooking it!

My buddies 17" bow

Sow bugs practically crawling out of the water. Guess what pattern was very productive!

Got back home on Monday and went back to the usual carp chasing.  My buddy has more pictures and when he sends them I'll post to FB.  It's been fun, never ending fishing continues....