The carp, quillbacks and suckers are making their runs up the rivers and creeks, by the hundreds. Of course, I had to catch one of each of the damn things. Each of the three had to give me a bath before they left. Knocked out a perfectly good cigar. A good handful of water down my waders. The last was more of a mud bath, another good reason to always wear waders.
Only one felt like sitting still long enough for a portrait.
Since I’m catching these things every time I go out lately, or so it seems, I may as well start targeting them. Today there were bugs coming off the water. In the eddies were the carp, sucking the bugs off the slack water. I have fly rods, I have caddis flies. I may as well sight fish for them.
Maybe then I’ll catch more smallies.
Speaking of which, I did land a couple of those. Only the dink would pose long enough for it’s portrait.
I did have 3 nice smallies hooked. Got to see them. Would have been pushing 18 inches on all of them. Problem was, I was standing waist deep in water on the upstream side of a dead fall that created a nice big eddy. The fish were on the other side in the eddy. They didn’t want any part of being near that tree and all 3 came up to toss the lure in my face.
It doesn’t help your fish landing abilities when your main focus is trying not to get sucked under a dead fall.
Makes it hard to concentrate.
I was going to write up a long story about this day.
A little about wading rivers when they’re high and you really shouldn’t be in the water.
Some observations on things found and the beauty of the surroundings.
I was going to write quite a bit about the wonderful condition of the creek. The massive amount of fish migrating up its clear water. What that means for smallie fishing in creeks the next few weeks.
Instead, I sit here smelling like a carp/quillback/sucker.
Makes it hard to concentrate.
I think a shower is in order instead of more writing.
A long shower. Very hot. With lots of soap.
Somehow I think I’ll still be able to smell that carp slime.
The Four Season Angler
6 May 2011You catch more rough fish than most rough fish fisherman I know.
The high water wading article would be good for HO. You should write it.
Travis
6 May 2011The carp smell stays with you, just roll in something else. Skip the bath.
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hambone870
6 May 2011i love carp fishing, i actually target them around the fox lake area in the summer
Ken G
6 May 2011I like catching anything. Would be nice to catch more of the targeted fish of the day.
I made the mistake of grabbing the line at one point on that carp. I use braided line.
My little finger paid for that mistake.
Chris
6 May 2011Revel in the fact that you’re fishing… Carp are underrated–they pull hard and can be very challenging, especially with that fly rod of yours! Knock ’em dead! (literally). Have fun… the smallies will show up eventually!
Ken G
6 May 2011The river is dropping like a rock. I have noticed at normal water levels the smallies will be in with the carp. I’ve been talking about sight fishing for carp for years. Time to go do it.