Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Making The Most Out of A Bad Situation.



As usual, it starts with planning around midnight. A text message that contains only a few words but they mean a whole lot more than just, "lago x?" It translates into, "Do you want to slay some bones early tomorrow morning?" The reply is often even shorter than the invitation, a simple "son," is all that is needed. That tends to translates to, "Heck yea, I am down for some GOLDEN BONES!" Fast forward a few hours of sleep and we are lakeside gearing up and discussing tactics and fly choices while a dozen carp actively feed yards away. Will it be a damsel? A crawfish? Perhaps an egg pattern? How about a dragon? A twelve foot leader? 4x or 5x? We settle on our preferred methods and start stalking the shallows.

Its been almost a year since we started hunting these fish at this locale and since that time things have changed dramatically. Nowadays, the carp are seasoned veterans of the hunt and realize that an apex predator awaits them several days a week armed with a long silly rod and neon green line that casts fast moving shadows on the lake bottom. No longer are we the only ones that hunt these fish. There are others out there. Fly anglers too. The game has changed and it has only resulted in a much more rewarding experience. You have to really earn the fish these days. You have to adjust your approach, develop new flies, lengthen the leader, and drop the poundage on the tippet. Even then, it can be difficult. Throw in an unexpected event and the difficulty level ratches up into the extreme category.

Watch Your Back Cast.

Out a Ways.

Be Sure To Eat Your Eggs.

We are on the water for little less than an hour before a swarm of people starts encircling our lake. A benefit walk/march/run is taking place in the local park and there are literally a thousand or so people walking the shallow banks of the lake scaring the algae out of the carp population. The fish are on the move, escaping out into the middle of the lake, blissfully aware of every vibration, voice, dog bark, color, and scent that is moving along the bank. We are left shaking our heads from our decision to fish on this lovely day. We manage one carp and miss a dozen others. Premature hook sets. After several years, carp fever still plays with our intuition.

Note To Carp Anglers: Bright Red Shirts Scare Fish.

Gold Rush.

Admiring My Gold.

Letting Go of Tail.

With the difficulty level on a new par, Adam begins tracking down a new type of prey. An organismal biologist armed with a fresh degree, he carefully stalks his targets and captures their attention with a beautiful piece of art wrapped around a hook. Who says you have to fly fish for a species of fish? What is wrong with occasional reptilian or amphibian on the end of the line. The first target is a moderately sized snapping turtle and attacks an intruding crayfish pattern. The second is a dinner plate sized bullfrog that gulps down a damsel. After a few moments of admiration they are released just like any fish species.

One...

Pissed Off Snapper.

One Happy Organismal Biologist.

Calm Before The Storm.

Catch and Release.

Letting Go of Some New Tail.

Face To Face.

1 comment:

Troutdawg said...

Another fine day out again! I'm dying here in the Rockies with rain/snow and the rivers are not cooperating. Time for more lake time and fish before the clouds move in