Joel Hays at dfwflyfishing.com, is formulating a fly that will turn hook up for the Carp pursuits coming this spring and summer. Now, JH is of a scientific bent, while some of us are of an artistic bent – meaning he eats, and we often don’t. Not that JH is devoid of an artistic flair, he fairly qualifies as a modern renaissance fly fisher.

Here is his formula. For those who would like to arrive at this solution on your own, all you need according to JH, is an Ohaus AS120 Digital Analytical Balance (measures 1/10000 gram).

Here are the results:

“Fascinating results.
Given the results of masses (a Gam. SC15 #4 has a mass of .0811g and a pair of mini eyes = .3094g) and calculations, it looks like you need a rough ratio of 2.5X eye mass to hook mass in order to get a fly to invert (this is not taking into effect materials on the hook – which can greatly affect it).

Mini lead eye/ Gam. SC15 = 3.815 (fly works great in the tank – fast sink rate)
L slv bead chain / heavy scud = 2.480 (fly works 7 out of 8 trials in tank – slower sink rate)
Med bead chain / heavy scud = 1.232 (fly does not invert in tank)

So, in order to get the med. Gold chain eye to work (same eye on the venerable Carp Bitters) I need to find a hook with a mass of .0547 g.

YEAH BABY!!!!! Who said flyfishing is an art?”

Does anyone understand that geekiness? Give me my art — video of testing in the new aquarium should be forthcoming once success is visible to the aided eye. If it catches fish, it is art – to an artist. Or, if it catches fish, it is science – to a scientist?

Maybe when you live in a slightly behind town, in a somewhat behind part of the Country, maybe what you do for entertainment is go to the new Kroger on the farthest side of town just to see what it looks like. The isles are big and the floors are clean and bright. The shopping carts roll perfectly, quiet and stealthy through angled isles and fruit islands.

Then, like manna from heaven, you spy the beer and wine isle. Or should I say, a beer isle, and two wine isles – front to back isles. It reminded me of California where wine and beer are represented on an entirely different scale in your local grocery.

Then, like a beacon – SHINER 100 Commemorator – at eye level and … cold.

I am starting my second 100, and so far I can say it is a good beer, respectful to Shiner’s past (color a little lighter color than legendary Bock) and with a “Fat Tirish” taste. But, what do my aging buds know? Thank you sir, may I have another?

RAY ROBERTS – Water stained; 44-48 degrees; 1.34′ low. Black bass are slow on red XCalibur Rattle Baits. Crappie are good on jigs walking the creeks. White bass are good on CC Jigging Spoons (worked slow or dead sticking). Catfish are excellent on cut shad and prepared bait in 25-30 feet.

LEWISVILLE – Water off color; 46-50 degrees; 3.92′ low. Black bass are slow on suspending rogues, spinnerbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on brown/blue jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on liver and cut shad in the creeks along bends and humps.

TEXOMA – Water off color; 44-50 degrees; 0.55′ low. Black bass are fair on jigs, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs. Smallmouth bass are fair to good on live shad and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows around boathouses. Striped bass are fair on live shad, slabs and Sassy Shad. Blue catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared baits.

GRAPEVINE – Water off color; 44-50 degrees; 7.55′ low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern or chartreuse crankbaits, gold/orange jerkbaits, drop shot rigs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in deep water. White bass are good on yellow or white slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait

GRANBURY – Water clear; 2.64′ low. Black bass are fair on watermelon and watermelon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp and stinkbait.

The challenge my friends, is translating this into fly worthy information. It is in there, but sometimes it’s like pescatorial sudoku.