QUEST FOR THE COMMON CARP

I talk carp with Joel Hays at the Lowbrau in Pilot Point, Texas – after a midday trip to the flats on Lake Ray Roberts last weekend.

The fly fisher’s quest for common carp seems to show no signs of letting up any time soon. Guides talk openly amongst themselves about fly fishing fad fish, whether a pursuit has run its course, and what hasn’t really been done yet. Personally, I don’t know what the next fad fish is, as it seems through the increasingly affordable ability to produce, package and distribute DVD’s with the latest greatest fad fish chase, the fad fish list is shrinking quickly.

The staying power of a pescatorial pursuit is hard to measure. Certainly things get “hot” then peak, and cool off or disappear. By now, fly fishing for carp has certainly peaked, then settled in as a very practical adventure that is easy to access and a challenging enough fish to keep fly fishers coming back for more. Predictions of the carp fly fishing phenomenon’s demise seem to be a bit premature all these years later. It may well be “so 2004,” but 2004 was a heck of a good time compared to the last couple of years. Maybe carp are the new “Golden Oldies,” sentimental favorites with a look only a true fan could appreciate.

Carp have even sprouted their own cottage industry of fly lines, flies, clothing, artwork and dozens of sites dedicated strictly to the pursuit of carp. Whether or not carp are “IN” for the long haul, they certainly have the support of an industry looking for hero fish.

“Zissou’s” first common carp caught on fly with me recently on Lake Ray Roberts, Texas, while fishing the flooded flats.

The (Not So) Short List

There is a list of things anyone hoping to have success carp fishing, on the Ray Roberts flats for instance, needs to have a fair chance at one of the sharpest freshwater fish you will ever experience.

If we think in terms of outfitting yourself, head to toe, when wade fishing for carp on the flats, you will have a clear picture of everything you need to get close to, stalk and catch carp.

HEAD – Carp are most active in the warmer months when the sun is high in the sky, and your pursuit of carp is typically during the brightest overhead sun of the day. Translation; you’ll need good headgear like a fully brimmed fabric or straw hat. No hat will protect your face from reflected light though. So think about getting a straw hat large enough to wear a BUFF underneath. Coverage like this will keep your skin in tact, and as the bug population increases, you’ll also have a fighting chance against them as well.
EYES – Your eyes are crucial to your success flats fishing for any fish, and especially carp in freshwater. Remember my saying; “See the fish. Be the fish?” Forget about having a successful trip if you aren’t equipped with polarized sunglasses in a rose, brown or tan color – NOT the deep saltwater grey or blues. They don’t have to be expensive, they just have to work. Decrease your odds by 75-percent if not wearing polarized sunglasses.
NECK – Again, the BUFF if worn properly, will do a fantastic job of keeping the sun off your neck, and prevent premature “turtlenecking.”

Be sure to check out my old post on sun protection for fly fishers.

TORSO – You will need a well ventilated shirt, with my bias toward a fishing shirt. They can range from a long sleeve flats tee, to a vented fishing shirt with all the pockets. I buy the cheap Academy brand, and have the bottom shirt tails custom cut square to keep them from dragging in the water and allow for longer arms (by purchasing a larger size shirt), and greater ventilation. Shirt colors need to be common sense – from dark blue to white, and anything in between. Carp have keen senses, and that certainly includes eyesight. I have even worn camouflaged blue tie dyed with fantastic success – getting me extra close to carp – to the point they swim between my feet if I remain still. During cooler months, before the Texas heat really kicks in, I wear synthetics and when I need the extra cooling I wear cotton that I can get wet to keep cool.
PANTS - Think in terms of tan or colors that are close to tree or mud color. If you are following along, the gradation runs from brown pants to blue sky shirt. If you blend in, you will be able to get a lot closer to carp, and they will even swim toward you. Cotton is pretty much pointless as it gets heavy and dries too slowly. Your most practical fabrics are synthetics, and my favorite came from REI, and have nothing to do with fly fishing. If you wear shorts, you will get sunburned.
FEET – Wade fishing for carp can be quite the expedition. Some guys just get a cheap pair of hiking boots and waste those on the muddy flats. I can imagine that they would not last too long since they are made for dry land use. Your feet can make or break your trip. Substantial distance can be involved. You need to be comfortable, and that starts at your feet. I wear a pair of wading boots – nothing fancy, and then some neoprene gravel guard boots to keep debris out from between my feet and boots. It works, even if neoprene boots are the shortest lived thing in fly fishing clothing, they are something I consider indispensable.

RODS REELS LINES FLIES LEADERS

RODS

We are always trying to match up fly rods to carp, and as long as they keep making new fly rods, we will keep trying to apply them to a carp. Generally, I like shorter rods that give an advantage to dapping for docile carp who haven’t sighted me. Rod weights can run anywhere from five to seven, but you’re welcome to come out with a three and two pound test leader and try your hand at a IGFA record – if that rows your boat.

REELS

Chances are you will go to your reel when fly fishing for carp, and during primetime, chances are you could see that backing. Now I’m not saying you need a Tibor, or Hatch reel. You need a reel that has a good drag, and you need to be comfortable getting carp on the reel as soon as practical. Strip in a carp at your own peril.

LINES

I am about to order a new (to me) carp line to see what they’re all about, but you want a line that turns over at short distance, and at the same time has a soft enough presentation to not spook carp. Unless carp are spawning, in which case they don’t eat much, their senses are acute and they are highly “spookable.”

LEADERS

It has been years since I bought a leader of any type, but I have come to count on tying my own leaders using Seaguar Invis-X fluorocarbon in two pieces – a 20 or 25-pound butt section and a 4, 6 or 8-pound tippet section. I prefer the sink rate I get with fluorocarbon, and it’s pretty obvious that fluorocarbon is invisible to carp.

FLIES

Stock up on store bought (or make your own) Bonefish Bitters in gold/brown. Other flies like the Coyote Carp Fly are available for purchase in the FLY SHOP, and you can do well with dragonfly nymphs and other flies. Sometimes carp get very picky, and other times all you have to do is be in the ballpark of what they may be looking for on a particular day, or entomological time of year.

Here’s what is most important about fly selection: FLIES NEED TO RUN HOOK UP. You will lose lots of flies running hook down. Roots of vegetation, rocks and all sorts of debris will reach out and snatch your fly right off the end of your tippet if it runs hook down.

FOOD WATER

Wading the flats is like walking in the surf when you factor in the suction of mud on your feet. It’s not for the faint at heart, and four hours will just about do you in for the rest of the day. A wading stick adds stability, and the lighter weight EVERYTHING you carry will be rewarded in the long run. In a four hour (1/2 day) of flats walking, you will burn off some calories, and need to take in plenty of water. I carry a Nalgene of water and a couple of Cliff’s Bars to knock the edge off – and I am not a heavy eater anyway. Going through two Nalgenes in the hot months is pretty commonplace. A typical distance on shoreline is about a two mile wade.

SUMMARY

Everyone has their own ways of doing things and never more so than in fly fishing. I am always interested in hearing about your experiences, and they would certainly add depth to this post. That said, I think this just about covers all the things you may need, besides what fits between your ears, to have a safe and successful outing fly fishing freshwater flats for carp.

BOOKING A TRIP

This post pretty much covers all the technical aspects of the fly fisher’s quest for common carp. The technique, nuances, entomology and tips come with booking a trip with a guide experienced in going after carp on fly rods. Feel free to go to my contact page and let me know if you are interested in booking a guided trip, and be sure to check out the comments on this article to pick up any things that may have been inadvertently left out, or recommendations from others. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you out there!

By now you probably realize that sand bass are not PMD sipping brown trout. And that’s as it should be – it’s a southern thing (be sure to read that with a twang). Catching sand bass on a fly rod is not the most efficient way to fill your ice chest, but I am beginning to believe it’s a way to catch fewer larger fish – if you follow some simple tips.

FLY FISH OR SPINNING ROD?

Even the greats carry spinning rods. Ask Lefty Kreh. For the purpose of Texas Fly Casters, we will limit ourselves to the sand bass on fly rod, but believe me – you can catch a heck of a lot of sand bass on a spinning rod with simple lures.

FLY ROD

Shorter is better. Then, it depends on what your goal is for a day of sand bass fishing in your local creek. If you just want to fight, catch-and-release sand bass, then go with a slower, lower weight rod – a four weight or five should do well in extending battles and bending rods into a fairly radical arc. IF you are catching fish to eat, then you want to make short work of them so that you can add to your taco feast. Move up to a strong six, seven or even eight weight rod to give you tight loops and quicker fights. The main thing is wielding a shorter rod – unless you don’t mind being in the overhanging branches and trees instead of in the water catching fish.

LEADERS

I hardly ever talk about leaders, but I am starting to realize they make a difference on creek fishing for sand bass. Why? It’s possible that there’s enough current to keep your leader from dropping far enough if:
1) it’s too short
2) you’re using a shallow running lightweight fly
Your casting in tight quarters is good, right? So, a nine foot leader will give enough sink in current to get a fly down into the zone. That may seem strange when you could be dealing with such shallow water, but if you find yourself getting hung on the bottom – change out for a shallower running fly. I am a big fan of fluorocarbon leaders I tie myself, but again you could change from fluoro to mono if you are getting hung up on underwater obstructions. Leaders are less about what a sand bass sees, and more about what gets and keeps the fly in the strike zone.

FLIES FOR CATCHING SOUTHERN SAND BASS IN CREEKS

For every sand bass fly fisher, there’s a fly they like and will swear by on a stack of bibles. For me, it’s what’s easiest to tie, cheapest, and what I have confidence in throwing. That would be the Clouser Minnow. It would take a week to feature all the flies I’ve seen that are dedicated to a fish, sand bass, that have no reputation whatsoever for being picky. There are a couple of things that I do that make a difference, in my confidence at least, when it comes to my Clousers for sand bass. First, I tie exclusively on jig hooks. It makes the fly much less likely to be run hook down, and means you will keep that fly through several dozen sand bass (if well tied). Feeding sand bass are pretty much relentless, so they will keep after a fly until it bites them back. I have also had great results with circle jig hooks. There are colors I am more confident in, and they include; red over chartreuse, red over white, chartreuse over white and black over black. That last one is specifically for stained water, just before dark, or overcast days.

WADE OR BANK

You have to be a very good caster to limit yourself to bank casting a fly rod in southern creeks. In most cases, you battled the brush to get to a spot on the bank, and then you do battle with low hanging branches. It’s a losing battle. You will have more fun if you take the plunge, and wade the creeks to catch the stampede. you can open up your casting, and there’s no reason not to cast downstream, swing a good drift into current, and vary your strip until you find the speed they like.

CONDITIONS AND NUANCES

There are some environmental conditions and behavioral nuances of fly fishing for sand bass.

When sand bass are running in the creeks, it’s a gradual arrival, followed by a full-on stampede. Right now, they are trickling in, and you can catch some and none depending on a number of factors. Call them moody.

Male sand bass lead the way, followed by much larger female sand bass. When the males are running, you will see fish in the eight to ten inch range. Females typically run a couple of inches larger and are fuller bodied, slabby.

Whether they are just starting to run, or are stampeding, a lot of times you will experience waves of fish coming through. They will be hitting your fly every cast for ten minutes, and then it’s over … for ten or twenty minutes. Then, they come on again. You just have to cast through the slow times, and don’t second guess yourself.

OBSERVE YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Just because everything is right, doesn’t mean everything is right. If the water is muddy due to fresh rain runoff, you could have a challenging time catching sand bass in the creeks.

There are times when you can actually smell sand bass in the creeks. Once you smell that smell (my last Lynyrd Skynyrd reference), you know what it is. It’s a fishy smell that just seems to linger in the creek bottoms.

Look for nervous water. When sand bass are stampeding, they will be in shallow creeks by the hundreds, and through a long creek run – by the thousands. With that many fish, there has to be some nervous water. It can be right along the cut banks, in shallow gravel runs – again, you will know it when you see it. They can run, but they can’t hide. If you find a spot that progresses from a deep pool upstream to a shallow run, gravel bar, or any other obstruction, you can bet there are sand bass bunched up in the deep pool. Bet on it.

Remember that sand bass runs come in a latitudinal wave – from south to north. So, if you are reading about sand bass stampedes down south, and you’re up north, it may not be time yet where you are. If you don’t see other fishermen fishing during normal times, then it may not be time yet.

CONCLUSION

Sand bass are a great fish to expose young fishers to – whether fly fishers or spin fishers. If you have a kid who needs that spark to learn to enjoy the success of fishing, sand bass are the ticket. They can easily have one of “those days” when conditions are right for southern sand bass stampedes.

Sand bass are often the fish that symbolize spring for me, and knock the rust off my winter bones in short order. Most of us have survived the winter, and we’re ready for one of “those days” ourselves. Sand bass will oblige. And I’ll be honest, during these hard economic times, sand bass just taste good.

NOTE – Still in Seattle, Washington, so keep your eyes on the tweets for sights from there.

Louisiana redfish fly courtesy Captain John Iverson.

I couldn’t help but feel like a “dude” as I lined up my two rods by the boat, and slipped them into the fly rod holders in the Mitzi. All clean, and pressed in Simms this and Simms that, I tell myself it’s the right gear (like the Mitzi rod holder areas) for the job, no matter what the name is. Still I feel a bit too clean.

We push off, crank up and idle out through the narrow channel lined with piers and boats. It’s not early, but early enough in The Big Easy. I always wonder if the guide wishes we were earlier or later, but the cloud bank covering the sun tells me all I need to know. This is going to be tough without Mr. Sun to light up the redfish TV. Outside the no wake zone, we are on plain in a flash, and running at 30 through the maze of channels, open water and marsh. Obviously, the Captain knows his course, there are no navigational electronics on board, like the back of his hand.

Bundled against the morning wind, up and running.

We finally drop off plane and the Captain cuts the engine. Stealth is the rule, and he hops onto the poling platform and starts moving us down the edge of a grass line. The wind is enough to ripple the water, and as we continue to pole, ripple the Captain’s confidence as well. If I were doing this, I would definitely point out the disadvantages as well, a cloudy day, a windy day, all would be noted disclaimers.

On deck. Looking for signs of famous Louisiana redfish.

I’m up first, and that vision thing just isn’t working yet, as I see a few small fish dart under the boat, and larger mud clouds further away – the telltale signs of spooked reds. Then I see a huge fish pass under the boat like a subsurface smart bomb at least three feet long. Now I am the one who’s spooked. There’s still no “shot” to be had though, so we pole on, and on. The show is awesome from the vantage point of a casting platform two feet above the deck of a Mitzi Skiff in the Louisiana marshes. When the sun peaks, the water TV is on, and it’s the best episode I’ve ever seen. Right off I see a red the size of one of those Baghdad cruise missiles pass under, stabilizer fins out and moving subsonic without apparent propulsion, self correcting and gone. This, I say, is not for the weak hearted.

Captain John describes directing someone where to cast. “like playing a video game with a broken console.” However we eventually tune in.

I give my turn to JG after who knows how much time, and he steps up to the platform like a batter stepping into the box. Time to kick back and enjoy the ride. Shots aren’t coming quick, clean or often. Getting into a groove is impossible.

The sun works its way up, and I am back on the platform, when finally I get a shot, more like a point blank drop on about a 20-inch red. I drop, and it hauls under the boat in a cloud of mud. Another shot a little later, at ten feet, nets a weak set and slight tug followed by a loose fly and rocketing fish. Gone. Now I look inside, and wonder how all this will end. Overreacting to sight casting for redfish is pretty easy for me. Perhaps it’s just too much “See the fish. Be the fish,” for my mind to handle.

The hours drift by, through lunchtime shrimp poor boys, and back onto the platform. It’s amazing how weak my legs feel as I adjust to the rock-and-roll of the Mitzi. Time to get back on the bike, again with the new year resolutions.

We pick up several times and move through the marshes, sliding sideways through turns in the tight channels, out in the open and tight again. We find an unlimited supply of shores to pole and an unlimited supply of wind. The Captain is huffing and puffing a bit between cigarettes. Morale is like a top spinning down and beginning to show some wobble. My “report the story no matter what” is starting to look more like a curse than a blessing.

I take to heart “keep a line in the water” by casting blindly to shorelines and backhanding into channels. Now we are conscious of time, and moving more to find fish of any size, and get on the board. Pick up and move.

Whether because of the level of action, or self centeredness, I find myself on the platform again on the next stop – a fairly wide backwater we enter by poling through another of those narrow channels. We are about to make the turnabout and head out when I feel a stop on one of those blind backhand casts into the channel.

I finally make good. Twenty minutes worth and deep backing.

I set the hook for luck, and the fish heads about fifty feet into the wide backwater in a heartbeat. The bend in my ten weight Z Axis, and the sound of the drag on my Tibor tell us all that this is a fish. Then a change in direction, a 180, and it’s headed into the narrow channel – hoping to get all the way through and out into the open water.

The long run takes all my line, and now we’re into the backing, and into more backing. I have a good bend in the rod, and the boat is starting to move with the fish. Side pressure, side-to-side pressure, all give the same result – a standoff. She’s wanting to make the turn in the narrow channel when the Captain decides it’s time to follow for real. There’s no headshake, no turns, just a tugboat beginning to move us.

All the while, I am getting peppered from the peanut gallery; “It’s probably a big ray. Maybe it’s a black drum. Watch out for those oysters! They’ll cut you off!” All I know is there is one big head shake, and I finally get back all my backing. Finally, a tail swirls below the surface, and leaves a boil the circumference of a five gallon bucket.

After twenty minutes we get the fish down to five feet of line and a fully down leader. I finally muster the courage to put enough on the rod to make her surface, and we all see that it’s what we are after – a 30-inch plus red. She’s beat now, and the Captain reaches out the back of the port side and tails her. “She’ll go forty inches. Looks like twenty-five pounds,” the Captain said.

You try holding 25 pounds of slimy, pissed off redfish – it’s a blast!

The photos are as goofy as anything I have ever been in because this is the biggest fish I’ve ever caught. She’s heavy enough, and my arm is weak enough from the fight, that I can’t even hold her out toward the camera for the distorted porn shot being demanded of me. Of all the luck to have Jerry along to witness and document with great photography skills, what he keeps calling, “The fish of a lifetime.” I don’t disagree as she is released almost exactly where she was caught.

Winded, and overwhelmed, I crash on the ice chest, we pull up and motor out to another spot. The wind is dropping now, but the sun is dropping a bit too. We start to watch the clock more intensely. Jerry is on the platform when the Captain guides his cast right to a waiting eight pound redfish. He’s on the board, and the fight is a good match to his Xi2 nine weight. We land him, and he’s a bright red specimen with beautiful mature coloration. Some more photographs follow, and I hope I can return the favor of good photographs to Jerry and his Louisiana redfish.

A beautiful specimen caught in the Louisiana way – sunlight, sighted, cast, tempted, hooked, set, fought and landed.

Finally, we both are on the board, the winter sun is dropping, and we’ve had enough. It wasn’t a typical quantity day by Louisiana standards, but the quality was outstanding. It’s time. We pull up, grab our seats, and settle in for the hour ride back to the launch. Even the ride back seems fast. Maybe it’s the anticipation of seeing the photographs, or telling the story.

NOTE – I am going to run a post of more photographs from this trip in the next few days. I hope you enjoyed the day in the Louisiana marshes.