john montana
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Posts posted by john montana
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fly tying certainly adds a nice dimension to the sport. for me, it lets me go fishing when i can't go fishing! here is a link to a post on my blog with some of my favorite carp patterns. it seems like here in OR i use smaller, more nymph like patterns than a lot of you guys. not sure why, but the buggers, etc. don't seem as effective for me, but a rubber legged hare's ear or carp wooley works wonders.
great job on your first fly! keep at it, tying is extremely rewarding.
http://carponthefly.blogspot.com/2006_02_0...ly_archive.html
scroll down a bit and you'll see three patterns that i use a lot.
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i really want to catch that koi. it is a beast, and would make such a cool picture! sunday was the first time i've gotten him to take a fly, and i was just sick when the hook came out. i have faith now! he does eat!
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i'm with Mr. P on this one. with a fly it is vital that you cast to a specific fish, and watch for any sign of a take. i can count the number of take i've felt on one hand, and this is after about 100 carp. they take the fly well, but you have to know when they take it because they spit it out really fast.
watching the fish actually vacuum in your fly is quite addictive. especially a big one!
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thanks guys...it felt great to realize that goal so early in the year. now i can up the ante a bit, and go for 30lbs!
i have totally abandoned fishing for trout/steelhead/salmon in favor of carp. the sight fishing aspect is just too addictive.
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I offered the kid a few flies, but he said he only bait/gear fishes. I gave him a big pat on the back though!
I neglected to mention that an hour after landing the big boy I came across Highway Cone. I took some great pictures of him, then got ahead of him and plunked a size 12 rubber legged hare's ear in front. This time, when he paused I let him have it and sure enough...FISH ON!
5 seconds and 60 ft of fly line later the line went slack. I reeled up and checked...no broken tippet, no broken hook. He just came upinned.
That's okay, I know where he lives!
by the way, I actually took a short video of him moving along the bank looking for food. kind of cool.
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A moderate angler armed with a wispy 4 wt fly rod and 4X tippet should never win the battle with a 20 lb carp, but today the stars aligned and I met goal #1 for the year! With the cloudy weather I cancelled a planned trip into the gorge to my favorite carp lake, but I couldn't resist an hour or two out at a local lake I like to fish, just to look for carp. I got there about 1pm and walked around the lake with my eyes peeled. I spotted some fish, but without the sun the fish were there and gone in an instant. Still, enough activity to keep me excited, and I was getting a few chances to throw the fly at some nice sized carp. After 30 minutes or so I spotted the Highway Cone Koi and raced down the bank to get ahead of him. I knelt down in the mud and prepared my size 12 rubber legged hare's ear. As Highway Cone neared I noticed that a few feet behind him came a carp of similar size. I waited until the two fish were nearly upon me and gently flipped the fly into action. Highway Cone ignored my offering with his usual disdain, but I left the fly in the water. When the second fish was right above the fly I gave it a tiny twitch, and the big fish stopped. I almost didn't set the hook, but after about 2 seconds I realized that I hadn't seen either fish stop in their entire circuit down the bank, so I lifted the rod and immediately felt the weight of a heavy fish. The carp blasted out for deep water and I quickly palmed the Hardy Bougle as it screamed a shout of joy across the lake. The battle was long and with 4X tippet I carefully played give and take with the monster fish. After about 10 minutes I got the fish close to the bank and leaned down with my tiny little net. At this point, I realized I had a problem. I was pretty sure I could get the fish in the net, but only if I made the perfect stab, and with rod in hand and small tippet, I was in no position to make an error. I looked up in mild panic, knowing that this fish quite likely would meet or exceed my 20 lb goal. A kid and his friend of about 12 years were standing on the pathway above me, avidly watching me struggle with this monster fish.
"Want to give me a hand?" I yelled.
"Sure thing!" replied the kid enthusiastically. He sprinted down the bank and I prepared to hand my net and hopes of reaching my goal to this 12 year old in shorts and a dirty Tshirt.
After a quick and dirty lesson while I fought to keep the monster fish under control the kid declared himself ready. I angled the fish back to the bank, once, twice, three times and on the third time the kid reached down and went for it! With such a monster fish I had told him just to try to get the fish's head into the net, and the rest would (hopefully) follow. With practiced aplomb and complete disregard for his white sneakers he stepped closer to the edge and nailed that big carp in one swoop! The fish went crazy when it felt the net and its impending imprisonment and the kid nearly lost his cool as a 20 lb behemoth thrashed and flopped inches from him. For one second I expected him to drop the net and run in horror, but with ice in his veins he grimly held on. The thrashing ended with a cloud of mud, water and debris obscuring the net.
"I think I got him!" the kid yelled.
"Lift him up!" I encouraged and the kid did his best to comply, but the fish was simply too big! "Use both hands!" I nearly screamed at him and he quickly grabbed the rim of the net and lifted the beast out of water!
As soon as he got such a close view of what he had just captured his steely nerve nearly failed...I could see him breaking before my eyes. I dropped my precious 4 wt and the mud and leapt forward to take the net from his shaking hands.
I laid the monster on the bank and gently removed the fly. This was a BIG FISH. I lifted the net, and unscrewed the handle that holds the internal scale. With a loud clunk the scale bottomed out. This fish was nowhere near the 14lb maximum weight of this scale. I hefted it a few times, and while there is no way to be 100% sure, I declare my goal of a 20 lb carp on the fly official realized.
As proof I list a picture, taken by the sure (but slightly shaking) hands of a 12 year old. Without this kid I really don't think I would have landed this fish. The moral of the story, I need a MUCH bigger net!
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thanks eich...i don't give up easily, so i'll be after that koi all summer. eventually i'll catch him on a day when he is feeling stupid and get him to take the fly. i'll try floro as well. i've been fishing light, 4X tippet, but i'll try some 3 or 4x flor instead and see if that helps.
carp on the fly is becoming more popular out west here...little by little these fish are gaining some respect. nice to see...
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my best day with a flyrod is 16, but all small fish. some of the sloughs here in portland are so full of carp it is nothing to cast at dozens of 3-6 lb fish. last year i had one day in the columbia river gorge where i caught 11 and hooked about 16, and the avg fish was 9lbs! now that was a day to remember! a day like yesterday gets me so excited for warm weather and some serious carp action!
i'm still stumped by that koi though. i just can't get him to want to eat any fly i throw his way...he is a beast too...
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it was a great day. as the weather warms out here i'm looking forward to more and more like this one!
the hook that broke was a targus. i quit using them a while ago as i've had many break, but it was all i had in size 14 hares ears. i think i have pretty much cleaned my flybox out of the targus hooks now...
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Knots were tested, hooks were broken, backing was exposed and stealth was needed! With the near perfect conditions today I just had to leave the office and spend a few hours at a couple of carp hot spots. This was really the first day in months where my expectation were high. Fortunately, the carp did not disappoint.
Almost immediately upon reaching the water I saw carp...tons of carp. They seemed to be everywhere in pods of 2-6 fish, mostly holding near the top of the water column soaking in the sun. The first hour proved an exercise in humility as the fish ignored, and spooked at most of my offerings. While the high sun helped immensely with the visibility, it also made the fish skittish, and even the shadow of a bird on the water was enough to send most fish bolting for deep water. After a fruitless hour that included one heartstopping change of direction from the infamous Highway Cone Koi (for a split second, I thought I had him) I headed to my second go to place. The fish were not quite as spooky there (probably because of all the dog walkers, mothers with strollers, and general every day foot traffic...heh heh) but they were also clearly enjoying the sun, and not much interested in eating. Eventually I spotted a nice "high and happy" fish about 15 feet out from shore. I put on a size 14 hares ear with a small bead as the only weight, and plopped it down just inches from the carp's nose. The lightly weighted fly did its job and sank at a tantalizing pace. The carp's fins moved ever so slightly, then it opened its mouth and sucked the fly in like a vacuum cleaner! I quickly lifted the rod and the fight was on!
After figuring out the trick with that first fish, I stalked around the pond ignoring all but the "high and happy" types. The numbers for the day, 8 hooked, 6 landed, 1 poor tippet knot, one broken hook, and 40 lbs of fish. Not bad for 3 hours.
You just gotta love carp fishing!
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I forgot I had a picture of that big koi i have been chasing. Last fall i was out with my daughter and spotted him. We hid in the bushes and I took this picture with my phone when he swam by. you can't tell how big he is, but i'd bet 15 lbs without a single qualm, and 20 lbs with only a slight hesitation. frankly, it is hard to tell how big because i've never seen a fish that big that was orange!
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we'll have to get out after some carp this year Mr. P. i'm planning a late spring trip to eastern OR to chase down some rumors of 20-40 lb carp (i've seen the pictures!)...long drive, but a good shot at a real beast on a fly rod...
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thanks for the report! i'm really struggling with this one big koi in a lake i fish out here in OR. i just can't get him to take a fly! really frustrating fish...
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Despite terrible conditions, I headed out after that big koi I have been chasing. I figure, you might catch a fish in bad conditions, but only if you get off the couch!
I got to the lake, and things looked pretty ugly. High, overcast clouds, with no sun peeking through at all. I walked around the lake once, and visibility was only inches. With the recent rain and zero sun, I couldn't see into the murky water at all.
Just when I was about to give up, I got lucky. I looked up the bank and from 30 feet away I spotted a bright orange beach ball with a tail heading right towards me. I looked again at the water at my feet, and still couldn't see 2 inches deep, but I guess visibility is not that important when your number one target is the color of a highway cone.
I hunkered down in the brush and waited for the koi to get close. When the fish was about 10 feet away I flipped a hare's ear in front of him...which he completely ignore. he got closer and I made another attempt, only to be snubbed. Wisely, I avoided a third cast and let the big koi swim slowly by, never aware of the fisherman kneeling in the mud amidst some brush. After he sauntered by I leapt up and ran down the bank to get ahead of him. This time I found a small pine tree to hide behind, and I again awaited his approach. As the fish closed I switched flies to the Peacock Hackleback (of WT fame) and prepared to cast. Again I waited until he was about 10 feet out, then flipped the fly towards him. It was a poor cast and the fly landed about halfway down the fish's body, and 1 foot to his left. The koi quickly turned and came eye to eye with my fly. I stripped gently, hoping to feel the line tighten, but he didn't have the fly. In an insant, the koi had turned back around and continued down the bank. I made a quick second cast, which was ignored, then waited for the fish to move on by me so that I wouldn't spook him.
In this manner I followed this fish down one entire bank of the lake. I would rush to get ahead of him and find a place to work through the blackberry bushes, then hide amongst the thorns in order to get in two quick cast. Eventually the fish changed tactics and disappeared into the middle of the lake, but I must have cast at him about 20 times...and all I had to show for it was that one, brief look at my Peacock Hackleback.
After the koi disappeared I looked around and realized that the sun had come out! In my zen-like focus on that big koi, I had failed to notice that I could suddenly see the bottom, and my odds of finding a common carp had drastically improved! I moved back down the bank to an area that the carp seem to frequent, and immediately spotted a nice fish slowly cruising a few feet from shore. I placed rubber legged hare's ear in his path, and the fish immediately dipped his head to the bottom...Fish on! With a quick strip-set I had hooked up, but before I could even begin to grin the carp had managed to throw the hook. I kept moving and spotted another fish hovering near a tree, not really doing anything. For those that don't carp fish, the stationary carp is probably the second most difficult carp to get to take a fly, behind only the fast-cruiser. I knew I would have to drop a fly right in front of him in order to get a take. I took a quick second to change flies to one without a bead head, as I wanted it to sink really slowly, and hopefully entice the fish to bite. I stripped out some line and made a 15 foot cast that was right on the money! The fly sank ever so slowly, and the fish suddenly inched forward and sucked it in...Fish on! This one stuck and after nice fight I brought him to the net, where he weighed in at 9 lbs.
With that nearly perfect moment, I clipped off the fly and headed for home. The big koi still eludes me, but I do know where he lives!
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i just have the impression that koi won't fight as well. a friend of mine hooked one when i took him out once (that sucked...i try and try, he nails one when i'm showing him the ropes! heh heh) and it just turned over and came in...not much life to it. i'd love to be proven wrong by this massive one i've been chasing.
for most fishing i use 2x or 3x tippet off of a matching tapered leader, usually 9 ft of leader and 2 ft of tippet. i ended up going down to 4x in order to get takes on sunday, they just ignored the thicker stuff. i don't dare go smaller as i'm pretty sure the big koi will trash my 4x anyway. i usually use a 9 ft 9 inch 6 wt rod, though sunday for some completely ridiculous and unkown reason i grabbed my 4 wt by mistake. not nearly enough rod for the fish i was seeing, and the two i hooked really beat me up. that won't happen again...6 wt or bigger for this lake.
any tips on koi? this fish did take something off of the surface but he only opened his mouth once, and other than that i never saw him feed, just cruise along really slowly. i don't want to chum or scent flies (we all draw our own line) and really want to catch him on a natural type of pattern. any ideas?
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thanks guys. i grew up in MT so i pretty much grew up with a fly rod in my hand. i haven't gear or bait fished in so long i can't even remember when! living in OR there are lots of good flyrod fish...trout, steelhead, salmon, etc. but i can tell you, it is tough to beat the carp! the visual aspects, combined with their wariness and power make them tough to beat.
and then there are koi. i have hooked one, but most of the koi i cast to bolt the second they see the fly. really tough fish. i doubt if they fight as well as carp, but are certainly worth pursuing for the sake of the challenge alone!
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the flies look great...thanks everyone!
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Elia and I went for a walk today today, and of course I brought the fly rod! Unfortunately Elia wasn't in the mood for the backpack, so I didn't get the chance to use the flyrod. We went to a lake I know in search of a monster koi that might go 20 lbs. It has been too cold for a few months for him to be out and about, but we found him today! That fish is an absolute beast! Elia and I followed him around the lake a few times, watching the ducks and nutria swim around. Along with that massive koi we saw tons of carp, most looked to be about 8-10 lbs, but there were several larger fish in the mix, as well as a few little ones. After Elia got tired I took her home and put her down for a nap. Kelly came back a few minutes later and could see the carp-crazed look in my eyes! I quickly threw my rod in the car and rushed off to the lake.
The fish were still there, and for a couple of hours I threw flies at carp in various states. Some were cruising fast, and not interested, others seemed to be sunning, and were equally tough. Eventually I spotted a couple of slow movers and got a couple to look at the fly. I missed at least one or two of these fish before hooking up on a gold ribbed hares ear. After a couple of nice runs I got the chance to test out my new net. It works well, and the fish weighed in at 7 lbs. At this point the big koi still hadn't shown up, so I kept at it. Just a few minutes later I managed to hook a really nice fish that took me into my backing not once, but twice! My Hardy was screaming, and I drew quite a crowd of dog walkers as the fish kept screaming out into the middle of the lake. After a prolonged battle with a full audience, I managed to bring the fish to net. He weighed in at 9 lbs and fell victim to a rubber legged hare's ear. A father and his two young girls walked down to the edge of the lake to check out the fish.
As I stood there retying some knots I looked up just in time to spot the big koi. He came floating into the area I was fishing. I quickly finished my knot and made one false cast well to the side of the fish to check line distance...He bolted out of there like I jabbed him with a stick. That was it for the day, one shot, and I never even got the fly to the water.
I'll get that fish eventually. It was good to see my backing today!
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nice fish and happy birthday!
you guys are killing me, i really need to get after some carp!
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no sweat...looking forward to seeing everyone's flies.
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any word on the completion of this swap?
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i'm always game for a fly swap. i checked out my favorite carp lake today, but no luck. the flat looked great, but i didn't see a fish, nor signs of any recent activity. i'll have to keep tying flies and praying for warmer weather!
water temp was 42...got a ways to go yet!
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it's not much of a crayfish, but i do think the carp take it for one. i'm not much of a tier, so i stay simple.
size 8-10 hook, burnt orange marabou tail. i tie in a natural color chenile body (usually a light brown/orange color) and palmer the grizzly hackle up the body. clip the hackle off on one side, then pull the peacock herl (about 4 strands) over the back. i always use dumbell eyes, and like the dark ones best. i messed around with ribbing, but frankly the carp are pretty easy on the flies. they don't really tear them up so i don't bother with ribbing. the fish don't seem to care.
i'm doing some exploring sunday, hoping to spot a few fish in the shallows!
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i tied up some carp flies, including the carp wooley i did for the fly swap. if anyone wants to take a look here is a link to the website:
http://carponthefly.blogspot.com/
i am dying to get out carp fishing!
My first home made fly.
in Carp on the Fly
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sounds like a great fish! with the weather warming in OR...i can't wait for my next chance to get after some carp!