Clay34
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Posts posted by Clay34
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Wish I was closer Bart and we would have some fun together. Two things that I find that trout guys have to make a big "Gear Shift" in presentation when moving from trout to carp is that the fly needs to be close to the "right end" of the carp. I call it spoon feeding them. Second thing is that the actual bite is nothing like a trout bites, or a bluegill / brim bite. Carp take the fly in typically, taste it while staying in the one spot and spit it out before many trouters even know that they had a bite. Individual fish are different but the times where I could feel a bite or see the line move is very rare indeed for me.
Your specifics, depends on how fast the water is moving and where they are in the water column. I have been having a lot of fun with dry flies this year with fish feeding on the top, but the previous years I fished tailer the most. 8 fish in the last two days and they have all been smaller fish on dry flies, I can't find the larger fish right now. If the water is moving so fast that you can't get the fly to hesitate in front of their nose, fish downstream to them and hold the fly infront of their nose and shake it, in small movements. If they don't bite on one pattern after 4 or 5 presentations right in front of their nose, the girl is saying that she doesn't want to dance. Offer her another option and change flies. While I find it is more about presentation that pattern, sometimes pattern changes can be dramatic. Good luck man, tell us how it works out.
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I've posted this some place here before....
Grand Traverse Bay.
Fish hooked and I could do absolutely nothing..once it finally had enough, it just swam at a steady speed east, toward the blue water, and dove deep once it cleared the cliff....
All I could do was try to slow it or turn it..but it never did and when I was near the end of my backing, I had to freeze the reel and hope my connector knot at the fly line held. It did, but the tippet of course parted.
I have no idea how large it was but I have taken a near 45 on a fly rod in the same water, and this fish was much, much larger....
Seriously guys...you cannot imagine..
Here is a reason to go to Traverse Bay: Dear Rick,
Join us for TU’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Traverse City, MI August 18 – 22.
It is because of members like you that we have nearly 50 years of
Agenda Highlights
»detailed agenda
•TU’s Annual Members Meeting, Council Chair’s and National Leadership Council’s meetings - open to general members.
•Fun events for the entire family including a 9-Hole Fly Casting Tournament, TU's conservation awards ceremony and a gala banquet.
conservation accomplishments to celebrate.
When you attend the meeting, not only will you meet other TU/fly fishing enthusiasts, but you’ll have the opportunity to fish some of Michigan’s finest waters, tour on-the-ground grassroots conservation work and celebrate 50 years of TU conservation successes.
While you are there you can show the little brook trout boys what a real fish feels like on the end of the rod - ha. Sorry, I am a TU member and just received this and then read this response to this thread and it all fit in like it was meant to be.
Rick
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I can't get this fish out of my mind. I know that many fisherman talk about the big one, or the one that got away or the monster that broke their line, but this fish I never had on the line, I just saw it in the water yesterday swimming.
I moved from a backwater area to the main river channel. I had seen some big fish here before but this one was literally the largest fish that I have ever seen in fresh water besides at the Shed Aqarium. I caught a buff earlier in the year that went with a couple of ozs from being 27 pounds and this buff totally drawfed that fish. It didn't look like a fish at all. I thought of a big fat black lab that someone had cut the four legs off of and put a huge tail on it and the head was as large as a big dog. Across the shoulders it was wide and the fish just haunts me. I don't want to even take a stab at the size of this fish but the black buff reminded me of a man with a black scuba suit on more than a fish.
I had my 10' 7 wt with me and thought to myself I might as well try and land that thing with my 3 wt. It gave me a few casts to present the fly to it but the current was pushing the fly past this monster faster than I would have wanted. I stood there and watched her swim up river and I just couldn't go anywhere. After about 20 minutes the monster returns and I shoved a different fly, actually the exact fly that I caught the 27 pounder on earlier (thought maybe that fly had the mojo) past her about twice. Not even a glimpse. The fish was feeding, mouth moving open and closed but on something very small, too small for me to see.
After the fish left, I stood there perched on a big rock for about a half an hour and just pondered life. Strange philosophical day yesterday. I wasn't mad that I didn't catch that fish, more in awe. I'm not a baseball fanatic so I don't know why I am using this analogy but it was like I was able to pitch to a great baseball hitter. I had a couple of opportunities to pitch to her, and that was almost enough for me. Probably will never hook a fish like that in my life, but for a moment, I had possibilities, I was "in" the game.
Thanks for letting me be weird today on the board, now back to something more down to earth.
Rick
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Flooding is a terrible thing for those that have to experience it, it is an economical pounding that I don't wish on anyone. Once it happens though The fish move into those newly flooded areas to feed. They are not there as sight seers or to explore but to EAT. If you can find concentrations of fish in newly flooded areas they can be very aggressive. I found as the water was rising the newist places that flooded were the best. It's like the fish worked over one spot for a while and were looking for recently flooded areas.
If one spot 300 yards down river has been flooded for 3 days and then water has continued to rise and then this new spot becomes flooded, I found the most active fish in the new spot.
With the very heavy rains in our local area last night some of the streams will be blown out for those goofy trout, so it might be a grand time to try carp in areas where the water level rose some.
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Out fishing three times this week with two fish in the net. The ones that were landed were sweet but miss my 25 fish days.
Flooding is a terrible thing but for whatever reason I was able to locate fish during this time frame and right now the fish that I am seeing are slim.
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Last year at this time everything was flooded along the river and I had some of the best carp fishing of my life while the carp moved into these newly flooded areas to feast. No flood waters this year and I am having some troubles locating fish right now. I've been out the last couple of days for a couple of hours a piece with very little to show for my efforts. I'm not seeing pre spawn fish behavoir yet but I know that it will be coming soon.
I wasn't catching much on my normal patterns so decided to throw a girdle bug. Very simple tie, chenille wrapped body with rubber legs. A nice 6 to 8 pound fish grabbed this one right in front of me and while I "walked the dog" (fish isn't ready to come in so I walk it along the bank to tire it out) an old boy comes over and I say hello while the drag is singing. He asks about the fish and I explain to him that he just volunteered to net it for me - ha. He was totally surprised as are many that carp will eat an artificial fly much less anything like I was throwing. A chance to educate the public is always a cool thing.
Now I just have to find more fish that are active and quit trying to fish at noon and I think things will pick up soon.
Rick
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Well you got lucky! Lucky that is that you have one of the most knowledgeable mentors around. Congrats on living in the right spot
Sure is exciting catch the first ones, many more will follow, enjoy the ride.
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Congrats on getting them to take ANY KIND of topwater fly and yet on your only second time out. First you must understand how rare that really is, that's not the norm and while the other two experienced poster gave you some nice tips on using topwater / dryfly options, if I can't get them to eat on the top I go subsurface. The cool and the wow factor are huge when the dry fly is used because the visual image is just a monster rush.
Before giving up on the topwater action I would try three or 4 other patterns especially if they have nosed it or did a half hearted attempt or shown any interests. I really like a simple foam spider with rubber legs. You can also go to a smaller type dry or even a larger dry fly too. If they don't react to one stimulus hit them from a different angle. If they get spooky increase overall tippet length with spooky topwater fish. I feel like I am trout fishing with 12+ leaders on topwater but sometimes that works. I probably fish more 7 1/2 footers these days than anything because they usually are not tippet shy, but on a dry sometimes they get fussy indeed.
Congrats again on the recent success.
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Super Cool!
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I use Berkley Vanish and get it in the 250 yard spools. Because I supply all leader material when I guide, I go through a lot of leader. This is the best spot I found to buy it, it is way cheaper then anywhere else I've found.
Thanks Lee, I added the link to my favorites for next time around.
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OOPS!
I didn't see this was in the flyfishing section. Hell, I don't even smoke a pipe much less "fiddle" with flyfishing. Don't have a clue what you guys are even talking about.
Phone
Cool, I was wondering how the hell that boy ties a size 10 fly on his fly line.
You made me laugh this morning and that is a rare thing. It's all cool man, we all pull the trigger sometimes before the target is where it should be in the sights.
I was also wondering exactly what is a "bolt rig" as it relates to fly fishing - learn something new everyday.
On the leaders (for fly fishing) I fish the 9 to 13' leader on the spooky fish on the surface, but that is only a rare thing these days. Mostly start with a 7 1/2 or 9' mono leader, (because I bought them cheap). Then as tippet needs to be added I add Vanish. The fluro content does make it more abrassion resistant. The worst stuff that I have ever fished was a spool of Cortland tippet material. You could breath on that stuff and it would nick. I ended up giving it away to a young guy fishing with his kid and he using rope for line. That Cortland was a least something a little lighter for him and his son to use - 8 lb test.
One comment on the Vanish for tippet. Make sure you lube you knots well before snugging it down. If I get sloppy with my knot tying it will slip easier than mono but when tied correctly, I never have a problem.
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Nice piece of business Lee. Hope that you enjoy yourself and that someone new starts chasin' carp with the fly rod.
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My own kids are a little older than that these days, but it put a big smile on my face. Way to go John.
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Nice to hear again what I already know on a personal level. Good guy, damn knowledgable and a truly dedicated fisherman. My kind of guy. I'm even lucky enough to stop in the shop in person since he is in my state when I am in the area.
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Willy Joe's warranty is tough to beat for sure. No questions asked on packs, no matter what the age or damage. I own one of the exodous packs but it does not fit me well at all, but it is a really cool pack.
A pack with a bit more adjustment and still having the comfortable semi rigid frame came out from Simms this year.
Everybody has their thing in fly fishing. Some have too many flies, some too many rods. My weakness is packs. I can say that I have worn or fished out of most of the packs out there, and gone through many phases.
I am now a minimalist and now have fallen in love with my recycled waders 'nook sack. Nice use of old waders and carries a huge volume without being big and bulky. Plus the company is based in Seattle!
I have not had a problem with Fishpond as you did Rick, and they do make some great stuff too. My advice with packs is find something that is comfortable first, then conside what it holds. On a long day on the water you will be happier with a pack that you do not feel as opposed to sore shoulders or hips from a pack that fits that extra sandwich.
Maybe just me Driftless, but I couldn't get the links to work. If anyone has tried out a lot of packs, I would have guessed that you have had great opportunities to do so. I think what has driven me to the Exodus is that I can carry the kitchen sink in that thing if I choose and if I want to go lighter, much lighter, I can drop the pack completely and just do the chest vest/pack type of arrangement. Like I said, I have to live in it a while before I make any huge commitments. There are many good companies out there and if you don't get the service that you expect from one, vote with your dollars and just don't buy from them next time. I really like the Simms vests too. I think you donated a wonderful looking G3 or G4 vest to the West Fork Sportsman's club fund raiser a couple of years ago. I bought a few tickets for the raffle to try and win that. We all have different needs, I totally agree, find something that works for you. I did want to mention and emphasis Willy Joe's great warranty so for me they will always be on the short list.
Rick
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9wt, the wife is a Pantagonia comercial, waders, vest, hat. Great stuff. John FP stands for X'ing Poor service in my book. There are on my sheit list and I wouldn't own another FP product if it was given to me. I bought a Coyote, portable bag, had some issues, called, the guy told me that I was out of luck and they wouldn't do anything to support the product. No problem, once bitten...
By the way the Exodus vest came from William Joseph as a warranty coverage for a couple of year old vest called a Coastal II. My Coastal II zippers failed, probably because I used the thing A LITTLE. I called, no receipt, no problem. We can't fix it Rick, can we send you a new one of your choice instead? You can pick whatever we make, even if you want to change out your pack for our top of the line vest you can do that. Now that was service and warranty that I will continue to invest in. By the way the FP wasn't over a $150 item, the bag was $189 retail, the hook boxes didn't hold hooks without messing them up. The Chinese hook boxes were a whopping $2 item they put in that bag made in China that retailed at $189. I put hooks in the hook boxes and spent hours seperating hooks again because for a portable bag, when walked across the room all the hooks mixed together. I bought new hook boxes for just a few bucks. Locking lids, individual compartments, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn't believe the first guy at FP that I talked to so I even called back and spoke to another rep. Second rep was nicer, but still wouldn't stand behind the product or offer any suggestions on what I could do to resolve my issues. Then the real stroke was at the Chicago Great Waters Expo. I mentioned the name of Madison River Outfitters at the FP booth. The guy didn't know me from Adam, but called one of my favoirte on line vendors a whore and was PO'd about how cheap they were selling their products. Vendors who bad mouth other vendors, I tend to shy away from. Sorry, for the long rant. I'm just one guy with two single negative encounters with FP. That's all I need, I vote with my money and I will be damned if they get another penny out of me.
Off soap box mode - tomorrow I will probably edit this and say to myself that I went over the top, but then again, NOT.
Back to your regularly scheduled program of talking about vests.
Edited for spelling errors.
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I prefer it described as a super man vest. This brown liner has to dress in style. I'm adopting the trout uniform to the carp world weather or not it is ready for it. HA
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Just took delivery of a new carp vest/pack. Of course it is meant to be a carp vest since it is so cool. It has a great pack portion with a fiber frame and the frame holds the pack off of the body so your back can breath. The vest has more pockets than a swat team tactical vest. The two are married together with 4 quick disconnects so if you want to go light the vest portion disconnects from the backpack and you can go light. In other situations you might just want a pack and not your vest and you can you the ultra modern pack as a stand alone too. I have to fish out of it before I do a longer review, but right out of the box it has some Wow factor for me. Again, I'm a fly fishing junkie so this stuff makes me go Wow, your mileage might vary.
Check out the Exodus here: http://www.williamjoseph.net/product_details.php
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I am working on some new hats but it takes time and money, both of which I'm in short supply this time of year. I get really busy guiding on the beach, then I spend a lot of time in Baja during both June and July. So my money goes to those trips and most of my time is taken up paying for those trips.
We worked the beaches around here both yesterday and today and I'll be out again on Friday. I spent Memorial Day teaching a casting class so time to go a carp'n takes a back seat unless I guide someone for them.
Oh, and No hippie here. The local newspaper did a story on me two years ago and called it right. They said he's no a fly fisherman who rides a motorcycle but a Biker who fly fishes. I was born in Milwaukee so I have to like the Packers, drink beer and ride a Harley. Add to that, I'm completely sleeved tattoo wise on both arms and legs plus my neck and lower inner lip. So when I guest tie at a fly show, I stick out some................
One of these days I'll get back and meet up with you and we'll fish some carp.
I knew that I liked you for some reason, anyone from Milwaukee that chases carp is my kind of guy. I use to ride a small rice burner. For me this a short off topic story, but I was almost on the center line with my turn signal on, wrists just draped over the handlebars. I heard a loud screaching sound and remember, "that sounds like it is getting closer" then wham! The guy actually hit my right turn signal only'; yep just the stem. It turned the bike 90 degrees and I never went down. I remember thinking that just two more inches and I would have been on that boys windshield and bouncing on the road. I sold the bike with a month. I would love to ride, if I was the only one on the road.
If you ever get in Wisconsin again, no need to bring any gear, I have enough for the both of us. When the rods get put away and we are home, might even have a cold Wis brew to share. Keep the stories and pictures coming Lee, I've always enjoyed them.
Rick
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PlaShadow, that fish looks fantastic. Welcome to the board, will be looking forward to more post from you and pictures.
Tell me more about that fish, it looks powerful. A friend of mine, Treebass, while not in Thailand, is overseas and I think that he has caught that same kind of fish. Looks like fun to me.
Rick
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TMC or dai-Riki scud hooks. Have some Mustad Signatures that are extra stout scuds hooks in a size 14 no less. Like you I throw a lot of 8, 10 and 12s. I'm not that picky. I did tie up some circle hooks and will continue to fish those when the fish are on top of each other and I want to catch a fish that eats the hooks instead of snagging them.
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Nice shots of an old long haired hippie fellow with carp. Had to put the sheit on you Lee, if your buddies can't give you grief who can?
Same here, I hardly ever get shots of myself without drafting someone walking by in the park: "Will you take a picture of me with this carp? Why would you want a picture of yourself with that ugly thing?" is how the conversation usually goes. The best ones are the people who ask what kind of fish is that? Then when told it is a carp, they obviously don't know anything about fishing but turn their nose up in disgust just at the word carp.
I thought the camo was good, it's the red hat that I take issue with. You're not in uniform man. You know what I am talking about, the fly fishing uniform. All the trout guys around here where it.
So keep those long haired carp pictures coming and next time move your pony tail so I can read the web site on the shirt.
I've had about 4 hours of sleep and feeling full of it this morning. Hope you are in a good joiking mood because if I didn't like our exchanges I wouldn't be giving you the business this morning. Now go take some more pictures.
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Thanks for sharing the photo of a great fish on the fly rod. Congrats.
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Sounds like a great day on the water John. Get that Lamson Radius out of the mud man!
Love that mirror and wish that I could catch a 17 pounder but a bigger one got away. It's all cool. Congrats.
Aggressive Carp
in Carp on the Fly
Posted
Spectacular - the only word needed.