Capr On A Rising Tide: or A Gentleman's Carp Fishing Primer

Despite constantly rising water Ken and I managed to catch arm loads of capr and smallmouth basss.
I landed three noteworthy smallies; 3 lbs, 4 lbs and 4.5 lbs. Ken caught, broke off a huge smallmouth. I guess we'll never know how big it was. Serious carpers consider the smallmouth bass to be the whitefish of the flats but I think they're kinda fun. Some people even fish for them on purpose.
It took the better part of the day to find feeding capr but when we did Ken broke off four of 'em. They were tailing and mudding over the top of the flooded road bed/gravel bar we call The Reef. Me and Ken spent the last two hours of the day out there wading through a quater mile of Grand Coulee Koi.
When Ken figured out his place in the order of things he started to catch capr. By the end of the day he had brought 4 to hand, typical for a freshman carper under my tutorage.
Good times... good times. We were doubled up twice. I Boga'd 8 or 9 of 'em before the winds came up. The biggest capr weighed in a t 14.5 lbs. Fly in the kissa, every time. The first whitecaps rolled in around 5 o'clock, the winds were full on nuclear fifteen minutes later. A good time to leave the flats.

The Kraken

Baby Crawdad?

Dragonfly Nymph?


Hook: Dai Riki 710, #8
Weight: .030 lead wire, ten wraps on back half of hook shank
Abdomen: dubbing loop of bunny fur, palmered forward over lead wrap
Eyes: medium black chain eyes
Wings: orange crystal flash
Thorax: brown antron dubbing
Head: brown antron dubbing.

I fish this fly on a full sink line in stillwaters to imitate a dragonfly nymph or small crawdad.
I've tied a few in a light varient and plan on testing it out on the carp flats later this season.

Damsel Nymph

Marabou Damsel Nymph

Hook: TMC 2312, #12
Tail & Body: blood quill marabou
Eyes: plastic or x-small bead chain

Good for trout, bass, sunfish, carp and who knows what else.

Fly Tying Masters

Pink Jiggly

Lately there has been some interest in WT's Original Old Timey Flytimes Flies. First of all let me say that I'm flattered that my readers see how much hard work and dedication I put into each bug. But more importantly I am proud to announce that I will be offering a limited amount of my Original Old Timey Flytimes Flies for sale. Of course these collectible flies are not for everyone. My flies are only for the select few anglers with the kind of discerning taste that can palate my sparsely dressed and tastefully appointed flies.

"How much WT?!"

Good question reader. When it comes to tying flies I'm no Randall Kaufmann but I do tie at least half as good as he does. In fact just to keep it simple we'll say that I am exactly half as good a tier that Randall is. Therefore I am going to offer WT's (that's me) Original Old Timey Flytimes Flies at excactly half the rate Randall himself would sell them for.

"But you and Randall don't tie the same flies WT!"

Of course we don't, my flies will cost half as much as they would if Randal did tie them. It goes like this (pay attention son).

Dry Flies - $22.50
Sculpty the Sculpin - $25.00
Carp Flies - $37.50
Saltwater Flies - $25.00

Minimum order is $100.00 just like on Randall's site. Place your orders before I am as good as he is.

Catalog Storm '07

The annual post-Christmas flood of catalogs started today. This morning three showed up at Flytimes WHQ.

#1. Cabelas - Lot's of boats and a wading jacket that looks fairly staunch. The fly-size jig heads caught my eye too. AND! And a full assortment of carp flies. Cabelas is gonna go places, you'll see.

#2. Orvis - Features a cool looking canoe/kayak hybrid that probably costs half as much from other retailers. Lots of dog beds and boat shoes. Other than the canoe there's nothing new here.

#3. Patagonia - Patagonia's, "Heart of Winter" catalog has a couple of pages of fly gear. The highlight here is a story from one of their own, an east coast rep who lost a rod down in Central America. Apparently a jack pulled it right out of his hands. Oh well the Patagonia label isn't what it used to be so I can't imagine that the reps are anything they like used to be either.

Redux: Those Cheeky Brits and their Scottish Neigbours...

Bob's Bits

Those Cheeky Brits and their Scottish Neigbours come up with the best names for their flies. Here's a sampling.

Wee Double - Thee Trouthole always orders a "wee double," then he oders two more.
Zulu - I'm guessing its black.
Dog Nobbler - A chum fly?
Butcher - Like in that movie "Hostel"
Camasunary Killer - More gore from the folks brought us Jack the Ripper.
Tash Bung Fly - ???
Carp Biscuit - Like a Scooby Snack.
Booby - Not as cool as you would think.
Coch-y-Bonddu - I think that it's like a cockroach.
Willie Gunn - He's a groundskeeper.
Goat's Toe - It's a Pagan thing.
Hairy Mary - Old school.

Contest Winner Chooses Carp Flies!

Carp Flies

Creeklover took it easy on me and chose 6 Peacock Hacklebacks and 6 Yellow Carp Flies for his prize. Both patterns were easy to tie and will catch the hell out of carp. Enjoy the flies Creeky and thanks for not chosing the Woolhead Sculpins. They'll go out in tomorrow's mail.

Free Flies for the 10,000th caller!

Carp Flies In Formation

Flytimes has recieved its 10,000th visitor. To celebrate that feat we are offering one dozen flies, winner's choice*, tied by yours truly to the 12th person to comment** on this post.
Good Luck

*Winner's choice of fly must be a fly that has been mentioned and/or pictured here on Flytimes.

**Contestants may only comment TWICE, up to 2 comments per contestant will count towards the total. Any comments made by me and/or the Flytime's staff won't count towards the total either.

Blue Skies and Yellow Flies

Yellow Carp Fly

A few weeks later than usual summer has finally arrived in the Columbia Basin.
I left Seattle early in the morning with flats boat in tow. I drove out of the clouds, over the pass and into the sun soaked desert. Aye, the windless sun soaked desert.

"All systems are green the mission is a go."

On the boat ramp before noon. I like to rod up before I put the boat in the water. Gives the trailer lights a chance to cool before they're submerged. If I only have to replace the bulbs six times this summer I'll be a happy boater. My head is in the game so I put the stern plugs in before I put the boat in the water cutting the actual launch time in half.

Out on the water I head west to Varsity Flats and The Reef. Both are high and dry. Execute plans B and C. Plans B and C are high and dry too.

Plan D is usually reserved for cloudy days but I was out of contingencies and would have to settle on bassin. I motor east, to the rock piles on the far side of the impounment.

Driftng in the wind along the rip rap is the best I can do without an oarsman or an electric motor. It works out well, a faint breeze is enough to push the boat along. I cast a Clouser to rock piles, points and dropoffs. The full sink line taking the fly down to what woould have been feeding level if the bass were actually feeding. I land one nice fish, a 2 lb female that's full of eggs.

It's getting late in the day but the sun still sits high above the horizon. The water begins to rise so I steer the boat toward some carp flats.

Working in reverse order I start at "Plan D" flats. The carp work the leading edge of the rising water as it fills the bay. It had been months since I cast to tailing fish. I worked out the kinks and got into fish soon enough.
The first couple of fish broke off.

Lesson: 6 lb. Maxima is not strong enough to hold angry carp.

After cutting the leader back to 8lb test I was back in the game. The fish were feeding actively and taking the fly well. I quit counting how many carp I landed at lucky # 7 who managed to mangle the fly beyond fishability.

I tie on a fly that I had created over the winter. Its patterned after a bonefish fly that I had seen in a magazine. All I did was change the colors to yellow, all yellow.

I toss the new fly to the fish, putting it on their noses with almost every cast. My casting style morphed from the delicate open loop style required for surface sipping trout to a lazer direct tight loops. I put the fly exactly where I want it to be almost as soon as I think to put it there.

I'm in the groove.

So much in the groove that I do the unthinkable. I leave fish to find fish. Enroute to the next flat I notice that the wind had picked up. Whitecaps were forming, my little flats boat skips across them at full throttle, Mach 3 with my hair on fire.

The small cove is sheltered from the wind. I found a few more fish tailng over the muddy bottom. The sun dropps lower as I make my lasts casts, catching one more carp on the newly adopted fly.

The Carp Roundup '06

Carp On The Fly

Fly fishing for carp on the shallow water flats in Central Washington should be heating up real soon. The weather experts here at Flytimes have informed me that this spring time pattern we've been in is on its way out. That translates to hot and sunny days out in the desert. The importance of direct sunlight while carpin'cannot be understated so check out the latest from our satellite before you head out.

If you are new to the "carp on the fly" game or just need to review, read this short primer written by yours truly . The word on the flats is that Kieth Meyers, a.k.a "Wrench", has forgotten more about catching carp on the fly than you and I will ever know so you should probably read his treatise on carp angling too.

Another carp guru, Jon Luke from Northwest Fly Fishing, has finally shown his secret carp fly to the world. The carp candy is now being tied commercially and is available along with a few other carp specific patterns at some of the more enlightened fly shops around the country.

If you don't like the wide open spaces of the desert or just don't have the time to get out of town that's all right too. John Montana of Carp on the Fly has been hitting the urban carp holes in and around the Portland area for months already this year. These may not be the wild crawdad eatin' variety of carp but they're on the look out for bread crumbs and fish pellets year round. John's a staunch fisher of trouts and has taken to carpin' like the proverbial fish to water. Check out his adventure with Highway Cone, the giant orange koi.

Speaking of leviathins take a look at General Sherman. Our close friend and carpin' consultant Jeff took The General on a crawdad pattern back in '04. "I was looking out into the waves and saw what I thought were two big fish nose down in the rocks. I made a long cast and put the fly right in there. When I saw that the two fish was actually one big fish move to the fly I knew that I was in for a fight." Strong work Jeff, nobody at Flytimes has seen a carp that big since then.

Our fly boxes are stocked and the boat is on the trailer, Flytimes is ready for the '06 carpin season to begin. If your stalking the flats at Banks Lake, poling your skiff through the dunes at Potholes, or otherwise hunting those bonefish of the basalt , we'll see you out there. Good luck!

Peacock Hackleback

Peacock Hackleback

hook: Dai Riki 075, #10
underbody: .030 or.025 wire
tail: rubber sili-legs, amber/tan
hackle: brown saddle, dry fly
body: peacock herl, twisted into rope

John,
The Peacock Hackleback is tied with dry fly saddle hackle. I like for the hackle to be a little bit longer than the hook gap to keep the goop off the hook. It sorta works. I also clip the hackle along the top of the hook shank so that the fly flips over when it sinks, hook point up.
In most situations I want the fly to get to the bottom pretty quick. But more and more I've landed carp that have taken the fly in the middle of the water column, as it drifts to the bottom. So I now tie flies in two weights; .025 wire (with black thread), and .030 wire (red thread) .
I'm also interested in taking carp that are cruising near the surface in deep water, you need a boat to see these guys but they are definitely out there. I'm thinking that if i present a flotsam weight fly to 'em they'll take it.
I'm looking forward to corresponding with you. Maybe you'll make out to the desert this summer, might show you some spots that will blow your mind. And if you find some water on the Columbia down there that has acres and acres of ankle to waist deep water be sure to let me know

The Delta

Looking down from the bank I could see good numbers of fish feeding in the shallow brown water. I thought for a time about fishing somewhere else, some place with clear water. Then I looked down again and saw multiple dark shapes in the water. Good enough, I walked back to my rig and strung up my rod. I didn't come all the way out here just to turn around. Nosur! I came out here to catch some capr and put to rest the rumors I've been hearing about The Delta.
Once down on the water I walked along the edge looking for feeding carp. They were visible only in a foot or less of water. Often times I could only see there tails, the rest of their bodies disappeared into the muddy murk. It soon became apparent that it wasn't hard to find fish but it was next to impossible to see if the fish found my fly.
Stalking capr on the flats is more about hunting than it is fishing. The fish are big and they do fight like hell but the big thrill is the visual aspect of finding capr and seeing them take your fly.
Normally when a capr takes the fly you see it happen. You migh see the tail tip up, the body twist, gills puff, lips pook or some anomalous action on the fish's part that might indicate that it is trying to eat your fly. Sometimes if the capr is hovering in the vicinity of my fly for too long I set the hook assuming that I somehow didn't see him take the fly. The blind set is questionable if not effective method as it does result in some foul hooking.
Alas the blind set method is all I had to rely on given the water conditions I had no hope of seeing a tip, twist, puff, et al. Out of all the fish I cast to I landed only two, an 8 lb mirror capr and a 10 lb common carp. Both fish took a rusty hackle-back.
So if you too have heard rumors about the Crab Creek Delta and its multitude of giant capr let me tell you, they aint rumors. There are lots of capr there and some of them are really big. They like to feed close to shore and you can get real close to 'em. The water might get a bit muddy though and you might not be able to see everything you need to. But remember this, if anyone ask you where a good place to go caprin' is send 'em out to The Delta.

Carpin'

Been out three times so far.
June 7, 05
The first day was a bust. Direct sunlight is required to sight fish to carp. There was plenty of that while Sven, Leonard and myself readied our gear. The sun continued to shine as we walked out to the flats. But as soon as we got out there the clouds rolled in. What the fuck are ya gonna do?

June 9, 05
I finally got the Family Carpster out on the water yesterday. The Family Carpster is my new flats boat. She needs some modifications but those can wait, I'm still getting to know her. Top speed was impressive, I estimate Mach .225 with just me on board though I'm sure she'll slow down a touch when T-Hole slides his lard ass aboard.
I cruised around a bit before I anchored the FC near a little carp hole I know about. The sun was out but there were a few clouds threatening to cast their shadows onto the flats.
After a short walk up the reef I found a few carp mudding in waist deep water. That's when the first cloud blotted out the sun. The importance of direct sunlight cannot be overstated when it comes to sight fishing for carp. You have to have it.
From then on the clouds came and went keeping me in the shade about half the time I was out there. I've been out there when the lighting was worse but I didn't catch anything.
I did manage to hook a few at that location, during short sun breaks. They were stong fighters but I don't think they are in prime shape yet. By July the carp will be ready for battle.
When a giant cloud parked its pillowy ass over my flat I got back into the boat, cracked a beer and did some reconaissance.
I found another carp hole where tarpon sized carp had mudded up a cloud of silt big enough to obscure an underwater basketball court. Along the periphery of this cove more carpon poked and rooted amongst rocks and boulders.
The sun had come out once again and I was able to land four more goldies. A couple of them reminded me what my backing looked like as they torpedoed out of the cove with my fly line in tow.
After a time the sun had slipped behind the clouds again. I got back into the boat and explored more water.
I found bays and coves, rocky points, sandy beaches and a few smallmouth bass.
The biggest bass I almost caught might have been 17 inches or so but I'll never know because she snapped off when I tried to land her without a net. Amongst other things the Family Carpster needs a boat net.
The wind started to pick up so I motored back to the launch, loaded up and drove home.

June 15, 05
I picked up Bubba at 0710 hrs, right on time. Three minutes later I stopped in front of Sven's house. Sven threw his gear into the rig, took one last puff from his poop stick and then we were off.
Over the river, through the woods, across a desert and half way through a county sized swamp we drove. Carp Fisherman: We drive farther and catch bigger fish than anyone else in the biz.
The water was high when we first go there. High water is either good or bad depending on who you ask. Those who don't like high water say that the fish are more concentrated and easier to find in low water. The rest of us like high water because it might put fish up on the shallow flats and reedy edges. There are pros and cons to each scenario, the one thing that they both have in common is that one will change into the other before the end of the day.
Sven landed his first carp of the year soon after we got out the flats. From where I was standing it looked like Sven had a biggun' on so I waded over to help him land it.
Three days earlier I had bought a new Boga Grip. I picked up the smaller one with the 15 lb max because I thought that most of the carp we caught were under 10lbs and because it was more compact and lighter thatn the 30 lb model. 'Ol Sven talked me into taking it back and exchanging it for the 30lb model so that we could "weigh the big fuckers too!"
Back on the flats I landed and weighed Sven's big carp with my newly aquired 30lb boga grip. At fourteen pounds this carp justified the larger, 30 lb max, Boga Grip.
By mid afternoon Sven had landed four, myself three and Bubba zero. So far everyone was having a decent day except for Bubba. In the mid afternoon sun the flats were looking empty and Bubba's prospects were looking grim.
The water level had dropped condsiderably since we got there. The receding water left flats high and dry, bays and coves low and shallow. The carp had relocated to the muddy bottoms and Bubba was the first to figure it out.
"Fish on, come and take my picture!"
Dutifully I waded over to Bubba, helped him land his fish and took his picture. Bubba's carp weighed 13 lbs, which would have to do because it was the only fish he landed all day.
A high haze drifted in from the west, obscuring the lowering sun and signalling day's end. By the end of it three anglers landed well over one hundred pounds of wild carp, a good day by anyone's standards.

Tying Journal 12/28/04

I tied up some Firehole flies today; 1 doz Iris Caddis (#16) and 1 doz Poly Wing Duns (#20). Both of these flies were the top producers on the Firehole this past fall. The Iris was tied on the end of a 10 ft leader tapered down to 5x then a #20 BWO pattern was tied on a 24 in 6x dropper. The takes were evenly divided between the two flies which speaks volumes of the Firehole's unique character. Is there anywhere else in the West where Baetis and Caddis come off at the same time?
I also tied six hacklebacks in peacock on a 1x short, 2x strong, #10 hook. These have been my most succesfull carp flies over the past two seasons

Iris Caddis
Hook: TMC 900BL #16
Tail: antron yarn, pinkish orange
Body: Hare-Tron Dubbin, Lt olive brown #5
Shuck: Zelon, tan
Head: Squirrel SLF, golden olive

Peacock Hackleback
Hook: 075 Dai-Riki
Weight: .30 or .25 lead
Tail: Sili-legs, clear brown
Hackle: Dry fly hackle, brown, barbs must be longer than hook gap
Body: 4 or 5 peacock herls, twisted then wrapped