Out With Fly Carpin....Get Ready For High Water!

When Lakes Don't Work Head To High Water

We finally had the time, we finally had the day...now we just needed for the right conditions to go chase a few Golden's this Saturday. Good luck and in Carp fishing it's never quite that easy.

Fellow Carp addict McTage from Fly Carpin joined me for a day out in the Metro area to do what we love, chase those finicky feeding Carp. That's just what we found this Saturday and fortunately we always have a back up plan when it comes to these guys.


Troutdawg on the prowl-McTage chasing a nice Common Carp as well

The day started with a Lake we've both fished time and time again and lately, it's treated me fairly well. In fact the day prior I rode by just to preview what the day looked like and wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, there must have been 75+ carp in these flats I fish and not only feeders but very happy Carp eager to bite!

Isn't it funny how you think it should go and how it actually goes is in fact most days one expects when out fly fishing? We arrived to my honey hole on the flats at Lake X to find only a few carp moving around and about 50 geese bedded down. What theheck we'll try our luck anyway. After chasing a few and not sold on how this lake was producing it was off to plan B..or was it plan D since the River was blown out?

Regardless of what the lakes are doing, river levels are at or what Carp season it is I always have a spot or two in waiting. McTage knew plenty of areas to hit as well, you see this guy Carp fishes more than me and has definitely paid his dues in some Carp water. Not only that but he also knows how to tie a few sweet flies as well worth checking out "you can ask Montana Fly or see for yourself". When you spend as much time on the water as this guy, there's not much he doesn't know when it comes to Carp, but it was nice to compare techniques and strategies seeing how we fish fairly similar styles.

"We hit my honey hole on the Platte and within 5 minutes I was on about 5 feeders tearing up the river bottom," a much welcomed site seeing how the prior 2 hours were not as fruitful. The next thing that happened was my line ripping out of my 8wt Lamson reel and fish on! No time to waste and it was time to jump in to the Platte for some fun. Before I knew it she had worked me downstream into some cover and I pulled it! Bummer but that's what happens...

McTage hooked up a few minutes later and was in the middle of the River before I knew it. Minutes later and some give-takes, a fat Common Carp was landed and it was happy slime time! We both had a few more shots and I had another pull out and 2 "golden" opportunities but I dropped the ball....not my day. Hey not bad though for a few hookups in an hours time than I head to head out!

Another fine Carp day, whether you land one or not it's always about the challenge, presentation and scratch marks from ambush fishing that keep you coming back again the following week.

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Spring Colorado Carp on A Fly! It's Time

Warmer Weather, Short on Time, Do Some Carpin

Between a few recent Trout outings I was thinking about how soon before I could get back out Carpin again. The bite has definitely been on and an hour after work yesterday proved why I needed my Golden Bone fix for the week. Yes they're different, yes they are an acquired taste -not literally, yes they are extremely hard to catch on a fly....what better reason to get out after some Golden Bones!

Catching a Carp on a fly, for those who still haven't tried it, you need to at least try it sometime this year and see what the fuss is all about. Springtime can bring some of the best fishing of the year and since the Popularity has grown here in the Denver area, don't think the Carp haven't figured that out as well and soon become even more challenging to catch once Summer rolls around. During the winter time Carp enjoy a sluggish period of doing little to nothing and waiting for the water to warm up. That's why Spring is when to get out to chase them. They go from a "dead log" fight in the winter to all of a sudden bonefish-backing mode! By Summer you will get the best fight out of them for sure but depending on how much it's warmed up in the Spring, the fight may be just as good.



Don't forget if you do get out and chase a few up in Commerce city where all the hotspots are at. Make sure you pick decent weather conditions to chase them. Optimal times would include: bright sunny days -so you can see, lack of wind, decent flows -too low and high spook factor, too high and too muddy for sight fishing, no clouds if possible for better viewing and lastly, go where the Carp are! Where is that? Patience, time and hours spent on the River will be your guide to find out that answer. You can hit REI if you want like everyone else or take your bike down the bike path in Commerce City for some real adventuring.

There's not much that helps in preparing for an upcoming Saltwater trip, like sight fishing does. No indicator dredge fishing Allowed here, if you want to do it right, if you truly want the right experience get out for some sight fishing and see how much fun you can have.


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