I managed to get out and play around for a few hours over my past few days off. A little of this and a little of that , I didn't get too serious about it. Just killing some time in the best way I know how...fishing.
I found a few carp slurping something small off the top on one of my local haunts. I never could figure out what they were eating but managed to fool a half dozen or so in two visits with a combination of the old stand-by cottonwood seed fly and a griffiths gnat.
They weren't big , but I'll take small carp sucking in dry flies anyday.
Made a trip out to the flats on a local reservoir to check on the carp and drum activity. Fubar'd a couple shots at both but didn't see as many fish as I had hoped for.
Managed to stick the biggest fish I had a decent shot at though , thought it was a drum until I saw that big head move over and suck in the fly.
My biggest cat on a flyrod and sight fished to boot! I tried to get a couple of decent pics but the fish was simply too big to lift out of the water with one hand and snap a shot. Considering the time of year I'm pretty sure she was up there spawning or getting ready to so I just unhooked her and let her swim away
I also spent an afternoon and evening fishing some local ponds and strip pits with a newfound fishing buddy. We've talked through e-mail but never had the chance to get together on the water until now. We spent the better part of an afternoon checking out some local waters that he has available to him , drinking a few beers and talking fishing.
We played around with some small bluegills and crappie until the sun started it's evening descent and then we switched over and started looking for a few largemouth to harass.
In short order we were hooked up with a few of the local residents.
We didn't catch any of the really big boys that are known to inhabit these waters but that just gives us a good excuse to plan a second trip!
I hope to get back out on some smallmouth water in the very near future but until then hanging out with the locals is pretty good entertainment!
Awesome job on the cat! How big do you think she was?
ReplyDeleteThanks...I'd guess over twenty , she was wide and thick.
DeleteNice mixed bag. What do you use to tie your Cottonwood seed fly?
ReplyDeleteThanks Jay...The patterns extremely simple , I use what's called marabou fluffs (just extra small marabou feathers) and then just tie them on an appropriately sized wide gap hook with black thread. Nothing fancy but a good representation of a cottonwood seed.
ReplyDeleteI'd call that making the most of things. Nice photos. The cat was amazing, but the bass were the prettiest. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim.
DeleteNo better way to kill some time, than to fish! Looks like you've been making the best of it!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great looking cottonwood seed fly. I'll have to tie one of those, and try to entice the carp around here.
That cat is enourmous! Wow!! I think you managed to take some excellent pictures of it. I'm all for artistic shots over the shots, and you nailed it with those 2. Especially, the release shot of it swimming away. I bet that was a blast!
Thanks Justin...If you can find carp eating on top the cottonwood seed fly is a definite winner.
ReplyDeleteWe found large catfish in a fast flowing river once, like trout fast, one of a guessed 5lb., yours we might not have landed. Wonderful things there for you!
ReplyDeleteGregg
It was a definite surprise when I saw that big ole whiskered face! Not as many runs as a carp that size would have given but a brute to land on the setup I was using nonetheless.
DeleteThankss for writing
ReplyDelete