Drive-By Carpers

Q:  What do you when you are traveling for work and you drive past a reservoir with happy, tailing carp?

A:   You pull the hell over.

 

9YVQM3HEHDAT

Pressure Drop

I came home late last night from a five day journey in Las Vegas for an annual work convention.  After interacting with grown-ups in business suits all week and walking among the slot machine zombies, I was reminded we are completely and unequivocally doomed as a civilization.  Seriously. 

I was excited to get the hell out of Babylon and back to the flats for some therapy.  Unfortunately, Idaho was experiencing another major cold front and it was a case of deja vu from last weekend, with freezing rain and temps in the '40's.

There's an old farmer's joke in eastern Idaho:  "Around here we have two seasons - winter and July."

When Mother Nature is less than cooperative and the weather makes our friends at Blackfoot Reservoir too lethargic to feed, I have another "go to" spot in a different body of water with warmer water temperatures, benefiting from a natural spring.  While it's great to have some relatively warm water to fish, the carp in this early season clear water are wicked spooky.

Fortunately, I was able to find a willing player in very shallow water before it started sleeting.

Here is the protocol:

1) Schedule work around fishing;

2) Schedule fishing around the weather;

3) Make it happen.

Sure, my family is at the top of the priority list, but they are in Ohio for another four days and it's Memorial Day weekend.

If it warms up tomorrow, it'll be carp at the reservoir. If not, I'll chase some trout.  Probably a little of both over the weekend.

The salmonflies are hatching on the Henry's Fork River.  While the Henry's Fork is one of the most majestic places on earth, I just can't get enough carp.

It is really good to be home.

Prince Alla - bringin' it home:

8th Annual Blackfoot Reservoir Carp Classic - Recap

 

Once again, Blackfoot Reservoir was the site of the annual Carp Classic fly fishing tournament and, once again, Mother Nature came ready to party.  She brought a whole lot of hootin' and hollerin' first thing Friday morning and temperatures never ventured above 45 degrees.  It made for a day of cold, miserable fishing in the freezing rain.  Truth be told, it was probably the worst day of fishing I have ever had.  Only four teams (out of 29) put any fish on the board.

Day 1 Looked Like This

Fortunately, cold fronts tend to move through east Idaho pretty quickly this time of year and Day 2 was a different story altogether. In fact, it was warmer by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday than it was all day Friday.  As the sun warmed up the flats, the bite came on at 10:00 a.m.  It was like somebody flipped a light switch.  No action all morning...and then it was "go time."

Day 2 Looked Like This

This year there were 29 teams and, like previous years, each team had three anglers. I was teamed up with two guys from Missoula - John and Steve.  Although John and Steve have been fly fishermen for over 40 years each, this was their first time fly fishing for carp. They got many takes but most fish were lost to the "trout set" reflex.


However, Steve was able to land his first carp on the fly on Saturday and both anglers announced they now have "carp fever."

Steve's First Carp on the Fly

It was really great to see guys who have been fly fishing for many decades take on a new challenge and become completely stoked.  They were totally awesome guys to fish with and we've made plans to get together again to fish up in Missoula.  Of course, they plan on coming back again for next year's tournament as well.

At the Weigh In

Although I was fortunate to land good numbers of fish, none of them were hogs...and the Carp Classic tournament is all about the hogs.  In other words, the largest fish per angler and the total weight for the team's three largest fish is what counts.  In these types of tournaments, catching one fish - the right fish - is enough to win the tournament.

Such is the case with Terrie from team Mikey's Ho's.  She landed a phenomenal 27 pound slab and took the win in the women's division and the largest fish for Day 2.  Damn that was a great fish.

The vibe was totally great and everyone who participated had a great attitude.  I have never seen so many happy dogs in one place having a blast together.

Mack

Gus Loves Beer

Mad props and thanks are in order to Brooks Montgomery, Kenly Bitton, Travis Morris and everyone else involved for a great time.  I had a blast.

ABC - Always Be Carpin'

Man, this is a weird start to the 2012 carpin' season.  All of my usual "can't miss" spots are dead right now.

Self Portrait - Leatherface Style

Getting into fish requires significant recon and trip planning. Chalk it up to a cold spring.

Please, please, please weather gods - divert or delay the cold front that is scheduled to arrive during the Carp Classic 8 on Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday at the Reservoir

Creatures from the Brown Lagoon

Big Carp, Skinny Water

Some days everything comes together and you feel like a superstar.  Sunday, however, was the other kind of day.  The kind where you get to the reservoir much later than planned and then, while heading to your favorite new flat, you blow out the sidewall on one of your brand new truck tires.  The kind where you spend 20 minutes putting on the spare while the largest mosquitoes this side of Alaska exact their toll. 

Fortunately, Blackfoot Reservoir always has a way of making you forget about all of this nonsense.  Late in the afternoon, I spotted a massive carp rooting around in just a few inches of water.  I made a stealthy approach, shot a decent cast and got an eat.  The carp made a deliberate 18 wheeler-styled charge for open water and it was a beautiful sight...until I busted the 1x flouro tippet.

Thankfully, I at least got it all on video.  Here is some footage only a hardcore carp nerd could love...with a few of this week's eats.

The Big Takeover

After another week-long cold spell, spring has returned and our carpy friends are re-claiming their right to occupy prime real estate on the flats of Blackfoot Reservoir.

Today the carp were not hanging out at their usual haunts and I was dumbfounded.  

The great thing about being dumbfounded is that it forces you to try new techniques and new locations instead of settling into old comfortable patterns.

I headed to an area of the lake I rarely fish and found a small new flat.  Although everywhere else in the lake was totally dead today, this particular flat was dynamite.

Carp were staging in no more than 18" of water and they were easy to spot - offering up some distinct bubble trails and the occasional smoke screen.

Our relatively short window of carp action at this high elevation impoundment is about to blow wide open.  The hogs have not yet arrived at the trough, but it's great to get warmed up before their arrival.

T minus ten days until the annual Carp Classic fly fishing tournament.

Spring in the Desert

Not fly fishing related, but I am posting it anyway...

Every spring, I get together with some good friends for a bachelors' weekend in the desert.  It usually involves canyoneering, mountain biking, camping and lots of fart jokes - always a good time.

Good Friends, Beers, a Campfire and a Supermoon

I put the GoPro on my helmet while mountain biking this weekend - riding the spines in north Fruita and Horsethief Bench in Loma - plus a few other assorted photos from recent trips.

Collared Lizards are Rad

Rappeling into a Slot Canyon

Big Tom and the Colorado River