CARPTORIOUS: The Worm And I Have Some Fun

I had a chance today to do some field testing with the worm pattern I was working on last week.  For the most part it did extremely well.  There are some issues and I think the final pattern will get some tweaks to increase the durability before it earns a name and goes on the favorite flies page but it can clearly catch fish.   

It was a perfect day to hit the river.  We had great weather all week with a falling flow and increasing clarity.  My hope was that a certain flat would load up in the afternoon with feeding fish.  I love it when a plan comes together. 

On the way between elevated scouting and my desired position I had an interesting conversation with a non-fishing passerby.  The conversation went something like this:  

Random Dude:  "What are you fishing for, Carp?"
Blithering Idiot:  "Shit-yes.  Me see feeders.  Polarized?  You look there, me go now."

Yes, a flat full of fish will turn me into a moron.  Not only am I fairly certain I was speaking in tongues but what dufus tells a complete stranger where a flat of feeding fish are?  80 year old granny walking the dog?  She could be under cover but probably safe.  Random dude wearing polarized?

I was in the spot and in action by about noon-thirty.  My new best friend the worm and I got off to a great start.  Poor lighting - deep flat - winter...whatya gonna do.  The worm knew what to do.  Get out there in front of some shadows and work it's way back near bottom smoothly and ever so slooooooowly on a tight line.  The worm and I were hooked up 3 times and home with a decent 25" fish by noon-fortyfive. 

Unfortunately that pretty much did for that flat.  The ruckus switched them off and despite giving it a good 45 minutes to settle down the fish never re-found that lovin feeling.  By 3:00 it was time to move on.  Past-time really.

The next section started promising.  I found a pod of 3 fish tailing almost immediately with full visibility.  I had switched from the worm.  Foolish man...the worm was my destiny today.  After a couple of shots they started to look uncomfortable.  It was time to move on, bring the worm off the bench and come back later before they totally freaked.

Just a little down-stream there was a pod of fish hiding in some shadows in moderate current.  I tried several times to drift the worm into them but it just wasn't working.  It was hard to tell but either they weren't feeding or I wasn't getting the drift.  Impatience set in and that poor worm found himself lobbed right in the middle of a pod of hungries.  Poor fella got carp-whacked before he met bottom.  A smaller fish but the hit was hard and the fight was fun.

It was about time to leave but the worm and I had some unfinished business.  Those tailers were back in action.  The worm was all warmed up and ready to go.  Finally the worm and I had the chance for a more visceral experience.  That which all fly-carpers live for.  The chance to clearly see a carp flash his tail, surge forward and ravage a well placed fly as it hits bottom.  Awesome.  This was a larger fish and a great way to end the day.