Last weekend I ran into another carper named Paul on the river and something he said really made me feel good.
I had met him earlier in the season at a local lake. On that occasion I stopped to talk and learned that this was his first season. He was struggling while he had seen me catching several carp and he asked what I was doing differently. I felt like it would be easier to show him than explain so we took a walk around the lake trading shots and I showed him how I was presenting the fly differently.
When we met up last weekend one of the first things Paul said was that the advice I had given him and the different methods for presenting the fly I had shown him had made a huge difference in his efforts. That was awesome and really made me feel great!
One of the main reasons I started blogging was to add a different perspective on how-to advice for catching carp on flies. It has been easy to lose sight of those intentions. Honestly it is incredibly hard to write how-to information. Much harder than I expected. Meeting Paul and his kind words reminded me of that so I buckled down and finished a how-to fly fish for carp page I have been thinking about for a while that provides a little bit of information and links up a bunch more. I am still learning myself. Hopefully the page and I can improve together. In the meanwhile, any differing opinions or additional information anybody has to add are welcome in the comments section of that page!
sweet! thanks for writing this... I am still trying to hook into a carp but I have been getting discouraged lately. I will put some of your tips to use.
ReplyDeleteI have a few thoughts to put up about patterns etc this winter. Got distracted by AK and had to cancel a carp trip today due to weather...season is basically over out here. Short season this year.
ReplyDeleteKeep stuff coming Mctage!
Stealth - With a name like that you are on your way! Dont get discouraged, it gets easier I promise. It is tough to teach or learn from the internet but hopefully some of my stuff can ease the learning curve for you at least a little.
ReplyDeleteJohn - AK = Nice distraction, loved your recaps. The season is pretty much over here too. There was a cold-snap early in September and the carp have been deep or ultra-passive ever since. Fortunately we have what I think of as the off-season but it is a tough transition!
Looks pretty good man. Should be a fun project to polish up over the winter months! If you got an area you need some brainstorm help let me know.
ReplyDeleteNate - I will keep that in mind! As far as a project for the winter goes I already have one and that is catchin some carp! You will have to join me, it is pretty neat to catch carp in the winter even if they do fight like wimps when they are cold.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Wish I had something like this a couple of years ago when I started carping.
ReplyDeleteTy - Kinda curious actually if much of what I say applies to the carp in your region, carp acting so different in different areas is part of what makes how-to tough to write. I know for a fact that some of what I write does not apply in Oregon and a whole lot of it doesnt apply in MI.
ReplyDeleteGreat How-To page there. Like someone else said above , I wish I'd had some help like this when I began chasing these fish a couple years ago. School of Hard Knocks is a tough way to learn how to fool these fish but it can be done.
ReplyDeleteHPFF - At this point most of us carpers have learned the old-school way havent we. Pain and suffering and shear stubborness. Not like there are a ton of guides out there to show people the ropes. Getting there.
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