I still like to play in the tub, but now I play with carp flies. Sit back and enjoy the latest installment of fly-carpin bath-tub testing, it has been a while.
I need to make more time for these videos. I really took notice of that little explosion that the carp-stew does when it hits bottom and now that I think back I have had several carp this spring ignore the fly until it hit bottom and then show sudden interest. I think I will put a little more effort into letting the drop fully terminate before deciding that a carp is not interested and imparting some action.
Excellent vid. so much life in that fly, makes you think more about what you lure does when you put some action in to it . keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteI really do like action on my carp flies Marc. Maybe not necessarily the jigging kind of action you might expect for Smallmouth flies. The right action means that you can fish the fly on the drop if you have to but also on the strip or swim if the fish are in the mood. Thanks for stopping in and commenting!
DeleteThinking crawfish, that explosion of softer material may simulate an immediate defensive posture as does the real thing. That was informative. I an going to blend some courser dubbing with some old micro rubber legs I find I never use to replicate that fly. What do you assume is the ratio of rubber to fur? And, I just tested some of mt Trouser Worms tied on a heavy #6 egg hook that did not ride right several fishing trips ago. That hook is too heavy for the large bead chain I use in my rendition. Those on #8 scud hook do fine.
ReplyDeleteGregg
I have actually bathtub tested thsi the scud hook for the TW defenitely and conclusively rides better than egg hooks. Egg-hooks MAY get a better grab on the hook-set so I am always struggling between a possible thoery that you get more takes with the skud-hook but a slightly better hook-up percentage with the egg-hook. Could be total hogwash. One note, it turns out (and this makes no sense to me) that the lighter the bead the better it rides. No idea why, and I really HAVE to have tungsten and sometimes large tungsten when fishing current but sometimes skip the bead altogether in stillwater now.
DeleteLove that fly.
ReplyDeleteGetting to yours this week hopefully, but I had an epiphany and am tying yours in the most shockingly bright pink and cyan colors I can find. It's the newest rage.
DeleteThat sounds awesome. On a related note, I can go from "guiding" to "rock throwing" awfully fast.
DeleteDuly noted. Black, olive and orange it is.
DeleteGood stuff McTage. The bit about the fly "explosion" when it hits bottom lines up with something I've been thinking about with my reservoir carp. I've noticed that a cruiser will often change course for no discernible reason and then aggressively start rooting in the muck. I think a fish like that sees a small puff of silt and or/ stream of bubbles shoot up, giving away the location of a mayfly or dragonfly nymph, for example. Bonefish, redfish, trout, etc. all locate food this way. I'm sure carp do to. I just wonder if your fly is landing in mud and kicking up a small bit of silt or a couple of bubbles. Just curious. I've been thinking about a fly or presentation to mimick this. I won't go into details here, but one of the fly materials is Alka-Seltzer. Is that cheating?
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess you could be doing them a favor. After all nothing causes heartburn like sucking muck.
DeleteSome people swear by the puff of dust thing. Google bristling leach. I have tried it. Either I was doing it wrong or it didn't seem to make a difference. That was when I first moved here and was having a really hard time adjusting to the lack of aggression and was pretty much doing everything wrong though.
You are the King of tub-testers. A good thing.
ReplyDeleteI also had a wind-up "whale" tub-toy ... about 55 yrs ago !!
Better than the Queen of test-tubes I suppose.
DeleteI love the "research" behind your flies. Gonna tie up a batch and feed 'em to some Utah carp this week.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say, I have advanced degree in dork. Good to hear from you, been a while Ryan. You gonna be back at that mirror spot from last summer?
DeleteThere is a plastic lure you insert a tablet into. Don't remember the name. Great independent idea Ty! But carp are not bass, would the taste repulse them?
ReplyDeleteGregg
I would thing the taste would either repulse them or if you found something that didnt....well that would probably be bait! Strawberry fizzies?
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