What these pond carp lack in size they make up for with stupidity. But of course they aren't as stupid as they used to be. At least the slightly bigger carp are slightly less stupider seeing as how the odds are very high I have caught just about every danged one of them at least once. There is no doubt about it, over-educating your favorite pond is a real phenomenon. It is noticeably harder to catch a carp in this pond than it was five years ago when I first stated harassing them.
Nevertheless, I can still go out this time of year and do some pretty respectable damage numbers wise in these local ponds. Just not BIG damage. Nothing big about it since the 7 carp I caught this weekend probably averaged 2 to 3 pounds. Most fell to a very lightly weighted (no bead, small bead-chain) Trouser Worm.
The first carp this weekend was a clooper that was slurping on a scum film. He couldn't see me and I couldn't see anything but his lips protruding through the sum so I could get really really close. Close enough that I just dabbled an olive Primordial Carp-Stew about a quarter inch under the film where the carp could see it like a leach slow-swimming under the scum. That carp just calmly back-fined back and a quarter second later laid down one of the hardest takes I can remember in a while on my suspended fly. It was awesome and earned a itty bitty grip and grin!
The next 5 carp all fell to a lightly weighted Trouser Worm. Trouser Worms can be really really effective for post ice-out carp and are my first choice in March.
Yes, I was wet wading. I am so sick of waders. I can't stand waders now.
The last one fell to a Montana Hybrid which is a peacock bodied soft-hackle with a worm tail. It was the first cast to the first fish that I saw after tying it on, a really really good sign!
It wasn't just my first carp on one of John's Hybrids. It wasn't just a carp caught on a swap fly which is a total bonus. At 1lb 2 ounces was also my official personal best smallest carp and earned another itty bitty grip and grin! It was so small and cute I had to crop myself out of the picture or you would miss the fish.
Nice!! Need some leaves on those trees brother!
ReplyDeleteNo kidding David! Probably 2 or three weeks off before those start popping though.
DeleteSeverely well done, T.T. McTage !!
ReplyDeleteThanks JM! How is your early season so far?
DeleteIt is true that you can educate pond carp, I totally believe this. Nice work with your Trouser Worm, we all seem to have fall back favorites in our waters, ponds especially, at least for me, as everyone is different from the other. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteGregg
Yeah, these are actually a series of ponds and every single one fishes completely different. They might as well be in different states.
Deleteit was actually a really cool shot and take - In this case it did actually take quite a bit of skill. Sometimes these little guys are uber aggresive though and will chase and are pretty easy.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've seen a carp that small, ever. Nice catches. You might want to have a section of your blog just for fly swap catches. Posts people talk about catching carp using flies from the fly swap.
ReplyDeleteSounds like my kinda water. Very similar to the reservoir I fish here, looks like.
ReplyDeleteBeen itching to tie up a few of those foam trouser worms of yours , guess I'm gonna have to sit down and do it so I can find out how my locals feel about em.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I already know the answer to that though....