Stolen Moments

As you may know in the early season the daily high is probably fourth or fifth on my list of important weather patterns.  I believe that the overnight low temp, a somewhat stable weather pattern (preferably a slowly warming trend) and good sunlight are all slightly more important.

Well, starting on Thursday we started a four or five day stretch that was probably the best match for what I am looking for yet this year.  I was supposed to fish all day Friday but a 24 hour stomach Flu put the kibosh on that.  I tried to man up.  I really did, but after several hours wandering aimlessly and deliriously I gave up went home and slept nearly 17 hours straight.

I honestly can't remember - Is the photo before or after I caught this carp?

Fortunately in the past year and a half I have gotten much more effective at hooking up in quick outings.  The key of course is throwing your pride under the bus and chasing cute little pond carp and that is what I did - every time I got the chance this weekend.

Biggest carp of the weekend.  Yeah, you read me right.

Thars Gold in Them Thar Ponds!

Same shot zoomed in.  Juvenile pond carp are often VERY lightly and brightly colored

In fits, starts and stolen moments I managed to have a pretty good several days in the end.  The carp I caught were small but man did I have some just incredible takes!

The most valuable fly, by far, was John Montana's Hybrid.

HYBRID RULES!!!!!!!

This little fella moved THREE feet on a Hybrid.  Down the Chute!

This wasn't even the carp I was casting at!  He came out of nowhere to hammer the Hybrid.

I have not put it in front of any South Platte carp yet but the pond carp around here LOVE this fly tied on a size 8 Scorpion Gaper.

And speaking of the DSP, it is hard to completely ignore my beloved river at any time of year.  Unfortunately, this year it has been a royal pain due to low flows and sedimentation but I did manage this mutant in limited action on a Leather Trouser Worm.  This is the second time I have caught a smushed-face DSP carp.  Or is this just an extreme manifestation of the Angelina Jolie lip theorem?

My only river carp this weekend.  Mutant or further proof of the Angelina Jolie Theorem?

This time I know for sure.  This was a picture of the lip less carp above BEFORE I caught it!