Back into it!

Got out last week for a few hours to try and get a carp on the fly. First I headed to the Secret Spot. With all the rain we've had, I knew it would be high, but it was ridiculous! Water was about 10 feet above normal judging from the grass. Saw some fish feeding, but they were all buffalo and the current was insane so I decided to go over to a pond close by that holds some pretty crazy varieties of fish, including drum, carp, buffalo, spotted bass, and most notably, gar.

Upon getting there, I found the bass were definitely on the feed, and caught a few on my way around the pond. Finally I got to a big tree that hangs over the water that's usually a really good spot for carp on euro gear. Right when I started to make a cast a gar emerged from the shadow of the tree, and I kind of flicked over the fly I had on at the time, a Backstabber carp fly. I didn't think that I would have a chance with that fish. I was wrong.

The gar slammed the fly like a freight train. As usual with gar I let it run for a good while then set the hook harder than i'd set in a long time. The fish was definitely hooked and I began fighting it in. It took about 10 minutes and I was able to net her. Turned out to be a HUGE spotted gar, definitely a new PB. Tried to get a hero shot with her but she slipped back in before I could. This is the only pic I have.

Dinosaur!

Kept heading down the bank, and to my surprise I found, for the first time ever, fish tailing in the pond. I missed a few and lost one, then hooked up with this little beauty. Nearly took me into the backing, nice little scrap!

Only a baby!

Hopefully i'll be able to find some more this weekend!

Grapevine 3/6

Haven't had much time lately (been sick!) and I haven't been fishing. Here's a trip from almost a week ago with Ryan and Chloe!

Lol!

Great day! I only posted the highlights. We got like 8 or 9 buffs each plus a few carp. Ryan got his PB buff and carp and I got a bunch of nice chunks.

Grapevine 3/5

Big day at Grapevine today! Fished with my friends John, Sherman, and Miranda. We did great!

19-3

Sherman's 8lb buff

Hi carp!

Miranda's 16lb buff

My PB Buff at 25-3 on a plum flavored pop-up

Carp me

I have done it again! I broke my PB yet again from the same swim! I caught this 24-8 Common Saturday from Grapevine on orange maize on a reverse combi rig with a little foam to pop the bait up off the bottom over my cherry method. Great session again, with my PB common and Ryan's PB Buff captured.

Hero shot

Tennis Ball mouth!

Ryan's PB buff on my rod

a little over 8

Teeny little common. Ryan was offended

6lber

Great trip, carp fishing is really producing right now. I spent some time out at Andy Brown today and got 1 run and lost the fish, I should be back tomorrow!

Best. Session. Ever.

Yes, I knew the day would finally come when i'd get a new PB common. That and the ever elusive mirror carp i've been chasing for years. Now finally, I can say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! If you've seen the pics on Flickr or on my facebook or twitter you know already, but I got a 16lb 4oz mirror and a 21lb 11oz common yesterday on a long session at Grapevine. FINALLY! here's the post on the TFF
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/5845240/Best_Session_Ever_2_new_PB_s#Post5845240
Amazing!

CarpRunner tutorial

It's freezing and snowing right now. In Texas. Insanity.

Of course, the tarp blew off the kayak so it's covered in snow and ice. Great...

So, to beat the cold weather i'm doing a tying tutorial- the CarpRunner, my carp fly. I came up with it on a trip to PK lake, which if you don't know is a deep super clear lake on the brazos river. It is full of carp, and it's deep. Most of the carp were around 5-6 feet deep when cruising and eating. I needed a fly that would het down to them quickly, not make too much of a splash entry into the water, and most importantly catch them. I drafted the CarpRunner and it worked, so here it is

CARP RUNNER

Hook- any 2-3x long streamer size 10-6 (8 is what I use 95% of the time)

Eyes- black bead chain or black lead dumbells

Thread- light is the best- 6/0 or 8/0

Tail- tuft of Rootbeer rabbit fur

Body- Varigated chenille- Coffee/olive

Hackle- Brown or Olive

Rib- Medium Black ultra wire

1. Start your thread near the hook eye

2. tie in the eyes with figure 8 wraps

3. Tie in the rabbit fur tuft for the tail

4. tie in the chenille

5. Tie in the wire

6. Wrap everything forward and tie off.

  The original version has lead dumbell eyes and some lead down by the hook bend to make it fall level but  really don't think that's necessary unless the extra weight is needed. 

Fishing tips

I fish this on a 5 or 6wt fly rod, floating weight forward or double taper fly line, and a 8-10lb flourocarbon tippet. It also works great for really anything. The current species list is Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted bass, Buffalo, Carp, River Carpsucker, Bluegill, Longear, Green sunfish, Redear sunfish, Redbreast sunfish, Channel Catfish, Blue catfish, Black and Yellow Bullhead, Black and White Crappie, Almost a Koi, Drum, and White Bass. It's an awesome multispecies fly that imitates craws, small minnows like sculpins,  and Larger nymphs present in many lakes and rivers. Tie one on and you'll catch e'm if they are there!