Bob'n for carp

[Jay Murakoshi]

It's been a long time since I've been fishing, so after dropping off my grand daughter, I decided to do some carp fishing at the lake.
The conditions were ok, except for the weekenders out having their picnic's and swimming.
I decided to drive around to the other side of the lake and find a empty cove with no one around. The lake has dropped quite a bit since the last time I was there so it was difficult to find a cove holding fish. I eventually found a cove with good cover, lots of shallow water and some carp swimming around. After putting the rod together and tying on the hot fly, I started stalking "Mr. Bugle Lips". I study there swimming habit for a while and watched them feed. Most were bottom feeding in the weed line.
I started wading and stalking like those long skinny legged white cranes do. One step at a time.
Step by step, I was watching and stalking this fish that was an easy 20lbs+. Slowly I waded, step by step, stopping as he turned, waiting for another chance to take a step. Then he turned and started moving away.
I slowly took a step by step, watching this huge fish swim through the weed beds. Getting a birds eye view, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I think it was my third step into the chase is when it happened.
The first two steps were on solid ground and the third step, the ground had disappeared. I stepped into a drop off into a deep pole.
SPLASH, face first into the water. After the rude awaking, I got myself back on to dry land and needless to say the fish had disappeared.

No one around to witness the moment, " I'm glad" Sat on a picnic table and dried off then headed back home. I'm really glad I didn't have my new Nikon digital camera around my neck.

Maybe tomorrow

Jay

[Flyjunkie]

I've done that before Jay... wading along a supposed "solid" ground.. when Swoosh!!! up to my Neck in Water...

I did it on Green Creek, in those Beaver ponds along the Drainage. Luckily No one watched my "diving Submarine" imitation and I quickly hustled back to my tent to get out of the Wet Clothes.....

As long as you didn't break Any Bones.. you came out of the Dunking Alright


DEAN ~ ~~

[Rickey Noel Mitchell]

Hey Jay, You got to watch out for those drop offs at Millerton, they can happen quick. Now as for you doing a crane walk after carp...I'm going to start hiding in the bushes with my Nikon digital. It's time to go after those bass.

[Jay Murakoshi]

Hey Ricky

Give me a call and let's go chase the bass

Jay

[Ed Wahl]

Lake Washington in W. Sac. has a lot of carp. They're hanging around right on top of the weed beds, don't know what they're doing there, maybe scaring off all the bass. Caught one fiesty bass way in the back end of a side channel, only one for the evening.

[Mike Churchill]

Ed,

Where are you fishing in Lake Washington, and how? Shore, tube, other? I've driven down there to look at it but haven't tried it yet--it's kind of an odd place.

Mike

[Ed Wahl]

I put the pram in on the south bank opposite the port and rowed across. Fished the tules and weedbeds all the way up into the Lake Washington area. Lots of sunken and skuttled boats up there, kind of eerie. Birds made it a worthwhile trip though. Great Blue Herons perched on all sorts of weird objects, pilings, masts of wrecks, old catwalks that were used for god knows what. A G.B.H. doesn't look quite so noble when it's looking off a cable at the water with it's head between it's feet. I was planning to fish the pileings at the port after dark for stripers but chickened out when it actually got dark. That's a strange place.

[Jay Murakoshi]

Hey Ed,

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I might have to bring up my pram. Are you allowed to use a trolling motor. With all the sunken boats, the place sounds like something out of the "Pirates of the Carribean"
If there on top and sucking bugs, I wonder if my old trusty royal wulff would work there. I know it works at my local lake.

Thanks again

Jay

[JerryInLodi]

Jay, I see dozens of carp rises every day while fishing for LMB on the delta. It's pretty predictable where you'll find the fish, usually about six to twelve feet on the outside of the weed line in areas of less than full flow. Water is from 12 to 20 feet deep in most cases. Some of these fish must be related to Megamouth, they're huge.

My brother-in-law caught one, about 16 pounds while striper fishing last year. A legal, inside the mouth hookup on a small clouser.

Now how can we target these fish? Any ideas. Because of the depth of the water and the usual visibility, 3-4 feet, sight fishing is out.

The only other time I see them is on quiet days when they're actually laying on top of the weeds munching away making big sucking sounds. I don't think that a presentation could be made to them without spooking them and you'd have to drop the fly right in their mouth anyway since they're actually on top of the weeds and not swimming.

Come up with a plan and I'm willing to spend a whole day, my boat and my gas on the delta trying to entice one on the hook. OK, maybe not a whole day, the LMB fishing can be awful tempting!

Oh, I forgot, considering your wading post, I have lifejackets on the boat if you care to wear one!

[Jay Murakoshi]

Hey Jerry,

Like you fishing LMB, I concentrate on good old "bugle lips". In the last 3 years, I have put more time into carp than any other fresh water fish. Ten years ago, I thought I understood them but the more you study their habitats, feeding habits, spawning cycle, etc.... you realize that there's more to dough balls and corn.
But with all that said, each lake, river, pond, slough is different. Different depths, different clarity, different habits,

They are harder to catch and cast to than a bone fish. They definitly have more power when hooked than a bone fish. They can find any and all obstacles in the water. They don't give up until they are to the hand and that can be difficult at times. Some people think it's a waste of time to catch carp. Well, I guess I waste alot of time because I try to get to my local lake daily, even if it's just to watch them cruise in a cove.

Jay