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here is the link to the discussion on the carp bitters .. it describes over several posts how it was done..
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/Utah_Fishing_Forum_C55/Utah_Fly_Fishing_F140/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=397279;page=2"]Zonkers carp bitters[/url]
MacFly
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That did it. Thanks bro.
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welcome sis .. glad to be of service.. :-)
MacFly
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[cool][#0000ff]Hey Todd, Willard Bay is a prime spot for carp on the fly. I used to catch a lot of them on small chartreuse flies I fished for crappies, along the rocks. Whenever a huge carp took the fly, instead of a crappie, I could usually tell pretty quick that it twern't no crappie. Got a 25 pound mirror carp on 4# tippet once. Much fun.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Forget fishing them when they are spawning. But, right afterward it can be Katy bar the door. During the warm afternoons in May and June the carp cruise in large numbers in very shallow water. Sight fishing all the way and they are spookier than any old trout. But, drop a hares ear or any small nymph pattern in front of them and they slurp it. There are tons of midges in Willard and the carp feed heavily on both the nymphs and on lines of winddrift dead midges early in the morning. Sometimes you can see singles, doubles or large rafts of carp right on the surface on a calm morning...moving along and slurping the surface. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A lot of different floating patterns will get sucked in by carp. They have good eyesight but they are not overly selective. I have caught a few carp on floating Renegades. But, one of the best carp patterns is an all white "popcorn" fly...spun white deerhear, clipped round. I actually tie it by packing several palmered white hackle feathers and trimming. With a little red tag it also works on Deer Creek rainbows that get used to slurping marshmallows.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You can easily target carp from shore at Willard by walking the sand at Pelican Beach or Eagle Beach. The carp are sometimes very active in there because there are weed beds full of midge larvae.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The SE corner of the north marina is also a good spot for shoreline carpin'. A good tactic is to watch the parade of carp going by and put a sinking pattern out on the bottom. Then, when one is approaching, give it a twitch and hang on.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Carp are usually tough to fish without being able to see them. Their take is usually very subtle. Not always. If you use the bluegill retrieve...point the rod at the fly and retrieve with the fingers...you can detect them better. Of course a strike indicator can help too. There are times when the carp will slurp the fly put the line over its shoulder and head out for the setting sun. But, more often than not it helps to watch them when they suck in the fly. You would be amazed how many times you will watch them suck it in and spit it out without you feeling anything.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you really want some action, go down to Yuba reservoir and use small "fry flies". The carp in that lake are more piscivorous. They feed heavily on perch fry and hit lures well...including flies. When they are thick in the shallows (almost always) you can wear yourself out on feisty 16 inchers with the occasional 16 pounder.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Utah Lake offers a lot of the same opportunities as Willard...carp cruising the surface at daybreak and near shore in the shallows in protected waters almost all day. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Now that you have your toon you will have a lot more opportunities for finding and fishing all species. If you find an area with lots of fish in skinny water just beach the toon and wade it. You will see why they are sometimes called "golden bonefish". They can throw a roostertail and strip your reel in seconds as they bolt across the bottom in shallow water.[/#0000ff]
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Thanx for the reply. Your way sound really cool. I cant wait to try some of this stuff.[fishin]
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I learned a lot about the stuff you have covered in Oklahoma and you are dead on with your information. Since I haven't spent most of my life here to do the research, I always look to your posts to figure out what works in unfamiliar water. You're a great angler and I love what you bring to this forum.
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks.[/#0000ff]
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Good to see you on the FF board. Did you get your little Boron up and running or are you going with the way it is? It is a good little rod, and in a tube distance isn't a big deal for the most part.
Try a Bead Head Prince nymph on them Utah lake Carp, next time out...about a #12 or #14.
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[quote flygoddess]Good to see you on the FF board. Did you get your little Boron up and running or are you going with the way it is? It is a good little rod, and in a tube distance isn't a big deal for the most part.
Try a Bead Head Prince nymph on them Utah lake Carp, next time out...about a #12 or #14.[/quote]
[cool][#0000ff]I will probably just play with the rod just the way it is for a couple of trips. Most casts will be short, on a sink tip line in shallower water. If I decide I need bigger stripping guide and tip top I know a guy who can fix it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hard for me to downshift to fishing for carp when there is the potential for a big walleye or catfish. But, they is definitely fun to while away the hours when you just need some enjoys. Not sure I can bring myself to tie on those squinty li'l flies. Smallest I use is about size 6. Never had trouble finding willing takers. Caught a couple on 3" twisters on Friday...inside the pucker. In fact they hit and fought like walleyes so they got the blood pumping. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That shallow cove is FULL of carp feeding on midge larvae right now. It should only get better for the next few weeks and then they will start gettin' silly. That old "dating game" thing. That's about the time a lot of them are taken on an "arrow emerger"...cast from 40 weight bows.[/#0000ff]
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Getting things stowed here, I wanna go! I even bought the second pole permit this year....I wanna luck like a bird flapping its wings with a double...LOL
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[cool][#0000ff]What I wanna see is you using two rods in one hand...without tangling the lines...and being able to fish two different weights, line types, flies and distances. Now, that would be an accomplishment. But, I am sure you would settle for just being able to get on the water with one rod for right now. Right?[/#0000ff]
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You are welcome sir.
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