Saylorville Lake Carp, 7-28-2013

I've had plenty of frustrating shore-bound outings at Saylorville Lake trying to chase carp with flies. Usually I can't find them. Other times, I find them but can't get them to strike. On rare occasions when I get bites, broken lines are often my reward for finally hooking into one. I've caught some good-size ones there on fly gear...but it is far from easy and far from common.

But yesterday I found a small pocket in the back of a small shallow bay where the wind was blowing in...and I could (barely) see some carp feeding there. Occasionally small baitfish would flip out of the water there, as if the carp were hunting them. So, I tossed out small white/flashy patterns. I tried weighted and unweighted, and caught fish on both styles. Basically...white woolly buggers with pearl mylar hackle.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps3bbefb0e.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps0f0107bc.jpg

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Dave, Congratulations, I have yet to catch a carp other than a few grass carp. I'm guessing you got most of the kinks out of your line with that pig. Was that a koi someone released? The coloration seemed pretty bright.

Not a koi. I think the angle of the sun was just hitting the fish just right or something... I took two pictures of that first fish (all three pics shown are of separate fish), the first one turned out really colorful, the second one the colors looked different. So, I posted the better one. ;)

Very nice fish and report. That looks like fun.

Nice fish and report. That first fish is a beaut.

Congrats! Nice fish!

Very pretty fish in the first pic.
Wait...did I just say that about a carp?:)

I fished the same lake last night, but a different area altogether. I only spotted one carp. I made the presentation, and got the fish!
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps4ee99075.jpg

Great fish! You know, the muck hole I've been fishing is full of lily pads and I have seen carp fingerlings actually rise out and jump onto a lily pad. It really does look like they are escaping the big mamma-jammas. Could that be possible?

Sure! It could be some other predator that is chasing the carp fingerlings...but I have watched carp chase/feed on shad, so I'm sure they are capable of cannibalism too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adglife

Great fish! You know, the muck hole I've been fishing is full of lily pads and I have seen carp fingerlings actually rise out and jump onto a lily pad. It really does look like they are escaping the big mamma-jammas. Could that be possible?

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Got any Flathead Catfish in there? Those things will suck down small Carp like there's no tomorrow.....

Got another one last night...blind casting into an area where I suspected carp to be.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps683fc968.jpg

Nice fish.
How does that Okuma SLV do for you? Presumably the drag is getting a good workout. They seem like a bargain and spare spools can be gotten pretty cheaply on eBay.

I have no complaints. I can't say its my favorite reel...but its a good reel that can stand up to carp and wipers (hybrids), and being laid in the sand without any issues to speak of,...and it deserves a serious look. Well...it has gotten some sand it in it, but the reel still continued to work for the remainder of the trip until I could take the time to clean the sand out. I'm sure there are plenty of reels out there that would also work every bit as well...but at the price point, its really hard to beat.