Posted By: Capt. Mac
Mixed bag on the carp flats - 05/15/18 04:38 PM
The wind was up yesterday so i had to fish some flats i don't usually fish. I was kind of flustered about it - even rode around looking for schooling sand bass for a little bit, proved fruitless and i got tired of fighting waves. I was alone and trying to pole the boat in that kind of wind and fish is about impossible so i hit some deeper water were i could run the trolling motor in the backs of some coves so i could get out of the wind. Not my favorite way to do it but it was that or nothing. My frustration very quickly turned around. I spotted what i thought was a catfish. I had a big steamer tied on a seven weight from my last attempt at bass fishing, grabbed that rod and dropped the streamer about two feet out. Turns out to be a drum about six pounds and he immediately pounces on the streamer so quickly that i got over excited and snapped the tippet, setting the hook too hard. I could see a couple of more drum down the way so i tied on some fresh tippet, a new streamer and on the second cast hit this one.
I hooked another one a short time later but pulled the hook on him before i could land him. Then i spotted a carp mudding on the shoreline so i grabbed my six weight loaded with a back stabber fly. A couple of casts, a couple of strips and he is on.
In that deeper, cooler water they are like trying to lift a cinder block off the bottom but i finally got him in the boat.
I release him and go back on the prowl. Its starting to get warm and i think i better put another coat of sunscreen on when i spot what i thought was a small drum sitting in a circle of grass, looking like he is just sunning himself. I grab the rod with the streamer and let fly. He instantly is on it and turns out to be a spotted bass.
Ok, so if i want to catch bass, i need to go carp fishing.
I come across another carp and, after a long tug of war, bring him to the boat on the back stabber.
AS i am releasing him i look up and see a drum rooting around close enough to cast without having to reposition the boat. I still have the back stabber in my hand so i figure I'll see if he wants it... he did.
I wanted to try to get one more drum on the streamer because it was to much fun watching them hammer that big fly and the next fish i can across didn't let me down.
After that my arm had had it, it was getting hot i had to get ready to go to work so i head in. Sure funny how things work.
This is the streamer i was using. Its one i tie but i don't think the size or color necessarily mattered. But, in case your interested...
I hooked another one a short time later but pulled the hook on him before i could land him. Then i spotted a carp mudding on the shoreline so i grabbed my six weight loaded with a back stabber fly. A couple of casts, a couple of strips and he is on.
In that deeper, cooler water they are like trying to lift a cinder block off the bottom but i finally got him in the boat.
I release him and go back on the prowl. Its starting to get warm and i think i better put another coat of sunscreen on when i spot what i thought was a small drum sitting in a circle of grass, looking like he is just sunning himself. I grab the rod with the streamer and let fly. He instantly is on it and turns out to be a spotted bass.
Ok, so if i want to catch bass, i need to go carp fishing.
I come across another carp and, after a long tug of war, bring him to the boat on the back stabber.
AS i am releasing him i look up and see a drum rooting around close enough to cast without having to reposition the boat. I still have the back stabber in my hand so i figure I'll see if he wants it... he did.
I wanted to try to get one more drum on the streamer because it was to much fun watching them hammer that big fly and the next fish i can across didn't let me down.
After that my arm had had it, it was getting hot i had to get ready to go to work so i head in. Sure funny how things work.
This is the streamer i was using. Its one i tie but i don't think the size or color necessarily mattered. But, in case your interested...