Sunday, April 26, 2015

Armor and Muscle: Year of the Carp

Idaho currently has a very large rain cloud looming over it.  If only it were a real one.  The snow-pack in most Idahoan basins hovers around 30-60% of what it should be.  It's a dismal outlook to say the least.  To add to the problem, things have warmed earlier than normal.  It doesn't bode well for the coming summer with the various water needs. Water levels are sure to be low, even draining some reservoirs. It doesn't look well for our poor trout either. They are sure to struggle in the inevitably warm water.

We're certainly not hurting as bad as other western states. California's dreaming is now more about the "winters day" than the hot days of summer.  Is it bad to find some good in a situation as dire as drought?  Current conditions have presented perfect spring fishing weather and conditions in our neck of the woods.  I have a feeling the salmon fly hatch will be going any time now, if it isn't already.  It's so early!  The good fishing makes it tough to decide how to spend the intermittent day I can break away. I find myself asking whether to chase trout, or the excellent and early carping.  I have a hunch the warmth and water levels will make for a superb and long summer of carping.  It has already been excellent.

For guys who can't stand the thought of carp the hottest parts of the summer may be a downer, but I can't lie, I'm excited to spend the hot summer days chasing armor clad muscular fish who look like they were bathed in gold. So if you want to find me on one of those precious fishing days, I'll be giving the heated trout a break, wading shin deep in mud and cattails, basking in the sun, and stalking the tough mothers we call carp.

Armor and Muscle



Pork and beans




He's outta there...

Big scales, little scales...


Doubled up

Mud bath... but who is bathing who...

Slippery buggers

Dynamic duo and a mirror image


Mixing things up. Mowing down some livestock with the carp gun. "I hate cows... worse than coppers!" "Oh George, not the livestock."



This may just be the year of the carp...
#yearofthecarp