The Mighty Columbia River
The summer rolls on, which means carp season is in full swing. We had a mild break from the sun last week with some clouds and even a little bit of rain. I was able to shift gears and take a few people out to chase summer steelhead, and a few others to pursue smallmouth bass. There are so many fisheries to explore within two hours of Portland, no matter the weather. It’s always the right time for at least one of them, and summer always has something to offer for folks who don’t get locked in on one quarry or another.
With the sun back in full force, it was time to return to my usual July programming on the carp flats of the Columbia River. Fishing has been good, although results have been highly dependent on the angler onboard. It’s a very tricky fishery, as carp are smart,
spooky, and regrettably, very social — in other words, if one catches wind of you, they’ll tattle to the others. Next thing you know, you’re looking at a cloud of dusty mud where four fish were tailing just moments ago. These fish are, literally, dirty little snitches.
The name of the game here is teamwork and communication. When those aspects are aligned, you don’t need to be able to double haul or shoot line 70 feet and land your fly on a dime. You just have to listen and communicate back so that both of us know what’s going on!
Taking instruction is also a critical piece of the equation. Listening and communicating aren’t enough on their own; you have to react to the information, too. Every year, dozens of prime shots are blown when people decide to try a random maneuver that we haven’t discussed all day long. It’s a real bummer to watch the fish spook, knowing that the may well spook an even bigger fish within casting range that could have been on deck next.
That’s why I always take time each morning to go over the program and specific techniques, leaning heavily on a mantra I’ve developed over the years — “Turn your brain off.” In other words, rely on your guide to do your thinking while you focus on execution. Remember, from up on my polling platform, I have a bird’s-eye view and the best angle on things like presentation or when the fly has been eaten. If I say drag, keep dragging until I stop. And wait until you hear the telltale “hit ‘em” before you set the hook. Carp fishing rewards those who follow instructions well.
This is all easier said than done, and I have many friends and clients that I’ve fished with for years on end that continue to learn these lessons the hard way. But every season, I see improvement with my anglers. Sometimes exponential, others incremental.
A few have even started to learn to read the fish, the subtle differences between a carp that is fully tailing and one with its head simply tilted or slowly swimming sideways. Wind and current can give the appearance of a feeding fish when they’re not. One false cast, and they’re gone. In this situation, it’s best to stay still. They’re entertaining the idea of feeding; they want to do it. They just haven’t detected anything worthy of coming to a full stop. Wait them out. Patience is a virtue. You have more time than you think, but you never have enough time to overreact.
Once a fish is face down, tail up and stationary, your odds of getting it to eat your fly go up dramatically. When you make your forward cast on a tailing fish, come straight over the top and in a direct line. Keep that plane level without any side arm. If you can do this, your fly will go directly where you want, and your fly line and leader will also land in a straight line. Your fly will end up right where your eyes are looking. Accuracy achieved — unless of course it’s blowing 15MPH!
Bottom line, carp fishing is challenging, and that’s exactly what makes it fun. Today was one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had doing anything, let alone fishing or guiding. Great weather, a good buddy on the bow, fish everywhere, and perfect river levels. The vibes were through the roof. I know for a fact that I don’t have nearly as much fun chasing any other species, which is a hard truth to admit given the short season we have to target these urban beasts.
You never know what you’re going to get carp fishing. Today could be the day you hook that 30-pound Mirror Carp tailing so hard it’s creating a mud trail you can see from space. Or, you could miss 30 shots and end the day with zero on the board. But carp fishing is all about becoming a better angler, watching your skills improve and eventually — hopefully — finding success. If you’re having a good time, I am, too.
Gear List
Rod: 990-4GLoomis IMX V2 S
Line: SA 9wtF Grand Slam
Leader: SA Flouro 9’ 16lb
Reel: Hatch Iconic 7+
Flies: Eric’s CarpCraw