Air Temp: low 80s
Weather Conditions: Sunny, intermittent clouds
Wind: Saturday: Fairly gusty wind out of the south, Sunday, calm
Clarity: Approx 2 ft
Approx CFS: 47
Rig(s): Orvis Helios 905-4 mid flex 5 wt, Hardy Demon 5000, Sci anglers Master Textured GPX WFF, Orvis Clearwater 704-4 mid flex 4 wt, Orvis Battenkill III, Rio Grand 4wt
Leader: 25-15-1x Fluoro. Approx 9.5 feet
Flies Used: Barry's Carp Bitter (Tan and olive), Whit's near buff crayfish, Articulated Complex Twist Cray (personal design), Galloup's Barely Legal grey over white
Hot Flies: Barry's Carp Bitters in Olive delivered on both days, and took a big carp on the 4 wt
The Olentangy seems to be getting sluggish for some reason. I know the Corps of Engineers has not released new water into the system in quite some time, and we have not had significant rain, so perhaps that has something to do with it.
I went out Saturday for a quick hit, and to check water conditions. Grabbed one fly box, some tools, my net and rod and headed out.
I was there to fish quick, so I waded fast and began working my normal bass spots, covering a lot of water quickly. This spot is typically a guaranteed place to nail one of the 3 most common bass in this stretch, but I came up empty
I found a run with a lot of feeding fish, carp and suckers, but they ignored my fly on every cast
Hitting a flat, I saw a few carp tailing away near the shore, so I laid a few shots on them.
They were good shots, allowing me to drag the fly into their mud puffs. Never connected. The sun had not yet exposed some of the better lies, and I would see long shadows dart in and out of the shady areas, but did not have enough sight time to lay a good shot, so I sat on the bank, and waited for the sun.
Once I had enough light, I saw a great carp at the head of the pool, looking nice and happy, I made the cast...and it was not good, behind the fish, there was no way he would see it. As it landed, I realized just how badly I fucked that cast up.
Immediately behind the lead fish that I saw, was a stack of ten fish right behind a rock lip that I DIDN'T see. My fly landed dead center in this pile, and they scattered like I had just thrown a grenade at them.
I just dropped the rod, flipped my hat off in disgust, and cursed extensively pacing around on a gravel bar. I had effectively blown the entire flat with one cast. I thought my day was pretty much over at this point.
I decided to hit one more spot, which is about the size of a dinner table, but I have thus far pulled seven different species out of. I needed to redeem myself, and if I was going to do it, this was the spot. The secret honey hole discovered by my wife had to come through.
I shortened up to just five feet of line out of the tip, and began my routine of pitching the fly into the falls, letting the undertow pull it to the bottom, then slowly crawling the fly down stream, still replaying the epic fail I had just committed in my head (protip: don't do this, it makes you fish like shit)
After who knows how many casts and a lot of frustration, I felt a tap, and scissor set as hard as the little 4 wt would let me. The line immediately began frantically ripping up stream to the falls, and a wide broadside flash let me know I had connected with a really nice carp. The rod doubled over all the way through the handle and the reel started screaming. There is probably no better sound on the planet than the sound of a click pawl reel's drag buzzing like a circular saw. I worked him out of a rock pile, and he found the current. I chased him down stream, palming the reel the whole way trying to keep him from emptying the spool, which I admit, had an embarrassing short amount of backing on, because, you know, who the hell takes a 4 wt dry fly rig for PA out carp fishing. Oh thats right, I do.
Laying hard on him with some side pressure but letting him run around and tire, after a lengthy and precarious battle (mostly for me, not him) he finally turned on his side and showed me his spirit was broken. I choked up on the rod, and went for the net, which he was none too please with and took off. I awkwardly pinned the line agains the mid section of the rod and let him play out his final lunge for the current. Luckily, it was a weak one and I didn't end up with a shattered rod in my hands (pro tip #2, don't try to land a fish by grabbing able the handle. You know those youtube vids you see of rods getting snapped? 9 times out of 10, they are doing exactly what I had just done).
I got him on a rock flat and slid half of him in the net, because that is all that would fit. What a battle, one I'm sure will occupy a prime spot on my "things to talk about when bullshitting with buddies about fly fishing" list.
Luckily I had brought the tripod today, and was able to snap some shots with potentially the most fun fish of the year.
4 wts and Click Pawls are not recommended carp gear...but its fun as hell
Happily covered in carp slime, and shaking from adrenaline, I hung it up for the day, blasted this photo out to some friends and headed home.
Sunday, I decided we should start later to have more sun. I thought we were going to do really well, but it was tough all day. Hardly any aggressive bass, and laid up carp completely ignoring flies, or keyed in on something VERY specific. I actually dapped a fly to a fish and he never even budged. It was so rough I couldn't even spook a fish. They just didn't give two shits that I was there at all.
My brother in law finally managed to catch his first river fish on the fly, and I nailed a few smallmouth, but had to work my ass off for them.
I got to test out my Articulated Complex Twist Cray, a fly I designed last winter, and had actually forgotten about. I was very happy with the results. It swims great, looks super buggy in the water, and dives for the bottom just like the real ones. A smallie came out of the rocks and crushed it as it dove over a ledge.
He wasn't huge, but was one of only 4 fish on the day between three people., so i will take it.
Here's to hoping something changes and heats the bite back up on the O soon, I've gotten negative reports from others recently as well, but fall is coming, and it should be killer.
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