kayakfisherman

If you are interested in a unique blast of a fly fishing experience fish for carp with a fly rod at Stockton from May through September along the shore lines. I usually use a small bluegill popper or a caddis fly. They will come up for one just like a bass only they are a heck of alot bigger. Use a six weight rod because some of these guys are really big and they run just like a brown trout. Occassionally you will tie into some really big drum this way as well. It is like salt water fishing, only very close to home. Tight lines. Bob

I don't normally participate in the ongoing conversations on this site, but really enjoy learning from other people's experiences. I could not avoid this subject because it is so rich with feeling. I fish Taney 3-4 days almost every week during the winter. I try to pick the coldest days because I know it is less crowded and I have the benefit of being able to pick those days (semi-retired). Yes, there are some rude people out there but most just don't know better and I presume it is unintentional. I can forgive and look the other way when the average person who enjoys fishing makes an honest mistake and gets too close and just is caught up in his/her enthusiasm for the sport. However, I hold guides to a much higher standard!! Just last week a guiding company who basically has assumed ownership of a stretch of water between outlets one and two all winter and plants there clients in the same spot all day long and travel back and forth across the river as if it were there own private highway did the unforgivable. They waited until I was in a spot almost directly across from them and proceeded to walk their client across within a few feet of were I was fishing and set him up to cast into the bank. I realize they are just trying to make a living, and sometimes it can be a hard way to make a living, but if they can't be good role models for ethical streamside behavior, by golly who can! This is not the first time this guiding company has done this to me this winter. Normally, I just swallow it and move on but this time I just couldn't resist commenting on this site. I don't own the river but I sure wish when a guide wants to do this he would pick an appropriate time to cross within a few feet of you, because I am sure he would notlike it if somebody did that to him and messed up his client's fishing experience. I don't believe I will changethe world by jumping into this conversation but I do hope I raise their awareness level by one notch or so. I didn't say anything (but of course I gave the usual death stare) because I didn't want to embarrass the guidein front of his client but I sure wish they were better role models. Enough said. Tight lines and lets work hard to make this experience fun for everyone. Bob

Hi Diamond Dave, You wouldn't have a picture available of the purple leech you were using. I have been fishing a brown wooly bugger in the daytime and having been doing very well. Would love to see a leech pattern that worked well for you. Thanks, Bob