Wayne SW/MO

That's not far from a Clouser, the deadly fly.

I've caught 3 on a fly. One was by accident, I.E. I wasn't fishing for it and it was a surprise. The two I caught on purpose were caught on top throwing a Griffins Gnat. These two came out of a line of fish that were feeding on top and that ran downstream right below the Pothole. These fish stretched for about 300 yards in line about 10 feet wide. I never figured out what they were feeding on and I hard a hard time not spooking them, but when I did it didn't take long for them to come back. Even stranger to me was that none were likely any bigger than #4. None of my flyrod carp were bigger than about 2 1/2 lbs and while they were fun I want some of the bigger ones that are average.

Hmmm. That's tough to really answer because everyone might have a different idea. I can say that generally a wind from the SW will affect it the most, but given the fact that there aren't many straight stretches, white caps just don't seem to happen. The worst thing is that there is no courtesy dock so wind can make launching and taking out a pain at times if you're by yourself. From what I've heard about Stockton you might think the upper BS flat water.

Were you fishing the channel by the bridge Richy?

Funny you mention that because I've wanted to try it, but that's as far as I've gotten, talk. The Pothole is real convenient and has the right water, but there are generally too many people around for them to stay shallow enough for sight fishing. If I get the right water this spring, rain but not too much rain, I have to try it. I've had some evenings down there with my long carp rods where I've caught a dozen in a few hours. They will run from about 6-12 pounds with the occasional bigger fish up to too much to handle. They're here to stay and are great fighters so I suppose they might as well be utilized.

There isn't much water in the Pothole and I doubt that they are running much, but it seems to start there in February.

When I gear fish I have always used softened field corn. When I was a kid we would let it sit, when it was warm, for a week and let it sour. Now I just boil it, with a dose of salt. It seems to take them about 8 hours to find it if one can bait and return. I love catching them, but I've not been successful with the flyrod and I think that would be the ultimate. I agree with you about the fight Laker, they are tough and that initial run can have you wondering they are ever going to turn.

Are the other waters different? I would think that when culling if you're holding a fish and have a limit you would be in violation anywhere? Cutting it thin I know, but it is an interesting question.

It was my understanding that in the trout parks you could be given a ticket for fishing with 4 or 5 fish in you possession, even if you intended to release. I never saw it brought to a test, but I suppose that one should quit putting fish on the stringer at 3 today.

It seems that in reading about success in fly carping that movement is very important, whether from marabou or silicon legs of some other material. Do you think this is a fact? I've done a lot of gear carp fishing and I've also seen some very interesting videos and the most important thing seems to be the hook up. Carp seem to have a two part process in feeding that is, suck it in and taste, then blow it out, and then suck it in again. The hair rig is deadly when it comes to hook ups and I've wondered if it would be worth duplicating it with a fly. Maybe a yarn fly tied on the hair?

I would think so if they're native fish, I.E. not Chinese grown.

You're right about the entertainment. but I don't know if I want to make the drive with gas where it is. Something to think about.

Yeah I might have to take a ride down to the Pothole and look closer.

Weir? Looks like the whites are coming up now. It might be early for the crappie to be in the old channel though. Truman dam is one of those places that just begs you to come an see what's there.

Truman dam?

Nice, and that answers my question from your other post. Were you on the ferry side?

Were they running a lot of water?

Given their activity i would guess some kind of bug. I'm a want-a-be carp fishermen, but I was kind of under the impression that if they were feeding they would generally take anything they thought was food?

That would be nice, but how in the world would you find anybody?

With 3 in the boat! :lol:

I forgot one other fish that might indicate fish move up the creeks. I caught a rainbow last March a little above the 160 bridge. He definitely got there on his own. That's the only bow I've caught that was where he wasn't suppose to be, unless you count below Powersite, but they're always there.

The access definitely protects the creek. I suspect that it gets fed from BS also. I've caught some nice smallies between 160 and the lake and they couldn't have been there too long.

Very interesting. I realize that the carp prefer cooler water, but I'm surprised they would be actively feeding in shallow water now. Do you think the sun drew them up?

I think that might go back to the introduction of C&R. There is a tendency for fish to swallow bait and live bait dealers don't advertise.