TR: dry fly carp

Jon Cook writes:

Long story short, we worked the pool for a while, spooked the carp
a few times, but in the end I was able to sneak into the trees, wait
for the carp to get in distance, flip a parachute adams close enough,
and hook and land a 20-22" carp. It was 1pm by then so we headed out
to get back to afternoon chores...


Catching big carp on a fly rod is a hoot, ain't it, Jon? You are right about
them being spooky. I fished for them on a very hot morning at the reservoir
above the start of the Bighorn. We watched for "lips", a carp feeding on the
surface. When we spotted one, we would study his cruising direction and very
carefully cast a Madam X in his route. You had to wait a few seconds after he
took the fly to ensure a hook-up. And then, stand by.... They always went
deep - at one point almost to my backing - before they would turn and come back
to the surface. Great fighters. I took about 5 or 6 that morning.

Dave