Smith Lake, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Summer Fun

Unfortunately, I don't have picture of this one... I caught my first American born Carp the other day on a fly.  I caught a few in Germany over the last few years, but this was my first experience with a carp in the states.  Wow!

I spotted a swirl and movement in the west end of Smith Lake near the culvert that separates the two lakes.  Thought it might be a bass, so I cast the squirrel tail fly in to the mix.  It had been productive in the past so I figured I would have something.  I just wasn't prepared for a 35 lbs Grass Carp.

I felt the take, and set the hook... Yee Haa!  The ride of a life time.  As my friend Rob watched in disbelief or horror, I stood ready to give battle.  Fun for the first thirty minutes of pull and run, but by then Rob had to go get some crickets for his four year old daughter to fish with.  I kept up the fight while he was gone.

Twenty minutes later I was still wrestling with this monster as he drove back up.  Thank God, I was using my St Croix 7 wt and a 3X tippet.  Pull and run, pull and run, and pull and run. 

Finally, 1 hour and 15 minutes into it, I decided I had enough.  Net less I pulled this big boy onto a shallow and started to reach down to retrieve the fly.  With his last ounce of strength - as I brushed the fly with my fingers - splash, wham...oh no!  Off he goes again...only this time the tippet gives way.

I can draw all kinds of lessons from this one, but the one that I will take with me on my future trips is:

Carp on a Fly is Fun!

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