Still No Carp

by Alan Luecke
(Kansas City, MO)

My quest for a carp on my carp rod continues to be unsuccessful, but I am checking in with the other larger species in the neighborhood. I spent a recent morning in Indian Creek in south Kansas City and did in fact cast to three carp. One was spooked by the line and the other two totally ignored my fly on their way back to the big hole where they hang out.

The Shortnose Gar on the other hand were active and cooperative. These two and another in the 20" range were all caught by putting a Killer Bugger right by their nose as they cruised the surface in shallow water. Their strike is usually to the side and very aggressive.

Even though I know it's coming, the strike is so sudden and startling I often overreact and jerk the fly out of it's mouth. The mouth is hard but good sets are not difficult. Because the mouth is narrow, the body of the fly often ends up on the outside of the jaw and clear of the teeth.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.