Carp on the fly, as promised:
The Report: We floated the Upper Missouri looking to stalk feeders. We saw many, hooked three and landed one. I was warned that they spooked easily, but the reality was ridiculous. Cracking a fresh beer would send fish waking into the depths. A strong pull on the oars will spook every fish within 100 yards.
We found singles tailing in shallows and groups gulping in back eddies. The flats didn't produce a single eat. When one of us managed to sneak within casting distance, our flies were ignored. They will not move far for a fly. You may have a chance with a perfect drift right under their nose. Although, I don't know for sure, as the best we managed was two inches inside.
The gulpers would eat, if you could get a cast in without blowing your cover. The schools sometimes had 20+ fish in them and, like a herd of elk, if you get busted by one you're done.
Anyway, it was good fun, but I expect it'll take a good ten months before I feel another carp jones.
