What a difference a month makes! We took a trip over spring break and came home to some warm sunny days. It's not summer yet, but it's a far cry from frigid winds and cold empty flats. As I predicted, the carp have shown up in bunches. Today I visited the same flat I pictured … Continue reading And so it Begins
Category: fishing
Cold Soup
The water in the river is warming up, but there is still no sign of fish in the shallows. Carp aggregate during the winter and, once the water warms sufficiently, probably move as a group towards the shallows in anticipation of spawning. I think it very likely they will appear all at once. Flats that … Continue reading Cold Soup
Temperature Obsessed
Disclaimer/Nerd-Alert: I am currently obsessed with water temperatures. I can't imagine that anyone else will be even remotely as interested in this as I am. You've been warned. Read on if you dare... In the classic book Carp on the Fly there is a temperature chart that lists some remarks about carp biology corresponding to … Continue reading Temperature Obsessed
How to Winter
Today was one of those deceptively nice days that make you think crazy thoughts like "gee, maybe winter isn't so bad, after all." The fog blew off and the sun came out before lunch so I grabbed a rod and drove to one of my little winter carp lakes. The lake has an outlet to … Continue reading How to Winter
Catch and A Release
Looking back through my journal notes I think I am forced to admit that the carp fishing season on the Columbia River ended in September. I still saw a few carp in October, and even caught one on November 2, but September was the last time I saw decent numbers of feeding carp in the … Continue reading Catch and A Release
October Caddis
The Columbia remains weedy and the water levels are very low. Carp fishing from the shore is a tall order, and with more saber-rattling at China over trade, I'll be surprised if my boat arrives in time for Christmas. Luckily for me, there are other fishing opportunities around. This week I decided to visit the … Continue reading October Caddis
Memory Weeds
I remember this fish. I spotted it from the road, rooting on the bottom in a small bay. I clambered as quickly and quietly as I could down the rocks and managed to hook it without getting my feet wet. I also remember that the hook pulled and I lost the fish. What had me … Continue reading Memory Weeds
Re-entry
It has been a bumpy return to the United States after finishing up our Peace Corps service. Here is the short version: The state of our home upon arrival 20 cubic yards of rubbish left by the squatters we had to evict The wildfire that almost burned down our house The new floor I had … Continue reading Re-entry
Bagga Blackfish
About five miles south of our village is a town called Barrouallie (pronounced "bara-lee"). Of course, if you try to catch a bus to Barrouallie you will never get there because you instead need to go to Bagga, which is the local nickname for Barrouallie. Almost every person (Habla, Starry, Big Cheese), every store (Saca, … Continue reading Bagga Blackfish
Last Fish, First Fish
Happy 2025 We walked to a nearby beach to watch the sunset on New Year's Eve. I did a bit of fishing and hooked some small jacks - my last fish of 2024. A few days later we returned for another sunset and I caught more of the same - my first fish of 2025. … Continue reading Last Fish, First Fish
