Joel | April 30, 2011
Our 2011 carp season at Lake Ray Roberts is off to a GREAT START. The fish are coming off spawn (there are still a few hopeless males exhibiting spawning behavior) and beginning to show typical “summer” feeding patterns. We’re still waiting for the mass of insect larvae/other invertebrates to hatch, but the fish currently on the [...]
Joel | April 10, 2011
Carp Day 2011 As Mr. Walton laid out in The Compleat Angler, “April 10th is a particularly deadly day for carps” – and it was. The flats at Ray Roberts are in fantastic shape, the spawn is winding down and lots of fish were seen and caught today. Low water levels and lack of rain [...]
Joel | April 2, 2011
I’ve had several inquires this past week regarding trips so I thought I would throw out a quick post and describe an average (if there is one) day on the flats at Lake Ray Roberts for my clients. We usually meet at 8:00am at one of a few “usual spots” I have around the lake. [...]
Imagine wading through ten inches of clear water,trying to be as quiet as possible. Fifty feet ahead is a pod of large fish "tailing" on the flat. You strip out fly line, make the cast, and pull your fly in front of the lead fish. After agonizing seconds the fish spots the fly, rushes forward for a quick grab, and feels the hook. The silence is broken as the fish accelerates across the flat, quickly exposing backing on your screaming reel. Sounds like a great day on the coast, or even an exotic bonefish flat, right? Actually it's a great description of the usual day my clients have fishing for Carp on the flats of Lake Ray Roberts where many clients are blown away by the water clarity and the actual ability to sight cast along miles of flats. Big spooky fish in shallow water. They fight and tail like Redfish and can sometimes rival Bonefish in nervousness. This is an EXCELLENT WAY to hone your flats fishing skills and test your "eyes" where it's more about stalking the fish than simply stumbling upon them. You will be a better flats angler!