Joel | July 8, 2011
I spent a HOT day on the Ray Roberts flats this past weekend with Matt Miller of Dallas. Matt set the record for number of carp in a day by a client (14) last year and we were looking to set the bar a little higher for 2011. Unfortunately, warming water temps shutdown our afternoon [...]
Joel | July 3, 2011
I get emails and comments from time to time asking specific questions regarding techniques used on the freshwater flats. Recently, a lot of traffic has come my way regarding buffalo, especially the smallmouth buffalo in local impoundments. First, a little taxonomy. There are three species of buffalo in the US (all members of the sucker [...]
Joel | June 29, 2011
Chris Bancroft and Bruce Leadbetter were my clients this past Saturday on the flats of Ray Roberts. We had to deal with the horrid winds of the past several weeks and the rotten bottom (tough for wading) that has been exposed by the low lake levels, BUT, the rewards were NICE! Bruce landed the first [...]
Joel | June 27, 2011
Jed Rosenthal and I hit the flats this past Thursday to battle the carp (and wind). We’re definately getting to the point of needing LESS wind (which is on the way – see below) and several inches of water in the lake (no chance what-so-ever). Jed had a great Thomas and Thomas rod that really [...]
Joel | June 26, 2011
Dr. Anil Pinto and I hit the flats last week for a windy day of carp fishing. Conditions were tough and the good doctor made the most of 25-30+ mph tailwinds that made casting something less than “textbook.” In the photo above, he is stalking a shoreline fish in about 5 inches of water. The [...]
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!