The Shag Carp-it!

Posted By on February 20, 2010

Over 9 inches of snow last week and an unexpected 5 day weekend gave me some “forced” time-off with nowhere to go and little constructive to do. So, I got to spend some much needed time at the vise and started on the carp fly needs for the upcoming season. Small Clousers, bitters, wooly worms, and Coyote Carps (the hit fly last year) were cranked out between snowball fights and other duties related to being the parent of snow-bound kids.
After a few dozen “essentials” I started messing around at the vise, letting the frozen creative juices flow, and came up with something pretty cool. Like most flies I’m sure it’s been “invented” a dozen times by a dozen people but it should do the trick nicely. I was looking for something that would land soft and have lots of action (from the palmered hen hackle), sink at a slow but decent rate (small non-toxic eyes) and not retain too much water when cast (no dubbing or other body material under the hackle).
I have versions in #6 and 8 in tan, orange, and olive. Again, I think we’re on to something here – look for reports in a couple of months as to what the carp think!
(btw- you know what you do when Mother Nature gives you 9″ of snow? Use it as a light box!)

Categories: Carp, Carp Flies, Fly Fishing
Tags: , ,

About the author

Joel Hays has been a professional guide since 1990, and has guided professionally in Colorado and Texas.

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North Texas Fly Fishing Adventures with Joel Hays

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!