Who is that Masked Man?

Posted By on June 26, 2011

A "wind cast" on a carp in 5 inches of water (notice the carp back ahead of the angler)

Dr. Anil Pinto and a Ray Roberts carp taken at CLOSE range!

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 stealthiest presentation was to actually let the wind straighten out the flyline/leader and then just set the fly down in front of the fish.  Also note the hydrilla that is covering the area.  As the lake level drops (it’s about 19″ low right now) our acreage of fishable flat is getting eaten up by hydrilla.  If you’ve been out with me, you know what a carp will do when hooked near hydrilla.  Not fun!  So, we’re having to range further out into new territories to find flats that have limited grass.

Another note – Dr. Pinto hooked a buffalo!  It was only on for a few seconds but made quite a showing.  That’s only the second buff hooked this season – and we have yet to get one to hand.

Categories: Fishing Report
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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!