Lessons from the Carp Lodge: Episode #4--Dragging and Dropping the Fly

At the center of this episode is a demonstration of how to use the drag and drop technique.  It is fun, exciting, and kind of sexy to make a long cast to a tailing carp and see him take the fly.  There are times however, when the water, the sky, or both are cloudy.  And when they are I can't see fish until I am very close to them so I end up dropping the fly in front of them.  It is always fun to catch carp but dropping the fly isn't as glamorous as making long casts.

There are times when the fish is too close to make a cast where I shoot line but too far away to just drop the fly.  In those circumstances I plop the fly out past the fish.  A plop is a short cast or lob where I don't shoot any line.  The fly hits the water first and it makes a plopping sound.  The plop sets up the drag and drop.  After the plop I drag the fly across the water and then drop it either on the carp's dinner plate or in it's path.  It is an extremely effective technique.  There are a good many fish that I would not have caught were it not for the drag and drop technique.  Mastering this technique will increase your hook-ups.

Episode #4 begins with some narration and video showing the joys and frustrations of fly fishing for carp and then finishes with a feeding fish responding to a Chocolate Cherry that has been dragged and dropped in his path.  The fish, the plop, the drag and drop, and the take are all very clear in this video.

"Long Shot" Video

Erin Block and Jay Zimmerman are in a very cool carp video called Long Shot.  Check it out; you'll like it.

McTage is a "Cover Boy"!

Wow, take a look at issue 5 of CarpPro magazine.  McTage has his picture on the front.  You know that old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover"; well, I don't think it is true for magazines.  Seeing him on the cover tells me that this issue will be good.  It is.  Check it out.

"Soft Porn" Contest Winners

Thanks so much to the people who sent entries for the "soft porn" photo contest!  Entries came from three continents; that was so cool!

I read the guidelines to my wife, Katy.  She looked through the pictures. The first time through she had four favorites.  She looked again and got it down to three.  She stepped away from the computer for a bit and came back.  She got it down to two at that point and suggested we cut the line in half.  One of the things that has helped us stay happily married for 36 years is that I listen and cooperate.  I cut the line.

Okay, fine, I didn't really cut the line.  The rest of the story is true though.  Katy did finally make a choice for first place and second place.  

Second place goes to Randy Skidgel from California.  Congratulations Randy! You have won a Got Backing? T-shirt.  Here is Randy's picture.

I know you are already one of the cool kids in your neighborhood, Randy but this shirt will really cement your image and your status.  Here is the picture that is on the shirt.  What size do you wear?  

First place goes to Tom Schwartz from Oregon.  Congratulations Tom!  You win the new Orvis Hydros Carp line.  I just love the line and I hope you do too.  Here is Tom's picture.  

The line you will receive looks like this, Tom.  See, no cut after all.  

Randy and Tom, please contact me with your mailing addresses.  I will get the prizes shipped promptly.  Thanks again to everyone who entered.

Fishing with Travis--A Couple Apex Athletes (The Fish, Not Me)

There is a spot on my river that requires a very long walk to get there and then there is a lot of wading to do once you are there.  I believe I could get there and fish some, but I know I would not make it back to my carpwagon.  Well, at least not on the same day I started anyway.  Come on, I'm not 40, I'm 62, and feeling like I do pretty well all things considered.

My buddy Travis and I fished this water.  Instead of doing all the initial walking, we got there in his boat and I sure appreciated the opportunity.  Never mind that I was injured during the trip; I healed in a couple weeks.  The water is beautiful and VERY carpy.

Here is Travis really leanin' into one!  

(Also notice that he has a new lid that is pretty, dang, fly!)

Travis and I with a couple apex athletes.  

!

The Chocolate Cherry is such a great Carp fly.

Here is a short video clip of a take and the hookset.  Watch how fast a Carp can move when it is motivated.  I was SO lucky that when he got to the trees he turned back out in to the river.  

It was a great day; thanks Travis!

PS There is still time to get your "soft porn" Carp pictures in.  You could win an Orvis Hydros Carp line or a Got Backing? t-shirt.  

Contest Update

A couple days ago I made a post about a photo contest.  Two questions have come up in email that I am answering.  First, the fish must be a Common Carp or a Mirror Carp please.  And secondly, yes, I will take entries from other countries.  We already have one from Spain!  Thanks Jorge.  Who knows, that Orvis Hydros Carp line or the Got Backing? t-shirt may be traveling to another continent.

Contest Time

Katy and I became first time grandparents on July 29.  Our oldest son and his wife had twin girls and we are absolutely thrilled!  Suffice it to say I haven't thought too much about blogging these past couple weeks.

Devan and Erin.  Talk about love at first sight...

Well, now, it is time for a contest.  That isn't nearly as exciting as being new grandparents but it is still some exciting, don't you think?

First prize in this contest is a new Orvis Carp line.  Dang I'm liking this line!  You will too.  The more I use it the more I like it.  Second prize is a "Got Backing?" t-shirt.  You can choose your size from S-XXL.  This is some cool swag; yup, pretty darn cool.

Sweet, new Orvis Carp Line

The picture that is on the shirt:

This is a photo contest.  Hero shots with people holding fish are what I think of as "hard porn" fishing pictures.  "Soft porn" fishing pictures are when there is a fish in the picture but there is more to the picture than just "showing it all" so to speak.  "Soft porn" fishing pictures might have part of the fish in the picture.  They might show all of the fish from farther back and give some, or a lot of emphasis to the surroundings. A "soft porn" picture might be a close up of the fish like the picture on the t-shirt.   "Soft porn" fishing pictures give way more room for creativity.  This is a relaxed contest.  I'm not looking for a heavily edited, color saturated picture.  A fun and/or well done "soft porn" picture would be great.  It does have to have at least part of a Carp in it.  Entries must be received by August 31, 2013.  My wife will pick the winners.  If she asks for help from someone else, well, that's her choice.  I'm going with whatever she picks.

Guidelines for entry in the contest:

1.  Like us on Facebook.

2.  Share a link to this contest on your Facebook page.

3.  Email me a "soft porn" picture that you have taken with at least part of a Carp in the picture.  Email me at mrp1011@gmail.com