Rory Takes His First Golden Bonefish!

Rory Seiter lives across the street from the fly shop, so he and I get to talking flies and fishing a couple times a week. Recently, Rory has been dead set on taking his first carp on the fly. I suspected he was stubborn enough to get into carp fishing…and I was right! Here is his story. A damn good story, too!

“ I found myself with a few hours free and despite actually catching trout in a recently non blown out local creek yesterday, I decided to teach myself patience at a lake stalking carp. I have been carp fishing a half a dozen times, usually by myself flinging flies and wondering why these fish are so much smarter than myself. I have repeatedly gone into Front Range Anglers to listen to the wisdom of the people that I see in the blog with many golden monsters in their hands. I thought that I was doing what they told me, but it had never produced fish. The closest I ever got was when I found out the hard way that my tippet was way too light, an experience many trout fishermen never endure.”

“Today with thunderstorms threatening and not much hope remaining, I still found myself creeping along the banks of my favorite lake, stalking the Colorado Bonefish. The first fish I saw was huge and feeding hungrily. His tail was making ripples on the surface and he was neck deep in mud. I still found a way to spook him. He cruised away slowly seemingly annoyed that I was dropping "food" all around him. I continued walking to my favorite spot and found a couple more carp eating close to shore. What I thought was a stealthy approach was too quick for one of the fish and he disappeared beyond casting range. His buddy didn't notice me and I got a cast a bit further than I wanted. I thought of all the tips that I had gotten from the guys at the fly shop and tried to slow my heart rate. I stripped my fly hoping to drop the wine colored Backstabber close to the fish’s face. I pulled it a bit too far, but let it sit for a moment. The carp noticed, turned 90 degrees and sucked up my fly. My heart stopped. When I set the hook (with a big strip set like Jay said) I expected to see my fly skittering across the bottom. Instead, there was a tightness in my line that meant I had hooked the fish…or another rock, stick, weed, bottom of the lake. Then he ran. Fish on! Hot damn! I had finally hooked a carp. Then I got nervous. Would my knots hold? Is my drag too loose? Can I actually land it? How do I land a carp? I had to stop thinking and start reeling. Luckily, my friend was watching and I was able to tell him this was my first carp and I was very excited. I noted the bend in my rod. Man that looks good! The fish tried to run into the reeds, but I was able to keep him out. This was nothing like dragging a log to the surface that so many people expect. This fish took off. I would get him close and he would run again. Eventually I was able to land him (I dropped my rod in the water and scooped him up) and pose for a quick picture.”

--Rory Seiter

Learn To Tie The Backstabber Carp Fly!