High Water Carp

Here on the Colorado Front Range we have not been experiencing drought-like conditions. This is not a bad thing. You will never hear a kayaker, rice farmer or fly fisherman complain about too much water. Well, you might hear them grumble as they watch their kids swing set get swept toward the Gulf of Mexico. My point is…we need the rain and snow run-off, but too much can create an obstacle. High, off-color water in most of our favorite carp lakes may provide the carp with an unlimited buffet at the International House of Cattail and a totally sweet bachelor pad to spawn their asses off, but it can make for some difficult fishing.

I prefer to use a dark brown or black carp fly (such as the Clouser Swimming nymph or black leech Backstabber Carp Fly) so as I can see my fly in the muddy water. And, because many of the lakes are high and brown and most of carp fishing is sight fishing, it leaves us fly fishermen only the random fish that is riding high (near the surface). Be prepared to make your cast quickly and accurately, you will only have a second or two before the carp sounds deeper and out of sight. Often I will position myself in an area were I am seeing a good number of cruising fish, pull off plenty of fly line fro my reel and prepare for a fast game of aquatic Whack-A-Mole!

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