Cruising Capr

[Buzzy]

I fished local today, on the water by 0900 - which I think is almost too early this time of year with the sun lower on the horizon. I was hoping to find cavorting pods of fish (I didn't find frolicking or cavorting pods, they weren't up in their group g---- mode).

I started out with a black jig tied with FTD red mini bug legs in body (some capr Xspurt suggested red is a color that excites caprs, huh!). I did fool five caprs with this fly:




I wonder, is there a number, or formula, of how many caught, hooked and/or lost fish before you retie your bug to the tippet? Apparently five is too many as fish No. 6 zipped out of its mud plume, ate, went ballistic and broke me off.



Beast!



Four casts to this barrel before I figured out it wasn't a carp, but from 40 feet away, it was vary carpy. I knew after my fourth cast that something was off, I mean - the rule of three and it hadn't blown out? D.A.

The weather was perfect today, light "W" that shifted directions so I just went with the drift. I use the 30# thrust electric to set up a drift with the breeze. The air quality was "good" all day.



I stand on the thwart, straddling the seat. When I need to adjust course with the motor it's an easy and quiet step down to run the motor. I'm running the motor with an Eco-Worthy LiFePO4 12.8V 100Ah battery; I love the Bluetooth function as I can check the remaining charge with two clicks on my phone.



Fair or foul? Outside the lips so I guess foul. And if so, does it count? If not then my strike to land ratio was 4 for 12; that's lousy. On the other hand, fooling 12 caprs is a GREAT day capring.

Ps. One reason I lost at least two caprs was due to hook gape opening up on two different flies, including a TMC 2457 size 8, 2XS. That has never happened to me with that model Tiemco hook. I guess I need to find a 3XS hook?

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Fair or foul?

Fair, there was intent.

 

[Buzzy]

I forgot (again) to report on why I called the title "cruising". Cruising comes in several forms - solo cruisers and group cruisers. Group cruisers seem to RARELY be feeders. Solo cruisers, depending on speed and something like "attitude" (?) can be feeders but in my experience, cruisers usually just cruise. There's fast cruisers, slow cruisers.... Today a solo slow cruiser moved quickly five or six feet to suck in my offering and then proceeded to run deep into backing. Seeing the take is very exciting. I can't get enough of it.

 

[skyriver]

Sounds like a great day! One of my favorite lakes to fish in the gorge has willing cruisers. And yes, they seem to really go! They're usually the 9-12# range and go ballistic. Much more fun than the bigger ones that just put it in 4Low and tractor away.

So cool you're getting these from the boat. Nice work!

Let's talk about your hooks.

I think there could be a few aspects of that jig hook that might be causing issues. Just my theories....
1- Jig hooks, by their very nature, have a smaller gap between eye and hook point. Even with wide gap models. Possibly less hookups.
2- Jig hook eye could be bouncing off those rubber lips and essentially acting like a weedless guard. Possibly less hookups.
3- Jig hook could put more pressure on the shank or bend if pulling straight back against that 60 degree angle. Bent hooks.
4- Not using dumbbell type eyes is most likely allowing the fly to lay on its side nearly half the time. This could impact hookups.

As you can probably guess...I don't like jig hooks for carp. Haha! I like traditional short shank, wide gap, straight eye, stout hooks with eyes for all these reasons. Highly recommend the Fulling Mills Bonio Carp hooks!
I've had days way worse than 4 for 12, but I've never had a bent hook. And only one broken hook while unhooking a big one with pliers. I'm also not a huge TMC fan after having a few chubbies get bent from angry redsides.

 

[Buzzy]

Sounds like a great day! One of my favorite lakes to fish in the gorge has willing cruisers. And yes, they seem to really go! They're usually the 9-12# range and go ballistic. Much more fun than the bigger ones that just put it in 4Low and tractor away.

So cool you're getting these from the boat. Nice work!

Let's talk about your hooks.

I think there could be a few aspects of that jig hook that might be causing issues. Just my theories....
1- Jig hooks, by their very nature, have a smaller gap between eye and hook point. Even with wide gap models. Possibly less hookups.
2- Jig hook eye could be bouncing off those rubber lips and essentially acting like a weedless guard. Possibly less hookups.
3- Jig hook could put more pressure on the shank or bend if pulling straight back against that 60 degree angle. Bent hooks.
4- Not using dumbbell type eyes is most likely allowing the fly to lay on its side nearly half the time. This could impact hookups.

As you can probably guess...I don't like jig hooks for carp. Haha! I like traditional short shank, wide gap, straight eye, stout hooks with eyes for all these reasons. Highly recommend the Fulling Mills Bonio Carp hooks!
I've had days way worse than 4 for 12, but I've never had a bent hook. And only one broken hook while unhooking a big one with pliers. I'm also not a huge TMC fan after having a few chubbies get bent from angry redsides.

I never would have guessed you don't care for jig hooks, NEVER! ;-) FWIW, I just ordered Fulling Mills Bonio carp hooks (barbless) in both sizes. Tks man.