I usually make this trip later in the month, but work and family plans meant it needed to be this weekend. And it usually includes a buddy or two, but because of circumstance it was a solo mission this year.
I like to shad fish below John Day dam. There's better fly water and the crowd is much thinner and by default...less crazy.
Still some characters, but such is life. Single hand skagit with a shad jig is delightfully relaxing. And the catching is usually pretty good.
It's a bit early for shad up there so carp was the primary goal. I mean, it sort of is anyway. And, after chasing some monsters, but failing at a local lake I was definitely Jones'n for some carp eats.
I left CovTown early Saturday morning and was on a reliable carp pond by 10:30. To my delight, the water was in good shape, full sun and no wind. And there were a few feeders mixed in with the spawners. In fact, compared to what I would find on Sunday, the spawning in this pond was really mellow.
It only took about 8 terrible adrenaline influenced casts to finally get 1 good cast and see the eat. Fish on! It was a pretty one of 11#.
The mood was definitely different than the last time I was at this pond. These fish were hungry, but stressed and hyper. They were spooky and brazen all at the same time. Completely unpredictable which led me to be more brazen than usual. I think this actually worked out a couple times. Most times not.
My best luck was on typical feeders, but I only saw about 5 of those and I screwed up 3 of them. Such is carpin.
Most fish caught were a frantic lead cast, then drag and drop/lead/strip the fly in their dinner plate at their level. I only caught a few on the bottom. Most eats were on suspended fish. The right level is the hardest part.
I also had one rod tip drop shot on a sleepy guy. I had been standing there finishing a beer and then tying on a new Hybrid and turned around he was just there.
Let's see if he'll eat it. Yep!! Now I know how all the camouflaged SUP dudes catch so many. Dangle that thing in front and they're probably gonna eat it.
Speaking of beer. I mean, if you're carpin, there's an obvious favorite for me....
After a few fish on my beloved Aetos I decided to give the Fly Project - Project One 8wt a try. I got this rod in a giveaway (at a carp event) and matched it with an also free AirFlo WF9F Xceed line from our very kind mod @Evan B on my beloved Allen Alpha II reel. It just seemed like a carp thing to do. Maybe a capr thing? Not sure, but it felt right.
The line and rod actually performed very well together. Definitely more tip heavy than the Aetos & MPX 8wt, but I felt like if I did happen upon a 20# capr the Project One was the better tool. I did a few 70' casts just to test the rod/line combo and the Project One handled it no problem. Beefy, but with a soul.
And it was good timing since the next several fish were all fat. Especially this pregnant gal of 17.8#!
By this time it was about 3:30 and I was out of snacks, beer and water. Back was feeling pretty rundown as well. It was time to get back to the truck, get some dry feet and some food.
If you ever find yourself in the Rufus, Oregon area and need some food mosey on into the Bulldog Diner. Amazing burger and fries. The fries are like thin cut steak fries and are about the best I've ever had. And the strawberry milkshake was pretty ridiculous too. And this avoids the ridiculousness that is Biggs Oregon.
I figured I'd go check on my tent spot at Marhill State Park. No psychos and they had my reservation posted so I drove up to the shad spot the back & very bumpy way through the orchards, including the famous Gunkel Orchards. If you've never had a peach from Gunkel's in August then I don't want to hear about any other peaches. Don't matter if it's from Georgia or Washington. Try a day ripe peach from Gunkel's and then get back to me!
There's a pond on the way to the shad spot that has some monster carp. And pretty big largemouth. I stopped there mostly to just admire the 20+ pound carp meandering about, but saw a few close to shore as well as a huge bass. So out came both 8wts, one with a Hybrid and one with my bass gurgler. I missed TWO very decent bass and scared 3 big carp. Ok, enough of the pond.
Got to the shad spot and the water actually looked decent. Not high as the old days, or even just a few years ago, but good current. I literally cast the single hand skagit from the shore in my Vans and hooked a shad. He wasn't real big and the net was in the truck so I fought him until he was done and then gave him slack and he nicely came unbuttoned. Ok, just need a smallie to complete the gorge grand slam.
Found some slack water, still fishing the green shad jig and whammo. This dude hammered it. He was only 12 or 13" long, but gave the 6wt some great bend.
With the grand slam secured and the mosquitos starting to show I headed back for camp. My back was toast by now and there was no way I was wader-ing up to catch more shad. I told myself we could do that in the morning.
It was a very pleasant evening. One of those when the gorge puts on a show. It was a great day.
Well, morning came and I was up by 6. Early for me. The shad weren't tugging at me as hard as scouting some new carp spots. Especially since one included having to row my Commander around a point to a bay. And in a spot where I would only try that on a day with no wind. Well, forecast and reality were no wind. Pretty rare for early June.
So made some breakfast with the Jetboil and then made my way to the spot. This is a bay that I've wanted to fish since my high school days and just never have pulled the trigger. Today was the day. Blew up the Commander, threw in snacks, beer and water and off we went.
20 minutes of easy rowing and we were there. It was like a carp sex party. WAY too many spawners. I did find a flat off out in front of the bay that had some clear water and some loners, but again, they were in a weird state. Most were just traveling from point A to point B. I swear they have a different look on their face. Haha!
I had about 2 legit shots...missed the eat on one and the other one just didn't eat. Well, might be good in 2 weeks when I can't go.
Or next year!
The next spot would be a lake that I've had luck before and really was sort of the beginning of my actual carp fishing. See, I have "landed" hundreds of carp. But about 80% of those were back in the snagging days. I've mentioned it before. #8 treble and the same damn setup we use now. Drag & drop right to the far side of their face. The instant before they feel the line on their noggin STRIKE! Got pretty decent at snagging them in the lips. It may be the best tool I ever had to sharpen my casting. Weird to say, but true. My stalking skills too.
Anyway, that lake didn't have enough water. No carp. Sad to see the gorge going this way. Low water and weeds galore seems to be the way we're headed. It's a wonder that steelhead and salmon even make it back through this thing. I saw weeds in places that I've NEVER seen weeds before.
Onto the 2nd new spot. Same as the first scout, I've wanted to fish this lake since I was in 8th grade. I used to drive past it all the time making trips between Goldendale and Washougal. It involves a hike down the rocks that is not for the faint. Especially going down, but coming out at 2:30pm when it was 96 was no picnic either. And then a quick trespass down the tracks to another climb down the rocks. I was pretty stoked to finally do it regardless of the fishing outcome.
To my delight, there were carp. But again, in weird moods. Some could be seen spawning off in the distance and the ones passing by me were often in groups of 3 or 4 just moving about. Not too fast though so I had some hope. I found a great flat where I could at least have a chance. The first hookup came when I cast to a group of 4 fish slowly cruising east. I intercepted them with a cast much like you would do for salmon and then slow strips. I had on a black carp fly with a red worm/siphon. It just had bead-chain eyes so not super heavy. The fish were suspended so a normal Hybrid or other bottom dwelling fly was not gonna cut it. Anyway, slow strip and then on and then right to the backing!! And, just to make things interesting my extra line got a knot in it going out the guides. Somehow, it didn't break him off or pull apart my rod. He went about 40 yards into the backing before finally trying to dog it in the weeds. The 10# fluoro held and I got him back to the knot. That's when the hand-lining started. Haha! Luckily, he was tired from the great fight so the hand-lining was successful with no drama at all.
I posted the condensed video in the carp thread if you want to see it.
Great, now I knew the suspended slow cruisers were a possible target! I have had success on those fish before, but usually a little later in the year and only with damsel nymphs.
I continued casting to groups like this, but without success. I missed the eat on one and then had about 3 others chase, but never commit.
I then tried to drag & lead on a single fish that was very close to the top of the water. Oops!! Too close to the top of the water. Hooked him in the dorsal and since we was small (7-8#) horsed him in on the strip and got him back on his way. And, of course, he was a mirror. I have a rule...It's a dumb one considering I used to snag them and you can still shoot the damn things. If I foul hook it, no pics. It's like it wasn't caught. Now I wish I had a pic! Oh well.
By this time I was wanting to get back up the hill before it crossed 100 degrees and I ran out of water.
Found a cool duck blind. Dudes even left the chairs there so others don't have to pack them in. If you've hunted you know this is not littering, but rather called hospitality. Actually found 3 blinds. One even had a half dozen dekes. They know how steep that hill is!
I then headed down river to make one final stop at Bonneville to maybe fish at the bottom of the zoo. By the time I got there it was 97 and every spot all the way down to Hamilton Island is in the direct sun. Shadding should be done in the mornings and evenings. I was done fishing.
I stopped and got a burger and fries at Burgerville in Camas and then headed home. It was a good trip!
I like to shad fish below John Day dam. There's better fly water and the crowd is much thinner and by default...less crazy.
Still some characters, but such is life. Single hand skagit with a shad jig is delightfully relaxing. And the catching is usually pretty good.It's a bit early for shad up there so carp was the primary goal. I mean, it sort of is anyway. And, after chasing some monsters, but failing at a local lake I was definitely Jones'n for some carp eats.
I left CovTown early Saturday morning and was on a reliable carp pond by 10:30. To my delight, the water was in good shape, full sun and no wind. And there were a few feeders mixed in with the spawners. In fact, compared to what I would find on Sunday, the spawning in this pond was really mellow.
It only took about 8 terrible adrenaline influenced casts to finally get 1 good cast and see the eat. Fish on! It was a pretty one of 11#.
The mood was definitely different than the last time I was at this pond. These fish were hungry, but stressed and hyper. They were spooky and brazen all at the same time. Completely unpredictable which led me to be more brazen than usual. I think this actually worked out a couple times. Most times not.
My best luck was on typical feeders, but I only saw about 5 of those and I screwed up 3 of them. Such is carpin.
Most fish caught were a frantic lead cast, then drag and drop/lead/strip the fly in their dinner plate at their level. I only caught a few on the bottom. Most eats were on suspended fish. The right level is the hardest part.
I also had one rod tip drop shot on a sleepy guy. I had been standing there finishing a beer and then tying on a new Hybrid and turned around he was just there.
Let's see if he'll eat it. Yep!! Now I know how all the camouflaged SUP dudes catch so many. Dangle that thing in front and they're probably gonna eat it.
Speaking of beer. I mean, if you're carpin, there's an obvious favorite for me....
After a few fish on my beloved Aetos I decided to give the Fly Project - Project One 8wt a try. I got this rod in a giveaway (at a carp event) and matched it with an also free AirFlo WF9F Xceed line from our very kind mod @Evan B on my beloved Allen Alpha II reel. It just seemed like a carp thing to do. Maybe a capr thing? Not sure, but it felt right.
The line and rod actually performed very well together. Definitely more tip heavy than the Aetos & MPX 8wt, but I felt like if I did happen upon a 20# capr the Project One was the better tool. I did a few 70' casts just to test the rod/line combo and the Project One handled it no problem. Beefy, but with a soul.
And it was good timing since the next several fish were all fat. Especially this pregnant gal of 17.8#!
By this time it was about 3:30 and I was out of snacks, beer and water. Back was feeling pretty rundown as well. It was time to get back to the truck, get some dry feet and some food.
If you ever find yourself in the Rufus, Oregon area and need some food mosey on into the Bulldog Diner. Amazing burger and fries. The fries are like thin cut steak fries and are about the best I've ever had. And the strawberry milkshake was pretty ridiculous too. And this avoids the ridiculousness that is Biggs Oregon.
I figured I'd go check on my tent spot at Marhill State Park. No psychos and they had my reservation posted so I drove up to the shad spot the back & very bumpy way through the orchards, including the famous Gunkel Orchards. If you've never had a peach from Gunkel's in August then I don't want to hear about any other peaches. Don't matter if it's from Georgia or Washington. Try a day ripe peach from Gunkel's and then get back to me!
There's a pond on the way to the shad spot that has some monster carp. And pretty big largemouth. I stopped there mostly to just admire the 20+ pound carp meandering about, but saw a few close to shore as well as a huge bass. So out came both 8wts, one with a Hybrid and one with my bass gurgler. I missed TWO very decent bass and scared 3 big carp. Ok, enough of the pond.
Got to the shad spot and the water actually looked decent. Not high as the old days, or even just a few years ago, but good current. I literally cast the single hand skagit from the shore in my Vans and hooked a shad. He wasn't real big and the net was in the truck so I fought him until he was done and then gave him slack and he nicely came unbuttoned. Ok, just need a smallie to complete the gorge grand slam.
Found some slack water, still fishing the green shad jig and whammo. This dude hammered it. He was only 12 or 13" long, but gave the 6wt some great bend.
With the grand slam secured and the mosquitos starting to show I headed back for camp. My back was toast by now and there was no way I was wader-ing up to catch more shad. I told myself we could do that in the morning.
It was a very pleasant evening. One of those when the gorge puts on a show. It was a great day.
Well, morning came and I was up by 6. Early for me. The shad weren't tugging at me as hard as scouting some new carp spots. Especially since one included having to row my Commander around a point to a bay. And in a spot where I would only try that on a day with no wind. Well, forecast and reality were no wind. Pretty rare for early June.
So made some breakfast with the Jetboil and then made my way to the spot. This is a bay that I've wanted to fish since my high school days and just never have pulled the trigger. Today was the day. Blew up the Commander, threw in snacks, beer and water and off we went.
20 minutes of easy rowing and we were there. It was like a carp sex party. WAY too many spawners. I did find a flat off out in front of the bay that had some clear water and some loners, but again, they were in a weird state. Most were just traveling from point A to point B. I swear they have a different look on their face. Haha!
I had about 2 legit shots...missed the eat on one and the other one just didn't eat. Well, might be good in 2 weeks when I can't go.
Or next year!The next spot would be a lake that I've had luck before and really was sort of the beginning of my actual carp fishing. See, I have "landed" hundreds of carp. But about 80% of those were back in the snagging days. I've mentioned it before. #8 treble and the same damn setup we use now. Drag & drop right to the far side of their face. The instant before they feel the line on their noggin STRIKE! Got pretty decent at snagging them in the lips. It may be the best tool I ever had to sharpen my casting. Weird to say, but true. My stalking skills too.
Anyway, that lake didn't have enough water. No carp. Sad to see the gorge going this way. Low water and weeds galore seems to be the way we're headed. It's a wonder that steelhead and salmon even make it back through this thing. I saw weeds in places that I've NEVER seen weeds before.
Onto the 2nd new spot. Same as the first scout, I've wanted to fish this lake since I was in 8th grade. I used to drive past it all the time making trips between Goldendale and Washougal. It involves a hike down the rocks that is not for the faint. Especially going down, but coming out at 2:30pm when it was 96 was no picnic either. And then a quick trespass down the tracks to another climb down the rocks. I was pretty stoked to finally do it regardless of the fishing outcome.
To my delight, there were carp. But again, in weird moods. Some could be seen spawning off in the distance and the ones passing by me were often in groups of 3 or 4 just moving about. Not too fast though so I had some hope. I found a great flat where I could at least have a chance. The first hookup came when I cast to a group of 4 fish slowly cruising east. I intercepted them with a cast much like you would do for salmon and then slow strips. I had on a black carp fly with a red worm/siphon. It just had bead-chain eyes so not super heavy. The fish were suspended so a normal Hybrid or other bottom dwelling fly was not gonna cut it. Anyway, slow strip and then on and then right to the backing!! And, just to make things interesting my extra line got a knot in it going out the guides. Somehow, it didn't break him off or pull apart my rod. He went about 40 yards into the backing before finally trying to dog it in the weeds. The 10# fluoro held and I got him back to the knot. That's when the hand-lining started. Haha! Luckily, he was tired from the great fight so the hand-lining was successful with no drama at all.
I posted the condensed video in the carp thread if you want to see it.
Great, now I knew the suspended slow cruisers were a possible target! I have had success on those fish before, but usually a little later in the year and only with damsel nymphs.
I continued casting to groups like this, but without success. I missed the eat on one and then had about 3 others chase, but never commit.
I then tried to drag & lead on a single fish that was very close to the top of the water. Oops!! Too close to the top of the water. Hooked him in the dorsal and since we was small (7-8#) horsed him in on the strip and got him back on his way. And, of course, he was a mirror. I have a rule...It's a dumb one considering I used to snag them and you can still shoot the damn things. If I foul hook it, no pics. It's like it wasn't caught.
Now I wish I had a pic! Oh well.By this time I was wanting to get back up the hill before it crossed 100 degrees and I ran out of water.
Found a cool duck blind. Dudes even left the chairs there so others don't have to pack them in. If you've hunted you know this is not littering, but rather called hospitality. Actually found 3 blinds. One even had a half dozen dekes. They know how steep that hill is!
I then headed down river to make one final stop at Bonneville to maybe fish at the bottom of the zoo. By the time I got there it was 97 and every spot all the way down to Hamilton Island is in the direct sun. Shadding should be done in the mornings and evenings. I was done fishing.
I stopped and got a burger and fries at Burgerville in Camas and then headed home. It was a good trip!
