More CAPR CAPERS....

clarkman

clarkman

average member
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In a single word: TOUGH.

I ended up meeting up with a friend at one of the more popular spots which is easy to walk in to. In spite of VERY subpar conditions, we stuck it out, however did not see many fish through several hours, either spooked or anything. I ended up heading to another spot that isn't as popular (my friend opted to stick it out at the previous spot and then get home). First spot I found had a couple of fish that I could just barely see, it's body position shifted ever so slightly and I set the hook....less than 5 seconds and it was into my backing (I also tend to clamp down on my drag more than most probably would).....came unpinned....damn. At least there were feeding fish, they were just impossible to see in those conditions. A little while longer, I put my fly a bit outside of what I thought would work for this super slow cruiser, but he charged it and just inhaled my fly (basically a clam-eggo with a different color off the back)....

cookie cutter
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It was an extremely challenging day, but I did end up going 2-4 with one larger fish that broke me off (probably wrapped on a boulder because there was a ton of abrasion on my leader I ended up having to completely re-do).

Sighting fish proved extremely difficult due to the cloud cover that persisted ~99.9% of the day. I actually really enjoy fishing in challenging conditions like this...forces one to really focus.

🍻
 
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Hatchery Triploid....
 
I admire your fortitude in fishing in such conditions; perseverance extraordinaire! It's just been crappy "capr" weather here in the Basin with clouds and even some rain - the rain always brings a following wind and it's the wind that really kills it for me. I wonder if I should bobber fish for caprs when it's cloudy (only one way to find out). Well done!
 
Long_Rod_Silvers said:
Do you guys ever find any correlation to feeding activity and tides?
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I've never really taken the time to collate those data. There are definitely certain water levels on some flats where there will be more fish on them, but that goes for anywhere.
Buzzy said:
I admire your fortitude in fishing in such conditions; perseverance extraordinaire! It's just been crappy "capr" weather here in the Basin with clouds and even some rain - the rain always brings a following wind and it's the wind that really kills it for me. I wonder if I should bobber fish for caprs when it's cloudy (only one way to find out). Well done!
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Lol, thanks! You'll think I was really crazy for trying on Saturday where if the wind wasn't gusting to 20, the rain was crazy. Spooked a couple, but those were the only ones I saw that day.

But you're forgetting, I also love fishing for muskies, IMO, one can't target those things day in and day out without some bit of perseverance.

I also really enjoy targeting these things in sub-optimal conditions, makes them easier to spot in good conditions. Shortly after I hooked the one shown above, the sun popped out for a few seconds....just long enough for me to see the other 6-7 fish blow out of the cove I was fishing that I didn't even know were there.
 
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Long_Rod_Silvers said:
Do you guys ever find any correlation to feeding activity and tides?
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Tides? I jokingly describe one reservoirs elevation changes as tides as in "oh, the tides high" or "man, we got a minus tide today*".

* One of my capr haunts is fascinating to wet wade around when the there's a "minus tide" - it opens up so much more water while completely drying up my usual haunts.
 
clarkman said:
yes, an entirely new species. I'm the only person who has ever caught one too. Now, where's my trophy?
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On a cloudy wind whipped day a handful of chicken feed tossed in honor of those that have come before is recommended. This feed is tossed in a graceful arc in the general vicinity of where you would like to cast. It's followed by a calm imbibement of a delicious chicken salad sandwich (see the ones that came before reference). Let those chicken pellets settle into the muds of the flat. The return to fishing is not immediate, it occurs after a third of a flask of coffee, or a suitably long-winded fishing story about a guy you used to fish with but no longer do whose punch line is something along the lines of "no one knows what happened to Chicken Joe, he was last seen paddling into the set.... man.... I miss that guy.... he sure liked chicken..."

This formal ritual will summon the multitudes of pinheaded, mirrored and other conventional caprs who also pay homage to the poultry no longer walking this world with us. Those big gold-scaled leviathans will feast on those dissolving meal-nuggets and any manner of small crawdad or floppy-tailed bug imitation appearing in the feed radius, moving in all their slow stripped glory....

Soon the line will pull tight, connected on one end to a fish, on the other, to a man with a giant hat, Clarkman, who now needs to shout the thanks:

" Chicken Joe....you absolute legend you"
 
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Buzzy said:
Tides? I jokingly describe one reservoirs elevation changes as tides as in "oh, the tides high" or "man, we got a minus tide today*".

* One of my capr haunts is fascinating to wet wade around when the there's a "minus tide" - it opens up so much more water while completely drying up my usual haunts.
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Was mostly thinking of the lower columbia river. I like how you apply the concept to lakes though!
 
@Long_Rod_Silvers , I do know a few people who really only fish certain areas on the lower Columbia and they won't go if the tides aren't just right. I don't have that luxury. I fish when I can. Plus, IMO, it's not all that difficult to find new areas if an area you're used to isn't fishing due to tidal influence (or dam influenced). Sometimes you'll find a new 'favorite' spot. These fish feed somewhere all day every day....just have to go searching sometimes.
 
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