The "I was supposed to be salmon fishing but they closed the season early so I went carp fishing instead" trip report

I look forward to September every year because of some sneaky good chinook walk in programs I've dialed in on the Columbia near my house. Unfortunately, long story short, the season closed before that program happened during one of the strongest runs we've seen in years. But that's another discussion entirely.

So my fellow gold fish enthusiast buddy pulled his boat to one of our local launches in city limits. We weaved around the labor day splash n giggle crowd and managed to find a whole lot of happy, comfy carp.
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I had some leftover spicy tuna and rice from my albacore sushi dinner party the night before so made up some snacks.
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Had lots of shots, but the fish were definitely a bit skittish. Not many second chances. But our rubber leg nymphs that look at least somewhat like a beadhead pats stone got vacuumed up a few times.
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After a few hours at the first spot, we took a long bumpy boat ride to another favorite carping ground. The one most my local carp tend to come from. But we immediately noticed a temp reading 5deg higher than the other spot. Likely due to low water and this spot not getting much flow at this level. Two long hours and not a single fish spotted. Huge contrast to the first spot. But still good data gathering nonetheless.
 
I look forward to September every year because of some sneaky good chinook walk in programs I've dialed in on the Columbia near my house. Unfortunately, long story short, the season closed before that program happened during one of the strongest runs we've seen in years. But that's another discussion entirely.

So my fellow gold fish enthusiast buddy pulled his boat to one of our local launches in city limits. We weaved around the labor day splash n giggle crowd and managed to find a whole lot of happy, comfy carp.
View attachment 30649
I had some leftover spicy tuna and rice from my albacore sushi dinner party the night before so made up some snacks.
View attachment 30650

Had lots of shots, but the fish were definitely a bit skittish. Not many second chances. But our rubber leg nymphs that look at least somewhat like a beadhead pats stone got vacuumed up a few times.
View attachment 30651
After a few hours at the first spot, we took a long bumpy boat ride to another favorite carping ground. The one most my local carp tend to come from. But we immediately noticed a temp reading 5deg higher than the other spot. Likely due to low water and this spot not getting much flow at this level. Two long hours and not a single fish spotted. Huge contrast to the first spot. But still good data gathering nonetheless.
Great pics! Can you share the water temperatures? I've sure seen some nice flats this summer that should be loaded with fish. By the time the sun is high enough for me to be able to spot fish, they seem to be elsewhere. Pock marks a plenty so I know they've been shallow..........
 
Great pics! Can you share the water temperatures? I've sure seen some nice flats this summer that should be loaded with fish. By the time the sun is high enough for me to be able to spot fish, they seem to be elsewhere. Pock marks a plenty so I know they've been shallow..........
The spot we found em was right at around 70f and the one that was a wasteland was 75-76f
 
how fresh is that water, is it at all brackish?
Definitely fresh but tidally influenced. Brackish water kind of phases out way, way downstream of the Portland area. But I did spot carp in the warrenton marina two weeks ago which is very brackish.
 
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