First Carp of 2015 was a Bass

Last week found a couple hours to look in on the semi-local carp.  In an off-channel turbid backwater I found quite a few.  No veg; easy walking.  But also no camo; no breaking up of silhouette.  Careful steps were needed.  I did get the jump on a couple, and was able to present a fly.  Trouble being turbidity required count down and guess method, as I could not see head; couldn't see much more than tail and a bit of dorsal geometry.  I counted down and picked up; ended up snagging both fish.  What you gonna do; not much; that's how it goes.  So 0/2 for carp in 2015 thus far.  I will look again soon.  If I can even approach 0.250 batting average in MN this year I will be happy.

At the next stop I stared at water for a long time; where currents come together.  In that seam were a number of fish, including quills and carp.  I piled some line at my feet and started roll casting; the wooded setting did not allow for any backcast.  This was very enjoyable and relaxing: roll cast, mend and pile, adjust, get into the current and watch tip of fly line as fly drifts downstream.  Immediately some of the quills spooked.  Maybe the carp too but I didn't see them go.  I understood this as a low probability affair, but it has worked in the past and there wasn't a damn thing else to do or see in the way of fish.  So I kept drifting.  Then I started twitching; which drew the smallmouth bass.  Couple nice ones to hand.  They ate the Deadpool with the foam tab torn off, twitched back to me.  The Deadpool less the tab is essentially JM's hybrid with the double-twist tail.

No carp.  I have now heard two reports of guys getting carp on flies in MN; one in a river; two in a lake setting.  Good night and good luck.