The Carp Fishery

Remarkable to study the various carp populations and learn the habits and behaviors of their constituents.  Some are very ready eaters.  Some stone my ass into next week with repeated refusals and spooks and ass-kickings.  Been torturous working through one particular water that shows educated big fish.  They spook at rod movement, at fly hitting water, at tippet in water, at movement on shore.  I try laying fly out way in front and then crawling across path.  No.  And then I switch ponds and fish hammer the LOD with flashing white mouths chasing it down.  Different fish and different environ.  

And then places within the various ponds and lakes systems...  I left the comfort zone of a small fish pond and pushed my way back to the toughest corner.  Which also appeared to be the warmest corner.  As soon as I got a clear look at the water I saw this female slow cruising loosely flanked by a couple males (presumably).  First time the fly touched the water she ate it.

17 lbs scaled.  Nice stache.