Zonker's Fishing Blog

An Update to Keep My Blog from Being Deleted

2009-03-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

At least I assume that if you don't post for awhile you might just be dropped from the free blogspots. Anyway, sadly this isn't a fishing post. I'm still dealing with "that awful disease," cancer. The kidney cancer has metastasized to my lungs and now my brain. They tell me that the lungs are still treatable and the brain is operable, so I'm not checking out just yet as far as I know. Hospital time and then home recovery just really slows down the fishing aspirations. Nice to go back in free moments and review the trips though. In that sense the blog has been worthwhile to me even if there isn't much action right now. Maybe my one or two total readers might find something worthwhile here, too.

Don't want to sound too morbid though. I am a dedicated Christian and am confident in the future, no matter what it brings.

Tight lines.

z~

Long Absence

2008-12-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

It seems like a long time since I've added to my blog. In early September I was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer which had metastasized to my lungs. On September 19th I went under the knife for a full left radical nephrectomy. I'm still quite sore from the surgery but am gaining strength daily. A CT scan earlier this week showed that the spots in my lungs seem to be stable at the moment - and quite small. I don't know what the future holds but I may be on some kind of chemo at some point. Until then I hope to get some fishing done whenever possible. Perhaps I'll get a few posts up.

z~

Encounters with Carpkind

2008-06-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

It has been much too long since I've been fishing. A combination of work and Carpal Tunnel struggles.

I fixed that briefly today however. Though steelhead are in our local river I got out between 1 and 3PM and did some carping. Things were slow at first. Pods of spawners were cruising the surface but I could spot none in the shallows. I finally fished the smaller pond and managed to hook 3. The first wrapped my line around a pipe sticking out of the water. The other two fought well - one a 9 pounder and the other a 5. Nothing spectacular but a nice wiggle the end of the rod.

I did meet another carper who frequents the place I fished - apparently on different days. He's off on Monday and Tuesday, I usually come on Friday or Saturday. Nice to see someone else motivated to catch and release these hard fighting fish.

Here are the two fish that made it to shore. The larger is the first one.

z~

Warm Weather at Last!

2008-05-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

After several months of "unseasonably cool" temperatures we had a heat wave predicted for today and tomorrow. Well, 85 and 95 degrees f. probably doesn't seem warm to some but to Western Oregonians it is a real shock when your daytime average has been in the 50's and nights have been in the 30's. Weatherman says it may crowd 100 before the weekend is over.

Anyway...

I couldn't bear the long fishing dry spell any longer. We had talked about going north to the trout lakes but the $3.75/gal gas price really hurt when we filled the Durango so we opted for the carp ponds instead. Of course Mrs. zonker doesn't fish so she just dropped me off and she and Otis, our 6 month old Labrador spent half a day tooling around Eugene.

That left me free to pursue the fish - which I did with gusto. It's been a long winter and a long, cold spring. With the suddenly warm water, lots of spawning carp were about but it took me some time to find feeders. This chunky 10 pounder decided she liked me.

Some time passed before I found another active fish but this one finally moved. It weighed 8 pounds.

Mrs. zonker called me on the cell just as I hooked up with the largest fish of the day - this nice 13 pound small freight train. It was nice to see my bright orange backing again as she took off for the opposite side of the lake.

Great to get out again. My hands are steadily improving with the therapy. Looks like I might not need surgery.

New Float Tube Mods

2008-04-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

My fishing has been limited by the shape of my hands lately. Carpel Tunnel still. So, I've been doing a little work on my float tube. I often fish trout and bass from it using flyrods, so I decided to go all out and make something with that in mind. Here are some photos. Most of the mods are inspired by the ideas of others - especially those on the Big Fish Tackle Float Tube Forum. In the pic, the yellow pool noodle is attached to top of floating fish wire basket. I use this when I fish our in-town lake for stocker trout. Yum! Also seen in the pic immediately below are the blue/red inflatable PFD, the Fishin' Buddy fish finder, and the green Wood River fly fishing bag. Not seen in picture are the net, anchor bag, and fins.

The rod tubes are drop slotted for holding fly rods. Net slides in "T" attachment on far right. Slots are cut to keep net from turning. Gravity holds it in and it is offset so it doesn't tangle with rods.

Here's the frame disattached. It is held on the tube with clips and bungie cords. It can be disassembled into three parts by removing two bolts. Dark gray padding is foam pipe insulation held on with zip ties. Fishfinder holder is 3 inch black pipe held on by three hose clamps. Frame is bungied to bottom d-rings on tube.

Here is a shot of the shaped tubes, cut with a Dremel tool. All PVC is 1 inch shedule 20.

The cross bar in back that gives frame rigidity.

Fishin' Buddy finder attached.

Quick rod holder designed for holding rod while tying leaders, flies, etc.

Handy Wood River tackle bag (no longer made) fits perfectly into left hand pocket. In it I can carry all of my fly gear. Other float tube pocket holds extras like air horn, lunch, raincoat, bottled water, etc.

Here's the tool used for shaping the PVC. A $5 attachment to a $20 dollar tool.

I've had the tube on the water one time for a trial run since the remodel. It works very well keeping everything within reach. Fun to make. Fun to fish.

Quick Carping Trip

2008-03-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

I had a little time this afternoon and though a storm was supposed to hit in the late afternoon I decided to go out for a bit anyway. I hooked and landed only one fish - this 8.5 pound Carp. Rain and wind hit about 5 PM which sent me running for the car. Naturally I didn't bring a rain coat. I did spot several more nice carp working around in the dead weeds in an area where I couldn't cast. As I was watching them a guy came up and asked me if I had caught any fish. When I told him I was fishing for carp with a flyrod he was instantly full of questions. We talked for 15 minutes or so and spotted several more carp in the area where I couldn't cast because of a high bank. Fish always hang out in that spot. Guess they know they're safe. Even if I could get off a cast to them I'd never land a fish as it is near some pretty heavy cover. It's nice to see fish in the shallows again.

First Carp of 2008

2008-03-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

I played hooky today. When I got up I checked the weather. It showed rain for 10 days -- except today where there was a big, bright, sunshine icon for the whole day. Predicted temp was 60 degrees f. Maybe this would warm up the water enough to get some carp active.

Once the thought was in my head I couldn't shake it. My secretary was sick. No appointments. Try as I might, after working the first half of the day I tossed my flyrod into the car and headed for the carp ponds. As cool as it has been, I didn't hold out much hope. I got out of the car and didn't even string up the rod. Quickly I started walking the perimeter. The first pond had a flyfisherman. I watched for a few minutes and determined that he wasn't having any action and didn't seem to know what he was doing. Not wanting to horn in, I walked around his spot to the next pond. No sooner had I arrived than I noticed several thick mud clouds in the murky water. A carp flopped on the surface. Water boiled over in the corner of the cove. That was all it took. I sprinted back to the car, strung up the rod and was back. The fish were still there. I tied on a fly -- one of my new yellow carp bitters -- and started casting. I could see several individual mud clouds, though no fish were visible, which is typical for this spot. I was just getting into it when a small dog came up behind me, rushed past, and jumped into the water. Fish went everywhere. Needless to say, that spot was spooked, but at least I knew they were there. The dog's owner showed up shortly after and called her dog saying that she "didn't want to scare the fish." Too late, but I've learned that I'm better off saying nothing and letting the event pass. Sometimes the fish come back. I exchanged pleasantries and the dog owner moved on. Soon the fish were back.

This first shot is just a mood maker. Look at that bright sun! In Oregon we learn to really appreciate these days.

With new mud clouds forming in front of me I tossed my fly out into the fray and tried to keep a tight line while retrieving ever so slightly. The indicator twitched and I set up on the fish below -- a nice little 6 pounder. Ah, that felt good!

Later I had another slight tap and on the other end was this portly 12 pounder.

The two hours I had set as my limit soon expired and I had to leave for an evening meeting. But this was really nice -- the first carp for 2008. Based on my records from last year I expect the next three months to be the best of the year for carping with the largest fish available in shallow water. From now through the pre-spawn I expect to break my last year's record of 28 pounds. Great day on the water.

Finding His Place in Our Family

2008-03-03T22:00:00.001-08:00

My new fishing buddy, Otis, has made himself right at home with Mrs. zonker and me since we brought him home. Boundless energy, pirhana teeth, and a natural desire to retrieve everything including socks, shoes, towels, and his legitimate toys, has made him a very popular new edition to our family. It's a lot like having a new baby in the house! Ain't he cute?

z~

Take a Kid Fishing

2008-03-03T21:30:00.001-08:00

That's what I did this last Saturday. I didn't fish much myself but tried to make sure my charges connected. Grandson Matt and his friend Cody ended up with 3-4 nice trout apiece using small jigs. It rained on us and was very cold. My not yet healed Carpal Tunnel hands really felt the cold. They turned blue.

It was a good trip though. Glad we connected, Matt and Cody!

z~

Tyin' and Dreamin'

2008-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Hours spent at the vise do much more than provide flies for empty spaces in fly boxes. They inspire dreams of fishing days gone by and opportunities for days yet to come. Being there again in one's mind isn't as good as the real thing, but on a cold, dark, rainy winter day it can really lift the spirits.

These Carp Bitters are modeled after the Bonefish Bitter, an epoxy-head creation made for its namesake in salt water. They appear to contain all of the right qualities for the carp flats so as the feeling in my hands comes back I'm stocking my boxes. Yellow is a good color for the carp that inhabit the small lakes I fish.

Click on the pic for a more detailed view.

That Moon Thing

2008-02-21T13:28:00.001-08:00

If you were fortunate enough to live in a place that didn't have cloud cover last night you may have seen one of the versions of this time lapse composite of the lunar eclipse. Not fishing relatate (though the moon phases certainly effect the fishing - especially when the moon is full) but cool, nonetheless.

z~

New Buddy Has Arrived

2008-02-14T22:18:00.001-08:00

We brought him home Monday night. His name is Otis. We gave him that name because his litter was born in Otis, Oregon. He weighs 17 1/2 pounds and is 17 weeks old. I'll be training him to accompany me when fishing on foot and also to ride in the canoe and motorized fishing boat. I've had four labs before him so I generally know what to expect. Nice to have a fishing buddy again who can go when I can.

Looking for a New Fishing Buddy

2008-02-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

It has been over six years since I lost one of my best friends, a 70 pound chocolate Labrador Retriever named Tiger. I fished and hunted more with him than with any other being. His last year was very difficult and required nearly constant attention. I had a tough time having him finally put down. I said then that I didn't think I could do it again.

Now, well... maybe. Tomorrow I'm going to drive over to the coast to take a look at a few Lab pups. Perhaps I'll bring one home.

February Carp - Nada

2008-02-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

Looking at pictures of fish on the Internet is very motivating sometimes, especially when you've been cooped up for an extended period. Today, even while knowing that conditions were lousy, I broke my medical exile and got out on the water for a few hours. I didn't expect much and the results lived up to it. It was dark, rainy, and windy at times. Water temp was very low. It was nice just to get out and carry a fly rod around again even though I never found a target for my fly. All my favorite carp spots were deserted of fish including the nice lake shoreline above and the river stretch below. In fact, the river was completely blown out as you can see.

It will probably be at least a month before I can expect to find some fish venturing out of their winter lairs. Maybe I'll tie some flies. I did cast a bit to see how my wrists would respond. Things went well, though I wasn't completely without discomfort.

I dream of warmer days.

Flies in Waiting

2008-02-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

With the feeling coming back into my fingers I'm beginning to think about some fly tying. These were tied last year during May when I was catching and tying up a storm. Maybe one of these guys will be the one that helps me break 30 pounds this year.

z~

Checking In

2008-02-04T22:20:00.000-08:00

A quick note to say that I'm still down and out because of the Carpal Tunnel thing. My hands have improved somewhat with the therapy I'm taking. I still don't do well in the cold. Makes my hands turn blue. I'm hoping that surgery won't be necessary since the recovery would probably take me through the prime spring fishing months.

Right now I'm remembering all the nice flyrod carp I caught last year. Hopefully we'll get out of this deep freeze we've been in around Western Oregon and see some good old fashioned 50 degree winter weather soon. I haven't tried casting since the diagnosis, but I just may be able to do it if the weather warms.

In the meantime its Internet fishing and reviewing fishing logs.

A blast from the past... The fish above is last year's big one.

z~

Plans Delayed

2008-01-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted for awhile because about four weeks ago I discovered that I have carpal tunnel syndrome. It has really put a kink in my fishing. Voice recognition software is helping some, but it won't hold my fly rod. I don't know how long this will continue as I go through the therapy. It will probably curtail the steelhead fishing I had hoped to do. We'll see.

Building Anticipation

2007-11-24T21:43:00.000-08:00

What strange activities fill my open time this time of year. Pulling rods out of closets. Lubing reels. Winding new line. Sharpening hooks. Sorting tackle. Checking leaders. Watching weather reports and river guages. Surfing the boards. Perusing fish pictures. Writing to friends, talking steelhead. Dealing with the building anticipation. I usually set aside the fly rod this time of year as my access to good fly water is sharply limited in the high winter flows. It's still C&R, with single, barbless hooks - just a different configuration of tackle.

It will soon be here - the season of chrome torpedos. I can hardly wait and if nothing else takes over my time I plan to be out there in the cold, wet, gray Pacific Northwest living it up in pursuit of silver beauties like this one.

Summer Steelhead in November

2007-11-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

I went to the local river today to try out a new Lamiglas casting rod. I was running the stick through its paces, trying to see how far I could cast when this summer steelhead suddenly appeared and tried to crush the silver plated spoon I was throwing. Though I knew there were still some summer fish present, it is so late in the season he caught me off guard. Our summer fish don't spawn until January so there are still some in the river below the hatchery at the dam. A nice surprise and a good warmup for winter Steelhead fishing. Hope to do some of that this winter.

Float Tube Efficiency

2007-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

A very efficient way to fish with a fly rod is from a float tube. The primary advantage, besides being able to get out on the water away from fly eating trees and bushes, is hands free fishing. Since your feet do all the moving and steering via the fins used to propel the craft, you can dedicate every arm motion to fishing. Casting is a breeze once you adjust to your lower height above the water. Tubes do fairly well in a mild breeze as well. Many inflatable float fishermen prefer pontoon boats because they move much faster. However, get a fair breeze in a toon and you'll either have to anchor, be constantly on the oars (which precludes fishing), or spin around helplessly. You can kick in the wind (again we're speaking mild wind) and continue right on fishing in a float tube. Yes, it moves fairly slowly but I have found that this causes me to fish the water much more effectively than when I'm off rowing to the other side of the lake in a toon. Here's my Super Fat Cat rigged for a recent bass fishing trip. With lunch in the back compartment I was able to stay out all day. I returned just before dark. That's a net sticking up from a pocket behind the seat. The blue on the seat is an inflatable life preserver. If you look closely you can see an anchor bag hanging from the right side. The fish finder is laying across the back, just behind the seat. Once under way this is dropped into the sleeve on the left (barely visible.)

Here's the same tube rigged for trout fishing. Note the two fly rods in holders on the right, the fish finder (sonar) on the left. All gear fits into the two pockets on the sides. The net and additional items go behind the seat. In this model you sit high and dry with your wadered legs wet only below the knees.

Here my grandson in his tube. He has an ODC 420, another pointed nose model which is very similar to the SFC, only about half the price. Note the fish finder on the right of the picture, the sleeve that it fits in, and the rod holder on the left. He wears a blue inflatable PFD.

Here is his tube in action. In this photo he's landing a trout that he hooked while executing the deadly tubers troll with a fly.

Here's a side view of the SFC. Perfect line position for casting or trolling.

Here's a shot with the diver's fins I use. These are Mars Plana Avanti 3's (they're blue in the picture.)

Fish finders mount on tubes very easily, helping you keep track of structure, depth, and temperature. Here's a shot of one I use. It's mounted on a plastic pipe cap which fits into the cup holder on the tube. A PVC pipe with the transducer mounted on it is bungied to the side of the tube for easy raising and lowering.

The only drawback I have found with float tubes is that carp are quite spooky of them. Though you can work stealthily up on most freshwater gamefish, carp seem to be put down by the leg motion. A fly fisherman is also too low to the water to spot carp when sight fishing.

More Stillwater Trout

2007-09-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes! Last Monday we had a 95 degree scorcher that drove the trout down to sulk on the bottom. Surface temp was 72 degrees. Fishing results showed it. This Monday (9/17/07) we had pleasant, mostly cloudy weather with some rain and a surface temp of 61. Trout were happy for the change - and almost suicidal in the low light conditions. Action started right at my arrival on the water at noon at my favorite trout lake. First pic is a good representation of the dark day. The fish loved it.

Fish were consistently 16-19 inches. Fat, chunky rainbows in good health and hungry as bears just out of hibernation.

As a testimony to the change of the season, this summertime bug hitched a ride on my tube when the damp air became too much to keep his helicopter wings flapping. He stayed with me until I went ashore.

Trout continued to cooperate in a big way.

The fly selection wasn't at all complicated. Seal buggers early and chironomids later when a few started showing on the surface.

I hit the docks early. 5 PM and I called it a day with plenty of daylight left to stow my stuff and make the two hour drive home. Since my buggy friend was so faithful in hanging onto the tube, I gave him a nice resting spot to see out the remainder of his days. Made a pretty picture.

What a wonderful day on the water! Final score was: zonker - 15; trout - 0

Stillwater Trout Tubing

2007-09-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

In spite of excess heat warnings from the weather service I decided to break from the carping today and chase some trout in a favorite pond. Though it was warm throughout the day I hoped to at least score a few fish as evening approached. Though the results weren't spectactular, it was rewarding. I spent my time in the float tube - something I have enjoyed for many years.

I also broke in a new fish finder - a Buddy 4200. This replaced an older model that I've used since the early 90's.

Fish didn't cooperate until nearly dark. As the water temp finally dropped a couple of degrees I caught four from 16-18 inches just before dark. Succesful fly was a black/red Seal Bugger and a black/red Beadhead Wooly Bugger.

A very nice change of pace.

Some Carp Surfing

2007-09-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

No. That's not a new technique. I was just surfing the net and came across a nice carping video with a bit of a wrinkle. The wrinkle was using a partner to spot feeding fish. The video is called Carp, an Introduction. It's on a website called Anglersnet.com. Great stuff. A description of this is on The Day Tripper Blog.

z~

Fly Fishing Lessons for Beginners

2007-08-25T11:33:00.001-07:00

I was searching the Internet this morning for things that might be helpful to a beginning fly fisher. I enjoy helping others get started in our sport. I came across a video series of "Fly Fishing Lessons." It is very well done.

Click on the link and you'll be taken to the first one. Other links should pop up on the page to allow you to work your way through the series.

Mid-week Carping

2007-08-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

Look who's the star of the show - again. I had no days off last week so when an opportunity presented itself to get away from the office for the second part of the day Tuesday, I jumped. When I arrived at the carp ponds my friend Josh was there fishing for bluegills. He had a bag full. After exchanging greetings we talked fishing for a bit. While talking the calm water in front of us starting sprouting bubbles in several spots. I cast for about a half hour and finally got a take. I handed the rod off to Josh and he executed the landing honors flawlessly.

The fish was a five pounder.

I think Josh loves carp! It sounds to me like there may be a fly rod in his future.

He had reached the end of his stay and needed to head home. I abandoned the spot when another fisherman joined me - after we chatted for a bit about warmwater fishing opportunities. He indicated that he had a fly rod and was quite inquisitive at my use of this method for carp. Anyway, I headed over to the larger lake. After a while I got into some action.

Another five pounder...

A six and a half...

And a seven and a half.

One more fish was hooked but the hook popped out, making me think that I may have foul hooked him.

It was a relaxing few hours - a nice "brain broom" for a busy number of days. I left well before sundown and was home in time to return a couple of phone calls.

Friday Carping

2007-08-10T19:18:00.001-07:00

Spent 2/3rds of today carping. No spectacular results. Six fish from 4.5 to 6.5 lbs. Sunny and warm conditions. Not much time to post. Photos below.

Flyfishing Podcasts

2007-08-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

A good way to fish when you can't go fishing is to listen to fishing podcasts on an iPod or other MP3 player. These can be downloaded and heard free using iTunes or other software that manages MP3 files - or they can be listened to on a computer. I carry the little machine (mine is the 30 gig black) when I walk in the mornings. Two of my favorite fishing podcasts are The Global Flyfisher Podcast and Flyfish Radio. If you have an iPod or an MP3 player, give these a listen. If you like flyfishing, you won't be disappointed.

I recently downloaded very informative interview with Steve Densley of Cortland Line Company from the Flyfish Radio site. I've been flyfishing for over 40 years and I still learned from this session - especially about some of the newest lines. If you're beyond the beginner level this one is worth a listen.

The CAG

2007-08-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

The Carp Angler's Group. This is the source of at least some of my inspiration for chasing carp. Though the majority of these guys use spinning and baitcast gear, and a lot of them are deep into "Euro" techniques (a bit too much gear and funny sounding English for me) they do have a lot to offer in learning about the personal lives and habits of big carp. I joined about a year ago. I enjoy their forum (especially the flyrod carping one). Just another way to increase the enjoyment of chasing these fish. The patch resides on my favorite fishing shirt.

http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/

Though still rather sparsely populated, the flyrodding forum has some great guys who offer a lot of help. It's worth a look if you're considering chasing these fish.

CAG Flyrod Carping

A New Carper Gets His Start

2007-08-03T21:15:00.001-07:00

I had a fair day carping today. The weather was cloudy for the first half of the day. While fishing I met Josh, a young fisherman who was after bluegills. After we exchanged greetings I went on around the lake. Awhile later I hooked and landed a nice ten pounder. Josh was directly across the lake from me. I hollered and asked if he would like to see the fish and learn how to catch one like that himself. He joined me a few minutes later. I handed Josh my digital camera and he snapped a shot of me holding the fish. After releasing it I explained how I was fishing and cast out again. As luck would have it, a fish took almost immediately. I handed the rod to Josh and he fought the fish, a nice five and a half pounder, which he landed handily. The picture is below. (I think the fish wasn't the only one that got hooked.) After releasing the fish I helped Josh rig his spinning rod. He then went back to his spot across the lake and started fishing. Soon I heard him yell. He had hooked a nice carp and was fighting it. I took a long shot with the camera but the range didn't allow me to get much detail. Then the fish broke his line. He continued to fish and hooked several more, including a small one that he landed. Here's Josh with the first fish he landed - a five and a half pounder.

And me with the ten pounder.

And the shot of Josh just before the fish broke his line.

Some of the other fish I caught are below. The total was 12 including a 10, a 7.5, a 5.5, two 4.0s and various juveniles less than two pounds.

A great day on the water.

Day of the Seven Pound Carp

2007-07-27T21:07:00.001-07:00

"Day of the Seven Pound Carp." At least that's what I'm calling it. I landed ten carp at my favorite lake today. Five of them weighed 7 pounds on the dot. Three were caught in rapid succession. Seemed like cookie cutter fish, though I'm not complaining. These were hard fighting fish.

Nothing else particularly stood out on this trip. Fish were similar sized to the last few trips to this spot. No really big ones. I did find a new flat that I had overlooked before. I was walking along and spotted a really nice carp cruising and occasionally dipping his head. I tossed out the San Juan Worm I had on my line but he just moved on. However another fish took shortly thereafter. Upon checking it turned out that this flat runs about 30-40 yards out from the shore and was being used by a good number of feeding fish. It was obscured by the murky water.

Besides the five sevens, I also landed a 5.0, a 4.0, a 3.5, and two juvenile carp. Hmm. Considering that the two juveniles were at least a pound, that's almost 50 pounds of fish. No wonder I'm getting spoiled.

Very warm today - uncomfortably so from mid-afternoon on. I quit about 6:00 P.M. with a fairly nice sunburn.

Here are photos of the day. The bullhead and the bluegill were unintentional extras.

Young-Guns Carpin'

2007-07-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

I took some young-guns carpin' today. My grandson Matt and his best friend Cody. Both are experienced fishermen. We found some willing fish in the spot I fished last time. Matt used his 8 weight flyrod and Cody used an 8 1/2 foot steelhead spinning rod. Weather was unsettled. The wind blew hard at times, calm at times. When it blew it was difficult to detect the takes, which were characteristically gentle. We did manage to hook some fish however. The following photos tell the story of the fishing and the results. Total score was 9 carp. This included 4 juvenile carp. A number of small largemouth bass and bluegills were also unintentionally hooked and landed.

Cody with first blood. A small carp.

Cody again with nice adult fish.

Matt hooks up.

They really pull hard!

Concentrate. Concentrate.
Why didn't I bring a chair?

Smaller fishies.

Surgical team hook extraction by two good friends.

Grandpa stayed behind the camera. A great day on the water.

z~

Cloudy July Monday Carping

2007-07-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

As I am "on call" 24 hours a day sometimes in my work, occasionally it takes me right through scheduled days off. When this happens I try to catch up at a later time. Monday of this week was quiet so I used it for a day off. It's hard to get the carping out of the blood once it is there, as others who have tried it will attest. So... here we go again. I fished today from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and caught 12 carp. Five were juveniles (yes, I caught more "small carp"). The rest were respectable fish. The largest today pulled the scale down to 10 pounds. There was also an 8, and a 7 1/2. The rest were fish between 5 1/2 and 4. Again, too many to recall which picture is which, but you get the idea. The hotspot today was the spot I found last time with the creek coming in. The fish were thick in this area. I was doing quite well until a guy showed up with his two boys. They moved right in beside me and crowded me out. Rather than make an issue I just moved on - not for the man - he should have known better - but for the kids. However, several dog trainers were working their retrievers in the area, which effectively spooked my next two favorite spots. I moved around the pond to try to find a new spot. Since sound carries across the water I found myself wishing I had stayed in the spot I was crowded out of. The guy spent several hours yelling at his two boys. Each time they got hung up or did something wrong he would launch into a tirade. He particularly mocked the oldest one, a boy of around 10 or 11. Finally he grabbed up his tacklebox and rods and stormed off, boys in tow. It was a sad situation. Though perhaps I should have said something, I've learned from past experience that with guys like this it seldom has any effect other than making them madder. It's a shame. Those kids will end up hating fishing, if not their dad. I know I wasn't always as patient as I should have been when my own boys were growing up, but this guy took the cake. A real piece of work.
Anyway, after they left the carp moved right back in. I went back to where I had started and picked up right where I had left off. The spot was such a fish magnet that even hooking and landing them didn't put the others down for very long. That creek must carry some comfortable water or perhaps some nice food. A few large bluegills and tiny bass, also attracted to the spot, decided to get into the action. I didn't photograph them. Here are the photos I took, beginning with one of the feeder creek.

Since the summer weather hit the fish activity has greatly increased. When I first arrived there were carp bubbles all over the pond. Warmer water means faster metabolism, which in turn means more active fish.

Carping on Friday the 13th

2007-07-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

"LARGE, LARGE, LARGE!" These are the words that popped out of my mouth this morning as I hooked another giant carp on my fly rod. Right away I realized that this was not like the 5-7 pound fish I had been catching through the morning. I set the hook and instead of the fish taking off and peeling line like a hooked torpedo, it simply started moving off like a nuclear sub on a heading for the uncharted deep. Slow, steady, powerful, unstopable. As the fish moved away I clamped down in the growling reel, but to no avail. I briefly stressed about the 8 pound tippet I had put on earlier, perferring it today to the regular 10 or 12 pound that I use when I expect a big fish. I hadn't expected this. Would it hold? All these things went through my head as the fish, now well into my bright orange backing, showed no sign of stopping. This fish was fully in charge. Could this be another encounter with "Lightning," the 28 pound carp that I caught two times this spring? I was fishing the same area. (See discussion of this twice caught fish by clicking here.) That would be a hoot if I could land the same fish the third time. Would I be able to land him again with the same net that wouldn't hold him last time? He's had two months of prime growing season. Was my camera handy so I could take a shot for evidence if I ever got him on the bank? Then, as quickly as it started, it was over. The hook pulled out. No line break. No broken or straightened hook. Simply a tear out. I felt as limp as the slack line I cranked back onto my reel. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Don't take pictures of another giant fish until you get him on the bank. Don't switch out to a light tippet figuring you won't hook a monster. Do be aware that it can happen when you least expect it.

The day began as I woke early this morning with a case of insomnia - 4:30 AM. Unable to go back to sleep, I finally decided I would get up and load my carp tackle into the car. I had the day off anyway and had figured I might go out in the afternoon. Leaving early would let me avoid some of the afternoon heat. After taking care of some email and website tasks and telling Mrs. zonker goodbye, I was on the road. I reached the water a little before 8:00 AM. Beautiful morning. Calm. Cool. (More of our current heat wave predicted for later today.)

It wasn't an outstanding morning (aside from hooking the U-boat) but I had steady action. No complaints. First fish was this little 4 pounder, rather dwarfed in my large weigh net.

I cast to several other fish, then moved to the other side of the pond, an area with a tiny creek coming in.

Several carp were working the slightly moving water where it entered the pond. One cast and I had a fish on - this 5 1/2 pounder.

Then I did something that was a first for me. I caught a very small carp! I have heard it said that one thing serious carp fishers seldom see is a small carp. Up to this point I had found that to be true. Then bang! Suddenly I've captured a small carp. I also caught a nice 9 inch bluegill from this spot. I should have taken a picture.

One more fish cooperated before I moved from this spot. This nice 7 pounder.

I packed up and walked to the larger lake of the three in this area - to my favorite flat. Fish were active. I saw several large muds indicating fish activity. Soon I had a fish, a nice little 5 pounder.

The water in this area was a lot murkier than it was during spring.

This 6 pound fish soon joined his friends on the end of my line.

Then this porky 9 pounder.

If I counted right that's seven fish. Not bad for half a day. With the sun starting to beat down and warm things up, I retired from the water to go get some lunch. A great day on the water - especially the rush of hooking another large fish.

July 5th Carping in a New Lake

2007-07-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

I went carping on Thursday of this week. I worked on the July 4th holiday and I knew I would also work on my regular Friday day off this week, so Thusday was the only chance to get away. I tried a new lake this time in the hope of getting my grandkids into carping. For that reason I also brought along a spinning rod because that's what they'll be using and I wanted to test a PVC rod holder I made for them. Actually this lake is one that is adjacent to the lake I usually fish. It is full of carp, too, but the larger lake always kept my attention. Anyway, I wasn't disappointed with my choice for today.

I spent the first hour paddling around in my solo pack canoe, checking depth and structure with a clamp on depth/fish finder. The deepest part of the lake is about 6 feet. Most is between 3 and 4 feet. Lots of fish were active, as evidenced by the frequent appearance of moving "carp bubbles" in many spots. The canoe didn't seem to spook the fish the way my float tube did on a former trip. It might even be possible to fish from the canoe for carp if I could come up with a good anchoring system.

Here's a shot of one corner of the pond. The veggie mats are floating .

After the exploring I found a good spot on the bank, set up the rod holder, and tossed out my rig. Soon I spotted a nice carp moving across the surface in front of me. He was taking something from the surface every few inches. My first impulse was to lay out a cast to the fish, then I remembered that I was anchored to the bottom with the spin rig so I just watched. As the fish went by, apparently he spotted my bait lying on the bottom in the shallow water. He disappeared from view moving in the direction of the bait. The line twitched, I set the hook, and the fight was on. Looked like the same fish. This was a really hot one. He ripped line from the reel as he headed out one way, then changed direction and repeated the process, heading for a raft of floating veggies in the middle of the pond. I applied hard pressure in do-or-die fashion and turned him. Eventually the fish was landed, a very nice and sleek 11 pounder.

The rest of a day was a series of waits and bites. I was using a technique called "touch ledgering" which allowed me to feel even the slightest tick on the bait. Hook is set at the slightest tap to try to catch the fish before he blows the bait back out. I want to perfect the technique because I think I can teach it to the kids. Their reflexes are in better shape than mine (though I've had a liftetime of practice!) In addition to the fish above I caught an 8, a 6 1/2, a 5, and a 4 1/2 pound fish. Pics of these four are below. I've lost track of which fish is which.

It was a great day on the water. These are the first carp I've caught on anything but my fly rod. While I prefer the fly rod, it was very relaxing and enjoyable. I hope to bring the kids soon. The shot below was taken as I gathered my tackle and headed back to the truck. The end of a very nice day on the water. Carping is fun!

z~

Unsettled Weather - Slow Carping

2007-06-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

No reports for ten days, but it's not because I haven't been fishing. I've been out twice. Once was a skunk. The other was today. I debated going today as the weather report was for rain showers and wind all day and that's pretty much the way it turned out. I had to really work for the fish but I ended up with an 8 pounder. I'll blame the lack of further success on the weather, I guess. No fish in the shallows (that I could see) nearly all day. Then about 6PM I saw a couple of mud clouds and cast to one of them. Immediately I felt a resistance and set the hook. The fish bolted out of the cove I was in, taking my fly line and a good bit of backing. Once I put the wood to him with the 8 weight though, the battle was wrapped up fairly soon. Not a bad performance. Only wish I could have hooked a few more. Being the end of June I figured the carp spawn was over. However, I saw six different pods of fish swimming in circles out over deep water exhibiting the characteristics of spawning that I saw in fish throughout May. Are these late spawners? Is this some other behavior? At this point I have no idea. Here's the fish, which I released after posing.

The Essence of Fly Fishing for Carp

2007-06-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

Of all the carp fly fishermen I know, fellow Oregonian John Bartlett, AKA John Montana, has caught the essence of the sport of carp on the fly in the greatest way. Recently John did an interview for American Carper Magazine (online) and they ran it in their April 2007 edition. What a great read! The file is a PDF and you must download the entire magazine issue to read the article, but its worth it. Once you have downloaded it go straight to page 26 and enjoy!

The John Bartlett Interview

John also has a blog online at:

Carp on the fly

z~

Monday Fishing Trip

2007-06-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

I had the day off today and spent the second half of it carping. Not a fantastic day but I did manage a couple of fish. The first one was a picture perfect carp hookup - the way things ought to work. I walked quietly and slowly along the edge of a nice flat until I spotted a tail waving about 15 feet from the edge of the water. I cast just beyond the spot where I figured the fish's nose would be and let the fly settle. Then as I started inching it along the bottom, though I couldn't see the fish, I felt the line tighten and set the hook. The fish was hooked perfectly. I was using one of my six weights this time so the ten pound fish was able to make a pretty good showing for himself.

Here is a head shot of the same fish. You can see the fly in the top of its mouth. This fish was special because I've been trying to figure out how to better feel a pickup when I cannot see the fish take the fly. Today I tried my six weight Cortland Camo Intermediate line, thinking that it might give me a better connection and feel. When I hooked this fish I figured, "Perfect. This is going to be the solution." However, I didn't get many more opportunities before the wind came up and the fish moved out of the area.

The release.

I did manage one more fish later in the day, still using the Intermediate line. This one was caught totally blind as I didn't spot the fish first. I was just randomly casting through an area that I thought might hold some fish - not a high percentage game. This one was small - 5 1/2 pounds.
The fly of the day was a yellow nymph with rubber legs and small dumbell eyes. I've done well on the color yellow in this lake before. Not a good picture, but here is a shot of the fly. This camera does not do well with closeups.

Here's a shot showing the wind I've come to expect in this spot in the afternoon.

I'll continue to use the six weight as I experiment with the Intermediate line. If this proves to work better than a floating line, I'll buy one for the seven weight that I usually fish.

Windy, Partly Cloudy Carping

2007-06-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

I had a few afternoon hours to spare today so I went carping. It's much closer (distance wise) than some of the other fishing I like to do. It was another day when it was very difficult to see into the water. I did manage two fish. This one, which went 5 pounds:

And this one, which went 6 pounds.

The pictures were taken with my time release camera on a portable tripod. I just set it up in the area I fished and when I caught one, I carried it in the net to the spot that was set up. Both fish were released unharmed.

Earlier this year, when carp were spawning in this area, quite a few fish made their way up this ditch. I checked it again today but there was nothing there.

I made it home in time for supper and an early bedtime.

z~

Warm, Sunny Carping Today

2007-06-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

I did some carping today. Explored the river that I mentioned in my last trip. It is full of carp but many of them are on the smaller side. By that I mean 2-4 pounds. I discovered this barrier dam early in the day. Standing on the cement sides I could spot maybe 20 carp lying in various spots in the pool in the slacker water. I tried to position myself to work the area but it turned out to be tougher than I expected. I ended up with only one small carp about 3 pounds.

Here is a pic of the fish. After seeing that net full and overflowing with larger carp, that little one looks kind of dwarfed.

I moved up the river to the barrier spot were I was on the last trip. The fish were still there. I hooked another about 3 pounds and released him. Other carp were visible tailing but all looked about the same size. I decided to head for the lake. The carp were working the flats and it wasn't long until I hooked up.

These fish are consistently larger than the ones in the river. It's hard to leave this place! Here's a 6 1/2 pounder that I caught.

And here's a 5 1/2. This one was a really hard fighter - more so than even the larger ones I caught.

No really big ones today. I ended up with 2 @ 3 lbs, 1 @ 5 1/2 lbs, 1 @ 6 1/2 lbs., and 2 @ 7 1/2 lbs. Had some trouble with my camera so I didn't get pics of all the fish. Got to see some new country and found a couple of spots to check out on future trips. All in all it was a good day.

"Do You Fish for Anything Besides Carp?"

2007-06-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Yup. I like to fish for nearly every kind of freshwater fish. But carping has nearly taken over my interest because they are a challenge and they are BIG.

Here are a few of reports of other fishing I've done. These were all before I discovered flyrod carping.

May Carping Review

2007-06-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my last post below, I did some successful carp fishing this year before I had this blog. Rather than reproduce accounts of those fish here, I'll include links below to writups I did on these trips on a couple of forums I frequent. Clicking on them will take you away from my blog so be sure to come back.

I was on a one week vacation in early May and had most of the week to devote to carping. Here are the links:

When I Grow Up I Want to be Like John Montana

Recent Carping Days #1

Recent Carping Days #2

Recent Carping Days #3

Recent Carping Days #4

z~

April Carping Review

2007-06-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

I've had some great carp fishing days in April and May of this year. I wasn't blogging then, of course, so here is a report from my fishing log from...

April 20, 2007

I got out for awhile today. The weather was beautiful! 60 degrees. Light breeze. High sun. Lots of carp in the shallows. Some big ones, too. I arrived at my favorite flat (the main one in the entire lake) and saw about 15 carp scattered across the span. I carefully stalked to within casting range. Just as I was stripping line from my reel to cast a large flock of geese spooked across the pond. There must have been 200 of them and they headed right for me. Needless to say, as all their honking got louder and louder and they passed directly overhead at about telephone pole height, all the places where I had seen fish were now just mud trails. Not a fish left in sight. I left the area to give it a rest. When I returned three girls on bicycles were throwing rocks in the water. (Sigh. No school today.) I left again and moved around the pond to the other side, returning in about an hour. When I did the kids were gone and a few fish had moved back in. This time I got off a few casts. This 10 pound hen took it right away.

I landed another that was about 6 pounds later in the day on a rust colored rubber legged Clouser Swimming Nymph but was mobbed by a group of kids on bicycles who wanted to know all about the fish, so I didn't get a picture. Needless to say, they were impressed. One kid kept telling the others that his dad was a fly fisherman and if he were here he would catch a bunch of those fish.

There is a pic of the Clouser Swimming Nymph on Wendy Berrell's blog. I've added orange rubber legs since that photo was taken.Anyway, as the warm days increase, I hope to have many more days like this - or better. Hope you do, too.

z~

"Why Do You Fish for Carp?"

2007-06-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

To begin, I don't just fish for carp. I fish for BIG carp. Does that help you understand the motivation? I fish for carp because carp get BIG - really big - and because there is seldom any competition from other anglers in the areas I fish. In fact, I imagine that most freshwater flyrodders don't get to do battle with really BIG fish very often - some not at all. A four or five pound trout or bass is an exceptional fish. A ten pounder is the fish of a lifetime. I catch fish like that on nearly every trip unless I'm scouting. And there is always the opportunity for a fish in the 15 to 20 pound range.

And these fish fight long and hard. I get to see my bright orange flyline backing multiple times on each trip. In a lake especially, or a big river where a BIG carp has room to run, you'd better have 100+ yards of backing because you'll need it if you want to see your flyline again. If you fish for them in an area where they've had enough years to get really big, you'd better leave your wimpy five and six weight at home - that is unless you want to make your two piece Sage a three piece or your four piece Scott a five.

"But carp are ugly!" you say. Well, beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder. I recently had a friend show me a five man limit of Sturgeon caught on the Columbia here in Oregon. The smaller ones were as long as your leg and well... they were ugly. Yet these guys paid $175 each to hire a guide and a boat half a day to catch them. My friend told me it was a trip of a lifetime. I can understand his rationale. Then there are guys who catch sharks. Talk about ugly! And scary, too. And did you know that fishermen used to call those bonefish people people pay thousands of dollars to catch in places like the Bahamas... did you know they used to call them "fresh water suckers?"

OK, OK. Maybe I won't convert anyone to carping. So far I've had more people turn up their noses than take a genuine interest. But hey, that's OK with me. I'll have that many more uneducated fish swimming in my favorite waters.

So how BIG do carp get? I think the world record is 70+ pounds. Generally though, in my part of the world, a 20 pounder is big and a 30 pounder is really BIG. I haven't caught a 30 yet, but I've come close. The fish in the picture above was 28 pounds.

Then there is this one, caught about a week later in the same spot. Exactly 28 pounds. But I have a confession to make...

After releasing the fish, when I got the photos home and began to compare I discovered by seeing several distinct markings that I had caught the same fish twice! (Could there be a better testimony for catch and release?) Some other carpers I know encouraged me to name the fish, citing an English custom of naming fish that have been caught multiple times. At the suggestion of another crazed carper (thanks, MrP.) I named this one "Lightning" because I learned, after a long, tough battle, that lightning does sometimes strike twice in the same place. And he/she is still out there. Maybe I'll let things move along so that this fish gains a few more pounds. Then I'll get the 30. Hehehe.

Go ahead and turn up you nose if you wish. I'm OK with it. Leave the fish alone. Leave them for me and those select few who have discovered a brave new, nearly untouched fishing world - the world of carping.

z~

Windy, Cloudy Carp Fishing Today

2007-06-04T22:48:00.001-07:00

I spent the second half of today chasing one of my favorite fish - the common carp. As I flyfish most of the time, flyrodding is my chosen method for these fish. I caught my first carp on the fly in September of 2006 so I'm still fairly new at this. Having flyfished for over 40 years and caught thousands of bass and trout, along with a fair number of steelhead, shad, bluegills, crappies, and perhaps a few assorted bullheads and other fish I figured that carp on the fly would be a piece of cake. Not so. Those buggers are hard to fool with feathers and a hook!

I fished a favorite lake today and caught only two fish - the tiny three pounder above and this more respectable nine pounder. The wind was blowing hard and it was cloudy so spotting fish was impossible. Under such prohibitive cirumstances I sometimes sweeten my fly with a little bit of crawfish scent or even a tiny bit of bait. This allows the fish to hang on just a little longer before rejecting my offering.

I left the lake early to go check out a local river that I've had my eye on for a few weeks. It's very small and quite murky - and just loaded with carp. Most of the ones I've seen look to be between 3 and 6 pounds. There are probably some larger ones present and with time I hope to find them. Today I fished a short stretch that had fair bank access. The carp were there and willing. I ended up landing 5 additional fish from 2 to 5 pounds. I usually fish a 7 weight fly rod but had brought my 8 weight this trip because I've hooked some large fish at the lake recently. When I return to this river spot I'll bring either the 6 or the 7.

The remarkable thing I noted today was that the carp were attempting to jump a barrier in the river. On six or eight occasions I spotted them jumping completly out of the water toward the little dam. They looked more like salmon than carp. As I've never fished a river for carp before I don't know if this is common behavior. I tried to get a picture of the jumpers but you know how that sort of thing goes. You hold and hold and hold, then just when you lower your camera, one jumps. Anyway, no fish jump shots but here is a picture of the barrier.

I'll be back to this river spot. It looks very promising. Since so few people ever fish for carp in my part of the world, I'll have it all to myself to explore.

A face only a crazed carp fisherman could love!

z~

A Humble Beginning

2007-06-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

With this post I begin my humble fishing blog. Zonker is my handle, stage name, moniker, nickname, or whatever else requires an alias. I haven't decided whether I'll include a profile of my real info. For now all I'll say is that I live in Western Oregon, USA. My intention with this blog is to post the records of my fishing trips. These take place mostly in my own area, within driving distance of my home. If you happen by I welcome you to browse but I'll try not to reveal my fishing spots in such a way that hundreds can see and exploit them. So please, don't ask. I welcome you to go find your own. Besides, if you found out the location of my secret spots I'd have to kill you. :-)

Most of the fish you see here have been caught and released to fight again. I make few exceptions to this. I like to eat fish but I enjoy catching them even more, so I'll usually make every effort to return them to the water, able to recover quickly from the fight. I'm glad to see many other anglers doing the same.

I fish by myself mostly, though occasionally with a friend or with my grandchildren. The photos, of necessity, are usually self generated. I either take them with the fish lying on a grassy spot or set up my camera on a portable tripod in an area I'm fishing and use the timed shutter function. I'm just an average guy who uses a mostly automatic camera so take that into consideration as you judge the pictures. Occasionally I'll get a lousy picture or a really big fish. If that happens I'll usually post it anyway, preferring a bad pic of a good fish to no pic of a good fish. This is a fishing blog, not a photography blog.

This first month of June, 2007 I intend to post some of the trips I've taken this spring - at least the successful ones. Like all anglers, sometimes I get skunked. Then sometimes I do really well.

zonker