Trash or treasure?

     Carp fishing is one of the most controversial subjects I've ever heard. Mix carp in with fly fishing and you've started a fire. I've got a lot of friends that are a little more on the "purist" side of fly fishing, and won't be persuaded so easily. Others are extremely intrigued by the idea and get hooked instantly. 

    When I started fly fishing five years ago or so, I never had the idea it was meant only for trout. Since then, I have any kind of fish I could get on the end my line. Living half a mile from the nearest stream has its perks. I knew there were carp in the creek because I had spooked them once before. So one day I decided to target them, and them alone. 

     I had visited the local fly shop the week before and purchased some new flies. After hours of searching for carp and inevitably making them aware of my presence, I finally found one rooting with its tail out of the water. I had lost nearly all my files on snags and had only nymphs left. At that moment, I decided to wing it and tie on a golden Stonefly and try it before I went home. The first cast my fly landed a foot away from the carp's nose as it came out of the mud cloud.... and was immediately sucked up. Instinctively, I set the hook and my rod doubled over. 

     Once I saw that the fly had in fact been eaten, I felt extremely relieved. After a short battle for around 20 minutes, the fish was in my net. Dozens of carp later I still haven't stopped targeting them. They run a long ways, fight hard, and even jump out of water. Some carp are hideous and some are gorgeous, but they all excite me. Today was a good day with five fish landed. One of them even turned out to be a beauty of a mirror carp.