This morning, determined not to let these weather related set-backs keep me off the water I grabbed my spinning rod and waders and headed out to do some bass fishing. Earlier this spring I bought some soft plastic lures, made right here in TN, and I was curious to see how they would perform.
I was not disappointed. I didn't fish for long but I landed a couple of nice bass and lost a couple more.
The most surprising part of the morning came while I was wading across a mud flat and spotted an orange tail through the murk. I crouched low and stalked the carp carefully as it glided slowly over the bottom. I knew I couldn't just cast my lure to the fish as the splash from the lead sinker would certainly spook it. Instead I improvised a version of The Heron Technique, a special method I have developed for fly fishing, and managed to get my lure in front of the carp's head. The fish accelerated and paused abruptly. I raised my rod and set the hook. A few minutes later I had successfully landed a carp with an artificial lure on a spinning rod!
notice the white plastic lure sitting on my palm
I have heard of people catching carp with lures, I believe I may even have met one of them once, but until today I had only caught carp with flies or else some kind of bait. And while I probably won't be making a great effort to replicate this feat it's nice to know that it is possible.
1 comment:
Love this! You used the Heron technique--makes me want to read your book again. :) First carp of the season, but definitely not the last. I miss you and can't wait to go fishing together soon!
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