After a certain point during the summer of 2007 in Montana it got extremely warm. The famous freestone rivers of southwestern Montana were facing extreme closures. The lower Madison River was closed for fishing and taken over by beer drinking tubers, and the Yellowstone was closed at 2 pm. Not exactly the most feasible fly fishing schedule when I have to work during those hours. These variables aside there was a little bass pond by the mall that always entertains my wyoming boys who are boggled by the large mouth bass. For some reason, the eight to twelve inchers entertain them. Back to the point of the story. When it gets too hot to fly fish for trout here in Montana, we fly fish for carp. Classy, we know. The Missouri river is a modest drive from Bozeman, Montana. We travel along I-90 then turn at the Montana wheat company and head towards Helena, Montana. We did two things when fly fishing for carp in Montana this summer. We floated Townsend to Reids point with cases of beers swinging and stripping streamers. We were most succesful when getting out on high banks and swinging flesh colored streamers and natural zonkers. Sight fishing for the fish was incredible. Granted you had to place your fly within ten inches of the fish’s face or a foot in front of the fish so he could work it’s way up. Then again every so often for some reason one will chase. There’s nothing like a fifteen pound carp mudding with a long streak of mud coming downstream as you try to convince him to eat. Some of the most exciting fishing on a 10 foot five weight. Carp fishing usually turns into a booze crew and a serious bronze but can be very rewarding. We also fly fish the flats of Canyon Ferry Lake for carp. This can be difficult with wind, but bigger fish are definately available to catch. We fished after the spawn when the fish were hungry and feeding in the shallow water.This type of fly fishing for carp has caught on alot around these areas of Montan and to alot of peoples dislike. Apparently, “you used to never see anyone on the Missouri River carp fishing,” claim the disgruntled fly fags. It’s fun! Sorry, times change; especially in Southwestern Montana where everyone fly fishes.
yo .. loved this fish tale .. especially where you say alot of the “fly fags” say that “you used to never see anyone on the missouri river fly fishing for carp” … your absolutely right when you say “sorry man, times change.” .. they certainly do .. in all things .. and, they always will – that is an absolute. so, if you say “it’s fun” … good enough reason for me .. after all, isn’t that the point? i don’t know about anyone else, but i really don’t judge a good day of fly fishing by the level of seriousness involved .. i mean seriously after all, it ain’t all that complicated really … we got a hook, we put some feathers or whatever on it and we try to catch some fish … certainly not rocket science … so, be it carp or trout or whatever .. if it’s fun .. than, game on. with that said, would like to see and hear about some of the amazing trout fly fishing you and your buddies do there in montana when the water is not too hot … would love to hook up with you guys and fly fish out there in your montana some day .. i’m game for it all .. big trout .. big carp .. game on .. cya. great fish tale.
Sweet read, I like how you put it “fly fags.” Like jeremy said who cares. If it is fun I am in. thats what it is all about. Getting out there and having a good time. hell…today I was out chasing whities around…why? because it is fun. Nice story and sweet mudd donkey.
I fished the missouri this July and it was outstanding trout fishing up by the dam but don’t think for one second, I didn’t spend a few hours casting at the golden bones….sweet! It’s another addiction in a sport of addicts! Great tale!
On one hand, I have a lot of respect for the fly fishing traditionalists that have fished a certain way and for certain fish for many years. They know what they like and feel that there is definition in the way they fly fish. For me, if it bends a rod, I’ll fish for it. Not to say that I don’t have favorites, but you know, as conditions change, you have to adjust the game plans. Up until recently, I never considered carp a game fish. Since I have “adjusted” my thinking, I have enjoyed being out on the flats and seeing those fresh water monsters cruise the mudd. Nice story.
No need to be sorry. All I have to say about carp fishing is that I don’t want to hear any negatives from “fly fags” until they get themselves a carp on the fly. Those fish have earned my utmost respect as a game fish both in terms of the initial run and how damn hard they can be to get to take a fly. The visual aspect is killer also. Here I am in the middle of steelhead season (which I love) and I can’t wait till next summer and carp.
Very visual game with the carp fishing, love the hunting aspect of it. Like matt, I still get a charge out of a bent fly rod. Looks like you have an outstanding carp fishery out there. Are the old timers disgruntled that people are targeting carp or upset that there are carp present in the system? just curious.
yea the trout fishing can be incredible on the mo. we fish above canyon ferry for carp. the fishing below canyon ferry is incredible for trout. glad you had fun out in montucky.
i agree. much respect. my pops is a traditionalist for sure. wouldnt even think about fishing for the carp when visiting this summer. o well. indicator no indicator. do as you want as long as your not in someones way or harassing our precious fish illegaly. respect for all that fish
people are ragged because its become the “it” thing to do during the summer. newspaper articles and shit. o well. carp are in the system we deal with it they do as well. mind you shooting them with bows while they spawn is mad fun.. way traditional
btw fly fags is copyrighted and if i see it all over these internet pages i expect royalties
Actually, your right. People have been bowfishing Carp, myself included, long before anyone chuked feathers at them.
Love them golden bones! Sight fishing them is the best!! And you are right, times have changed! Carp are fun! They are big. tough to get to eat a fly, have great vision, strong, and are very spooky, which all make them a great fly rod fish. Great fish tale! Giving some credit back to the “Sh#t Fish”