Tactic
a small, dense, high profile fly, equipped with rubber legs and a hook point protecting throat. Fishing with flies not designed to ride hook point up almost always results in a casualty, with the hook point snagging bottom, dulling or even bending the tip outward. Anyone who has been deployed to the flats knows that rocks out on the flats are like fishing in a minefield, it’s not a matter of if you detonate one, it’s when. Concealment of your fly is of lesser concern when determining the coloration of your fly’s camouflage. While still important, stealth of the angler, along with the presentation and accurate delivery of your fly are the most crucial elements when approaching your target. Finding the perfect ammunition for your service weapon takes a little effort on your part. Know the limitations of your line and rod, and your casting ability. Spend
CARPPRO $$ 2013
time at the range, working on your cast; become consistent. Practice your range-finding skills and know what a true fifteen yard target truly looks like from a distance. Or a thirty. Observe and monitor environmental conditions; be able to account for windage and know how to effectively counter its effect. Most important of all, learn how to read carp and react to their behavior. Selecting the right fly for the situation is sometimes a matter of trial and error. However, understanding your opponent and your theater of engagement can help you narrow down the possibilities, enabling you to easily identify a fly appropriate for the mission. Rely on instinct, adaptive behavior, and muscle memory, rather than operating without any decent restraint. When you find your target, infiltrate it by whatever means available and terminate the carp’s command. Terminate with extreme prejudice.