When you get the opportunity to fish one of San Diego’s local reservoirs for Carp with a good friend, you take it. When that invite also includes fishing from the front of the only flats style skiff in San Diego, you jump on it!

Met up with my friend Conway Bowman bright and early Thursday morning to stalk some Carp and trade a few stories. Conway recently acquired an East Cape Caiman Flats Skiff and was eager to hit the skinny water in search of tailing Carp. Conway had assured me that this was the ultimate training for casting to spooky Bonefish and mudding Redfish.

We no sooner motored across the lake before we started spotting Carp tailing in inches of water. Armed with a handful of flies and a six-weight it was game on.

Here is the ride:

The man with the plan:

And the adversary:

I even got some time on the stick:

We cast to tailing fish all day and finished with several fish and many more hooked and lost. These are really fun (and strong) fish! It was really cool to see literally thousands of Carp in the lake, many spawning and lots of fish on the chew. It seems that Spring has sprung here in San Diego. The warmer weather will heat up the water further and the fishing will only get better.

With the temperature approaching 90, we ended the day around 2.30 and headed for the lake store. Ice cold ballenas of Tecate never tasted so good!

I am new to shooting flies, but just had some of my fly photos published in the April 2011 issue of California Fly Fisher. The photos accompany a great article by Jeff entitled ‘Corbina Flies and Tactics’. The article focuses on what flies and techniques many of the local corbina fly fisherman use when chasing the ‘gray ghosts’ and serves as an excellent primer for anyone wanting to hunt these fish. If you want to put together a fly box for chasing these predators this would be a great place to start and should be required reading for anyone that wants to hit the beach looking for Beans.

Here are the fly images that I provided. This is my first shot at fly photography and any input is appreciated.

Bulla’s Gremmie

Cronin’s Surfin’ Merkin

Van Allen’s Viking

Endress’s Razzler

Foxy Clouser

Silberberg’s Bean Burrito

Borski’s Bonefish Critter

Calhoun’s Swimming Crab

Excited to again land a short piece in the Notes, News & Reviews section of the January/February 2011 issue of Southwest Fly Fishing Magazine. Check it out if you get a chance.

Also if you pick up the issue, check out the stunning photography on the cover (front, back and a nice spread inside) from my friend Brian Gregson.

Spent Thanksgiving in Mammoth with the family again this year and got in a couple of days fishing in between powder days (it snowed over 4 feet while we were there). Thanksgiving morning, I dropped the turkey into the oven and sped off to Hot Creek. As planned, the baetis hatch started around 11 AM and Aidan and I found a couple of trout using Brooks Baetis Sprouts swung between the weeds and in the deeper pools. After flogging the creek we snuck back in for dinner and some of Mammoth Brewing Company’s finest. You have to love the snow (and a short hike in) for keeping the crowds down. Only one other fisherman on the water. Unheard of at Hot Creek…

The day before we left I made a quick run to Bishop to fish with my good friend Rusty. The water levels on the Lower Owens had recently dropped and the fish were getting used to it. We fished the Wild Trout Section of the Lower O and brought a few fish to hand.

Just a few quick pics from last night. You can click on the images to enlarge.