Nebraskaland

60 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2017 Flooding Carp present anglers with a couple of unique and extremely fun opportunities that any fly angler will not want to miss. One of these occurs during instances of high water or flooding when carp push into newly submerged areas looking for exposed food sources. Carp love to dine on drowned insects and the tender roots of flooded plants. In these situations, fly anglers can find themselves in some bizarre locations. One memorable instance occurred when the flooding of 2010 allowed Missouri River carp to push into city parks and wooded lots near Plattsmouth. I found myself hiding behind trees and making close quarters bow and arrow casts or simply setting the fly in front of feeding fish. When I actually hooked a carp, I had to chase it through the maze of trees to keep my line from tangling and losing the fish. Mulberries While flooding and high water happen infrequently, one remarkable event happens annually – the mulberry drop. Early in spring, scout out areas where mulberry bushes extend over the water and make a note of their locations. I have found places where creeks drain into the Platte and Missouri rivers very productive. Not only do creeks provide warmer water early in the year, but they also function as a conveyor belt of food, dumping aquatic insects and uprooted vegetation into the river. In mid- summer when mulberries ripen, they will drop into the water, and it won't be long until carp find them. I have often come upon a mulberry bush to find the water beneath it boiling with feeding fish. Don't be surprised if you hook a catfish using this method – they enjoy mulberries just as much as carp! However, you will have to get creative with your flies. If you tie your own, packing peanuts trimmed to shape and colored with markers work well. Without fly tying equipment, simply attach the foam to your hook with small diameter fishing line. Just be sure to add enough weight so your fly sinks like a real mulberry when it hits the water. Fly Selection and Presentation Fly fishing for carp is a recent phenomenon and chances are you won't find bins stuffed with carp flies at your local sporting goods store. Not to worry, most crayfish imitations work well and even woolly buggers will do the trick. For the angler who wants specialized flies, I have caught the majority of my carp on a variation of the "backstabber" created by Jay Zimmerman. The backstabber is weighted so that it swims hook point up. Carp usually eat flies off the bottom, and with the hook pointing up anglers get less snags and better hookups. The best carp flies do not imitate one specific thing, but contain characteristics suggestive of a variety of food sources. For tackle, don't worry about purchasing a new rod and reel. Five or six weight rods work well because PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER This grass carp was caught with a mulberry imitation fly on a creek connected to the Platte River in Sarpy County. The Backstabber Locating mulberry trees near carp-holding waters is an excellent way to get started catching carp on the fly.

• Cover