Fly Fishing Arizona: A stroll around the ponds

Largemouth
Largemouth

Met up with my good friend Jason early Friday morning to beat the heat of the day and ultimately target the warm-water fish in some of the local ponds. We met up with Mike and the three of us worked the ponds for a couple hours.

Koi on the Run...
Koi on the Run...

In short order I found a nice koi that was feeding ravenously on the reef and after a decent cast he sucked up my fly and took me for a ride. After about five or ten minutes with a nice bend in my BVK 6 weight, Mike swung buy and helped me put a net on this bruiser.

Koi
Koi

We continued the morning walk around several of the other ponds and picked up several largemouth bass and a couple of tilapia. All the fishing is great because it is still “spot and stalk” style fishing. Most everything is sight casting which makes for an exciting morning.

Mike, educating us on bamboo and largemouth bass...
Mike, educating us on bamboo and largemouth bass...

Ultimately we ended up on one of the large ponds and as Mike and I worked one side, Jason drifted in the opposite direction. At some point I look over and noticed that his 5 weight rod is seriously bent.

Bent Rod
Bent Rod

Uncharacteristically for this stretch of water, this carp had attacked his fly and without much running decided he was going to sit on the bottom. After about 10 minutes, he played the fish to the  side of the pond and I was able to put a net on him. Definitely the biggest fish I have seen pulled out of this water, although you can see the bigger ones cruising.

Carp and Jason
Carp and Jason

We have been lucky here in the Valley that things have not been to unreasonably hot. Normally we have solid triple digits for May and the month of June is usually when I want to crawl into a hole and forget I live in the desert. This year, we have only sporadically jumped over 100 which has been a nice way to start the summer. I fear that it is quickly going to get hot (by “hot” I mean over 110). These ponds have been a lifesaver and have offered me a great way to get out and expand my horizons by targeting these warm-water species. A good day all around.

Bass Jumping
Jumping Bass

10 Responses to “Fly Fishing Arizona: A stroll around the ponds”

  1. Sanders

    Looks like a fun few hours…Glad you were able to beat the heat and hook up on some nice fish!

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      Thanks Sanders. Beating the heat is the name of the game here in Arizona. These ponds are dynamite and although may not always be on fire, they still give plenty of opportunities to cast to some bruisers. Thanks again for the kind words.

      Ben

      Reply
    • azwanderings

      Thanks for the kind words. That’s my buddies net. It sure came in handy on the carp and koi. Big fish in those ponds…

      Ben

      Reply
  2. mr blur

    that’s your nat mang.
    where’s the shot of the dink? mine came out blurry. if yer ashamed to put it up here, email it to me so I can post. I think I caught that same damn stoo-pit fish a week earlier. another damn fine morning spent.

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      Thanks for the net Mike. My dink pics came out blurry as well. I ended up buying a new camera to try out. We’ll see how it works. I got tired of my duct tape model…

      Ben

      Reply
  3. Bruce

    That looks like a serious carp! This looks and sounds like a fun couple guys to fish with.

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      I’ve been blessed to have some good buds to go fishing with and equally blessed to get into some nice fish this spring. Quality fishing partners are good to have…

      Ben

      Reply
  4. logan

    Ben any tips on carp fishing? I have been skunked a handful of times already over at the ASU research park and am starting to feel rather foolish that I am being outsmarted constantly by a fish. On another note. About two months ago I was asking you about fly rods. For a wedding present my new wife took our dollar dance money and bought me a 5wt TFO professional series rod. Thanks for the advice on TFO rods I love it.

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      Logan,

      Carp fishing can be finicky. Key is to target feeding fish as opposed to cruising fish. I know that guys catch them on everything from dries to nymphs to leeches and buggers. In my limited experience, I try putting a green simi-seal bugger right in front of a feeding fish. Once they feed or cruise over the fly, say a prayer and lift the rod. Carp are picky and I am by no means an expert. If you put in enough time and try changing up tactics, something will eventually click.

      On your side note. Congrats on the new fly rod. When I read your comment to my wife. She sighed heavily and said, “poor girl.” Best of luck with the new rod.

      Ben

      Reply

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