Once again, Golden Ghost

Headed up to L. Berryessa to once again stalk for the golden ghost. Got on the water ~730am. There was a little breeze creating some ripples. Perfect!

Past few weekends school showed up, good 10lb-ers, cruising along the shallow flats. Yesterday, I saw 2-3 of them and they were feeding along the vegetation. Pulled out my 7wt fly rod loaded with intermediate  line and changed my fly with size 6 nymph pattern. The wind drifted me away from the spot so I quietly paddled back and tried to get a little closer... they were all gone. I slowly paddled around... they were all gone. I guess I spooked them all and/or I was a little slow to the draw.

Anyway, all is not a lost. Put back my favorite pattern on my tippet. Landed quite a few LMB and SMB (in the 1lb class,) hanging around the shallows. All released. The bite stopped for a while so I moved on. Checked out the time; it's was 230pm and its time to call it a day. On my way back to the ramp I tried to do the famous "one more cast", then wham!... tight line! It pulled so hard that I got worried it'll snap my 8lb fluoro tippet. It ran taking all my slack all the way to the reel. The sound of the drag is music to my ears. She was so tired it to her a while for her to recover- prior to release.

Will be back to stalk the golden ghost once again...
My day will come.

LL

Sweet!  The Hail Mary fish - love it.   

I'll take those end-of-day'er HailMary fish, as opposssed to getting the big one on that FIRST cast...then getting blanked for the remainder of the day.
When you get that first one, you think it's gonna be ON!! for sure!

after a full day of letdowns and then to hook a nice one on that last chance is WAY better!  you get to keep that feeling while loading up, driving back, unloading and then finding someone that cares and listens to your story.

Thanks for the port&pic!  i'm gonna go there one of these days...it's so darn close!

Thanks for the report--nice Hail Mary fish!  BTW--whats a golden ghost?

Bryan

Thanks for the report--nice Hail Mary fish!  BTW--whats a golden ghost?

Bryan

I don't want to speak for TailWalk, but I would guess that a golden ghost is a carp.  At first I thought he meant smallmouth, until he said "10lb-ers". 

HailMary bite does not come very often to me... that is why it feels so good.

152Sumo is right. Common name is carp. Some call them the golden ghost. Some call them "crap". Fly fishing experts say they are the freshwater bonefish. I say they are the ultimate in freshwater fly fishing. Although you can find them practically anywhere they are very finicky and spooky fish. Based on my research, approach and presentation is critical.

Everyone knows that the easiest way to catch them is using dough bait (boilies in UK) on a spinning setup. My preference is using fly rod. I began chasing for carp just this season and I have not hooked any carp yet on my fly rod. I chase them anyways just because of the challenge. The feeling could be better than the HailMary bite... I dont' know. One of these days...

The stalking goes on.

Thanks guys!

LL

I'll take those end-of-day'er HailMary fish, as opposssed to getting the big one on that FIRST cast...then getting blanked for the remainder of the day.
When you get that first one, you think it's gonna be ON!! for sure!

after a full day of letdowns and then to hook a nice one on that last chance is WAY better!  you get to keep that feeling while loading up, driving back, unloading and then finding someone that cares and listens to your story.

Thanks for the port&pic!  i'm gonna go there one of these days...it's so darn close!

Hey FH,

The common size of black bass (LMB abd SMB) in the area where I fish are on the 1 to 2lb weight-class. Can not compare it to the Delta nor Clear Lake. Not often do I land a 3lb-er bass. However, I find it entertaining and challenging though to hook them on a light tackle setup. Let me know when you want to go and we'll hook up.

LL
LL

TailWalk, have you tried for carp at Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton?  I dream of catching one out of there.  They are freaking HUGE!  I was in the back part of the lake (in the panhandle) one day when one swam under the kayak.  It scared the crap out of me.  I don't know how to judge weight, but it was the biggest fish I have ever seen in person.  That would be the sleigh-ride of a lifetime.  Even small carp are strong fighters, I couldn't imagine hooking a giant.

I'm assuming y'all know about these folks but just in case; the Norcal Carp Club

http://www.norcalcarpclub.com/

They fish all over for carp. Plus there are loads of Brits on there which means they must be good 

TailWalk, have you tried for carp at Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton?  I dream of catching one out of there.  They are freaking HUGE!  I was in the back part of the lake (in the panhandle) one day when one swam under the kayak.  It scared the crap out of me.  I don't know how to judge weight, but it was the biggest fish I have ever seen in person.  That would be the sleigh-ride of a lifetime.  Even small carp are strong fighters, I couldn't imagine hooking a giant.

I used to shoreline-fish for the thunder trout at SCliff. I may give it a shot one this season. Thanks 152 Sumo.

I'm assuming y'all know about these folks but just in case; the Norcal Carp Club

http://www.norcalcarpclub.com/

They fish all over for carp. Plus there are loads of Brits on there which means they must be good 

Thanks for the info, N. Boy. Nice local website. There is also one good carp anglers community based in OK that's a good source of info for beginners and hard cores: http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/

A great majority of carp anglers chase them on spinning outfit using the popular dough baits and of course, with all the goodies that comes with it. Not very many try using fly rods for obvious reason. According to D. Whitlock, you'd be lucky if you land one 10lb or larger in a season. I think he pointing to rookies like me. Anyway, I guess it's the passion of it.