Granny and I headed to Blackfoot Reservoir the other evening with plans to get up early and enjoy next morning’s Callibaetis hatch and possibly catch some big rainbows. Then when the hatch dwindled we planned to fish mirror carp. We arrived around 7 PM and Granny made one of her usual camping feasts.
At 2 AM a fierce thunder and lightning storm woke us. Not only was the amount of lightening a concern but it rained so hard that our camp spot on the lake turned to mud. The storms came through periodically all night long and by morning we feared the muddy roads surrounding Blackfoot had us trapped.
At 7 AM there was a break in the rain. We decided to brew some coffee, skip the fishing and attempt to get out of there. While I was brewing the coffee I was distracted by a huge waiving carp trail. Why now?! The next storm was in sight and we had to get on the road. But naturally the predator in me couldn’t resist.
My 5-weight was rigged and ready. I left the heating coffee water and got into position. The tail protruded again and I cast inaccurately about five feet from the fish. I was about to re-cast when the fish waked full speed ahead for my fly. In a blink of an eye the fish was peeling line then backing off my Bauer!
The storm was minutes from hitting. Granny wasn’t happy but she knows I couldn’t help myself and came down with the camera. She was smiling and shaking her head at the same time. But then, probably fortunate for both of us, my carp tangled in the weeds. I was deep in my backing and there was so much stretch in my rig I couldn’t do much. At last my leader broke. The carp was gone.
That was our fishing day. The rain hit. The hail hit. The waves crashed. We got the coffee brewed and the camp packed up in a nick of time. And barely made it out of those greasy muddy roads of Blackfoot Reservoir. Every days and adventure. . . . If you’re lucky!
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