The premier issue of CarpPro Magazine is a fly fishing only edition featuring FFN syndicate members Mark Erdosy and Adam Hope with their respective articles, "Carping the Column" and "Be Stealthy & Stalk". Check it out!

In previous years, are carp outings took an extended hiatus during the winter months of December, January, and February. During the last two seasons, we began venturing out in the cold much more frequently and have found the carp to be willing participates, even in sub-freezing temperatures. With those outings supplying plenty of confidence, we never stopped carping this winter. This is especially true for Adam, who has caught carp on fly for sixteen consecutive months. Basically, the only thing that has stopped us has been ice, which simply doesn't allow you present the fly to the fish, even though they may be mudding beneath it. We have been out in Noreaster snow storms, heavy wind, rain, sleet, and have caught carp on ponds half covered in ice. For our region, there truly is no off season any longer for Cyprinus carpio. 

The mid-Atlantic region of the United States has a winter that can be categorized as tempermental which in part, leads to carping that can be wildly unpredictable. We can be bombarded by Noreaster snow storms week after week for the entire winter, or we can go the entire year without having a day off from school. On one particular week this year, we had two snow storms flanked by two days where the temperature reached into the 50s. In short, you could be wishing you had a hand warmer one day, then be fishing in shorts the next. For fishing, you can go several days without ever seeing a carp, then have one day where every carp in the lake is on the feed. One downside to winter carping, is that the big boys tend to hide out in the depths, rarely ever revealing themselves except for on those mild days when the stars align. Fish are also lethargic, both in their movements and in their ability to fight. Takes can be agonizingly slow, and you will have to really work on your timing to not prematurely set and pull the fly out of their way. 

Carping in the winter months requires a lot of patience and perserverance. It won't be nearly as good as carping in the spring, summer, and fall but its hard to beat sight fishing in the dead of winter. You will have to time your days with periods of warmer weather but you can never count out the worst weather bringing the best fishing. 

Manuel from Puerto Madryn, Chubut decided to come for the third time to look for the unpredictable sea trout. This time he brought Diego and Estanis to join the cause, with east wind, really heavy rain for two days almost getting an hypothermia he achieved his goal! After some fresh chrome from 1 to 3 kilos for the three of them just a few kilometres from the sea, Manuel got this ugly male that became the most beautiful creature in the world. One more time Gallegos gives back only for the ones that truly persist.

Juan Manuel Biott

www.patagoniaaustralff.com