I bought a crappy jon boat last fall with the intention of adding a bunch of fishing days to my year, and I figured I could catch a few bass and have a good time with it. After two months, lots of knuckle busting, head scratching, and fits of screaming profanities and throwing things I finally managed to get the piece of s&*t running. During that time I was also beginning to read about carp, and wondering what the fuss was about.
After my first trip back into a muddy cove during spawning season where I witnessed hundreds of 10-20 lb. grass carp thrashing in inches of water, I completely understood the appeal. I went back at least a couple times a week chucking bad casts at the spookiest fish I have ever met. I managed to catch one 15ish lb. grass carp, but my hookup to cast ratio was about 1:1,500. I needed help.

I saw an article in Eastern Fly Fishing on Capt. Paul Rose, and was as giddy as a little girl to find that I had an actual carp fly fishing guide in my own town. Maybe Charlotte's not so bad after all?

Long story short, I've now been out with Capt. Paul 3 times. The first two were frustrating and futile attempts as my skill level was not up to par(even as I had shots at fish all day long), but Paul persevered and acted as much as a casting instructor as he did a competent guide. Armed with the Captain's lessons, I left the trips motivated to improve, and used my trusty grass carp as casting practice.

The last trip it all came together. I've spent more hours fishing than I have worked in the last couple of months, and have made a huge transition from an incompetent newbie to a barely competent beginner. After my first hook-up with a relatively small 3 pounder, I was finally able to put all the pieces together; from the in-to-the-wind, under-the-brush, six-inches off his nose cast to the almost undetectable carp take. I managed to land
3 more that day, go home satisfied, and plunge into new levels of addiction and obsession.

I haven't seen a mountain stream or hooked up with a trout since last year, but those four fish made it all worth it. Matt Pike

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