Hobby Sports

Sage VPS Light 3 weight with quite the bend

This morning I had no intention of fishing as I had some business to take care of but when I finished at just before 10, I saw that the air was absolutely still and changed my mind. Normally by this time its about time to stop fishing as the winds start to pick up making spotting fish almost impossible.

Because Ive pretty much have these fish dialed in, Ive decided to make things a bit more challenging by what Im calling "stepping down the ladder." Every time I catch a carp, the next outing Ill go down a weight. Ideally you should go down a line weight but since I began fishing these waters with a 7 weight (Scott S3S), then I moved down to a 5 weight (Sage XP). Today I brought out the 3 weight. Its a Sage VPS Light that I built years ago, together with a Galvan OB2, this was my arsenal for today. So Im skipping every other weight or just the even numbers for now.

Although I was fortunate when I began to have no wind, I did have to make do without any sunshine for a while. Ill take windless over sunless any day carping. I had fished for hours, blowing several good opportunities to catch a carp until just about when I was about to give up, when the wind began to pick up, I finally hooked a lone feeder. It took much longer (obviously with a lighter rod) to land and for the first two attempt just when I tried to land it, it ran giving my Sage rod quite a bend. After a few minutes to gave in and let me grab him. I remembered to boga this one. It weighed in at an even six pounds. With the wind really affecting my casts I decided that was enough fun for today. With my "stepping down the ladder" theme, the next time I go out Ill be taking my 1 weight to see if I can land one on such a dinky rod.



Six pound carp on a 3 weight

A few years ago I found a little gem while in a Tokyo fly shop. It was the NAC Micro FY49 #2/3 fly rod. This is a 49" 6 piece 2/3 weight. I was told that it was made in Japan although nowhere on the rod does it says so. Its an absolute niche product and I dont even think its popular in its home country of Japan. I use it almost exclusively now for our local wild trout waters. The action is soft and slow. Glass rod slow. I havent tried it with a 2 weight as of yet but I think its best with a 3. All that I have had cast it, they all seem to really like the little rod. If I ever break it, I can almost guarantee that youll see me crying as its almost irreplaceable. I can not even find them in Japanese websites. Im not sure if they even make them anymore.

The blank is a deep gloss green.

The rod separates into 6 pieces making this rod a very convenient pack rod.

The handle and reel seat insert are made of the same wood material. Im not quite sure what wood it is but it appears to be a hardwood that has some nice figure. The reel seat is uplocking which would make one think given its small size to be off balanced but when I put a Galvan OB1 on it, the rod balances right toward the tip of the handle.

Wraps are the green and blend nicely into the blanks. The components are double footed appear to be TiCH gunsmoke.

The entire package is quite small and I have in the past placed it in the rear pocket of my Simms fishing vest as I hiked into the San Gabriel river.

When I awoke this morning at around 7, I looked out the window to find that it was already breezy outside. I had intended to try my luck at carp with the one weight but with the wind starting early and with no sun in sight I thought Id better try that another time with more optimal conditions. Having received the package of Gyotaku material I order a week or so ago, I took the carp I caught and kept out of the freezer last night. I figured Id try my Gyotaku prints this morning instead. After a quick breakfast I decided what the hell and changed my mind, Id give the one weight a go. By this time it was about 9 and when I reached the water it was about 15 after.

Within the first 10 minutes, I saw a pod of about three feeding. I casted several times until one took. My J. Austin Forbes reel screamed as the carp ran. I worried that the carp was about to spool me. That reel only has maybe 20 yards of backing in addition to the fly line. Eventually it stopped its run, I tried to gather line by reeling as fast as I could but with a diameter of maybe 2 inches, it was a bit pointless. The fish continued to come toward me as I tried to keep the line tight. After about a 10 minute fight, the fly flew out of the water toward my direction. Spit the hook out. Note to self dont bother with the reel, its pointless. It doesnt even have a drag. Ill hand line the next one if I can get one.

With the wind picking up, it became more and more difficult to spot a carp let alone cast to one. Id see one or a group and try to throw a cast that would go absolutely nowhere near where I was aiming. One weight in even the slightest breeze is amost impossible to cast more than a few feet. As time and fish passed, I found a lone feeder, and made a few casts. The carp took the fly and ran and continued to run. The reel zinged like crazy, one of the best sounds in the world. Although this was a smaller fish than the first hook up, I still worried that Id get spooled. Eventually the fish tired and I tried to make up line. Again I used the reel and reeled in as fast as I could but it was worthless, I remembered to just hand line the fish in. It ran a few times but I managed to hand line him in. With the boga I weighed the fish. A four pound carp on a one weight in a breezy sunless conditions. Talk about making things difficult for oneself.

Last summer I asked Capt. Bill Calhoun if he wanted to hit Barrett Lake with me and although he wanted to he told me he couldnt as he was busy working on something all summer long.  I asked what it was but he told me he couldnt tell he was up to but would let me know when he was finished.

I spoke with Bill this morning after talking about our duck hunts, he let me know about his new project with his buddies, The Calico Syndicate.  These guys are casting lines up to 1000 grains on their 10 weights going after monster Calicos in the deep!  Now 1000 grains lines are nothing new, in fact I have one from my Costa Rica trip years ago.  The difference is back then we never actually casted the line, we simply hucked it over the boat and jigged the line until a tarpon hit it.  Also we were using rods 12-14 weights.  Now with modern graphite and flylines what was thought of as impossible is now reality.


While this set up was designed for Calico bass, I would love to try this set up on largemouth bass, particularly at Barrett and Stripers at our various Striper lakes.  This concept is new so Bill and company havent yet tried this set up for those species but are planning to do so soon.

More videos are available here on their youtube channel.  There you can learn how they design their lines, knots that they recommend using for and such.  I need to try this set, the only question am I going to kill myself by nailing myself in the back on the forward cast?  I hope to God not.

With my morning appointment cancelled, I decide to hit the waters to try and get a carp on my four weight. I managed this fish just after an hour on the water. Weighing in at 4.5 pounds, this fish when initially hooked simply sat in place while I pulled. Eventually fed up with the constant pressure, it decided to run and rip line out of reel. Using a click and prawl reel, the drag was esssentially useless. After several runs this carp finally gave in and let me land him. He took a new fly I tied last night. Now I need to come up with a name for it.

I fished for another hour until 11 when I decide to call it a day. The winds had picked up making it difficult to spot fish. Also my 4 weight is loaded with a DT line and shooting line was not a option.

With this fish I have now caught carp with a 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 weights. Since I dont own a 2 weight, I need to find someone who does so I can borrow it and complete the line up.