By Kirk Deeter

The answer to Tim's "Where Are We Fishing? question was indeed Beaver Island, Michigan. VAsportsman, you were first, so you get the goods. Contact tim@anglingtrade.com and he'll hook you up.

Located in the northern waters of Lake Michigan, Beaver Island is home to some remarkable smallmouth bass fishing. But we were there to explore the flats fishing. And (I kid you not) I would rate the flats action on Beaver Island with any other flats experience in America. Yes, that also includes Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Nantucket, Hawaii... it's absolutely insane around Beaver Island.

The water here is super clear (visibility sometimes 50 feet or better), so it is optimal for sight casting. The fish are big bruisers (many 20-30 pounds or more), and you can catch hundreds of pounds of fish on the fly in a good day. There are also hundreds of miles of shoreline, yet fewer than a handful of people will fish these flats on any given day, so the solitude factor rates a 10.

But yes... we were chasing carp. That much-maligned, under-appreciated species that more and more serious fly anglers, however, are starting to appreciate for the unique challenges they offer. The beauty is, carp can be found almost anywhere. And fly fishing for carp will inevitably make you a much better angler.

As guide Steve Martinez of Indigo Guide Service told me the other day: "Carp aren't really predatory fish... they're not going to wheel around and bite anything in their vicinity." In other words, the casts, the flies and the presentations must be perfect. Figure out carp, and bass and trout are easy.

Thanks to our friends Kevin Morlock, Steve Martinez, and Matt Dunn (as well as the Beaver Island Lodge) for showing us carp Nirvana. Check out Thirdcoastfly.com for more skinny. We'll also have more on this trip, and on fly carping, coming your way soon.

Comments (11)

from vasportsman wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

Awesome, thanks guys! Went out to a local reservior here and was amazed to discover carp hitting top water, never would have thought about it if I didn't read your post, will be taking the fly gear out this week to try some of that action.

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from Sage Sam wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

AAAH, y'all are making me want to go back to Michigan. I thought I had finally forgot about that place.

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from Sayfu wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

What's the blowin kisses from long distance?..Come on guys! A true trout luver locks lips!

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from derik wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

I suppose you gotta work with what you got, but honestly if I find carp or any invasive in my trout waters it's going on the bank as long as there is no law against it.

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from mountaindew732 wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

I am glad I guessed correct! Too bad I wasn't first, but well done VA! Looks like a good place to put on my bucket list

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from labrador12 wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

from what this article says, this place looks like a great place to bring a bow and whack and stack a few tons of carpola.

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from badsmerf wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

I wish I didn't work... that would have easily been my first guess.

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from Sayfu wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

Trout luver?..Deeter, I meant carp lover! And Deeter, I was totally in tune with your casting short on Mid-Currents?) regarding Bufford Morsales and the benefits of casting for distance, especially following his off rhythm approach to music that becomes very much in rhythm. (please excuse the correct terms that I am omitting). I watched this guy put on a XMAS songs special a few years ago, and was fascinated by the guys rhythm. I talked about it for a long time! Constantly sang the songs driving down the road. I was on your wave length completely!!! And that seldom has been the case!

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from S C West wrote 51 weeks 1 day ago

Thanks for the kind words about Beaver Island fishing Kirk. It's even better when the weather improves. Also Beaver Island is a great family vacation spot. Visit information: www.beaverisland.org Best wishes from The Island.

Steve

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from blue ridge wrote 51 weeks 21 hours ago

I don't know about carp, but Beaver Island MI is my favorite spot on earth.

Hello Mrs.Marge Armstrong.

Lyle

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from jamesti wrote 51 weeks 2 hours ago

great, another place to make my list! i better live forever if i'm gonna see all of these places.

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from jamesti wrote 51 weeks 2 hours ago

great, another place to make my list! i better live forever if i'm gonna see all of these places.

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from blue ridge wrote 51 weeks 21 hours ago

I don't know about carp, but Beaver Island MI is my favorite spot on earth.

Hello Mrs.Marge Armstrong.

Lyle

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from S C West wrote 51 weeks 1 day ago

Thanks for the kind words about Beaver Island fishing Kirk. It's even better when the weather improves. Also Beaver Island is a great family vacation spot. Visit information: www.beaverisland.org Best wishes from The Island.

Steve

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from Sage Sam wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

AAAH, y'all are making me want to go back to Michigan. I thought I had finally forgot about that place.

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from labrador12 wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

from what this article says, this place looks like a great place to bring a bow and whack and stack a few tons of carpola.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from derik wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

I suppose you gotta work with what you got, but honestly if I find carp or any invasive in my trout waters it's going on the bank as long as there is no law against it.

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from mountaindew732 wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

I am glad I guessed correct! Too bad I wasn't first, but well done VA! Looks like a good place to put on my bucket list

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from Sayfu wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

Trout luver?..Deeter, I meant carp lover! And Deeter, I was totally in tune with your casting short on Mid-Currents?) regarding Bufford Morsales and the benefits of casting for distance, especially following his off rhythm approach to music that becomes very much in rhythm. (please excuse the correct terms that I am omitting). I watched this guy put on a XMAS songs special a few years ago, and was fascinated by the guys rhythm. I talked about it for a long time! Constantly sang the songs driving down the road. I was on your wave length completely!!! And that seldom has been the case!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from vasportsman wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

Awesome, thanks guys! Went out to a local reservior here and was amazed to discover carp hitting top water, never would have thought about it if I didn't read your post, will be taking the fly gear out this week to try some of that action.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from badsmerf wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

I wish I didn't work... that would have easily been my first guess.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

What's the blowin kisses from long distance?..Come on guys! A true trout luver locks lips!

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.