Harlem Shake...Fly Fishing Style!

What happens when you get 3 Ozark based fly fishing blog crews together for a day of streamer fishing on one of our favorite rivers? You get the fly fishing version of the viral video sensation, "Harlem Shake". If you haven't seen any of the videos, you have literally been living under a rock for the past couple of months. I must insist that you go to YouTube, search "Harlem Shake", and prepare to waste a considerable amount of time watching the shenanigans. It is straight comedy at its finest...

This video is the brain child of Brian Wise of Fly Fishing The Ozarks, Matt Tucker of The Ozark Chronicles, and Justin Spencer of Sunburst Ranch. Crik and I just kinda lucked into starring roles in the video after planning the streamer trip with Wise and Tucker. Additional actors that you see busting a move in the video are members of the Wise and Spencer families. The rooster was cast by Justin and Crik was called upon to be its handler for the video. The video was shot, directed, and edited by Brian Wise. We hope you guys enjoy...

I personally feel like this is the best fly fishing Harlem Shake video out there. We should be up for an Oscar or something like that. Don't you think???

Flying Solo...

Now most of us here at CTD live a fairly normal life. We have real 9-5ish jobs, families, and all those other ridiculous adult responsibilities that comes with being a contributing member of today's society. Its safe to say that none of us are true "fish bums" in the sense but we like to think we get out on a fairly normal basis and catch a few fish. Then you have the member of CTD that we like to call "The Professor" due to his un-canny ability to catch fish and being a student of the sport, you could say. His name is Corey Dodson and fish tremble at the mention of his name. He's the closest thing we have in the crew to being a "fish bum", as the cliché goes. He has a normal job.....and he fishes. If he could figure out a way to not work and fish all the time, he most certainly would. The dude is always going somewhere fishy once 5:00 arrives on Friday afternoon. We envy him....and hate him.

This brings me to the most recent trip that The Professor went on a few weeks ago. In typical fashion, the dude was flying solo in the ol' 'Yota, headed south for our beloved tailwaters in Arkansas with drift boat in tow. The plan was simple, as it always is, fish from dawn to dusk to catch as many fish as humanly possible. Corey spent a day on the Norfork and a day on the White, floating from spot to spot to wade fish the good runs. The fish cooperated and he put some nice Ozark 'bows and browns into the net. There's not much of a story to tell with Corey's solo trips, the dude just catches fish. I will let the photos do most of the talking...

Until next time, keep chasing the dream...

Dragging our feet...

So I have been slacking off on the content for the blog. So what? We have been fishing. Thankfully, Cole posted up some fishy reading material for our followers from his recent carp fishing expedition. I have 3 trips back logged that I will post about soon so just be very patient, hopefully next week there will be a steady stream of fishy media for you guys.

We also have a few hours of footage to filter through from the past 2 trips to the NFOW (North Fork of White) where we chucked half a chicken at brown trout all weekend. We should have some good stuff there. Still getting a feel for the filming thing so hang with us.

Stay with us guys...

Here's a little preview of what we have been doing the past couple of trips...

Ol' Rubberlips

Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert at catching carp on the fly. I am merely a student of the endeavor under the tutelage of my dad, the West OK Creek Ninja. I am still learning....so is he. Nonetheless, if I don't get something right....blame him.


Last weekend I got the opportunity to do a little early season carp fishing.....this is how it went.

Awoke to cloudy skies with light winds, and a chance of rain on Saturday morning. Suited up, and began the drive the first of many spots on the Wash Shit A River.

Arrived at "Super Secret Spot #1" to find the water a little off color. The first group of fish spotted did not appear to be in the "oh so happy, I'll gladly eat anything you stick in front of my face" mood. We made casts anyways....first group of fish spooked. This might get tricky....or ugly. Moving on.

Second group of fish....slower, deeper water. I cast my prototype.....the "Kangaroo Rat" (see recipe below) in front of the first fish. Where the hell did it go? Damn dingy water. Wait, fish seems interested. Strip line, strip again, fish is following. Still can't see fly. Mouth open...sucking water....waiting for tug....nothing. Need more visible fly. Damn dingy water.

Preparing for second shot. In steps West OK before I can pull the trigger with some sort of gaudy, white, cream colored.....thing. He has an advantage....he can see his fly in the damn dingy water...smart. Second cast. Boom.....first fish of the day. I change to a lighter colored fly. Damn him and his tricky ninja ways.

Yes, that is a Story Kromer on his head...it's badass...get over it. It goes well with his homemade net and neck pouch/lanyard.

We scan more water at SSS #1. Time to move on.

Arrive at SSS #2. Peek over the edge of the bank...feeders & cruisers....let's do this. West OK begins his stalk. Has a few looks.....can't connect. I move further downstream and leave him to his work.

Nice hole....clearer water. Time for the LOD (rubberlegs version). First cast too far. Second cast....tree. Dammit!! Regroup. Third cast.....we have a taker. Fly hits bottom....immediate suckage. The battle begins. I win. Lather, rinse, repeat. One more fish caught. Rain. Pack it in and head to the house for some sustenance and a siesta.


Gotta love the glass.


Noon Carp count:
Me - 2
West OK Creek Ninja - 1

I'm in the "lead".....something is not right.



Wake up from nap, still full from lunch. Sun is out now....temps rising. We should have been gone an hour ago. Suit up and hit the road.

Arrive at SSS #3 and begin assault right out of the gate. Two fish spotted. Intermittent cruising followed by brief periods of feedage. I cast. No go. Cast again.....get a look. Third cast....foul hooked. Damn sharp hooks.

West OK Creek Ninja plans approach for the next hole after doing some recon while I was preoccupied with aforementioned foul hooker. Two beefy brutes show themselves unexpectedly. West OK gets impatient. Fish spooked.

Round bend in river. Fish laid up in current break, pulling bits from a stump. West OK attempts a shot....cover blown. Fish retreats to pool with several others. Erratic behavior ensues. Moving on.

Continue leap frogging downstream, looking for feeders. Time to give the "Rat" another chance. Spot a feeder on the edge of some grass. Place fly in current slightly ahead and to the right of fish. Fly is immediately noticed and pounced upon. Battle begins. I win.


Mmmm...fishy.

Walking....no fish. More walking....still no fish. Walking....FISH!! Plan, and begin approach. Cast to rooter, he doesn't notice. Leader slides over back. Foul hooked...again. Damn sharp hooks.

Getting dark....steaks and beer are waiting. Book it back to the truck. Spot a couple of sleepers in the shallows near our parking place. What the hell, I'll give it a shot. Sloppy casts...water erupts...fish gone. Never had a chance....oh well. Great day.

Final fish count:
Me - 3
West OK Creek Ninja - 1

I "won". This is not the norm.




The Kangaroo Rat

The base for this pattern originates from the The Damsel, tied by the dudes over at This River Is Wild. I took the original pattern and tweaked it just a bit. I tried to maintain the same general profile, but incorporated pine squirrel as a tail to add movement (a la the Trouser Worm tied by McTage) when fished in short strips, as well as to add a fuzzy shellback in one step. The original Damsel is meant to be fished on the drop, without much weight. Likewise, the "Rat's" sink rate can be adjusted by using different sized bead chain eyes, or by substituting mono eyes for a much slower descent. It's still a little early to tell if the pattern will be a consistent producer, but I have high hopes for it.

The original

A slightly "brighter" variation



The Recipe (in the order tied on the hook)

Hook - Gamakatsu Octopus Circle, Size 4
Thread - Flymaster Plus, White (colored with sharpie to suit the fly)
Eyes - Bead chain in various sizes, or mono
Tail - Pine squirrel
Shellback - Trimmed pine squirrel tail
Legs - Round rubber legs, spinnerbait skirt, whatever you have on hand.
Ribbing - Vinyl D rib or brassie size wire in the color of your choice
Body - Dubbing of your choice.
Hackle - Hen saddle in the color of your preference
Head - Dubbing of your choice

Some visual goodness from The Toad Fly...

The crew down at The Toad Fly in Central Arkansas spent some time on the water this past year and have put up a teaser full of visual goodness for their upcoming film, Chasing Waters. The guys did some awesome work on this video with some great shots and plenty of fishy stuff going on. The epic hook removal at the end is pretty legit too...

Show these guys some love! Check out their video, get on their Book of Face page, and follow them on the Instagram.

Why I Fish via the ChiWulff...

I have said it before, if u don't follow ChiWulff on the interwebs...you're totally missing out. Those guys really can write and post up some great content on the web of the wide world.

The "Why I Fish" series is my fav, if u haven't noticed so far. It's great stuff. Here is some more of it...

Why I Fish: Each Season is an Unread Book

Downtown Fly Fishing...

A few of us couldn't stand it any longer. We had to get out on the water and do some fishing...somewhere and somehow! After a few text messages were exchanged, a plan of attack was hatched amongst us. DonnyB, Squatch, and myself would ascend upon the polluted waters of the Arkansas River in the Tulsa city limits amongst the melting pot of gear fisherman in hopes of finding....well, anything. When you fish the Arkansas River, you honestly never know what you're gonna catch. There are the quality fish...stripers, white bass, hybrids, Kentucky bass, etc. Then there are all the "trash" fish...carp, buffalo, bowfin, skipjack, drum, etc. Shit, we have accidently hooked spoonbill before while stripping clousers for white bass below the low water dam. Its a freak show down there sometimes. You never know what you're gonna find in the river too. So much trash and junk ends up in the river. The first time I ever fished it, I spent most of my time perched up on an ol' Chevy 350 engine block in the middle of the river. I'm not even kidding...

So...the fishing....was slow. The water temps were super cold and the river was super low. We were hoping that the warm and sunny 60 degree day would stir the white bass up for us. We dredged the normal holes with clousers, deceivers, and various other streamers. We were able to pull some white bass out of a couple different holes and DonnyB even picked up a few bonus Kentucky bass. It was a good day to get out and take a look at what the river was looking like for the upcoming striper run too. I took the GoPro along as well, got some footage, and will hopefully toss up some video goodness this week at some point.