River Gold: Learn About Fly Fishing for Carp in This One Day Event in Boardman, Oregon

A Fly Fishing Lesson From the Godfather of Carp

Professional fly angler Bill Martz will headline the event. Mr. Martz is the mastermind behind the Schmoots Clooper Invitational Carp Tournament. He's been targeting carp for 40+ years, and will be teaching the history and the how-tos of hunting carp. According to Bill, "I hope to shorten up your learning curve doing this. I also want to introduce experienced anglers to them."

Logistics and Fly Fishing

The event is free and requires no registration. It runs from 9am to 3pm with a one-hour lunch break at noon. The day will feature presentations by four leading experts in carp fly fishing. Their talks will cover the whys and hows of fly fishing for carp, catering to both beginners and advanced anglers. There will be opportunities to ask questions and mingle with other fly fishing enthusiasts.

The Three F's

The day ends at 3pm and gives you time to make your way to the river to try your hand at casting to carp. Boardman, Oregon, was chosen for this event because it boasts some of the easiest and most accessible carp fishing opportunities in the U.S. during this time of year. According to The House of Fly, "We chose Boardman, OR because it gets straight F's on its report card – Flats, Forage, and Fish (where, for once, F's are good).

Flats: The section of the Columbia River that runs through Boardman has miles of flats. These flats are both walk-wade accessible and easy to run with a poling platform or a trolling motor as well.

Forage: The abundance of food is apparent from the moment you glance at the banks of the water near these flats. Clam shells litter the beaches and the surrounding flats. Hungry local carp create pockmarks on the flats, tailing and crushing these clams. In addition, there is plenty of insect activity that provides another opportunity for carp to eat.

Fish: Boardman is home to hundreds, if not thousands of carp and particularly generous sized ones. This means that you can get several shots at trophy sized fish throughout most of the day.

Fly Fishing, Beer, and Lies

After you get some fishing in you can head over to the Two Barrels Taps and Grill for a post-fishing social event with the day's guest speakers, brand reps, and the other anglers. Drink beer, tell lies, and unwind from 6pm-10pm.

Give Yourself a Mini-Vacation.

Whether you know what carp fishing is all about or you're carp-curious, join the House of Fly along with other industry pros for the 2024 Jurassic Flats Carp Clave. Learn from knowledgeable fly fishing pros about carp fishing, snag lunch from a food truck, and then treat yourself to a few-days mini vacation sight fishing for carp on the Columbia River.  

Details, Details, Details

For more information on the event, the guest speakers, the location, and available lodging check out the the info page at Jurassic Flats Carp Clave.

For the recommended fly fishing equipment to target carp, and proven flies, head over to The House of Fly.

The House of Fly

The House of Fly encompasses everything fly fishing. Five fly shops located in the PNW across Montana, Idaho and Washington. House of Fly is dedicated to education through blog and video creation, exploring wild places, and the best gear for the fish you are after. KB