Freshwater Bonefish

 From time-to-time, I will come across an angler talking about freshwater Bonefish. This term is obviously a play on words, as bonefish are saltwater fish found in our oceans. Bonefish are typically found in coastal waters and on flats or coral plains. This is something I have seen countless times and hope to one day experience myself. A Boat in shallow water, somewhere in the Maldives or Bahamas, stalking bonefish with shrimp or fly rods. The explosive power of this small fish taking off in two feet of water is mind-blowing.

So, what then are the above-mentioned anglers referring to? They are talking about our old friend, the common carp. Of the vast numbers of fish I have landed, carp would probably be the most numerous among them. Carp put up a good fight, as they are strong, and it is easy for the average guy to hook a big carp. But their behavior differs. They do not have acrobatic displays to try and shake the hook, but rather swim off in a direction that can sometimes be challenging to stop. So, by no means is traditional carp fishing comparable to bonefish fishing.

This is where the importance of context comes in. When anglers talk about freshwater bonefish, they refer to the same set of circumstances as with actual bonefish. Carp feed up in shallow water during the summer months. Sight-casting baits or flies to these feeding fish is a completely different way of fishing than traditional carp fishing. Lighter gear and line with smaller hooks; this actually gives the fish a fighting chance compared to my regular carp setup, and is incredibly exhilarating.

It was on a small marsh area on the Colorado River where I had my first encounter. I was looking for small sunfish near the reeds, with my light 2lb test setup and some nightcrawlers. I saw this carp feeding near me and casted out just a hook with some worms on it. A near ten-minute fight to try and keep this carp from breaking me of was rewarded with finally landing this fish on light setup. I have caught many carp, but this one in a few feet of clear water on light tackle. It is something one has to experience to understand the difference a freshwater bonefish can make.