Sometimes, a fishing trip takes you in an unexpected direction. On day #2 of the Queen City Angler Guild (QCAG) trip to the Big Horn River in Montana, I had the good fortune of fishing with my friend Brian Busken. I have fished with Brian before, and he is a fantastic angler. I always look forward to fishing with him.
Brian is the owner of Busken Bakery in Cincinnati. This family-owned business started in 1928 and has been a favorite of Cincinnatians since Joe Busken transformed a failing cigar store into a successful bakery. Busken Bakery is steeped in tradition. One of the most iconic baked goods sold is the Schnecken, two pounds of delicious pastry rich with butter and cinnamon, decked with raisins and a wonderful caramelized glaze. Everyone in the Greater Cincinnati area loves this seasonal classic.
Everyone likes the Schnecken, and everyone in the QCAG likes fishing with Brian. He has a pleasant, laid-back manner and a quick wit. He is the angler you don’t mind spending hours with on the water.
Our guide was Tyler. I got to fish with Tyler on day #1 of this trip, but this was the first time for Brian. We requested Tyler because he would let us fish dry flies all day. When you spend most of the year pitching streamers or woolly buggers for smallmouth bass in Ohio, dry fly fishing is a truly appreciated change of pace. I think there is no better thrill than catching a “hog” of a trout trout on a dry fly. It takes a unique combination of skill and luck.
We entered the Big Horn River just below the Yellowtail dam. The Bighorn River travels 236 miles from the Boysen Reservoir to the Yellowstone River. It is formed below the Wind River and the Popo Agie River confluence. Principal tributaries to the Bighorn River include the Greybull and Shoshone rivers. At Hardin, MT, the Little Bighorn River, the site of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, joins the Bighorn River. The Crow called it the “Greasy Grass” river because the deep, dewy grass made their moccasins and horse's bellies wet and greasy looking.
Our morning was exceptionally productive. Both Brian and I caught several 18-plus-inch trout using a hopper dropper set-up. Most of the fish were caught on the nymph dropper. But a few hit the top water hopper with an impressive explosion. Admittedly, it might just be my imagination, but I would swear the trout that nailed the hopper were all jumpers and gave us a good fight. I ended up with several beautiful 18-inch plus Rainbows that were “fat hogs” and was pleased with how the day was going.
The action slowed dramatically as the temperature approached the mid-90s in the afternoon. We got a strike or two, but we were not on the same pace as our morning catch.
Then, all of a sudden, Brian set the hook on what was a massive fish. I quickly pulled my line out of the water to give Brian enough room to work it to the net. But, this fish was having none of it. Brian’s rod had a deep bend as he kept the pressure on. Then, Tyler exclaimed that it might be a big Brown Trout. All three of us were super excited.
Brian fought this monster for 10 minutes before he could muscle it close enough to the surface for Tyler to get eyes on it. What we thought was a Brown Trout turned out to be a Carp. That immediately burst our bubble of unbridled excitement.
Attitudes toward Carp as a game fish vary around the world. In Europe, they are eagerly sought by anglers. They are considered difficult to hook, and a 10-pound Carp can push an angler’s skills to the limit. But, when hunting big Trout, hooking into a Carp can be a letdown.
However, as quickly as our excitement was quashed, Tyler got a good look at its size. He exclaimed that it might be the biggest Carp caught on the Big Horn this year. The idea that Brian might have hooked a trophy, Carp, created an immediate adrenaline rush, and we were excited again. We quickly kicked into an all-hands-on-deck mode.
Tyler dug into his guiding experience, giving Brian both encouragement and guidance on how to work the Carp successfully. He also began to leverage the boat in a way that helped make Brian’s fight a little easier.
Brian fought that fish for 25 minutes before Tyler could row the drift boat to lower water, drop the anchor, and jump out with the net. Seeing Brian and Tyler work like a well-oiled team despite meeting each other for the first time that morning was impressive.
Eventually, Brian got the Carp in a position where Tyler could net it. The fish barely fit in the net. When Tyler tried to lift it, he announced that the Carp easily weighed over 20 pounds. This was a true monster. It was so heavy that Brian had to jump in the water with Tyler so I could take the obligatory picture documenting the catch.
After safely releasing the Carp, we sat at anchor so Brian could catch his breath and allow his arms to rest from the battle. We were all amazed at what just happened. The entire experience was unexpected and exciting. We had set out that morning to catch Monster Trout. And the biggest fish caught on the trip was Brian’s 20-plus pound Carp.
We did catch a few more fish on the way to the takeout ramp. I caught a nice 18-inch Brown Trout. But none of the fish we caught matched the thrill of Brian’s fight with that giant Carp.
Reflecting on that experience, I am struck by the realization that you never know what will happen when you spend a day fishing on the water. Sometimes, you go out and end up empty-handed. After all, it’s called fishing, not catching. Some days, you land the catch of a lifetime. I am unsure if Brian or I will ever catch a Carp as big as he did that day. But, I am sure I will never forget the excitement of watching Brian and Tyler work to land that leviathan. I am thrilled I witnessed it and look forward to slapping the water with Brian again.
The truth is, I've probably caught more carp in my life than any other fish. The Sandusky Bay, about a half-mile from my childhood home, was knee-deep in them. You couldn't throw a baited hook into the water without catching one. Of course, we were hoping for catfish or even perch, so we considered them a nuisance fish, but they did put up a fight. The butcher at the shop in our little village would smoke a few and sell them. My mother liked them, but I never acquired the taste. Greasy and boney.
I always look forward to your writings! What a beauty of a fish!