But with mulberry flies, you want to practically hit the carp in the face. These fish have poor eyesight, so they’ll hear a berry, rise to sip it, and then drop back down.

Fly anglers are figuring out that carp is not a fish to look down your nose at. They are challenging, strong, accessible, and most importantly, flat out fun to catch on a fly rod.

Those last two are by Umpqua fly designer and Seinfeld fan Daryl Eakins, who will be one of the presenters at the gathering. Carp flies tend to mimic things like crawfish or freshwater clams.

The arrow flies. It catches up with the carp, hitting the fish just ahead of the tail. Alto hauls the fish, a 12- or 13-pounder, back to the boat. He's a happy man. "That was fun," he says.