Two decades on the Denver South Platte have turned into a lot of conversations: videos, podcasts, articles, and a couple of book chapters. Everything below is collected in one place if you want to go deeper on carp, warmwater fly fishing, and the urban Front Range.
Videos
- Reading Water: How to Fly Fish for Carp on the Denver South Platte
VideoWhy reading water and presentation beat fly selection on the DSP.
- Using the Drag & Drop Technique for Carp
VideoThe signature presentation: casting past the fish and dropping the fly into a narrow feeding window without spooking it.
- Denver South Platte Carpin’ with Rick Mikesell: Part 1
VideoAn introduction to trading gin-clear trout water for the urban carp game.
- Denver South Platte Carpin’ with Rick Mikesell: Part 2
VideoA detailed look at rod, reel, line, and terminal tackle setups for river and stillwater carp.
- Gearing Up for Carp on the Fly
VideoThe gear breakdown: rods, reels, lines, and accessories stout enough for chasing golden ghosts.
- How to Approach Carp
Orvis News, Video Pro TipsA short video on approach and stealth, aimed at getting newer anglers over the intimidation hump.
- River Carp with Rick Mikesell
Charlie’s Fly Box, CFB On the WaterOn the water with Max, talking river carp on the South Platte. Also featured on MidCurrent.
- Carp on the Fly with Rick Mikesell
United Women on the FlyCarp fundamentals: finding fish, presentation, and the eat.
- Five Flies for June featuring Rick Mikesell
VideoFlies and tactics for close-to-home warmwater fisheries.
- Fly Fishing the Denver South Platte, Full Presentation
LivestreamA complete livestreamed seminar: sections, species, rigging, equipment, fly selection, and approach.
Podcast Appearances
- Episode 958: Carp on the Fly, Rick Mikesell’s Guide to Denver’s South Platte
The Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Show, with Dave StewartA full hour on the urban South Platte: why carp reward precision, the drag-and-drop presentation, seasonal timing, gear, and the story behind the Carp Slam.
- How to Get Started in Carp Fishing
The Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, with Tom RosenbauerA full hour on the basics: why carp, where to find them, gear, flies, and the mindset it takes to catch your first one.
- Episode 12: Carp on the Fly, with Barry Reynolds and Rick Mikesell
The CURRENT PodcastFish stories, history, presentation, and fly choices with the author of Carp on the Fly. Behind the mic, Rick also produced and edited The CURRENT and handled sound design for season three of the Down the Path podcast.
Articles & Interviews
- How to Fish for Carp in Moving Water, Part I
Orvis News, Pro TipsFly design and leader construction for river carp, built on the Denver South Platte. Continued in Part II, which covers two essential presentations for fish in current.
- Meet MidCurrent’s Gear Guru, Rick Mikesell
MidCurrentRick writes regularly for MidCurrent as the site’s Gear Guru, with field-tested reviews and gear features published throughout the year. Browse the full gear section.
- The Updated Lunker Net from Rising
MidCurrent, Selected ReviewsMore from the series: Astral TR1 Merge 2.0 Wet-Wading Boot, Grundens Deviation 6″ Ankle Boot, DECKED D-CO Honcho 80 Case, and Turtlebox Ranger Portable Speaker.
- South Platte River Carp Slam XIV Recap
Flylords MagazineInterview on the Carp Slam, Denver Trout Unlimited, and the health of the South Platte.
- Ambassador Profile: Rick Mikesell
Scientific AnglersHome water, favorite lines, and a Colorado state record white sucker.
Book Contributions
Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River by Pat Dorsey (Stackpole Books)
Rick contributed the Denver South Platte chapters to Pat Dorsey’s definitive guide to the river, covering the urban stretch, its warmwater species, and how to fish it.
DENVER CARP 