Sure don’t see many posts about these guys, any of you do this? Up here in WI, trout season is closed, the smallies, panfish and the like have gone deep. Carp are still around and willing to take a fly. Here’s one from last week with 39? water temps taken in about a foot of water. What are you using now? (I just posted a new fly over in fly tying, let me know what you think). Its getting cold up here, looking to liven the board up and get some discussion going! 
Oh, heck yeah!! I love fly fishing for carp but started a few weeks before I moved from AZ to CA, my local pond was full of them. I have a couple of boxes with “carp flies” and a 7wt setup to catch some of those.
There were a lot of fishable urban ponds in AZ but I only have one here in SoCal. I found a guy last Sunday who told me he caught a 23 pound carp last Summer…can’t wait to catch me some on the fly.
The only problem IMHO is that since it is a sight kind of game if you don’t see the carp there is no game but I’m not about giving on on carpin’
I agree! You can fish them blind but, its not anywhere near as fun and not anywhere near as productive! That’s a 7 weight in the pic too. That’s about as heavy as I go. All summer, I fish them with a 5 weight and handle them just fine. That 7 has so much more “reach” right now. I don’t want to get into the water to stalk them right now for safety’s sake. Average casts have been 80-90 feet, While I can do that with the 5, my accuracy is waaaaaay down. I can do it quickly and accurately with the 7 weight. I’ve been fishing a river system and since it got cold, the waters became just gin clear with fish holding in dark mucky bays. Sure is easy to find the feeders right now as they cause a ruckus with that silt on the bottom, but presenting a fly without spooking them has proven to be harder in the last couple weeks than I can ever remember. Of course, I have never fished them this late in the season before.
Martin, Don’t overlook the flowing water!
NICE! That looks like a huckuva nice carp!
I really wanted to catch more carp this year. I think I caught 9 carp on fly gear in 2008. This year…only 2 carp and 2 grass carp. I DID manage to put my flies in front of one or two big Koi…but I couldn’t get them to take my offerings.
It was just a really weird year like that. Oh well, hopefully next year.
Rick (“CLAY”) will hopefully chime in on this thread. He resides in Wisconsin, and is actually quite good at targeting carp in his area.
I love fish pics…so here’s a few pics from this year:
Oh, I remember that story David, video and all. I’m more than ready for the coming summer and hope to catch more than one carp.
I also have a 5wt but never thought about using it for carp, now that you mention it I just might.
There is a river on the back of the park I fish but it is just too crowded with trees and spinning setup fishermen so you have to force your way there, it’s a big river but there are only like 3 good spots, the rest is full or vegetation.
What’s your go to fly for carp flywatersmallie?
This here is my very first carp (goldfish) caught on a size 10 crappie candy.
My best patterns to date have been turkey leeches in various natural colors, olive especially. I tie the with orange or yellow thread. The fish don’t seem to care and it makes it easier for me to see my fly. Also small clousers tied with fox, coyote or marabou have been good, more natural colored variations of bonefish flies, woolly buggers, crayfish and the like. Check out my “coyote bugly” on the tying page. Haven’t got it wet yet, that’ll happen tomorrow but it looks just great! Coyote is such a good material for carp!
Nice fish! I’ll hopefully be able to post a fresh pic or 2 after tomorrow… When I’m not on the blackberry that is
I fly fished for carp the first time this past summer in Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City, Mich. Did very well on a crystal-clear flat in shallow water.
Fly fishing for shallow-water carp is loads of fun.
Wow, that is an amazing lake (?). I wish we had places like that here…or maybe we do and I just don’t know about them lol. Nice carp Steve!
It’s Lake Michigan Martin. Nice fish Steve!
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I took up carp fishing several years ago. it is fantastic fishing. I catch them in rivers, lakes and ponds in New York City and New Jersey. The fish picture was taken on a 6’6" glass fly rod, using a deer hair pellet fly. But carp will take just about any fly when it is WELL presented. I’ve used dry flies, wet flies,nymphs and most recently dog bisquits attached to scud hooks. the dog bisquit will float.
Bill
I’ve heard that more than ones, they do take whatever as long as well presented. Can you explain “well presented”. I think that’s the part I’ve been lacking. How long did it take you to land that carp on a 2wt Bill?
WELL presented means your fly has to land within two feet of the nose of the carp and no more than a foot right or left of the carps mouth. Carp will not chase a fly so forgot fast strips. once the fly settles in front of the carp and it appears that the fish has seen the fly, make the fly move very slightly. If the carp is interested he will approach the fly and hopefully take the fly. Carp must be feeding if you are to have any hope of catching them with a fly. Their behavior is unlike any other fish you have targeted. they are SMART, cautious, and will spook if the wind blows the wrong way. chose the right color clothes, blend in with your surroundings. leave your hot pink shirt, radio and shiny objects at home. if a carp sees you it will leave a cloud of silt in its wake as it flees the area. when you fish for carp you are stalking it. get as close as you dare. be as close to perfect as possible with your cast. you may not get a second chance!
( it took me about 20 minutes to land this little guy)
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Who told you I fish in a hot pink shirt?!?!?! LOL LOL LOL. I guess I better start practicing my accuracy.
Thanks for the tip.
I’m froze over now, but do chase them often in the summer on a local river. They are fun and have had to chase them from hole to hole before. They can make some awsome runs. Here’s one I got on a 5wt around mid-summer and also the fly. It’s a #8 baitholder hook I think, not many fancy hooks for me, I’m a cheapskate. :rolleyes:
I sight fish them as well. When the water is low and clear enough, I walk hole to hole and look for “moving shadows” in the water with my polarized glasses. This hole was stacked with them, there is a BIG one right off the end of my fly line…
Froze tight here too. Man! I miss warm weather!
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Shadow fishing in Central Park in NYC( Home of the 30 Lb carps)
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Big carp taken on the passaic river at low tide during new moon cycle.
Nice catch gentlemen. It’s cold and rainy in here so not much a chance to catch anything but looking forward to Summer.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
I don’t usually target them, not that I have anything against them, they’re a great fighting fish. But I usually target other species most times, but every once in awhile I’ll tie into a big carp while Surf fishing for Salmon/Lakers.
Here’s a brute I picked up on a Chartruse&white half & half streamer last fall.
Thought for sure I had a big lake run brown on since I was fishing the surf of Lake Huron but turned out to be this big dude. Doesn’t look as big in the pic but to give an idea of size, thats a switch rod in the pic so there’s about 20" of cork from the start of the grip to the butt, so that gives ya an idea of his size.
Steve
I really don’t mean to hijack your thread, but I’ve only hooked into a couple of carp and missed them both.
The water I am fishing for them is EXTREMELY muddy, and EXTREMELY Shadow. You can barely see more than 4 inches in the stuff!! But the fish are EVERYWHERE THERE, and randomly they will jump cleanr 2 - 3 feet out of the water… I can’t lie about that.
but, what are some of the better tactics you guys are employing when you can’t see the fish, and the fish might not be able to see your offering? do you guys add rattles to your fly?
If a carp is “rasing hell” you won’t be able to catch it. I caught one carp blind casting with a bright crappie candy but I’m no expert when it comes to carp, I’m bearly learning.