I spent many hours on the water fishing yesterday and I am out of bed this morning to go again before this night shifter usually goes to bed. I had a grand day yesterday fishing some flooded areas that the carp have moved into and they have begun some spawning behavoir, but I was able to entice them to bite particular patterns. I started the day yesterday throwning a prince bead head in size 16. Then I went to a scud pattern and a San Juan worm, all of which drew zeros. I then tied on a number 8 black bead head bugger and almost immediently had a take. I didn’t land that first fish, but new that I would land fish with that fly.
I landed the firt fish which was a 25" class fish on the 4 wt. The fish was more than what the 4 wt could handle well in the thick brush that I was fishing, but was able to bring her to hand. I then switched over to the 8 wt and never looked back. I landed some more fish this day and had a riot.
My general observation was that people would stop and watch me work and area. Then when I would land a fish they would comment on how neat that was and then ask what kind of fish is that? When I would answer “a carp”, you could see the dissapointment on their face.
I can’t speak for everyone, but the waters that I typically fish, I sure don’t work this hard for 10" brook trout. These fish command more respect out of me than most of the trout that I catch. I just think that if others would try it they would start to understand. I just have to take the fact that I enjoy this type of fishing no matter what others think.
I agree that carp are a lot of fun to catch. Now I have never caught one on a fly rod but it sound fun and challenging.
Last summer I took my nephew to the local city lake to fish, his dad was in Iraq. I hadn’t fished it since I was about 15(20ish years). We were using “whomp em” biscuits as bait, since I used to catch lots of catfish on them. I was using a heavy rod figuring on catching cat. I hooked into something that almost drug me into the lake. I’d get it turned and then my drag would sing and it was off again. After about 6-8 of these runs, I had tired it out enough to get a look at what I was fighting. It turned out to be a 40ish inch carp. I got it to land and released it back into the lake. It was the only thing I caught that day, but it sure was fun.
Congratulations. I used to hate, and I mean utterly hate carp. Until I got the fly rod. I still have yet to hook one. But, they certainly have all of my respect. They are impossible for me to catch.
I’ve had a few people walk up and ask what I was fishing for, same thing. I say carp, they just gimme a wierd look. Some ask why.
I caught my first carp with a fly rod when I was first goofing around trying to figure out what fly fishing was all about. I was trying to pick up bluegill with a 8’ 6wt fiberglass rod and small pieces of night crawlers.(like I said I didn’t know what I was doing) Didn’t have much luck with the bluegill but a five pound carp took one of my night crawler flies and scared the dickens out of me. To date I had caught small bluegill and a few stocker trout so I had no idea what to do with the horse that had taken me into the backing for the first time.
I’m still chasing bluegill but with real hand tied flies on 2wt and 3wt rods but I also carry a 7wt fly rod with a fighting butt just in case I spot tailing carp.
I’ve been tempted to try carp fishing. Never have.
Years ago I was stationed in Germany when I was in the army. I did a lot of trout fishing there but never carp. I remember carp being considered a game fish and a table delicacy. I kind of wish I had found a local there to teach me what it was all about.
Interesting how in the US we tend to look at carp as a trash fish and europeans look at them as game.
I know that I am trying to be positive about these guys, but just look at a couple of facts. For most of us, trout fishing is not in our back yards. I even own some property in trout wonderland, but it is still a couple of hours from the main house. At $4/gal gas and carp within minutes of the house they win on the economic front these days.
I can go and catch and release 10" brookies almost on demand in the water that I fish regularly, but it sure is fun to catch and release 20" plus fish that fight hard. If you haven’t tried it here are a couple of great resources:
Finished the tie for davidm’s carp swap so went down to the river to see what I could see.
One large carp…maybe 10 lbs, was rooting mud in 1-3’ of water.
For the next 15-20 min, I put at least 8 casts in front of her using the newly tied #10
Mike’s Carp Candy in orange…then out of frustration switched to a #12 hare’s ear
for a few more tries. In the process I even lined her a couple of times.
End result?
Total oblivion to my presentations including the lining. Eventually, giving me the tip of her
tail all the way, she moved on to deeper water and was gone.
I went out with the family today. We went carp fishing with fly rods for Dad’s day of course. On the way to the water I told them that you had to present the fly within inches of a fishes nose to get one to take it and that they don’t move far to take an offering. I also said that you have to do this to 40 fish before one would bite. Maybe that number is lower, maybe 25. The point is that every fish won’t bite, but the biggest thing is that even if we see fish and cast to them the bait isn’t inches in front of their nose. So it is the right presentation, which to me means inches in front of their nose not feet and it means without spooking them with the right fly. I threw scuds and prince nymphs the other day and a few other flies that have been top producers in the past - UNTIL I finally gave them what they wanted. Listen to the fish they will talk to you.
I’m serious about this last statement. No, they won’t use English words, but they communicate very effictively with body language. All of those flies and nothing moved toward the fly or reacted to the fly in the least. Then I put on a bh Wbugger. The first fish that I presented the fly to at the proper distance from her nose and a fish that wasn’t aware of my presence, she moved TO THE FLY. She missed it. But as soon as that took place I knew that I could catch other fish on that fly. I had a fish react to my fly.
Being out with the kids today I was trying to tell them how to do it. They all said that they didn’t get when they had a bite. I said, that I definately don’t feel a tug, like fishing for smallmouth or largemouth. It’s not even like a bluegill. I might see the line move a half inch on the surface of the water with agressive carp. Most of the time I present a bait and I see the fish’s head go down for the fly while the tail goes up. I feel nothing, nor do I see the line move. I count to two and set the hook. Sometimes when I am dangling a fly infront of her mouth 3", I will see the mouth open. I can’t see her take the bait really (for me a bait is any fly that I am using, not live bait) but I count to two and hook set.
If your waiting for a strike like a brown trout or even a brookie, you won’t catch carp. Again, I sight fish 99% of the time and the hook ups are very close to me. I want to see the fishes nose and I want to see the fly infront of the fishes nose. It’s closer to high sticking techniques or Polish/Czech nymphing techniques than dry fly technique.
Listen to the carp’s body language and get the fly in the proper location and then hold on for FUN.
Interesting Rick, but makes me almost long for the good ole days when having fun with
carp meant nothing more than a light spinning rod and a can of whole kernel corn.
Like I’ve said before… my addiction to fly fishing has ruined my fishing life.
I’ve caught my share of carp. When I was much younger, my Dad would actually make his own doughbait, and it worked quite well. I’ve caught them on nightcrawlers, and any number of lures (using spinning gear) over the years.
I also have not caught a carp on a fly rod. I WANT TO!!
Came close a couple weeks ago. I think I had 2 fish on, but didn’t land either one.
Every body of water is different, of course, but sight fishing in most places around here is tough, since the water clarity is generally poor. You can often see their backs, but not their mouths, if you’re lucky enough to catch them in shallow water.
Rick, when you get the fly in place near the fishes’ head, do you then just let it sit? Or do you sort of do a slow-drag/pause?
FishnDave - If you see the fish move to the fly, let it sit. If the fish is unaware of the fly, drag it very slowly, just enough motion to make it appear alive. Most of my takes have happened as the fly floated to the bottom. I’m thinking the movement attracted the Carp’s attention.
I have never stalked a Bonefish, but I can’t imagine that it could be any more fun than hunting Carp. I’m just 2-1/2 hours from Erie. so I can fish for Steelhead, but I’m 1,000 miles and a $1,000 away from any Bonefish. But I am only 1/2 mile from great Carp water. The last one I caught wasn’t real big, but I stalked him for 15-20 minutes and didn’t get him to hit until the 8th cast - To paraphrase the Cable Guy - “I don’t care who you are, that’s fun!”
Here’s a tip for spawning Carp (also used for Steelies) - when you see them spawning, tie on some Sucker Spawn and cast to the fish behind the mating group. Fish follow to suck up the spawn dropped by the maters.
My new goal is to catch one on topwater. I tossed my Cottonwood Seed fly while they were falling, but no luck. I need to try the Bread fly and see if that works.
Many times I will cast beyond the fish so that I don’t cause a splash right on top of the fish, then drag the fly into that 45 degree sight window that exists infront of the fish’s nose. Again it’s very close to the nose especially in muddy water. Not a foot but 3 to 8" kind of thing. The carp that I am targeting are generally moving and feeding so it is like passing a football. You are trying to intercept the path, it isn’t usually a stationary target. Once the fly gets in the zone I try to hover the bait in that close proximity to the fish. Those mariboo tails on buggers are very inticing. Then I let the fly slowly sink. Many times you won’t feel a bite, but rather see the fish’s posture change - tail goes up, head goes down toward the fly. Give it a pause (count to two) and hook set.
I am a big believer in “picking the corn when the corn is ready to be picked”. In other words, when is the best time to target a species. When the steelhead are in and running I try to chase the steelies. When the bluegills are on their beds, I try to catch some gills for the family dinner. When the carp are shallow and feeding, this is a spectacular time to target them. That time is now in many parts of the country.
Let me also address sight fishing. On the Michagan flats of the big lake, the water is very clear, or so I have been told and you can cast to fish that are 50 or 60 feet away. The water that I am currently fishing I see movement that breaks the surface of the water. Sometimes it’s a tail or a back or maybe even the lighter colored lips of the fish feeding on the top, called clooping. Just like deer hunting in the heavy woods with lots of undergrowth, you don’t see a whole deer just standing there. You might make out an ear, or the horizontal outline of the back or belly or a white throat patch. With a little practice, you will be able to know which direction the fish is orientated by just seeing a dorsal or a tail. This is still sight fishing. I am seeing something that I am targeting. I very rarely just blind cast with no target. For me it is a waste of my time. I would do better hunting for the movement that I am keying in on and then fishing for them.
My ways aren’t the only ways, there are many ways to catch carp. For me it just gives me that chance to play with my fly fishing equipment some more and develop those skills that will be important when targeting other species like the steelhead. You just can’t practice handling big fish that run and take you into your backing by fishing for gills.
I was teaching my son on Father’s day how to do it and he was having trouble knowing when to set the hook. We stood side by side in calf deep water. I was a fish with 6’ of both of us. I was whispering to him as he watch me hook the fish. I then handed him the rod for the fight. Even before we got our waders wet, I had him hold the fly rod and I pretended to be the fish. I went through the “keep the line tight” excercise by grabbing the leader with no hook in it and walking away from him. I told him that you can’t hold the handle of the fly reel while the fish is pulling. The drag is not like a spinning rod drag. Can you guess what happened when a big fish was on the end of the rod and he was excited? You bet, he tried to reel her in while she wanted to run and he broke her off. He knew what he did right away. You can tell people and tell people, but until they experience it and practice fighting big fish it doesn’t sink in. This is great practice for learning to fight larger species.
There is nothing wrong with carp. They are great quarry on whatever gear you catch them on, and great tablefare, when properly prepared. Carp are a severely under-used resource.
I was out twice this weekend and had to post a few photos of the outings. I had a grand time fishing the flooded parks in my area. If you haven’t tried this, you are missing the boat big time.
