I’ve put many carp in the net this season but wanted larger fish. I’ve talked with people that walk by the river front, bikers, joggers, panfisherman, other carp anglers and even a special trip to our local Dept of Natural Resources in search of bigger carp. Networking has paid off. Yesterday after a two week carp blitz, 5 trips in two weeks, I finally caught a fish that made me feel like I am doing the right thing and moving the right direction.
My bread and butter carp flies are all bugger type patterns. From no beadhead to a heavily weighted beadhead, these patterns are my number one choice. I was fishing in some current with many fish but they absolutely ignored my offerings. After a few fly changes this one cooperated and hit a beadhead San Juan worm that was tied with a pink chenille with sparkle flakes in it that was bought from a craft store.
Keep at it and it is rewarding when you hit pay dirt.
Dave Whitlock wrote an article, and mentions 3 other well-know authors/anglers who report catching grass carp on “crud flies”. I Googled “crud flies”, but didn’t come up with anything. Anybody familiar with what this fly would look like?
There’s several ponds near me that have grass carp in them, but I haven’t been able to get strike so far. I did have one follow as I was retrieving, but it gave up when the fly got too near shore.
There’s a vegetation-imitator and berry-imitator I should be getting back soon from the Carp Fly Swap, and those should work, but I always like to have some “back-up” ideas, in case the fish are finicky.
Dave one of the true keys in unlocking the carp bite puzzle is that they don’t strike a fly like a bass or even a bluegill. Many, many of the fish that I have put in the net this year, I have not felt a bite what so ever. I sight fish most of the fish and see the fish either reposition in a positive way, count to two or three and hook set. As an example, the fish is horizontal, then goes tail up head down in shallow water close to your fly, or the fish moves to the side some. You feel nothing but as you slowing lift the line you feel weight - HOOK SET MAN. Put the fly very close to the fish, maybe 6 to 8" away from the fish’s nose in a 45 degree cone from their nose. I fish many bugger type patterns with lead so they sit on the bottom. The fish come by, suck up the fly and then don’t move at all. If you wait for a true strike, you will be waiting a long time. Good luck and put the fly where the fish need it to be and hook set at everything and you will catch more carp.
J.C. No one ever addressed this question. I’ll do my best. Carp are fairly tough critters. They can survive, no, thrive, in low O2 level water and temp ranges that are way beyond that of other species of fish.
I can see why you asked the question. It looks as though it’s a deceased buffalo. Not passing any sort of judgment, buffalo are a delicacy in some areas so perhaps Clay had some fish dinner?
Rick, I’ve been using a WF floating line. I caught a few carp in the reservoir…ones that were slowly cruising beneath the surface out in open water. I used a slowly sinking Hex nymph. The would usually grab and swim, so I could tell they had the fly by watching my line.
I haven’t been able to get 'em in the ponds, though, and I’ve tried a number of different flies, both weighted and unweighted. I did have a couple of hook-ups, but never got them in. I’m not even sure if they were hooked in the mouth or not.
Sorry that I missed JC’s question. Carp can and do live longer out of water than most. The buff was taken to try and eat. I’ve heard that they were good and wanted to try ONE. I scaled the fish, then filleted, then put the fish skin side down on the table and cut through the flesh until I hit the skin on the other side. I scored the fish this way every 3/16 to 1/4". You cut through the bones so no bones are very large. When fried in hot oil or shortning the bones seem to cook out and the main complaint about carp being too boney is eliminated.
Dave, I have put close to 80 carp in the net this season and can count on two hands the number of those fish that I have seen the line move or felt a bite. I will not say that they will never strike a fly, but that is not the norm. Best to find tailers, head down - tail up, fish feeding. Put the fly very close to their nose. You don’t need long casts, IF you don’t talk to spook them and minimize movement. I have many times had just a foot of fly line out and a 7 1/2’ 3X leader and almost fished them like you would with a cane pole. This will allow you to precisely place the fly where it HAS to be. In clearer water you can watch the takes. You won’t see the line move or feel a thing. HOOK SET.
I use floating lines. I have taken carp with 3 wts, 4 wt, 5 wts, 7 wts and 8 wt rods. The 5 to 7 wts are best, but I pull out the 8 wt in heavy current or when larger fish are expected.
Now, go get on the water and get ya some. I took this young guy out this week. It was his first fish on the fly rod and the biggest fish he has ever landed on ANY type of tackle. You should have seen his eyes. He was pumped.
I’m posting for the firs ttime on this site. Two of my cousins and I have been pursuing these “golden bone heads” exclusively for the past month or so here in Canton, Ohio’s local streams. We’ve had great success sight fishing. Swing a white wooly bugger to the golden bones and hang on to your 5 wt. The reel will be screaming. I have to speak for myself when I say “I’m hooked”, pun intended. It’s nothing to catch a 10-15 pounder and feel that bone peeling line. It’s bad when you pass up a nice bass so you won’t scare away the carp.
So…I should WHISPER my “fish call”? “Heeeeere fishy fishy fishy!”
You certainly must be a master of stealth to be getting so close to those carp! I don’t see them in the “tail up” feeding position very often. Waters here generally aren’t very clear…especially if they have carp in them.
I’ll keep trying, but its true I usually don’t target them until I see them when fishing for something else. They are a HOOT once you get one on the line!
Tyler and I, the young guy in the picture found a huge pod of fish, maybe 50 fish in the size of a small living room. I was just explaining how to present the fly in my hushed voice - they all disappeared. We left and returned and so did the fish. It is truly amazing how sound sensative they are.
Trout on the other hand are not nearly so sound sensative and one of my best fishing partners and a guide talks loudly to his trout fishing clients on a regular basis. Carp just won’t tolerate it. Maybe, if you do you use your fish call in a positive manner while standing on one foot, while looking east, maybe west, you might get some good results.
Thanks for all the help, Rick. That video is CRAZY! The carp around here must be a lot more skittish…you rarely get THAT close to one. That guy was practically standing on top of it!!
Today during lunch, I spotted some carp (most grass carp) in the area. I used a couple of the flies from the Carp Swap, but never did get any interest from the fish, except the negative kind.
I think when I finally do hook into a grassie, I’m probably going to wet myself! :lol:
I’m jealous, I wish we had grass carp in Wisconsin, but according to the DNR they are all illegal in this state. They do get big and sound like a riot.
Keep putting the fly where it needs to be and work on that hook set thing and you will be in fish sooner than you think. Good luck and tell us about the first one. Good luck.
