First Grass Carp...FINALLY!

Fishing Warm water Forum
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I’m still giddy! I finally did it! Caught a Grass Carp on my fly rod!
I feel I may need to apologize for all the pictures…

Now, here’s the story:
Jenni, my new fly-fishing protege, had hooked into a big SOMETHING about 5 minutes before this…it fought for a minute or two…she even got the fish right in front of us, but we never did get a look at it before it broke the line. I tied on a new fly and gave it a couple tosses at some visible fish.
I didn’t see the take, but my line started moving away from me, so I set the hook. YES!!
Fortuitously, Jenni’s mom Julie was there with us, and started snapping pictures and videos!

Here’s an early look at the beast:

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I felt a need to re-position to a spot I thought might give me a better chance of landing the fish. After I got there, a neighbor offered us the use of his net.

Look at the size of this boil!

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Jenni became designated netter:

There were tricky moments:

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But finally…the battle was WON! It was a 2-person job to haul it up to the grass.

I knew I’d be releasing this fish, so I quickly removed the hook.

Measure it… 36.5"!!! Didn’t have a scale with me, bummer.

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Then of course the “official pictures”:

And then the return to the water to rescusitate, and release:

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Followed by the fist-bumps, high-fives, and handshakes for the excellent teamwork!

Although a fish of this size is probably better suited to a 6, 7, or 8wt rod, this was caught on a St. Croix 5wt rod. The fly was one I had tied, which also makes this even more special. Its a boa yarn leech pattern, originated by our very own Rick Zieger.

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Not sure if this is gonna work…will try to post one of the videos. I guess try clicking on the image below?:

By the way…the guy yelling words of encouragement in the background wasn’t me…it was the guy who loaned us the net. He was pretty excited too!

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Not only a good job on the fish…but a good job on the pictures…

Classy especially the release.

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congratulations! and one suggestion: When playing a big fish like that try to put it on the reel rather than stripping lin by hand as you are doing in the video. You are a lot less likely to step on the line or get a tangle that way. I know because I have a sixty-five foot six weight line from not doing it right quickly enough on a steelhead that was coming toward me when I stepped on the line in sharp rocks. I knew better but just couldn’t get the line reeled in as fast as the fish was coming downstream.

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Dave, That was a terrific pictorial and story. And WOW!!! What a fish. Thanks, Jim

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good one Dave!!! another fish falls victim to “the list”…pictures are great, you even look younger

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Very nice fish. I would love to land one that big.

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That’s not bad, Dave, not bad at all. Great looking fish, great pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us!

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Great report and congrats. The trouble now is that you are addicted to fishing for carp. there are few fish that can match the power of a carp. there are few fish that make your heart race, like a carp makes your heart race.

Bill

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Thanks everyone! :smiley:

Cordell…Younger? You do realize I’m the taller one in the pictures, right? HA! :stuck_out_tongue:

I contacted our local DNR Fisheries Biologist. Asked him if he knew of any formulas to convert grass carp lengths to estimate weights. He gave sent me a study he’d located, and we ran the numbers. Estimated weight will go @ 25lbs. I know they get a lot bigger, but I’m VERY happy with this fish!!

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Well done Dave, well done!

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Ive never caught a carp on a fly rod. But I have caught carp. What a fight. they do not like being hooked one bit. I cant imagine how much fun or a work out it is to get one landed on a fly rod. Good work
David

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Gotta love the digital age. You will be able t relive those moments for years to come. Nice that your student was there to share the moment, it will be a time that is a bonding experience that you can look back to and smile together. Grand time indeed. Congrats on a wonderful catch, sorry that I missed this post when it first occurred, must have been sleeping at the wheel.

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Dave -

Not sure how I missed this one when you first posted it ?? Must have been on the road up in Montana ??

Anyway, surely glad that Rick bumped it today and that it caught my attention. The pics and videos are great, as is your running narrative on hooking and landing that fishy, with the help of your fishing partner.

Looking forward to more posts on your exploits, targeting carp or otherwise.

John

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For future reference if you get a girth measurement, you can apply length and girth measurement, put it in the formula and get a very close weight. I always forget to do it after a big fish. I worry more about getting them back it the water.