Carp on the Fly - Looking for help

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Hey everyone.

I have been getting very interested in Carp on the fly rod. The couple times I have gone out to catch them, I have come home with my tail between my legs. I did not think they would be this difficult to catch. Such sensitive fish!!!

I was wondering if anyone here has some experience with Carp on the fly. Maybe even someone who would like to get together and target these amazing fish.

Let me know. Thanks!

 

[tcp]

Hey,

I got quite a bit of expierence with carp on flies in various types of locations, from small streams to the great lakes. They act differently depending on what water you are fishing. Where would you be targetting them?

Also, have you checked out the orvis book that came out last year? http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=2y95

I could possibly meet up with you depending on where you are. I live in Cambridge but I travel to Hamilton, Toronto and Port Maitland for carp. Otherwise Im fishing them locally in the Grand and Speed Rivers.

 

[tcp]

Got this big ******* (along with a bunch more) on my latest outing to toronto.

In the great lakes they take big flies, leech and crayfish patterns stripped and twitched past their face . They will follow and take a stripped fly.

Locally, I fish the grand and speed rivers and some small streams as well. This fish took a small softhackle type fly with a chennile tail in a small stream, normally in small waters I need to use san juan worms and such .


This one I caught in the speed river right by house. Again, took the softhackle. River and stream carp are very very spooky, you have to use extreme stealth and some simple casting techniques not to spook them off.


A few quick tips compiled from a few sources.

1. You have to see it to catch it
2. dont cast until you can see the head
3. Look for tailing fish that are feeding nose down, mud being kicked up behind them
4. dont bother casting to cruising fish (unless in the great lakes)
5. Drag & drop: cast past the fish, drag the fly ontop of the water keeping your line out of the water and drop the fly within a 3-6"radius of the fishes head, it helps to drop it to one side so that you can see the fish turn its head to take your fly

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Hey tcp.

Thanks for the reply! Those are...AMAZING fish. I have just recently been very interested in Carp. Growing up, people always told stories of them being slow, stupid fish. Ever since starting my research on them, I have come to realize the complete opposite of what I knew growing up as a kid.

I will PM you.

 

[IR4Jflyfishing]

These guys will help you get them, I just started fishing for them last year. Have defiantly caught my fair share... My favourite fly has been cone head bow river bugger in brown, but any cray imitation will do. My buddy was having the hardest time getting one so we tied a tandem rig with the cray in the front and a yellow glow bug in the back soaked in garlic scent... Its cheating but it will catch fish.

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

I will try some cray imitation. Thanks IR4J.

 

[Venom01]

How would an 8 wt rod hold up to a carp? I got a little place where I live that I see them pile up. I'd like to give them a crack. The ones I see are not monsters but probably about 18 inch fish.

I've seen some REAL monsters cruise the boardwalk area where I live.

 

[Shmogley]

These guys will help you get them, I just started fishing for them last year. Have defiantly caught my fair share... My favourite fly has been cone head bow river bugger in brown, but any cray imitation will do. My buddy was having the hardest time getting one so we tied a tandem rig with the cray in the front and a yellow glow bug in the back soaked in garlic scent... Its cheating but it will catch fish.

+1 on the conehead bugger. i hooked into a big carp when using one ,by accident mind you(was fishing for another species). took me for a hell of a run untill the hook came off. heart was pounding.

next time im in that area, ill be ready

 

[Shawarma]

How would an 8 wt rod hold up to a carp? I got a little place where I live that I see them pile up. I'd like to give them a crack. The ones I see are not monsters but probably about 18 inch fish.

I've seen some REAL monsters cruise the boardwalk area where I live.

Your 8wt should hold up fine. My 7wt didn't have any issues. Mind you it will depend on the size but you can tire these guys out. Takes a nuke to kill a carp.

 

[Venom01]

I guess a good quick sinking leader is in order

 

[tcp]

I guess a good quick sinking leader is in order

sink tip will work, but really all you need is weighted flies. I tie each pattern with varying sizes of dumbell eyes so that if I find a fish in moving water I can tie on a heavier fly to sink it quicker, in still water I tie on one with smallest eyes to create the smallest splash.

All the sink tips i have are black so I wouldnt be using them for carp, you want flouro from the fly line to the fly to stay hidden as much as possible, carp on fly is mostly a close range game so the sink tip just would add too much length to the line and add weight in the wrong place.

 

[Venom01]

sink tip will work, but really all you need is weighted flies. I tie each pattern with varying sizes of dumbell eyes so that if I find a fish in moving water I can tie on a heavier fly to sink it quicker, in still water I tie on one with smallest eyes to create the smallest splash.

All the sink tips i have are black so I wouldnt be using them for carp, you want flouro from the fly line to the fly to stay hidden as much as possible, carp on fly is mostly a close range game so the sink tip just would add too much length to the line and add weight in the wrong place.

Thank you for the advice

 

[instapump416]

A few quick tips compiled from a few sources.

1. You have to see it to catch it
2. dont cast until you can see the head
3. Look for tailing fish that are feeding nose down, mud being kicked up behind them
4. dont bother casting to cruising fish (unless in the great lakes)
5. Drag & drop: cast past the fish, drag the fly ontop of the water keeping your line out of the water and drop the fly within a 3-6"radius of the fishes head, it helps to drop it to one side so that you can see the fish turn its head to take your fly

I just got my fly setup and I can't wait to start targeting carp

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

I just got my fly setup and I can't wait to start targeting carp

NICE!!!!

 

[tcp]

What you get pump?

 

[instapump416]

Sage Approach combo

Now I need fly fishing lessons

 

[Christopheraaron]

Casting comes first, throw up a post in the fly section and I'm sure someone will offer to help ya out, I could but be warned I'm certainly not close to the best on the site.

 

[tcp]

Sage Approach combo

Now I need fly fishing lessons

Baller.

8wt?

 

[instapump416]

8wt... I got a good deal on it, it was over $100off MSRP plus a additional 15% off that.

Question...

I have a tapered leader on my line but I wanna add a piece of leader on top of that so I don't cut into it.

How long should my extra piece be?

 

[Cody309]

Pump, anytime you want to get out in the GTA, let me know man! I'm available most week-nights.