Fly Fishing - Carp Success (as in I'm looking for some)

Matt1515

Looking for ways to better my carp fishing. Found a local spot to fish for carp but can't seem catch em'. Any tips or proven patterns (recipes would be much appreciated)? I've tried buggers, bunny leeches, zonkers, and a few others. They seem to look at buggers but can't get them to take. These are new fish for me but want to see what some of the recent hype is about. Seems like it might a good way to pass some time between weekend trout trips.

Steelie · Newbie Joined: Sep 24, 2006 Posts: 81 Location: Erie, PA

I catch them on egg patterns(looks like corn) and beadhead nymphs, or try something of your own that ressembles corn. It works for me but id imagine that they'd have to have seen corn before so if the place gets any fishing pressure, then try it.

Matt1515 · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject:

I tried egg patterns once before. I think I gave up on it too soon. Got some reaction but no takers. I've tried presentation to the side, in front, hit them in the face, dead drift, small twitches, big twitches, and stripped. I've also crawled on my belly for stealth. Maybe I just need to stick with trout!

psc_wildboy · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: white puffiness?

I know what you are saying, I tried all summer to catch one and they just look at whatever it is that you toss them. I have heard that something white and puffy works. bigger than an egg, but not a uniform shape. I think it is supposed to look like some kind of seed/seed pod. I would love to catch one, I hear the fight is wicked.

Shaq · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject:

Matt, I have found that even though the carp may stay put, you may have already spooked him. Carp, in my experience are moody too. The stationary carp which just seem to be sunning themselves will not, as a rule feed...no matter what, Find one on the prowl, mudding, or vacuuming the surface and it doesn't matter what you throw, they'll hit every time. I also find that it depends what they are feeding on. One of the spots we go has quite a few crawfish so a nice brown bugger cast into the mud plumes and then stripped away can get big interest. Other spots are nymph spots and some get quite a few seeds in the water so topwater, at certain times can produce. Once a carp shows interest, I find that dropping the fly is a bad thing. Keep it moving, cat and mouse type stripping and don't let the carp smell your fly. Sometimes They follow it right to your feet but don't stop the fly. keep it 6-10 inches in front of the fish. It drives them crazy. They seriously pounce on it if the mood strikes them. Other times they just sit there. They are fun, and the experience can test your skills and tackle. check out

http://www.fliesandfins.com/article575.html

Matt1515 · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:30 pm Post subject:

The carp in this particular area never seem to be on the prowl. I'm assuming the "spook" thing is right. The only thing is I'll sit in the woods and just watch them and they never seem to be moving too much. Are there particular feeding times like trout and other like fish?

Shaq · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject:

feeding times? Not that I know of but maybe there are places they feed and the spot you are looking at, is not one. I think that covering more water might be the ticket. FInd that one carp that looks more interested in something. target that fish. I don't know. It seems like if the carp are in the shallows, they will be feeding., If they are just lounging in deeper water but near the top, I haven't found those carp to be biters. Are you fishing still or moving currents?

Matt1515 · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject:

The spot is near the shallows but not in them. They tend to hang around right at the drop off. Every now and then I see them move into shallow water just in from the drop but no where near the bank. I have not seen them fully into the shallows at all. I checked out the link you sent me. It was great. The water I'm fishing on is a lake. Not the stream-like setting from your video. There are not any streams that feed this lake that I can get to. The lake is old but man made so any watershed is pretty tight or fast moving. The place in the video looks ideal. Wish I could find some like that. The feeding time question was a shot in the dark (or maybe just looking for an excuse on why I can't catch them). What size hook are the flies you use?

Steelie · Newbie Joined: Sep 24, 2006 Posts: 81 Location: Erie, PA

Try and have a go at em with a kayak if you have one.

biggie · Newbie Joined: Apr 08, 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Newport, Pa

Matt, I caught one this past fall with a white marabou streamer. I thought I was hooked up to a monster brown, since I was fishing the Yellow Breeches Regs. area. But what a great fight nonetheless! Also caught one in the Juniata on a beadhead pheasant tail.

mc00345 · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:08 am Post subject:

Just because a lake has Carp in it does not make it a good Carp lake.

How the fish move and feed in your particular lake can make all the difference. I've found that I do the best and catch Carp most consistently on relatively shallow mud flats. You can see the fish well which is absolutely critical, the fly has to be in front of the fish and only moved when the fish is in a norrow strike zone of a few feet. Conversely you can never cast the leader over the fish. Always look for a fish that has its head down and tail up, if its making any mud plumes all the better. Crusing fish almost never strike. If you get the right fish with your fly in place ( on the bottom, in front of, and slightly past the fish) a short strip that moves the mud often draws a strike. When I get everything right I'm aften rewarded with a strike. One thing wrong and I don't have a chance. Its a lot like bonefishing but much more technical. I think Carp are very under appreciated as a quality fly quarry.

I use damselfly nymphs and small green or brown wooly buggers or bedhead prince nymphs. Honestly other then them being dull buggy looking things I don't think fly choose is very critical.

Bottomline- you need movement in front of an unspooked fish thats actively feeding...aside from that its pretty easy!

MJC

Matt1515 · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject:

Finally got one to bite but broke off. The tips everyone gave me seemed to work. I caught them hanging out in water that was more shallow than any I had seen them in before. I used a brown wooly bugger. Plopped it about 6 ft in front of them and waited. One got close, I twitched the fly and boom! That sucker was off. I guess I was so excited, I stopped thinking about what it was going to take to land that sucker. He was running and the first thing I did was pull my rod straight up. Leader broke immediately. Rookie mistake. I actually did the same thing with a 40+ lb redfish over the summer. I tried so hard to get him to bite, I never considered what I would do if he actually got on. I will say this. I think I will leave my 6wght at home and use my 9wght next time. What weights are you guys using?

Steelie · Newbie Joined: Sep 24, 2006 Posts: 81 Location: Erie, PA

7 or 8 wt is what I use.

mc00345 · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject:

I use a 9'6" #6...once the feel the bite they usually have one serious run in them. I loose more having my line hung up some how then anything else. They can run you into the backing in the first run, after that its just making up ground and they tend to tire fairly quickly.

Sometimes it takes them a few seconds to figure out whtas going on but once they do they always make a first run.

Good luck and I'm glad you are starting get it figured out.

MJC