Fishing for carp has been shooting up over the past few years. You might be surprised to know that it was considered a ‘trash fish’ in the early times. Some anglers might not be aware of how challenging it is to fool a carp. Their cunning nature is what makes them fun to chase. Now this stupid fish has become a desire for many fishermen.
From ‘Trash Fish’ to Treat
Carp was never a fish of choice for any fisherman or angler. It was left slaughtered even if caught by mistake. People overlooked this golden fish because of how ignorant they were, but with time people started to look at it differently. They became aware of how fruitful it is to catch a carp and it is not as easy as it seems.
Carp Species
Numerous carp species are targeted by anglers. However, these three are the most popular ones.
Common carp
Cyprinus carpio is the scientific name of the common carp. As the name suggests, this species of carp is most abundant and spread worldwide. It was declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature that these species are near extinction but they are now being domesticated worldwide and are in the top 100 worst invasive species.
Grass carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella is a herbivore freshwater fish with great temperature tolerance. It was cultivated for food in China but was later introduced as weed control in the West. Grass carp have a chubby torpedo-shaped elongated body with an oblique mouth.
Koi carp
Cyprinus rubrofuscus commonly referred to as Koi is an ornamental species of carp. They are colorful and are kept in ponds for decorative purposes. They can be found in black, white, cream, red, orange, blue, and many other colors.
Why is Carp Challenging
Carp is not an easy catch. Some characteristics of carp make it a challenging fish to catch, especially by fly fishing techniques. However, with the right gear and tackle you can ace your carp fly fishing trip.
Feeding activity
Carp does not have a voracious appetite. Unlike other fish, carp is not an opportunistic feeder and is not in an active feeding stage most of the time. It is hard to tempt them towards eating when they are not in the mood to feed. This makes fishing a lot harder as it might not swallow your fly even when it is right in front of it.
Spooked easily
Carp are spooked easily and become vigilant. They might also lose their appetite when exposed to threats. The fish living in the wild are more active in any danger and will know if it is a trap or not.
Sensitive mouth
The high sense of feeling in the mouth makes carp a very clever species. They will immediately know if that swallowed morsel is an authentic one or a trap. They can easily feel the metal of the hook and spit it out at the very moment. This is why anglers spend a lot of time tying the perfect patterns and hiding hooks.
Equipment for Carp Fly Fishing
Your gear and equipment can make or break your fly fishing trip. It is crucial to choose the right set of tools for your target species as every creature is different from the others. You cannot use the same equipment for carp as you used for redfish, trout, or walleye even if the technique of fishing remains the same. Fly fishing equipment comes in a wide variety.
Fly rod
Usually, a 6 to 8-weight rod is used for catching carp, however, you might need a larger 9-weight rod for large carp. In addition to this, you must opt for fast rods with tip action for fighting against larger fish. The longer the rod the better it is as that smart carp will not be able to see you when there is a considerable distance between you and the fish.
Fly reel
The reel is always matched with the rod. You must ensure the reel has a smooth drag system with sufficient backing capacity. Big wild carp often pull out the line and leave you bare handed, you might not want to lose a valuable catch because of the wrong reel.
Fly line
The fly line is of course the same category as the rod. A weight-forward fly line works best for carp. You can go for a floating line or a hover, this mainly depends on your casting technique and the depth of water in which you are fishing. The chief element of a line is its core, it should be strong and stretchy, otherwise the leader will break.
Leader and tippet
A fluorocarbon leader and tippet will work best for a great catch. A leader with a diameter of 0.22 to 0.28 is invisible for carp, hence your risk of losing a great catch is reduced to a minimum.
Flies
This is certainly the most crucial object while fly fishing. Especially when you are fly fishing for carp because a smart carp with its sensitive mouth can easily detest your fly and spit it out. This will cause great loss and you might go home with no fish. Hence it is crucial to select or tie perfect-looking patterns to fool those cunning creatures.
Pliers and forceps
You will need this to remove the hook from the carp’s mouth. Remember they have a tough mouth so you must be careful during this activity.
Other Necessary Accessories
These are the unspoken equipment that you need but might ignore. These can save you from frustration and keep you relaxed.
Suitable clothing
You should bring with you a polar fleece if the weather is cold, this will help you stay warm and continue fishing without shivering. If the weather is warm then quick-dry clothing is advised to keep you dry.
Polarized sunglasses
Polarization is a phenomenon in which light travelling in a certain direction is blocked. This will clear your visibility in the water. Fly fishing is made easier for carp when you can see clearly through the water.
Waterproof gear bag
You will need this to keep your equipment organized. A waterproof material will prevent your gear from getting wet especially if you are going deep into the water or fishing from a boat.
Flies for Carp Fly Fishing
At this point, you are familiar with carp feeding patterns and the sensitive mouth that nature gifted them with. To present the right fly at the right time, you must study the material, color, size, shape, and patterns that suit your situation. Here is an overview of different types of flies
Dry fly
When a carp is in shallow waters and breaks the surface for food, it becomes easy to catch and they become dumb. Dry flies are the best in this scenario as they stay on the surface of water and the carp will come towards it on its own and break the surface water just to swallow your fly, a remarkable spectacle, isn’t it? Hoppers and minnows are examples of dry flies.
Backstabber
Backstabber has been the most effective carp fly ever, it mimics crayfish and a nearly extinct bug. It is a combination of a carp-appealing profile and a hook-up attitude. An olive-colored backstabber works best for large carp. Black-coloured backstabber is good for muddy waters. Another type of backstabber is a grey minnow backstabber.
Hybrid
A hybrid fly is an amalgam of a worm and a soft hackled wet fly. It can sink to the bottom quickly and wait for the carp to swallow it. It has an appetizing appearance for carp and compels carp into thinking that this treat should not go to waste.
Great Lakes Fly Fishing for Carp
Fly fishing for carp on great lakes sounds thrilling and is a pleasure providing for adrenaline junkies. However, for some, it might be frustrating and not very promising. You need to put in all your efforts to get a reward from the great lakes
Carp movement
Carp acts like a saltwater fish in the Great Lakes and is always in a hurry to get somewhere. They move fast and this speed makes it harder for a fly angler to make a carp eat their fly. The solution to this problem is to simply follow the course of the fish and it will take you to a carp wonderland where the fish is slow and easy to catch.
Food source of great lake carp
Carp native to the Great Lakes feed mainly upon gobbies. Crayfish and other insects are also taken up by carp to meet their nutritional needs. Many anglers use flies imitating these creatures to achieve their target
Plopping sound
Great Lakes carp dislike the plopping sound of your castings and are likely to move away. Other fishes might get attracted to the same sound but a carp will always ignore it and run away. They are gifted with a Weberian apparatus that detects the vibrations in water, hence they are more sensitive to water movements than you might imagine.
Tips to Hit the Jackpot
As mentioned earlier, carp is a cunning and challenging fish to catch, therefore, it is extremely important to study and understand its behavior. Once you learn these important points, you will have an increased chance of hitting the jackpot!
Feeding carp
Carp are the least multitaskers of all fishes, they only focus on one activity and if they see any chance of danger they will stop eating. You will not find the same carp eating and searching for food all day long which makes it nearly impossible for carp fly anglers to get lucky. In consequence, one should pay heed to the feeding times and patterns of carp. You might see 30 hours and think that you have hit the jackpot but they will never swallow your fly as long as they are not in the feeding stage. It is better to leave those 30 hoverers and look for one feeder.
Tailing fish
A tailing fish has its mouth pointing towards the bottom and its tail breaking the surface. A tailing fish is most likely in a feeding stage and is looking for food. If you spot a tailing fish then congratulations! You might hit a jackpot as you don’t need to waste your time and efforts in tempting a fish to eat. Now all you need is a good presentation and be sure to refrain from spooking it away.
Shallow waters and speed
When carp is in shallower water, it is mainly there to feed. It is advised not to miss a chance when a carp is in the shallow water and cruising slowly in search of food. This will solve two major problems for fly anglers:
- Feeder carp will not ignore their fly
- It is easier to fish in shallow waters than in deep waters
Tactics for Carp Fly Fishing
Though carp are hard fish to catch, with proper techniques and strategies one can easily fool it. There are endless tactics to adopt while fly fishing for carp and the most effective ones are mentioned here
Drop, drag, and lay
This technique works for both tailing and cruising fish and is one of the most effective strategies for catching carp. The trick here is to cast your line beyond the carp and then drag it to the spot where you want it to be (in front of the fish) and leave it there when it is assumed that the fish has seen the fly.
The claw
A claw is a modified form of dapping. This strategy is typically used for tailing fish. This requires no hard effort and is similar to the claw that is used in machines for lifting stuffed animals. You simply need to cast or throw a fly line right in front of the fish and wait patiently for the fish to take it in.
Dead drift
The tricks used for carp are the same as those used for trout in rivers. It utilizes the technique of dead drift nymphing with a dry fly. Dry flies are super effective at attracting carp in rivers.
Conclusion
Fly fishing for carp is a challenging and thrilling experience and fly fishing enthusiasts receive a burst of adrenaline when they catch hard prey. Although it seems hard and professional skills are required for this idea, even a newbie can have a great win in the first go. Now that you know all the necessary tips and tricks for carp fishery all you need is to muster up the courage for your journey. All I have to say is just do it! Stop wasting your time on those negative thoughts and give it a go!
