Carp Fly Fishing
June 15th, 2010 | 
Author: Carp fly fishing according to many fly fishing anglers is one of the most enjoyable stalking encounters one can have with carp. Though a blind fishing method can be employed with a granulating technique the majority of success will come with sight fishing. If you are familiar with fly fishing in general, adapting your gear and your technique to catching carp on a fly is not going to be difficult. For everyone else new to the sport of fly fishing, a bit of homework is required to build up a knowledge base. Once you know the basics and have the right equipment you might believe you’re ready for what’s next. Almost any carp fly fishing angler will tell you there is nothing that prepares you for the sheer exhilaration of a carp on a fly.
In selecting the right gear for the job, understand that carp are a fighting fish. In carp lake fishing scenarios you are likely to come across two main species of carp, the grass carp and the common carp, in addition to its subspecies, the mirror carp. As the name implies, the grass carp is an herbivore, eating only plant life. In many lakes, grass carp are introduced for vegetation control. Their eggs are manipulated in labs with a combination of heat, cold, and pressure to sterilize the fish before they are born. Because of this many waters where grass carp are not naturally occurring are somewhat hesitant to allow fly fishing for grass carp. Fly fishing for common carp is another story.
When fly fishing for common carp it’s important to understand what’s on the menu to determine which carp flies or up to the task. Examine the biomass within the first twenty or so feet from the shore to give you an idea as to what the carp might be eating, and select your carp fly patterns accordingly. Fly patterns for carp vary quite greatly but there are some general guidelines to narrow in on. A successful carp fishing fly will mimic a food source. Food sources can be broken down into three broad categories: aquatic creatures, plant life, and introduced food. Aquatic creatures most commonly imitated in a carp fly pattern includes larvae and pupae of mayflies, dragonflies and damselflies, leeches, crayfish, and baitfish. The two most common carp fly patterns for plant life will imitate mulberries or cottonwood seeds. The three most common introduced foods utilized in fly fishing for carp are bread, dog food, and corn.
Carp have very keen senses. Keeping this in mind, opt for realistic carp fishing flies rather than impressionistic. A variety of commercially available attractants can be used to amp up the fly featuring sweet scents like strawberry, banana or vanilla. Other fly fishing anglers will tell you that it’s best to coat your car fly in mud or algae from the lake bed to give your carp fly a more natural smell. Experiment to determine the method you most prefer. In addition, commonly popular carp flies will rest on the bottom but will stir up a puff of mud or silt when twitched. This imitates a food source startled out of hiding by an approaching carp. The two most common imitations are leech and crayfish fly patterns. While fly fishing for carp in a lake dragonfly nymphs patterns are popular. If you have to add weight, use a series of split shot rather than one large shot. Avoid using bite indicators as these have a tendency to spook carp.
If you’re not entirely sure what to use, many websites will accept carp fishing reports. Data included in most carp fishing reports include the location of the carp waters, the average carp size and time of year when they are most active, as well as the most popular or successful carp fly patterns used, including their weights.
If you are sight fishing for carp you can match your fly fishing technique to their behaviors. The most successful behavior carp can exhibit is tailing. Their heads are down, their tails are up and they are feeding. Accurate casting is critical. Cast your fly within 1 to 2 feet of the carp, let the fly sink, and present it with a couple of quick strips. Repeat a couple of attempts and recast if the carp just don’t show interest. The second behavior indicator is a hunting pattern, with the carp moving slowly along the shoreline. They will stop on occasion to snatch a morsel up from the bottom. Anticipate where it will be and aim to place your fly about five feet in front of it. When the carp is within a foot of your fly get it off the bed with a couple of quick strips before letting it settle again. Repeat this a couple of times. If the carp isn’t interested, retrieve and recast.
In terms of the gear you’ll need for successful carp fly fishing, start with about a 9 foot rod, 6, 7, or 8 weight. Make sure you have a reel with a good drag system and plenty of backing, at least 100 yards worth. Hook sizes ranging from 6 to 8 are generally recommended. Stout leaders are recommended, 1X or 2X, and averaging 6 feet to 12 feet in length. In determining leaders general tips are to make your leader at least as long as your pole. For strongest casting use the 60-20-20 formula, where 60% the length of your leader will be the butt section, using material that closely matches the diameter and stiffness of your fly fishing line. The next 20% should be thinner and taper down to the tippet, the final 20% and weakest link in the chain as it is line of the thinnest diameter. You can experiment with different formulas for leaders; adding more length to the mid section and tippet will result in smoother fly presentation but will present more difficulties when trying to cast.
There are a variety of charts available for matching up fly size with leader size. As a general rule when fly fishing for carp, carp flies ranging in size from 10 to 4 will suit most cases. Remember that carp are a strong, fighting fish with keen senses. Your ultimate aim when selecting weights and sizes should be to make it small enough not to spook the carp, but large enough to land it in a net without breaking free. Beyond the fishing rod there are other accessories that will make for a more enjoyable outing. First, wear a pair of good polarized glasses. This will reduce glare and eyestrain, and allow you to spot carp with greater ease. Also wear either a ball cap or broad rimmed hat to reduce additional glare and offer some sun protection. If you are a catch and release fly fisher invest in a good fish mat to reduce damage to the fish while unhooking it.
Since carp is dominant in the Lower 48 finding a suitable carp fishing lake in your area shouldn’t be difficult. With a little experience out on the water you’ll fine tune what in your mind are good flies for carp and learn what to add to your available equipment as you encounter more carp fly fishing scenarios, leading up to the ultimate thrill of fins, fury, and fight when you know you have a carp fish at the end of your fly.
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[...] don’t. While it certainly hasn’t yet reached the level of bass or walleye fishing, carp fly fishing is a past time that is growing in [...]