Carp
- Thread starter Buzzy
- Start date
Hem
Life of the Party
This is a great thread.
Thanks Buzzy for detailing, so much familiar info/ strategy.
Thought I would suggest a simple fly which has caught me alot of carp, in particular in off color water.
Sometime try a red San Juan worm with a larger brass bead tied in mid hook.
The fly doesn't startle carp as much when it hits the water. The brass bead helps sink the fly but also IMO helps catch the eye of carp in murky conditions. Brass is also a little less bright than gold beads which sometime alarms carp if they spot the fly sinking.
Simple pattern.
Thanks Buzzy for detailing, so much familiar info/ strategy.
Thought I would suggest a simple fly which has caught me alot of carp, in particular in off color water.
Sometime try a red San Juan worm with a larger brass bead tied in mid hook.
The fly doesn't startle carp as much when it hits the water. The brass bead helps sink the fly but also IMO helps catch the eye of carp in murky conditions. Brass is also a little less bright than gold beads which sometime alarms carp if they spot the fly sinking.
Simple pattern.
Thanks for the suggestion! I have a few SWW's* in my carp box but I'm going to add a couple per your suggestion!
* (several of us used to have secret names for some of our ties so when fishing busy Rocky Ford we could share what was working without letting everyone know, yes, not really a nice thing. San Juan Worm became SWW - one of us couldn's spell very well)
The thing I learned yesterday is that it’s really hard to sight fish in overcast. And that I need to learn to read the tide tables and river level predictions. The levels were forecast two feet lower than last time I was out, but it was way higher. Also need to figure out how to hang an outboard on my drifter so I can cover water.
Hem
Life of the Party
I think your explanation of when to set the hook on a carp is really good. When I was a younger man I spent a period in the Keys fishing for Bones. I learned to watch their fins and tails for the take. I always associated a certain fluttering which indicated the fish was excited to eat something. Carp seem to exhibit similar behavior. The instinctual hook set comes from understanding if the carp has its nose on your fly and the brief moment when they eat. Frustrating getting the timing sometimes, it might simply be the fish hesitating ever so slightly.
I've caught a few token carp this early summer but mostly just watched them while SUP-ing in local rivers.
For me at least, it's all about sight casting and cloud cover is the great destroyer for me to be able to see the fish. Blind casting and catching carp? Almost never. (I wish I hadn't sold my Hewescraft).
Thanks!!
dfilippetto
Just Hatched
had to add this to a carp thread! first ever carp, on a fly from @clarkman - not wild, mind you, but still an absolute blast. the flies I received in the mail inspired tying of my own, and had 2 friends catch some this big on flies I tied. thanks for the set up @clarkman - I realize this is not what these flies were intended for, but god damn they munched em! as agreed, a photo of the fish I'm catching on your flies, for all to see... 
Replicant
Steelhead
Is this the official carp thread? Apologies if i'm highjacking. 
It's been a minute. This is a post about 'firsts'.
First time out this year (it's a long sad and boring story).
First carp ever landed (after thirteen years of casual pursuit and many flies lost, tippets snapped and plain old stupidity)
First time I've had a fish that was too big for my net.
First time I've ever had a fish go to reel (this includes striper's and a gnarly cutbow).
I'm tired and parched. Took me twenty to thirty minutes to haul this thing in on my 5wt.
But i'm happy.
It's been a minute. This is a post about 'firsts'.
First time out this year (it's a long sad and boring story).
First carp ever landed (after thirteen years of casual pursuit and many flies lost, tippets snapped and plain old stupidity)
First time I've had a fish that was too big for my net.
First time I've ever had a fish go to reel (this includes striper's and a gnarly cutbow).
I'm tired and parched. Took me twenty to thirty minutes to haul this thing in on my 5wt.
But i'm happy.
Love it!!! And thanks for the reminder that I really need to get off my butt and take a trip over to the east side and give these things a try. I've wanted to do it for so friggen long, and quite frankly I'm not doing much of anything right now so I really don't have any of my typical excuses lol
Shit, I forgot we gotta an original carp thread....
Here are a few from the last weekend-ish.
Evan graciously allowed me to take a pic of his, after which I blew every shot he got me into
Although, I did hook up that day...
2 days later, I sucked less...
My buddy got in on the action too!
Here are a few from the last weekend-ish.
Evan graciously allowed me to take a pic of his, after which I blew every shot he got me into
Although, I did hook up that day...
2 days later, I sucked less...
My buddy got in on the action too!
Same story, one day earlier
thankfully that guy isn't a guide....Same story, one day earlier
notaspeyguy
Smolt
Any Oregonians chasing these? I did in Colorado, any on the OR coast?
I think they either recently or are planning to put them in devils lake?
Edit: https://www.dlakeoregon.com/grass_carp_update_may_2023
Come down to my neighborhood before you gotta get back to work. I'll make your dreams come true.
I'd be the world's worstthankfully that guy isn't a guide....
