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Carp on the Fly

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Every sport and hobby has its purists.  Certain bird hunters believe that only an over/under gun should be used in pursuit of upland game.  Certain fans of baseball feel the designated hitter is a disgrace to the game.  When it comes to fly fishing, a large number of anglers think that the various species of trout are the only worthy species that should be pursued.  However, more and more people are looking at carp as a way of not only wetting a hook but also as a fish worthy of fly fishing techniques.

Sage Rod and Carp

Easy for First Timers

Fly fishing for carp is similar to bone fishing done in the waters of the Caribbean.  Anglers have noted that it is common to see a carp mudding, finning and tailing in the grass near the water’s edge. This makes it relatively easy to cast an appropriate fly and try your luck at landing one. One of the hardest things for new anglers to learn is the patience that comes from waiting for “unseen” fish to hopefully take their bait.  Sight fishing offers a bit more action in a way that is easier to understand.

Carp also have a wide variety in their diet.  They eat baitfish, crayfish and even insects throughout each life stage.  This allows anglers to present a number of different lures with hopes of landing one of the beasts.

More Plentiful

Carp are strong adapters. They are found in nearly every type of fresh water, whether it is cold temps, hot temps, stained water or pool-water clear.  Most any type of water, from a small pond at the local golf course, up to the largest lake in the U.S. will have a strong population of carp.  In fact, they are part of the biggest family of freshwater fish all over the world.

Help Expand the Sport

The New York Times recently posted an article about fly fishing for carp.  Regardless of your opinion about the paper, this is a mainstream publication.  Articles that bring attention to fly fishing can help expand the sport.  A higher number of participants will bring more money to supplier of rods, reels, lines and lures.  This makes for more competition which will help the overall industry.

It also means that the various shops around the country relying on trout enthusiasts can expand their offerings to a wider audience.  Offering gear and advice for the local carp bite can help these shops earn a better living when the trout bite has slowed down.

If you have the itch to catch something with a fly, and you long for a big fish experience, consider giving the carp a try.  It might change your opinion on fly fishing and give you another reason to get outside and enjoy Mother Nature.

Larry Chandler is a freelance writer that loves to connect with anglers and New York Fishing guides. When he’s not working on the latest freelance project he is usually out with his family, making memories.

Another Beautiful Carp
Favorite Patterns

Mohair Leech

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Hot Fly For Opening Day

When fishing lakes, ponds, slow moving backwaters and other placid water fishing you cannot go wrong with a leech pattern. Leeches are one of the reasons that pond fish have the potential to grow larger than their cousins in the river. For a hungry trout, a single leech packs some serious protein. The pattern I am about to tie was taught to me at the Sparse Grey Matter – Fly Tying Fest. It will work great on opening day, fresh stocked Brook Trout love the color red. A few weeks later when the Rainbow are stocked, they will lust after the same fly. Fish the Mohair Leech similar to a Wooly Bugger.

Materials

  1. Mustad Size 12 STD Dry
  2. Cyclops Beads 7/64” Brown Olive
  3. Lead Wire .015
  4. Uni Thread 8/0 Red
  5. ¼ OZ. Dyed Red Marabou
  6. Krystal Flash Pearl Red
  7. Mohair Yarn Roe Red
  8. Rabbit Dubbing Red

Steps

  1. Take the hook and place the Cyclops Bead on the point, smaller opening will face the eye of the hook. Push the bead along the shank, forward to the eye. Secure the hook and bead into the vice.
  2. Using the lead wire, wrap ten turns on the shank of the hook. Cut off excess wire and push coil forward along the shank until snug inside the larger opening in the bead.
  3. Start the Red thread behind the lead coil on the shank. Create mound to hold lead coil snugly in place. Now wrap the thread over the lead coil to bead, then wrap back along the shank until you stop directly above the barb.
  4. Select a nice piece of Marabou, there should be a thick tail area, lacking stem.  Using your thumb and forefinger starting at the stem, smooth the feather back to the end. Repeat this action a few times until the feather is all aligned in the same direction. Using thumb and forefinger pinch a section 2/3 of the shank length. Tie in at the pinch with four wraps. Remember to start holding the pinch in front of the shank and use the force of the thread to align the Marabou to the top of the shank.
  5. Now hold the Marabou up and slightly out of your way. Wrap the thread forward along the shank to the beginning of the lead coil. Do not attempt to build up body, this is unnecessary and will be completed in the future with Mohair Yarn. Cut off excess feather and return thread to tail at tie in position.
  6. Select two pieces of Crystal Flash Pearl Red. Tie in at the 2/3 length on the front side with two wraps of thread.
  7. Now loop the remaining Flash material out towards the eye back along the far side of the shank. Tie in with two additional wraps. Cut the four pieces even with the tail.
  8. Cut off six inches of Mohair Yarn, tie in with four wraps on the top of the shank where you tied all other pieces in. Wrap thread forward to the bead.
  9. Now wrap the Mohair Yarn forward up the shank in the same direction as the thread. Continue to the bead head and then tie in, cut off excess.
  10. Select a pinch of Red Rabbit Dubbing, Dub onto thread, creating enough for about three turns of dubbing behind the bead.  Dub the three turns, this creates a nice presentation and hides the thread wrapping.
  11. Whip finish and it is complete.Purchase One Here