Fly Fishing For Carp

[tgard27]

I've heard of white cdc being used when cottonwood trees are in bloom. I've also heard of carp being line sensitive. What type of leader do you use? And I am hoping for a challenge, not that I'm any good at fishing but I don't want afish to just hop on the boat. Travis

[Ham]

Ben Levins is a local guide who did a talk at the Fly Fishing Club about Carp on the Fly. There are numbers of pretty decent sized carp in Crooked Creek and others (Swan). He uses small crawfish (or similar) patterns. He suggested watching for feeding carp. Get the fly in front of them. Wait until the carp gets closer and then give the fly a little jump to get some attention. He maintains the hardest part is knowing when the carp has taken the fly.

That basically the technique I used to get a biggish carp on a crappie jig the other day on BSL.

[Cyprinus]

I'm beginning a crazy habit, fly fishing for carp. It started last summer when we were catfishing and I hooked into a good sized carp on a medium action pole, it took me all of ten minutes and three runs to pull this fish in. I love to go trout fishing and being out on a stream, but the fact that these streams are at least 2:30 hours away leaves me little hope of getting out more than once or twice a month. Anyone know any good flies or spots in KC? And I would be happy to meet up with anyone else who is crazy enough to try landing a carp on the fly rod. Travis

Hey Travis,

I've been flyfishing for carp for awhile now, and it is flat out the most fun I've had with a fly rod. Don't get me wrong, our trout trips are a blast, but I've yet to hook a trout that has ripped into my backing on a consistent basis like ole rubber lips does. I'm in the Lawrence area, so if you ever get out here e-mail or pm me. We have been scoping out new areas to find them. Pre spawn is always good, since they are actively feeding to build up their egg masses.

For flies, I have my favorite http://freestateflyfishers.org/?page_id=297, but think bonefish type flies with bead chain eyes to invert the hook. This prevents snags and increases hook ups, especially over rocks. If you dig around on the flies page of this site you will find pictures of other productive carp patterns that I found from hosting a carp fly swap. Others report good luck with SJ worms, although I haven't had the patience to use them yet. I'll post a few photos once I can dig them up.....

Mike

[Buzz]

I have never fly fished for carp, but I think it would be a blast. My uncle has been though for many years and has shown me pictures of some very big carp. He showed me one of the flies that he uses on certain ponds and lakes with oak trees around them, it was an acorn fly. I couldn't describe it in detail or how it was tied, but I recall that it did look pretty much like an acorn. A lot of the places he fishes are golf courses. I'm gonna have to get in on some of that after reading this thread.

[Gavin]

They are tough to sight cast too, thats for sure. My best fly for common carp is a cream mohair leach with bead chain or lead eyes...cast well ahead of them like 10-20' hope that you dont spook em, and that they come near your fly.....when they do, give it a little hop, like Ham suggested. I booked Dave Whitlock to do a presentation on Carp Fishing for the Ozark Fly Fishers a couple years ago. Dave recommended a book on carp fishing but its hard to find..Its called "Carp are Gamefish" by George Von Schrader, pick a copy up if you can find one.