Hidden fishery of Taneycomo

[MoCarp]

huge carp are available many well over 20 pounds yet few people know how to fish for these fish --many flyfisheman swear that they make runs like bone fish and the ones I have caught with the euro gear back this up--with smoking runs of over 50 yards!

the fish avg in the low teens to over 30# how often do we get to tangle with fish of that size on a rod and reel?

carp --big ones over 15# are not common in most waters--carp like the same water temps as brown trout and thats where they get biggest--Taney around powersite up to the trophy area has a fair population of big carp

you should give them a try--toss back the biggest ones " over 15#" and keep some of the small ones as they are great table fair smoked and that allows the big fish to get bigger

[Jcvistait]

I know what you mean. I caught over this this year at Longview lake. Fishing off the docks. I had to use 10wt. so I could stop them. I caught carp between 25-37 inches. They are a blast.

[Seth]

A long time ago, I believe in 1991, we went down and stayed at Lazy Valley Resort and my dad caught a 20 pound common off the dock on either corn or a night crawler.

They have his picture in the shop and said it was a 20 pound sucker .. lol

[loo10]

Last trip down (2 weeks ago) I found an area that had maybe 20 of them cruising.

I'm fishing this next weekend and I plan to try and hook one with my fly rod.

Some of them were massive.

I just hope i don't spook them.

[mhall02]

What pattern/fly do you use for these big boys?

[MoCarp]

INHO a small fake slow sinking plastic corn works best --If you toss out some whole canned corn a head of them " they have special sling shots just for that sort of thing" just squeeze you plastc corn in the sweet corn juice and you set--its like stalking bonefish--its not easy but the sizziling runs are worth it

--I got mine in 2 places wacker baits and ACS if you go to www.carpanglersgroup.com there are links as well as a forum some there fly fish for carp--I tryed a 7 weight this summer and shelled it out on the 1st fish

you need to go after these guys like salt water quarry--I have heard of guys using a fly that looks like cottonwood seed duff and catching them on drys--wow! slurp-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!

a small carp is 8 pounds and will test tackle better than any fish I know of in fresh water

[Sam Potter]

What pattern/fly do you use for these big boys?

What pattern/fly do you use for these big boys?

I like to throw dry flies to them when they are sucking bugs off the surface. You can find them close to docks that have lights. The bugs get killed by the light and fall into the water. They will spook pretty easy so keep your distance and cast ahead of a feeder. They will suck down bugs like a trout. Then hold on for the ride.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Carp, truly one of my favorite fish on the fly rod.

I mean really, how rare is anything biting on the end of you're line ??? espesiaically a carp ?

I caught several when I was first learning how to use my fly rod in 1996 or so. I was living down near the end of the lower dam area on Hwy T, a spot known as Long Beach. This is on like mile marker 18 or so, about 5 miles from the lower dam.. and this area has ponds that filled up real good every time they ran water for a long period of time. (after the floods, so around 1995 & 98.. and so on)

I was into mountain biking pretty big then.. so I rode everywhere. I found a few 'not so legal' spots to ride that were really scenic and full of wildlife and what not, and one day I came upon a brakkish pond created from such overflow water like I mentioned above. I studied the water a little while and figured it fishless of trout (which it could have been) until I saw a few carp taking who knows what off the surface in the middle of the pond. Clear as day they were giving themselves away! ~ After carefully crossing thru a few barbed wire fences to get a better look (and in hingsight, you shouldnt do this at risk of ruining YOUR own equipment) I saw something that just amazed me.

Too many big carp going around and around in circles together. Fish in excess of 5lbs were everywhere! I watched and watched these fish.. trying to figure out my best positioning to get to these big huge fish with a fly rod and fly. End of story - I landed 40 carp over 3-5lbs that day.

Fish your bugs in right in their nosehairs. Flies ? Just fish anything!

Crimp your barbs down or you will be in for more of a struggle.

Try everything on carp for flies, so what - who's watching ?

Net all of them.. and take pictures! ( but they are slimy! )

This not to mention at all the countless fish over 20lbs I have caught in Golf Course ponds!

best fishes - Brian

[MoCarp]

You guys owe it to you to check this out what a blast!!! www.carpanglersgroup.com

The Carp Anglers Group was started in 1993 as a small newsletter with a circulation of 30 anglers. The (then) American Fishing Association published the first ad in their newsletter and the CAG was off to the races. Word of mouth and lots of help from EuroTackle and CarpSense helped sell the idea.

The February 1995 issue of the always progressive and open-minded In-Fisherman brought in several hundred members, as the article introduced carp fishing to many North Americans as a true sporting venture.

The Carp Anglers Group is especially strong in the Midwest and Eastern parts of the United States, with growing pockets in the Southwest. There is a Canadian component centered in Ontario and we have 25 members in Europe. CAG is recognized as the North American specimen club for carp by the Carp Society in England - a good start in just a few years and on no budget.

Now we are a non-profit organization led by a president, with state and provincial district chairperson volunteers. Our newsletter, The North American Carp Angler, is published quarterly and is filled with fishing tips, club news, big-fish reports, book and product reviews, etc. Our newsletter is evolving into the first magazine devoted to carp angling published in North America. We hold numerous regional events at sites around the USA and Canada each year and also sponsor a few national events, including the Chicago Carp Classic - the competition for the title of North American Carp Champion.

Another service we provide is a list of devoted carp fanatics, some of whom may live near you. We hope CAG members will teach each other about carp fishing and form local clubs to spread the word. Believe it or not, there are carp clubs all over the country that were formed for the singular purpose of catching old "bugle-mouth." It turns out that carp are a popular fish, but most anglers thought they were the only ones catching carp. We hope to change all that forever.

he not-for-profit organization registered as ‘Carp Anglers Group Ltd’ (also referred to as CAG) was established to pursue the following objectives:

A) To gain acceptance of the carp as an exciting and challenging sport-fish.

To become better carp anglers, assist others and encourage them to join us.

C) To treat the carp with respect, promote the release of trophy-size carp and encourage others to do the same.

D) To provide both members and non-members with the opportunity to meet, socialize and enjoy fishing for carp in a group atmosphere.

[MOBass]

I like to throw dry flies to them when they are sucking bugs off the surface. You can find them close to docks that have lights. The bugs get killed by the light and fall into the water. They will spook pretty easy so keep your distance and cast ahead of a feeder. They will suck down bugs like a trout. Then hold on for the ride.

Now I have to bring my flyrod when I go after another hidden fishery down there. I ain't spilling the beans on that one though.