Fishing Carp Flats From Boat

[Justin Spencer]

Just wondering if anyone fly fishes for carp on lakes in the area. Wondering if it is too late in the year to do it and if anyone has any suggestions.

[laker67]

Just wondering if anyone fly fishes for carp on lakes in the area. Wondering if it is too late in the year to do it and if anyone has any suggestions.

Hey Justin. I haven't done it in years but some of the oaf guys out st. louis still do. I used two methods. One was to find cruising fish near the shoreline and cast ahead of them. In about may, at loz, they curise the shorelines in search of food. The best fly for intercepting them, for me was a white grub with a red head, tied on a #10 9671. I would cast six feet ahead and let it settle to the bottom. As the carp approached, I would barely move it, just enough for him to notice. Much like you would fish for a cruising brown or rainbow. The other method was to bait an area in deeper water, with dog food being by far the best attractor. 8 to 10 feet is a good depth. If you bait an area several times over the course of the day, the fish will be there. If fish are there and active, continue to add a handfull of bait on occasion as you fish. If you do the baiting on a regular basis, the fish will be there. You will attract carp, buffalo, and catfish. I have caught several carp and buffalo in the 10 to 22 pound range. You may have just sparked my interest enough to try it again. It's a rush, make sure you equipment is up to it. They will almost always try to spool you on the first run. Good luck and let us know if you do it.

[fishinwrench]

I have been experimenting with it some while waiting for the white bass to start busting in the evenings, but I haven't got the carp figured out by any means. My best catches so far have been accidental.

There are still plenty of big bruisers cruising and tailing on the mud flats at L.O. and the water temp on the flats is running from 65-68, not sure how long they'll stay up in there.

We've been having a big midge hatch every evening lately, although it seems weird calling them "midges" because they are huge (3/4 inch long), but that is what they appear to be (either big midges or or small craneflys). I have to assume either those midge emergers, or Zebra mussel larva are what the carp are rooting around for up on the mud flats.

If you fish the flats at Lake O be sure to wash your boat when your done..... This is just from one 5 hour trip up in the shallows.

At the rate the zebras are multiplying they should have this pond filtered out nicely within a few years

[fishinwrench]

The best fly for intercepting them, for me was a white grub with a red head, tied on a #10 9671

That pearl IceDub Grub has quite a following, I'll have to give it a try.

[laker67]

That pearl IceDub Grub has quite a following, I'll have to give it a try.

You are right, it does work "better" than the original story about the fly. I can't recall his name as of yet, but he owned the first fly shop on the left as you were headed to the park. Right before you get to Ed and Kays place. He was about the only fly shop that carried the ice dub in pearl. One day I bought every package that he had. Immediately he wanted to know what I was tying with that new material. Bob Gaston, that was his name. You know Bob, if you tell him something, every one that walks in his door is going to know. If he thinks that you don't know, he will call you. Bob is a great guy, but no secrets in his vocabulary. Anyway, back to the story. I told him it made the best "carp fly" i had ever used, to avoid telling him that I was using it on trout. It's funny to me every time I hear this story. I never did tell Bob anything different. Coincidently, it is a good carp fly that I have caught several on. You do not have to put the red head on this one. You need to bait up your dock like I was talking about. It is easy to get them used to coming in. They smell that food in the current and here they come. I have to chuckle every time I hear a story about the "IceDub Grub". Thanks FW.

[oneshot]

Carp are still feeding heavy seen some feeding at Truman in the Shallows.I would Chum an area Bait up throw it out kick back and wait for the Fun.

oneshot

[fishinwrench]

You are right, it does work "better" than the original story about the fly. I can't recall his name as of yet, but he owned the first fly shop on the left as you were headed to the park. Right before you get to Ed and Kays place. He was about the only fly shop that carried the ice dub in pearl. One day I bought every package that he had. Immediately he wanted to know what I was tying with that new material. Bob Gaston, that was his name. You know Bob, if you tell him something, every one that walks in his door is going to know. If he thinks that you don't know, he will call you. Bob is a great guy, but no secrets in his vocabulary. Anyway, back to the story. I told him it made the best "carp fly" i had ever used, to avoid telling him that I was using it on trout. It's funny to me every time I hear this story. I never did tell Bob anything different. Coincidently, it is a good carp fly that I have caught several on. You do not have to put the red head on this one. You need to bait up your dock like I was talking about. It is easy to get them used to coming in. They smell that food in the current and here they come. I have to chuckle every time I hear a story about the "IceDub Grub". Thanks FW.

Yep, that's where I first heard about it. I was buying a bunch of it because I was using it to make miniature sparkleminnows (crappie killinest fly you ever tried...let's see what I can start there LOL) and Bob said "ya know there's a guy up by you that is tearing up the carp with a fly tied out of that stuff." Well at the time I couldn't have cared less about flyfishing for carp, so that tidbit bounced right off me.

But apparently since then several guys have scored well with it because everytime someone brings up flyfishing for carp here on L.O. the "ice dub grub" gets mentioned.

You started a legend ! That's some funny dung !

[laker67]

Yep, that's where I first heard about it. I was buying a bunch of it because I was using it to make miniature sparkleminnows (crappie killinest fly you ever tried...let's see what I can start there LOL) and Bob said "ya know there's a guy up by you that is tearing up the carp with a fly tied out of that stuff." Well at the time I couldn't have cared less about flyfishing for carp, so that tidbit bounced right off me.

But apparently since then several guys have scored well with it because everytime someone brings up flyfishing for carp here on L.O. the "ice dub grub" gets mentioned.

You started a legend ! That's some funny dung !

True to his nature, Bob kept no secrets. Good to hear from you again.

[strangercreek]

A little off topic or out of your area but...

I fished with Flatslander guide service at Milford Lake in Kansas a couple of weeks ago from a flats boat. We did see a couple of fish but I spooked them both. We then headed down to the Republican River (Milford spillway) on foot and sight casted lots of carp, gar, and drum. I also caught a few wipers and a decent smallie (decent population of them in that lake and river).

It was similar to being in the Merrit Island area in Florida a week before, casting from a platform, the guide polling and helping to spot fish. It is definitely worth doing, and very reasonable. Their website is www.flatslander.com. I fished with Craig Phillips. He is a great guy.

He said they have found carp up in the shallows clear into November depending on the weather, how early winter comes, etc.

[Justin Spencer]

He said they have found carp up in the shallows clear into November depending on the weather, how early winter comes, etc.

Great info sounds like fun. I lived in Florida for 4 years and this seems like as close to flats fishing as you can get in the midwest.