Experiences with Carp on Ozark lakes

[blacknoseddace]

When the weather gets hot I like to fly fish for carp. I prefer clear water because I like to sight fish and actually watch the fish inhale the fly. What a thrill!  I fished Stockton lake today and saw fish but the water was off color a bit and it was hard to detect a strike. During off color water conditions I tend to pull the fly away from the fish before he takes it. For me, the problem has been if I don't see the fish take the fly, he inhales and expels it without any indication otherwise. Frustrating! These fish don't hold on to that fly long at all. Rarely have I had one of these Carp turn and swim away with the offering in his mouth. I do get quite an adrenaline rush when casting to these wiley critters though. 

I would appreciate any input some of you might have and also what fly patterns do you like? 

[MOPanfisher]

I used to sort of do that as a kid.  Old glass fly rod, with a tough hook and a small grasshopper.  Get it in front of them and watch them suck it in, then hold on.  Had a lot of fun in ponds doing that.  Of course we used to trot line for caro, and rod/reel fish for them too, even ate more than a few.  We didn't know we was poor white trash, just liked to catch and eat them.  Only ate the ones from the lakes, not pond fish.  Canned, deep fried like auckers, and my favorite, scaled and be headed and gutted.  Put them in a big dish add lemon slices or juice and a couple slices of onion.  Bake till it falls off the bone.  Easy to pick out the bones the, sticky rich and you could avoid the red streak if you wanted.  Again we didn't know any better we just thought they was tasty.

[Old plug]

IF you got them forget about the carp and take on some gar 3- 4 ft long.

[blacknoseddace]

 I have put a carp or two in the smoker before and they weren't bad at all. As for gar, done that with a fly rod too on Beaver Creek  and it was a hoot. But carp fishing with a fly rod is the closest thing to flats fishing for bonefish. Carp "tail" just like bonefish when they feed creating puffs of mud as they go. I have a healthy respect (wasn't always that way) for carp and handle them with care when I release them. Furthermore, the average size you catch exceeds that of most freshwater species. Do they jump, no, but they pull hard and make long runs at times. Plus, they are a challenge and there are so many that you get lots of chances at feeding fish. Anyway, that's my take on it, for what it's worth. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I've caught hundreds on corn around here in muddy river sloughs but I've never been able to catch one on a fly.  I tied up CDC feathers that looked just like cottonwood blooms that the carp were eating like nobody's business.   I would cast it in front of one and he would just go to the next real bloom.  I've tried buggers  and nymphs too.  No love there either.

Of course these are very muddy lakes but they have hundreds on carp in them.

Pete

[Old plug]

well if you have caught bone fish you got some idea what a gar is like. And they do jump but not a lot most times. You can make flies out of unraveled nylon. No hook needed. I have caught them to over 4 1/2 ft. But those 31/2 to 4 are very very common.

[blacknoseddace]

3 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I've caught hundreds on corn around here in muddy river sloughs but I've never been able to catch one on a fly.  I tied up CDC feathers that looked just like cottonwood blooms that the carp were eating like nobody's business.   I would cast it in front of one and he would just go to the next real bloom.  I've tried buggers  and nymphs too.  No love there either.

Of course these are very muddy lakes but they have hundreds on carp in them.

Pete

I know there are guys who catch Carp on fly in muddy lakes (and I've done it by accident), but I love casting to them in clear water and watching them eat it. I cast ahead of feeding fish and let he fly settle to the bottom. Try not to plop the fly down because they will spook. Sometimes the fish will see the fl

[blacknoseddace]

Just now, blacknoseddace said:

I know there are guys who catch Carp on fly in muddy lakes (and I've done it by accident), but I love casting to them in clear water and watching them eat it. I cast ahead of feeding fish and let he fly settle to the bottom. Try not to plop the fly down because they will spook. Sometimes the fish will see the fl

(Continued) fly as it falls. If so, the fish may move over to it and inhale it. If the fish doesn't see the fly I will barely move it as he moves ahead while feeding along the bottom on the same path towards the fly. Too much movement to the fly can put the fish off and he may leave the area. It's a challenge, but lots of fun when you hook up. The best way to hook these fish is with a slow, steady strip set, which is how it's done on Bonefish. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

All the ones I've fished for that I could see were eating cottonwood fluffs on the surface.  I would love to dial that in!!  Otherwise it's blind casting since it's so muddy.  I use a scud hook for the corn and a small bullet weight.  When they pick it up you just slowly come tight on em similar to a strip set but obviously a spinning rod.

[blacknoseddace]

Here's a few Carp flies. I like to imitate crayfish and aquatic nymphs such as mayflies and dragonflies. Also, not shown are worms that can be imitated by the San Juan Worm. I've caught Carp on Clouser Minnows too.