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Carp on the Fly (New York Times story)

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MaxKatt

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I can't even imagine them on the fly. First one I ever caught was on my bass rod. I took me for such a run, that ever since I've used my saltwater chunking gear to go after them.

 

[url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/sports/carp-now-a-worthy-fly-rod-target-in-united-states.html][/url]

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/sports/carp-now-a-worthy-fly-rod-target-in-united-states.html

 

February 12, 2012

Carp Gain as a Fly-Fishing Favorite

By CHRIS SANTELLA

 

Fly-fish for carp? For many anglers, the first response might be, “Why?” For coldwater anglers, carp have long been the fodder of mean-spirited jokes, a species more likely to be pursued with a bow and arrow than a bead-head nymph. But the fly-fishing frame of mind regarding Cyprinus carpio is changing.

 

Will Rice, an outdoors writer based in Denver, had his moment of “carptharsis” a number of years ago.

 

“During the spring runoff, trout fishing in the Colorado Rockies is just not happening,” Rice said. “One May, a friend and I were eager to wet a line, so we headed east from Denver to fish a reservoir for wiper,” a striped bass and white bass hybrid.

 

“We rented a boat and began zipping around,” he said. “At the edges, high water had pushed over the banks into some grass flats. We took a closer look and saw all these fish moving around — 10- to 12-pound fish — finning, mudding, even tailing. They were carp. We didn’t catch any that day, but it was eye-opening to see fish behaving like this — the way bonefish and permit behave. Carp are a species you can sight cast to with a fly rod without traveling to the Caribbean.” Comparisons to bonefish in terms of their skittishness and strength have earned carp the nickname golden ghost.

 

Common carp are of the cyprinidae family, the largest group of freshwater fish. Distinguished by large, sometimes golden scales, barbells, a stout profile and a small mouth, carp can grow to more than four feet and nearly 100 pounds, though 2- to 3-foot specimens of 10 to 20 pounds are more commonly encountered in the United States. Aesthetically speaking, carp, which lack the streamlined shape and the delicate watercolor patterns of trout, are an acquired taste for some.

 

“I think carp are maligned here because they’re not considered classic table fare — though they were brought to North America in the 1800s specifically for that purpose,” said Kirk Deeter, an editor-at-large for Field & Stream and part of a clan of fly-fishers who regularly stalk carp in the South Platte River in downtown Denver. “They are one of the most resilient fish in the world. They can live in almost any conditions — warm or cold, clean or dirty water — and are readily accessible just about wherever you live. Go to a local lake or a golf-course pond, carp are the fish you’re likely to see. If you want to sight cast to a tailing fish that might be 10 pounds or more, carp are it.”

 

Deeter added: “I like to equate carp fishing with soccer. Around the world, carp is the No. 1 sport fish. A staggering amount of money is spent on carp angling. But here in America, it’s just starting to catch on.”

 

This may be true among casual anglers, but many professionals know better. Ask guides on the finest trout streams in the American West what they do on their days off, and they will sheepishly admit that they chase carp.

 

“There’s a pretty common theme for anglers who get excited about carp,” Rice said. “They start out fly-fishing for trout, and then take a saltwater trip where they catch bonefish and tarpon. In the course of the saltwater fishing, something clicks about getting bigger fish on the fly. When they get back home and fish for trout again, that big-fish thrill is a little lacking. Then they discover carp.”

 

Carp are catholic feeders; they will feast on aquatic insects in all life stages, crayfish, baitfish — even plant matter, like blackberries. Anglers should not mistake the carp’s broad appetite as license for sloppy presentations. Carp possess highly developed senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch. This makes them spook easily. A spooked fish emits a pheromone that warns other nearby fish of potential danger. If you misfire and put one fish off, odds are good that any other fish in the immediate area will go off the bite as well.

 

“On the South Platte, I believe the fish are mostly eating crawfish, so I rely on crawfish or crab imitations,” Rice said. “I use the same crab patterns that I use for permit. In the end, it’s all about watching the take. Seeing a nice carp suck up a fly is always a thrill. When you set the hook, they don’t even know what’s going on — they just continue on their way. When they do realize that something’s wrong, the water explodes, and they’re gone. The big ones roll off slowly like an 18-wheeler in low gear. The smaller fish can melt line off the reel.”

 

Chris Wood, the president and chief executive of the conservation organization Trout Unlimited, said: “Before I had a family, fishing meant going to the end of the road and bushwhacking as far back into the woods as I could. The farther back you go, the fewer people and the better the fishing. Now, one of my favorite places to go is the C&O Canal in Washington, D.C. I take my sons out with me, and we fish from the towpath and we catch some big carp. When the Texas mulberry trees are ripe with berries and the berries are dropping in the water, the fish will take them on the surface. We use mulberry patterns and fish them like dry flies. If the hatch is on, it’s as exciting as catching bonefish.”

 

 

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I read an article in a fly fishing mag about how popular carp fishing with flys was in England. The Author gave a description of a resting carp a a cruising carp and a feeding carp. A resting carp is finning stationary and it is asleep. A carp traveling in a straight forward motion is cruising to a feeding area and a carp that is swiming in a salom style continous "S" pattern is actively feeding. He also said that carp like mulberrys almost as much as wood ducks. And their favorite food are freshwater crawfish. i was on the deck over looking the cove I lived on the next day and spotted a fish swiming up the shallow cove in an "S" pattern. I ran down stairs and tied a Orvis crayfish Clouser pattern on the leader of an 8 Wt. rod and slipped down to the dock and shot it to a point about 30 feet in front of the fish. KerBOOM! he hit that fly like a starving shark.

 

It immediately took me into my backing. I cranked him in two more times before I yelled for my son to get the big net we normally use for striped bass. My new neighbors were watching this whole deal from their deck. When we netted this 15 pound gamonster they applauded and whistled. They are old friends now and still tell everyone that I am the best fly fisher they know. :D That carp had shoulders, believ you me.;)

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Interesting. I always use corn, but I know a place I can get a lot of crayfish easy. I think I'll have to try something else.

 

I've got a good spot, but man are those things picky. No that I see they send phermons that spook their friends I'll be even more stealthy. Still, it may explain why while I know this pool contains a lot of giants, I only get 2 or 3 per trip.

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I have a few spots that I hit every now and then. One spot has 3 mulberry trees and it's like taking candy from a baby. As long as im stealthy I pretty much have my pick. Before the berries drop they are extremely hard to fool and after I spook a few the whole pond shuts down. The other spot is much bigger and there are no berries. It could take up to a hour just to find them and sometimes I only get a few shots. They always seem to be sifting through the mud. Not sure exactally what there eating but I've hooked them on San Juans and small nymphs. At this point I pretty much just wait till the berries start to fall and hit them with the mulberry fly. I've grown to love carp as they are no doubt a formidable opponent on the fly rod.

Fly fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive yet attainable a perpetual series of occasions for hope.
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On the Wallkill River in NY, we have fished a "go-to" fly for over 20 years....super simple..i'll share this secret.  Tie an estaz egg in a deep purple color.  Its called the Mulberry!  Simple, yet effective.  In the late spring when the Mulberry trees are loaded with berries, they often overhang the river and the big carp gorge themselves to near bursting on the juicy purple berries.  This is so ingrained in them that i find the pattern works long after the last berry has fallen.  Purple estaz woolly buggers also kick butt.    Carp, especially river carp are fierce fighters and will test your gear!  i use a minimum of 8 wt and often a 10 wt.  Tie up some Mulberry flies and go to town.



 



Cheers,



 



Sean


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Now I'm going to have to do some reseach to see if the big tree on the side of my pool is a Mulberry.

 

My spot is on a stream. The pool is probably 30 yards wide and 50 yards long. Downstream is blocked by a waterfall, upstream gets shallow. Farm fields on both sides. No trees or rocks, so once hooked, you don't have to worry too much about them wrapping you up on something. Mostly high teen/low 20 fish. Never seem to get anything smaller or bigger.

 

So... they're kinda pinned in there, but not easy to catch. As kids we through everything at them, including worms, with no luck. It wasn't until the advent of the internet that I learned of corn on a fishfinder, or a cornmeal/strawberry jell-o concoction we could get them on.

 

Hardest fighting fish I've battled to date. Much respect.

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Been fishing them w/ the fly for over 30yrs.A small crawdad imitation is probably the best all-round fly unless they are focused on something specific.Brass eyed flies catch more than lead eyed flies.They can tell the difference and when they get picky it makes all the difference.



Not sure I buy the pheromone thing as a fish upstream of a spooked fish will spook too.Must be a sound they emit as the entire pool will go on alert all at once.Their hearing/sense of vibration is incredible,way more sensitive than most gamefish and one wrong footstep and you'll blow the whole pool.Better to stay out of the water to stalk them if you can.



The "floaters" can be taken,contrary to popular theory.A muddler type head tied w/ long hair,dubbed body w/ a large hackle palmered and bucktail tail ,all to make it sink verrrry slowly.As a matter of fact,you'll probably have to thoroughly wet it first to even get it to sink but it works.They won't move far or chase it but close enough to their face and sinking extremely slowly will work.



Good fish to test what a reel is made of as they get big.A 10 lb'er will burn into your backing quite handily.Avg fish round here is 7-12lbs but a 20lb'er is no stretch if you put in the time to chase 'em.Biggest I ever landed was 54" fishing in N Mi...over 100yds on the first run.



I was fishing a small stream once and spotted a large carp w/ two smaller fish flanking it.I watched the circuit they made as they fed and when they came close enough I made a pitch and big one rushed ahead and nailed the fly.Yeah,no big deal,but what happened next is what amazed me.As I went to land the fish the two smaller ones tried to flank it and pull it back in,going so far as to partly beach themselves in the process.Almost felt bad as I killed the larger fish as the other two were now "pacing" the bank...nah.Friggin hate carp and I kill every one I catch and that's my primary motivation for fishing them


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Slip n slide....they grow big, fight hard, and can be challenging to get a eat. What's to hate? I know plenty people kill them to eat them and others kill them because they say the carp eat bass eggs and push out native species. On long island it's not a problem but I suppose in other states it may be. I just don't understand how someone can hate carp let alone kill everyone they catch. I don't want to derail the thread and I don't want to offend you but I'm curious what your reason is for killing them.

Fly fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive yet attainable a perpetual series of occasions for hope.
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Carp fishing is a huge sport in Europe - big money comps, a typical medium to high end setup would set you back $15K ... shame you feel you need to kill them slip - they are a great sportfish :) we even name them over here!

 

France and Spain have some huge lakes and rivers with big carp in them - 50lb+ not uncommon on the expensive week tickets ...

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Carp are indeed a fun fish to (try to) catch and a great option for the urban angler.



 



One of my favorite ways to catch them is by imitating floating cottonwood seeds.   A tuft of antron with a black sharpie dot on it can be deadly at the right time of year. 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 






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I do a lot of carp fishing in & around NYC. My blog gives info about this addiction. Carp are smart, alert and hard to catch; especially with flies.

 

 

 

Google - The Great Lakes of NYC

 

My blog is about fly fishing in the two dozen lakes and ponds that are managed by NYC's Parks Dept. I fish many of the lakes in NJ too There is amazing fishing in these two states without traveling more than 60 miles.

 

[img=

 

my carp flies:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c391/bill0215/IMGP0942.jpg]

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew S. View Post

 

Damn. Sucks to be so close to the five foot (60") mark, largely considered the threshold for a "trophy" carp.

 

Considering that's bigger than the world record & a quite a few inches over the MI state record, I'd probably go ahead & kill it too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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