Carp & Cat Fishing

Fly fishing for carp is not a very common practice, though it can be a very effective and fun undertaking. Most people don’t associate carp with fly fishing gear, so most people never experience what could be some of the best carp fishing they will ever experience.

Fly fishing for carp, in many ways is like bone fishing. Bone fishing takes allot of stealth, a good eye and a very accurate cast. Bone fish like carp spook extremely easy making them a very challenging fish to catch.

There are few ways to go about fly fishing for carp, from the shore, from a boat or wading for them. Fly fishing for carp from a boat is by far the most effective method. The key to catching carp on a fly fishing rig is to site fish. Visually locate a carp and then temp it into hitting your fly. Fishing from a boat gives you the advantage of being above the water line, allowing you to see more fish and effectively catch more carp.

Wading is another effective method, though you have to be very aware of your surroundings. Carp spook easy, so you can imagine what a few misplaced steps can do to any potential fishing opportunities in the area. The main key to wading is stealth! You also have to be able to see the carp, this means sporting a good set of polarized sun glasses and keeping your eyes wide open. Casting blindly may land you a few carp, though it is not very effective and in my opinion a waste of time. If I am fly fishing for carp I want to do it right and maximize any time spent in the water.

Fly fishing for carp from the shore can also be a very effective way of catching fish, like fishing from a boat your going to be above the water line, giving you a better view. The only downfall to fishing from the shore is that your limited to the amount of water you can effectively cover.

Carp can many times be found swimming and feeding in the shallows. This is a key factor in successfully fly fishing for carp. As mentioned before actually seeing the carp essential to you catching it. Locate these shallow water feeding grounds and fish them! Avoid deep water when fly fishing for carp. If you have to go deep to catch carp, its probably time you switched over to some other method for catching them.

After some experimentation, Ive found that the best times to catch carp on fly gear are the spawn and mid summer months. Carp may slow down a bit during the dog days of summer, but will not refuse the right fly if placed properly.

Another important key element to fly fishing for carp is your gear and bait. A 7 plus weight fly fishing outfit is a must. As we all know most mature carp get pretty big and put up one heck of a fight when hooked, so having an outfit that can handle the fight is key. Use anything from a 6 to 12 pound tippet, ideally flouracarbon. Also make sure you have enough backing, your going to need it!

Carp will hit an assortment of flies, I prefer using crayfish patterns and custom tied helgramite patterns, though a carp will also hit woolly buggers and even damsel fly nymphs. The key here is to experiment, try using flies that match what the carp may be feeding on where you are fishing. What works here, may not work there, so try a few different types of flies and patterns.

If your a carp angler looking for a new and exciting way to catch carp, give fly fishing for carp a try.