Carp on a Fly

[dredger]

I have noticed alot of sizeable carp on the north end of Lanier in the large shallow coves. Does anyone have experience tackling these things with a fly rod?

[floater]

I've got some gr****carp in my lake behind my house. It's hard to find one of them that's in the mood to take a fly, it has to be right in front of their nose. I've had some takes, but they take so slow and soft that it's hard to set the hook. When I do set the hook they fight so hard they break right off. Oh well, SMF5x, Maybe 1x.

I've heard that real carp are more aggresive and easier to catch, unfortunatly I've never made contact with one.

GL

[Owl]

Try doing a search on carp on this site.....and welcome aboard Dredger. You fish deep., huh?
http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif
Owl

[dredger]

I picked dredger for my screen name because I mainly fish nymphs for trout. I remebered a phrase from an article that I read about "dredging deep water with nymphs for big trout".

I gues my interest in carp is analogous to "matching the hatch". I have seen an opportunity to tangle with big fish close to home on a fly rod, they just happen to be carp.

I hooked one (approx 5 lb) on a whim while fishing a nymph for bluegills a week or so ago. I saw him in the shallows and made a cast to him and he took it. I was holding my own on my 5 wt until he stopped moving and headed for the bottom. My light tippet was not up to hauling him off the bottom.

It felt good to get some bend in the rod, so I thought I would try to repeat the experience more successfully and often.

I ned to shell out a few bucks and buy the book "Carp on the Fly: a Flyfishing Guide". The authors call carp "freshwater bonefish". That certainly shines up their image, doesn't it?

[Hooker]

Dredger welcome aboard!
Burke Power Bait makes a trout worm that works real well for carp, but you gotta get it in front of their face. A spinning rod with a Carolina rig using a 1/16th oz sinker or a flyrod will get it there.

[jonesp]

There are a lot of carp in the Hooch below 285. If you have any luck catching them, please post to the board. I was casting at a few for a few hours with no luck.

Does anybody know what their diet is? I know the last thread discussed grass, etc.

[Hooker]

JonesP,
There are many different types of carp; however, Two of the common ones are the gr****carp and the common carp. The gr****carp were originally brought into this country to control aquatic weeds in ponds and lacks, but they have escaped into our river systems, and now pose a threat to ducks and other native species that rely on aquatic weeds for food. The common carp stirs up the mud on the bottom of rivers and streams and eats tiny macro-invertebrates like worms, fish eggs, crawfish, insects, etc. The gr****carp has a grayish back and yellow belly, and its mouth opening is terminal or forward. The common carp is brassy in color and its mouth opening is subterminal or points down.
Both fish will take a fly (large nymph patterns are probably the best)if it's thrown in front of their face, and I've even caught common carp on a Rapala.
They are a powerful fish, and give a memorable fight on light tackle.