no carp is safe now

[bill de brooklyn]

I took a 2 wt rod and caught this fellow in Willowbrook lake on Staten Island this afternoon. nothing like a carp on a fly rod!

[AaronJasper]

I have a new spot to try out this week!

[FK]

Bill,

That is a fantastic fish on a 2wt rod,,,, or any fly rod,,, congratulations.

What fly did you use?????

Regards,
FK

[Clema74]

Salut Bill de Brooklyn!

very nice fish!
8-10kg?

I heard a lot of anglers saying carp on fly is an incredible experience!

I tried a couple of time. But it was impossible to interest them on my fly...

Can you tell a little bit more about this catch?
Did you catch it in sight nymphing? What kind of fly did you use? Tippet size?

Thanks in advance for sharing

[Troutastic]

I know the guys in CO fish the South Platte through Denver and do really well... They use crawdad and bugger patterns to entice those carpies...

[bill de brooklyn]

what makes the carp unique is that it does not chase your fly like other fish can. carp can only be taken when they are already in the process of feeding. If a carp is not feeding, go see a movie. When a carp is feeding your fly has to be no more than 2 feet from it's mouth. carp don't like fast movements, so never move your fly more than an inch or so when it is in the feeding zone of the carp. Carp can see you. remember if you see the carp then the carp see you. carp fishing requires STEALTH. Move slow on your approach, wear earth tones, leave flashy jewelery at home. the key to getting carp to take your fly is PRESENTATION. Carp will take the same flies trout take ( dry, wet, nymphs, terrestrials). If carp are feeding on the surface I use deer hair flies. If carp are eating on the bottom wet flies like woolie buggers work. I've used hares ears for tailing fish. I have not found a go to fly yet because I fish all over NY & NJ. I've found what works in one lake doesn't work in all bodies of water. just like trout, match as much as possible what the carp is eating; Size, color do matter.

If you decide to target carp, try to fish with someone who has caught carp with flies before so that you can shorten the learning curve.

for this fish I used a corn fly ( a hook with a hair rig attached to imitation corn). tippet size depends on you the fly fisher. Last week I used 6X to fish for carp. For this carp I used 4X tippet. But each time I was fishing in a lake; I believe river carp tend to be stronger than lake carp.
You must have patience when fishing for carp. I've seen fishers hook and lose their carp because they over reacted to the carp's take of the fly.

I spent most of today fishing for carp in central park and was SKUNKED.

Bill

[Clema74]

Hi Bill

Thanks a lot for those advices!

If I understand well, you have to avoid any animation of the fly?

concerning the fly, do you use heavy ones or very light?

What I don't catch is does the fly need to be on the bottom or in the water column?

I tried carp here in a big river. That's very hard to meet them near the banks. I met them 3 times the last weeks. Every time they were very closed along the banks, in the algues... But it wasn't possible for me to see what they were taking. They had the head down on the bottom.
I tried a couple of flies, but nothing... they did put an eye on them...

thanks again for your help.

I hope you can post other pics of nice fish like this one. Very interesting!

[bill de brooklyn]

the feeding zone I described is for carp feeding on the bottom. once your fly is in the feeding zone, only a slight movement is required; no stripping,nothing else. it is up to the carp to take or refuse the fly. I do not use waited flies where i fish. carp fishing is sight fishing. you must be able to see the carp feeding. if carp are tailing in unclear water, i would chum in an effort to get the carp to feed on the surface. if you can get the carp to feed on the surface, and it is a big "IF" then you can offer a dry fly that resembles what they are eating.

[bill de brooklyn]

* waited should be spelled: weighted.

[AaronJasper]

Bill,

I got your e mail. I'll map it tomorrow.