Has this ever happened to you?

[nkambae]

Ran into a first the other day. Had some time to kill last Saturday afternoon so I went down to a small metro area trib to the Mississippi to see what I could see. Saw a good size carp (plus some smaller ones too) in a small pool. ran back to the car for my 5wt.

That particular carp was finicky, spooky, not hungry, whatever. I walked downstream to the next pool and saw an amazing sight. About ten carp were swimming in the main current within inches of the surface. Being somewhat dim, I didn't think much of it until I realized that they were actively pursuing and eating food of some kind just under the surface. Like a pod of giant trout with funny lips.

Duh. I think I'll tie on a hare's ear soft hackle. Put the fly about a foot in front of the downstream fish and it aggressively took the fly. Six lb. carp up and down and around the pool. That was fun! I wonder if they'll start feeding again? Yep.

Ended up getting four or five between four and eight pounds. What a hoot! I think I'll visit another small trib soon.

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stu

[Sarge]

Cool story Stu!

[rushing]

LOL Sounds pretty fun!
I have tried to catch carp but I have yet to have any luck catching them on purpose. I have hooked into some 10-15lb fish while fishing for trout. All you here is zzziiinnng...snap there goes you fly!

Rob

[santiamflyguy]

Hey stu!

finally got on here...figured it'd be interesting to read about what's going on outside of the left coast.

you've gotta wait until next april or may, i have a carping spot that will blow you away (and maybe blow up a 5 weight rod, too!).

what did the carp say when it ran into a concrete wall?

exactly.

-scott

[nkambae]

cool 'nuff

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stu

[Sarge]

Welcome to FishingMN santiamflyguy. you should head to one or both of the FM get togethers planned this weekend and meet some of the great people from this site.

[nkambae]

Sarge, that sounds like fun. But I, er...gotta go fishin'

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stu

[santiamflyguy]

wish i could, (or could've, at this point) but it's hard being stranded in Northfield without a car. Ah, well, I'll survive until the spring. I hope. Until then, a good excuse to poke around the local area and really get into some big nasty things (bowfin, etc).

[TonyCarpBoy]

You described my daily fishing experience!

I discovered what you did a few years ago... carp are great sport on the fly. I fly fish for carp four or five times a week.

They are VERY spooky and fairly picky but aggressive predators (for some reason people think they are garbage sucking and stupid). They are also very quick to spit out a fly once they figure out it is not very tasty. They also are sensitive to presentation. Slow, short strip retreive is best.

I use mostly crawfish and nymph patterns on the bottom but they most definitely take dry flies when the right hatch is on. Size varies from size 18 nymphs to size 6 wooly buggers. Cottonwood seeds and elm seeds are a favorite food and easy to tie flies work for these 'hatches'.

I am glad you discovered this fine fishery. I probably know the pool you are talking about. lol

Tony

[TonyCarpBoy]

BTW, I hope the reference to carp hitting a concrete wall was NOT a suggestion that they should be killed when caught.

If so, you need some education as to the glories of carp and the myths about killing rough fish.

If it was not, sorry, but I get VERY sick of people killing fish they are not going to use.

Tony