CarpCarpOn the FlyOn the Fly

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OverviewOverview

• BackgroundBackground• Why Carp?Why Carp?• BehaviorBehavior• TechniquesTechniques• GearGear• FliesFlies• Open ForumOpen Forum

Why Carp?Why Carp?

Amazing Fight!Amazing Fight!

Available Almost Anywhere!Available Almost Anywhere!

Incredibly Challenging!Incredibly Challenging!

BackgroundBackground

• Live in the south hills Live in the south hills • Started fly fishing in warm water ponds and the salt Started fly fishing in warm water ponds and the salt

about 12 years agoabout 12 years ago• LOVE to fish... juggling job, kids, family, etc....LOVE to fish... juggling job, kids, family, etc....• Enjoy fishing much better than drivingEnjoy fishing much better than driving• HATE combat fishingHATE combat fishing• Carp are plentiful and available 5 minutes from both Carp are plentiful and available 5 minutes from both

home and workhome and work• Started pursuing carp as a primary focus about 3 Started pursuing carp as a primary focus about 3

years agoyears ago• Blog started about a year ago Blog started about a year ago

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Carp BehaviorCarp Behavior

• Carp are omnivorousCarp are omnivorous• Typically travel in shoalsTypically travel in shoals• Can be pursued through most of the year but are most Can be pursued through most of the year but are most

active between April and Septemberactive between April and September• Carp have fantastic senses and can typically see and Carp have fantastic senses and can typically see and

feel you long before you can see themfeel you long before you can see them• Can be very selective and leader shy at timesCan be very selective and leader shy at times• Carp typically don't "chase" food and are not an Carp typically don't "chase" food and are not an

ambush predatorambush predator

Carp BehaviorCarp Behavior• SpawningSpawning

o Lot's of activity.... not of the eating kind!Lot's of activity.... not of the eating kind!• CruisingCruising

o a very low percentage gamea very low percentage game• MuddingMudding

o Chow time... nose down, tail up, serve up the flyChow time... nose down, tail up, serve up the fly• CloopingClooping

o Opportunistic surface feeding... spinner falls, Opportunistic surface feeding... spinner falls, cottonwood fluff, mulberry hatches, etc...cottonwood fluff, mulberry hatches, etc...

TechniquesTechniques• If you can't sight fish.... go If you can't sight fish.... go

fishing for something elsefishing for something else• Movements are slow and Movements are slow and

small! Sometimes none!small! Sometimes none!• Putting the fly on the dinner Putting the fly on the dinner

plateplate• Leading the Fish!Leading the Fish!

o Cast ahead of the path of Cast ahead of the path of the fish and wait for it to the fish and wait for it to get to your fly... don't cast get to your fly... don't cast at the fishat the fish

• Fly on the bottom... and I Fly on the bottom... and I mean mean ON the bottomON the bottom!!

GearGear

• RodRodo 5-8wt rods5-8wt rods

• ReelReelo Solid drag systemSolid drag systemo Adequate backingAdequate backingo Mid or large arbor preferredMid or large arbor preferred

• LineLineo WF floating lineWF floating lineo Compact head or line up to load rod for shorter castsCompact head or line up to load rod for shorter casts

• TippetTippeto 2X-4X 2X-4X o Mono or Fluorocarbon, flouro will help take flies to Mono or Fluorocarbon, flouro will help take flies to

the bottomthe bottomo 3x Flouro is my go to tippet choice3x Flouro is my go to tippet choice

FliesFlies

• Fly selection is always secondary to Fly selection is always secondary to presentationpresentation

• Unless carp are clooping on top, I will always Unless carp are clooping on top, I will always put my fly on the bottomput my fly on the bottom

• Typically tie in the size 6-12 rangeTypically tie in the size 6-12 range• Prefer my flies to ride "clouser style" hook Prefer my flies to ride "clouser style" hook

point uppoint up• Materials like marabou, silly legs, rabbit strips, Materials like marabou, silly legs, rabbit strips,

or anything that has good motion in the water or anything that has good motion in the water is a great choiceis a great choice

• Colors will vary based upon water clarity, but Colors will vary based upon water clarity, but black, brown and green are my first choices (in black, brown and green are my first choices (in that order)that order)

FliesFlies

• Pattern PreferencesPattern Preferenceso Blood Dot (Apricot Supreme)Blood Dot (Apricot Supreme)o BackstabberBackstabbero HeadstandHeadstando Wooly BuggerWooly Buggero San Juan Worm (red)San Juan Worm (red)o Clouser Swimming NymphClouser Swimming Nymph

Bonus!!!Bonus!!!

Q and AQ and A

Ask Away!Ask Away!