Increasingly over the last few years I’ve found myself fly fishing for carp. Why, you may ask?
As a trout angler it becomes harder each year to fish effectively during the “dog days of summer.” So what to do? I could look towards the sea and fish for bass or mullet. But, being a freshwater angler, my inclination is to target carp, a species that thrives in the heat of summer. What’s more, they will happily feed off the surface, which makes it a visually appealing proposition.
When
The time to target carp fits perfectly with the decline in the trout’s activity. Once the water temperature reaches over twenty degrees centigrade is when I make the switch.
Where
I can’t imagine anyone that’s reading this in the UK will be far from a commercial, day ticket coarse fishery. These fisheries have plenty of hard fighting carp, just waiting to take your fly!
How
As I mentioned earlier, carp will happily feed off the surface. They can be induced to competitively feed within your casting range by feeding floating baits. I recommend you use Chum Mixer dog biscuits or large floating trout pellets.
Ideally pick a swim with the wind off your back or in your face, this is very important. As you feed floating baits they will drift with the wind, and you want your fly to drift in a similar manner. Casting across the wind creates problems, the bow in the line quickly draws the fly across the ripple in the most unnatural way. Carp are not stupid, they will not accept this presentation.
Get in a rhythm of feeding small amounts of bait at regular intervals. Once carp are feeding on your floaters they will look for more and follow the “chum line” up-wind. Do not increase the amount you feed until you have several fish feeding. You want to create a competitive feeding situation. Once you achieve this, you will catch plenty of carp. Feed too heavily and the fish will follow the food downwind away from you. Casting into the wind is my second choice, it does have the advantage of bringing the fish to you but doesn’t draw fish from as far.
Once you have a few fish feeding, cast beyond the baited spot then draw your fly slowly back towards the fish. Resist casting directly at showing fish as this is a sure fire way of spooking them. Try and concentrate your feed in one area. Get in the routine of casting out and feeding directly over your fly. You want to draw the fish to you rather than chasing them. Be careful not to put your rod down when feeding more floaters. It’s better to grip the rod between your legs, otherwise you could see your rod disappear into the water!
Tackle
Your trout tackle will suffice to start with, but if you get serious I would recommend using a 9ft #8 weight rod. The extra power will enable you to “boss” the fish rather than the other way around. Obviously, floating weight forward lines are essential. One with a shorted head makes loading the rod easier when fishing in tight casting spots. For my leader material I use co-polymer nylon line in 12lb or 15lb breaking strain because it floats, not fluorocarbon which sinks. Buy a selection of Fulling Mill’s Bonio, Close Copy Biscuit and Disco Carp flies, they will catch you plenty fish and the hooks are strong enough to land anything you’re going to hook. Finally you must have a large landing net 36” or bigger, and an large unhooking mat, all fisheries will insist on these two items.
I’ve introduced plenty of experience trout anglers to carp fly fishing in recent years. They all now look forward to the “dog days” of summer. Creating new flies and developing new techniques to outwit wily carp has reignited their passion for fly fishing and fly tying.
Tight lines
Andy Lush
Andy is a passionate angler who offers a guiding service, his website is www.thefriendlyfisherman.co.uk
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