Just want to know if any of you have ever targetted carp on fly. Here in SA, carp on fly is quite popular, and some really large catches have been reported. A carp of over 20KG's is not unusual. They are to be found in most of our large rivers, and the policy is strictly catch and kill, due to their alien and invasive status. I have fortunatly never caught one, but I fear that if I ever do, it would most certainly be regarded as "by catch", as I can't imagine myself ever targetting them specifically. i think I would stuggle to get excited about a fish that i'm not prepared to touch. Sorry if I sound like a snob, but thats just how I feel, I just don't like the look of them

SA? South Africa or South Oz?

Cheers, Dave.

Sorry ma, South Africa.

Andreb,

In the UK Carp are heavily targeted and greatly valued by both fly fishermen and their coarse fishing cousins. The big fellas are individually known and named - they appear to have a life expectancy of up to about 60 years! They also appear to be (relatively - in fishy terms - smart and can be extemely hard to catch.)

When caught (and in many places barbless hooks are mandatory !) - especially anything over about 20 lb they are very carefully unhooked on a padded, wet mat, so that their scales and slime are not harmed by sticks and gravel, weighed, photographed and gently returned. Some anglers even carry anticeptic to treat hook wounds in the fishes mouth etc. prior to release.

If you harmed one deliberately other fishermen in the area would probably lynch you !!!!!

The fight they give is akin to lassoing the tow hook of a tractor and then trying to stop it !!!!!

They have been in the UK since at least the Middle ages, introduced into lakes, monastery and farm ponds (for food in those days) and subsequently moved / escaped into rivers.

In the South of the UK I target Carp, in the North, trout.

Nigel

Very good description Nigel. The first fish (in fact the first 30 or so) I caught on a fly-rod was a carp and, as I was a member of a carp syndicate at the time, they were all upwards of 15lbs in weight. It was unusual not to be taken well into the backing by each fish. Nowadays I don't have access to that water but I do like the occasional dabble at the day-ticket down the road although the stamp of fish is much smaller (maybe 12lb maximum).

Best current flies I've tied for the job are things like this:

I hooked into a few while fishing for steelhead and although the acrobatic fight a fresh "silver missile" puts up is amazing, those carp were the best fighters I've hooked into so far. One in particular, a 21 pounder, took over 15 minutes to land, I actually thought I snagged that "thing" but it was hooked in the mouth and my backing showed up more than once during that fight. My 7wt sure got a work out that day, I'll never forget it.
Needless to say there were many outings after that specifically targeting carp on the fly.

Nice flies WK, what is that yellowish "ball" on those flies?

It's a polystyrene ball wrapped in a section of women's stockings and lashed to the hook so it serves as a wing post as well. They never sink even after they've been slimed by a few carp. The regular antron posts seem to get too much of a hammering for some reason although they work just as well.

Nice, what an idea. I bet they never sink.
I only caught carp when the fly was bouncing on the river bottom, it must be great to get them on top.

Thanks

Roman

just need some advice so i can try a local fishery with plenty of carp in and was wondering what was the best way to catch them

if you were using a dog biscuit fly what make of dog biscuits would you use and also
do you need to prepair them by soaking them etc.....

any help as always very much appriciated

Very nice flies Rich, I must try a few, what hook sizes are you using, quite big ?
I have access to a small private lake closeby, and I know there are carp up to 25lbs in it, and they have never been fished for with a fly.
You have spurred me on to have a dabble.
S.

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That the wily trout of the smallest size, against a rock doth lie. SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.