Carp Flies

[jsynnott]

When the ice goes out up around Lake Champlain there are some huge carp rolling around in the shallows and some tribs. I have worked these with all the flies I have, including egg patterns, without a hook-up. I could have reached down and grabbed a few and planted the fly in their mouth but it didn't seem right. Any suggestions for carp flies?

[onlyflyfish4vr]

Go to www.rainysflies.com they have a bunch of great patterns, and great photos of flies. Good luck with your golden bonefish quest. They are a fun fish to target. Just remember catch and release unless you are REELY hungry. Eric

[loon]

John, where are you seeing them after ice-out? I've gotten some from mid July on in some of the shallow coves in the Islands (mostly West side). Small Crazy Charlie with tiny bit of sparkle; bright day-bright fly,etc.

[pschwart00]

IF you are seeing them slithering around way up in the shallows and splashing around then they are doing the "deed." You can't catch them during this time...at least they won't eat willingly.

[Fly Deacon]

I've hooked them on orange egg flies, egg-sucking leeches, a fly tied to look like a small corn kernel, and small black woolly buggers suspended under an indicator. From my experience the most success did come during the spawn, if that's what's happening when they are constantly thrashing on the surface. The hard part for me was actually landing them, normally it was a 5 second blistering run then a snapped leader.

[Quicksilver]

If it suits your morals you might want to throw nickel to quarter sized pieces of white bread in the area where the fish are. Throw a few handfulls and see what happens. The carp are always moving. Sometimes you'll find they start cruising right through your chum and if the water is shallow you can see if they are eating the bread. The fly is white. You can use bunny, fly fur, whatever. Experiment with the size, but I think a #4 would work.

[teflon_jones]

Here's the flies I'd recommend:
1. Woolly bugger - black, brown, green
2. Egg flies
3. Berry flies - if there's any overhanging berry bushes, then basically tie up an egg fly but in the color of the berries
4. Big nymph fly

In general, I find I have better luck with things that are more subtle and without sparkle.

[jsynnott]

Well,
That's a lot to try out. Thanks for the info. based on my observations I think the fish I am see are spawning. It's impressive to watch 10lb fish launching themselves out of the water. I just want to see it on the end of my line.