Fly Fishing For Carp: A Pictorial

[Slamdance]

I went back to the flats for an hour today around lunch time. I was by myself but brought along my camera and, although not the greatest shots (as stated, I was by myself), I did manage to capture the sequence of events.

In this shot you can see a couple carp just on the outside of the submerged bushes
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0494.jpg

Now they are coming a bit closer and I am casting in their directon. The bigber one in the foreground is feeding aggressively.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0497.jpg

I have gotten the one in the foreground to start eating the small pices of bread from the surface.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0498.jpg

He is about to eat my fly
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0499.jpg?t=1208545934

He is eating the fly here:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0502.jpg

He took it!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0507.jpg?t=1208546115

Off to the Races!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0514.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0515.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0518.jpg

[Slamdance]

He tried to get into the main channel of the river. The little 5-weight was working hard!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0521.jpg

We're both getting tired now
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0524.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0525.jpg

Getting closer!
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0529.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0530.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0533.jpg

Coming to hand
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0538.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh182/slamdancecharter/20080418_IMG_0540.jpg

[Soundking]

That's really, really cool Steve. Thanks for posting that. You've inspired me to go play in some swamps this afternoon!

[crashfromboston]

what type of flys do you use for carp? i had a friend who was trying to set records for carp on ultra light tackle.. but he would not tell me what baits he was using..

i heard there is a healthy carp population in the rivers north of boston..

sounds like a lot of fun.

[Quicksilver]

Captain! Thank you for the great camera work. Thanks also for the word that now is the time.

[coltranem]

Hmmm..interesting. A fly fishing guide in Ohio gave my some olive crazy charlie flies which he said was great for carp. It looks like I should finally give them a try.

[Fly Deacon]

awesome play-by-play, nice effort

[SONAS]

those are awesome pics of carp..i love fishing the fly in salt,but im in search of the carp.i have a nice little 6weight for them..what flies were you using?i was going to try some #6 and #4 gothcha patterens and in a place here in ct.cant wait,heard that the big boys put up a good fight.

[Fish Farmer]

Great play-by-play pics!
I was looking for bass in a trib to the Merrimac yesterday. While there, a ~12lb carp came cruising by. Was thinking they might be fun to catch.
Are they good fighters?
I'll try your bread trick.

[MKDeceiver]

Did you eat him?!

Carp are great fighters, they have been know to even take dry flies.

[Slappy]

Great pics.

I took the kids on a nature walk and was amazed at the carp numbers we saw. Huge schools of spawners and plenty of activity going on everywhere.

Next year I am going to have to give that a try!

[G-Man]

I agree .. that is quite cool ... and worth a try sometime.
Biggest freshwater fish in these parts .... and I have never caught one.

Nice pics.