What flies work well for carp?

[Chromez 0]

Plan on fishing the great lakes for carp this year an wondering what flies I should be tying.

[JSzymczyk 0]

strawberry dough balls

[tidewaterfly 0]

When I think of carp flies, I think of "buggy" flats type flies that might also be good for Redfish, Bonefish or Smallmouth Bass. These would be patterns that might imitate crayfish or nymphs. There have been several posts about carp patterns in the past. The patterns are probably not as important as getting the fly where they'll see it without spooking them.

 

Check these out: https://www.google.com/search?q=carp+flies&rlz=1C1_____enUS378US378&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=753&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wRJzVNHbJIOuyQT0l4GYBw&ved=0CC0QsAQ

[shoebop 0]

The below link will take you to images of carp flies that you may click on. Most likely, it will be able to take you to a website that will give tying instructions. If you have a more specific question about carp flies, maybe we can help with that.

 

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=carp+flies+for+lakes&rlz=1C1LDJZ_enUS516US516&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=513&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=f1FzVMjGC4aBygS-koDYBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#tbm=isch&q=carp+flies+

 

 

Looks like Tidewaterfly beat me to the punch.

[Al Beatty 0]

Hi group,

 

Here in Idaho we have great carp fishing on the Snake River just south of Boise. Our three go-to patterns for them are a Sparkle Pupa (usually bright green on the body), Elk Hair Caddis and Hare's Ear Nymph. Take care & ...

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

I think Tidewater makes a good point. The fly is likely not nearly as important as presentation.

[ditz2 0]

A gentleman by the name of Montana that appears to be an outstanding carp chaser makes an annual trip with his regular carping bud and he uses a minnow imitation that I believe is called a goeby. Not sure that is spelled correctly. He says the carp up there will sometimes even chase them down from several feet away. I believe the ones he uses are rather large by normal carp standards too. He runs a blog dedicated to the ole carp. Make sure you give us a report on your trip.

[tctrout 0]

If fishing lakes with little moving water, these are two awesome patterns that are highly recommended; good luck!

 

TC

 

 

 

 

[heavynets 0]

Here are some more:

 

http://www.thisriveriswild.com/2011/04/carp-flies.html

[tidewaterfly 0]

If you look at most of the flies in the links that Shoe & I posted, you'll see a lot of similarities. As I said, I don't think the pattern has to be specific, even though some of those pictured look to be Hex nymphs. If you tie with "soft" materials that move easily, such as rabbit, fox or marabou or a number of other commonly used furs & feathers, you should have a good start for a fly that a crap will eat.

 

At one time, I thought carp would only eat algae or vegetation, or insects. One winter I had one strike a Beetle spin type lure while fishing for Crappies. I thought it was a bass when it hit. At that point in time there had been some articles about them taking crayfish pattern, but I never expected one to strike that flashy lure!

 

I've caught several over many years intentionally, and several more as incidental to fishing for other species. Most that I had intentionally caught took large nymph patterns.

 

Again, IMO the pattern is not going to be as important as getting it in front of the carp. I've probably spooked several hundred of them trying to get a fly or even a bait in front of one. Then of course there's the ones you never expect that try to take your rod away from you. Not fly fishing, but one memory I have as a kid of a carp that took a piece of nightcrawler fished straight down under a float along a bulkhead. My one brother & I were catching Bluegills, and that darn carp almost took my Zebco out of my hands. The water was only a couple of feet deep & I saw the carp after I set the hook. It broke the 6 lb line, and probably was a good thing!

[JC Hoppaire 0]

Might want to look at these:

 

http://www.flycarpin.com/p/flies-for-carp.html

[Ed Gallop 0]

Carp are fun to catch. It is one species that I will take grandchildren to have fun. They feed on smell and flies do not make much difference. Doe balls (wet bread) maybe with a little peanut butter added, bacon fat, hot dogs, cheese, etc., will out fish any fly by far. But if you insist, presentation is the main thing. Put it on the bottom and hope a carp will such it in. They will sometimes go a few inches above the bottom and take a wet fly. Tidewater was right on... I have also caught them on worms similar to San Juan Worms. They do put up a struggle.