Catching Carp On Fly
Urban Carping - By Angus Line
Looking for fly targets in urban areas isn't always an easy task, but it does make for some serious fun if you are willing to explore some unlikely terrain. Never shy away from a swamp or residential pond when searching for a slimy carp.
Who would have thought that one of our most damaging introduced pests would evolve into one of our most adored fly fishing targets! So why the explosion in interest? Well just like trout, they tick a lot of boxes; they don't mind skinny water, they live in a wide range of habitats, have a varied diet and don't always eat your fly. In fact, they can be a real challenge to successfully target, keeping you interested in the pursuit of carp fishing on fly.
Gear
Here's a freshwater fish that does require some stopping power, carp can grow big and they are powerful! If you're fishing open water scenario's then you can push it all the way down to a 2-3 weight but this will be challenging! Perhaps a 6-7 weight offers the best versatility, just consider the size of the fish you are targeting and the type of water you are fishing. For example, if I am fishing a lake that has reeds along its banks or a river heavy with snags, I will tend to grab my 7 weight for the extra stopping power and heavier butt section that will allow me to steer the fish away from structure. A large arbour reel is also another useful addition to your carp fishing arsenal. Carp will often turn and run back towards you during the fight, a large arbour reel will allow you to retrieve line fast, keeping in contact with the fish.
Leader and Tippet
There are no teeth to take into account with these blubber lipped creatures, so fish as light as you think you can get away with for the situation. They can be tippet sensitive, so don't fish too heavy. In clear, open water I tend to fish 6-8lb tippet but in waterways that feature snags and obstacles, a 12-15lb tippet is my recommendation, especially when chasing those XL fish. This is as heavy as you need to go, anything heavier than this will tend to spook the fish more often.
Flies
These fish are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on vegetation, detritus (decaying organics), aquatic insects, yabbies and anything else that will equate to an energy gain. With this, you have a lot of scope with fly choice. Crawfish, damsel nymphs and Woolley buggers are generally the best options. Just like trout fishing, I am always looking to "match the hatch", so a little foraging to see what aquatic life is in your particular waterway can make all the difference.
Check out our range of Carp flies here.
Strategy
Here's an important one, Carp are freakishly aware of their surroundings. Approach slowly and carefully being conscious of every footstep and the contrast you have on the background. Try to wear natural coloured clothing or green/tan camouflage sun shirts to prevent the fish from spotting you. With many other fish, a spooking will result in a fast, erratic fleeing, Carp however will often just simply drift away not eluding to the fact that they are aware of your presence.
Once you have made your way into casting position, simply lead the fish by a couple of feet, trying not to land the fly directly in their face. A cast that is a foot in front and a foot past the fish is ideal. This allows you to drag the fly in to the fishes vision as it crosses paths with the offering. Carp have monocular vision when looking at your fly as their eyes are situated on the sides of their head. This means that they generally need the fly to be within a foot of their face for them to spot it.
When retrieving the fly, tick the fly into their vision and then let it sink to the bottom, carp will respond the best when the fly comes to a stop. You can always entice the fish with a few short bumps, but when you see the fish has become interested and is moving in for the attack, stop the fly and let the carp pluck it from the substrate. You can usually see this happen when the carp expands its gills and sucks water into its mouth. At this point, you want to maintain constant tension with he fly and action a long strip until you feel tension.
The fight
The fight can often be long winded if you don't use the correct tool for the job, hence the recommendation of a 6 or 7 weight outfit for larger models. Carp are ecstatic fighters with plenty of energy to do big runs, which is one of the many reasons they have become so popular as a fly target. Usually in ponds and lakes you won't have to worry too much about these guys running you into structure, however in more urban settings and smaller streams littered with branches and snags, carp will use this to their advantage in an attempt to outplay you. Be mindful of this when fighting carp and try to use the butt section of your rod to steer the fish where you want it to go. I have lost fish to all kinds of interesting obstacles while fishing for them in urban settings, everything from a sunken moped to a shopping trolly has been used by carp to escape my net.
How to find carp
When searching for carp, there is several useful resources that will greatly help your search. The first resource and probably the most useful one for urban carp is, google maps. Using the satellite view feature on google maps, I will pick an area and scroll around, finding all of the ponds and lakes in that vicinity. Once I have made a list of spots, the easiest way to locate which ones have carp is to go and look. Drive to multiple locations and walk the banks without your rod, just looking for signs. Anything from actually seeing a carp to seeing round holes in the substrate where they have slurped pray, will tell you if the the location holds your intended target.
Another great way to find them is on facebook groups and feral apps Like the WA PestWatch App. More than often your city will have a feral species lookout page or phone app for people to lodge feral fish and animal sightings. These are extremely useful as carp are widely recognised as a feral species in Australia. People will regularly post images and locations of where they have spotted carp in urban areas.
Good luck and enjoy this awesome fly target in your local waterways!
