Will Asked:
Hey Andy- I’ve got two young kids and a challenging schedule but I can get outa the house a couple of nights a week to fish in the twin cities lakes. I’m hoping to get into some carp this spring but I’m a total neophyte to this species. I just acquired a LOOP 6-8wt reel and I need to gear up with the least pricey options for the rest of my equipment. I’m looking for suggestions for gear and locations as well as tips on strategy. Thanks!
Hey Andy- I’ve got two young kids and a challenging schedule but I can get outa the house a couple of nights a week to fish in the twin cities lakes. I’m hoping to get into some carp this spring but I’m a total neophyte to this species. I just acquired a LOOP 6-8wt reel and I need to gear up with the least pricey options for the rest of my equipment. I’m looking for suggestions for gear and locations as well as tips on strategy. Thanks!
Will,
Look towards Reddington for your least pricey, good solid quality rod choice. Essentially they are owned by the same company that owns Sage and I’ll bet some of the technology is a crossover. The low end Sage rods are also nice and in the $200.00 price range. Get a seven or eight weight for sure. Carp are a tough species to fish in our lakes. It will be a good challenge for you. The problem is that in most of our lakes you can’t see them unless they are on the surface. I fish them mostly in Lake Michigan where you can sight fish to them. Go to the places you know where you can see the fish and their behavior. That is the best tip on strategy, watch the behavior of the fish. I have taken carp on both wet and dry but they have told me (not literally) what to fish by watching them. Carp love to bask in warm sunny shallows or where food has collected around wood piles or windward bays where scum has formed. The lakes are many, pick one, they all have carp. The city lakes are popular because you can fish them from shore but I’m sure that’s the case with many. The fish may be tuned into pop corn or canned corn depending upon what the folks have been feeding them for fun.
Cheers
3 users commented in " Ask Andy- Carp and Equipment "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackAny special trick to presenting corn and popcorn? Are any more traditional flies recommended? My usual carp tactics are much cruder but I always wanted to try something more refined.
Tom
I apologize for not being more clear about the use of corn and popcorn. In no way was I suggesting that you should have products from Green Giant or Orville Reddenbacher in your possession. If the Carp division of the Fly Anglers Association found out there may be some ethics violations that could be leveled against you. I’m sure that the use of these products would also be much cruder than the tactics you eluded to in your comment. Serious carp anglers are some of the craftiest people I know. They go to all lengths to get these fish to eat their flies. Many fly companies have a growing number of Carp flies in their inventory. Rainys fly company at http://www.rainysflies.com is one good example, check out the Carp category. They carry both yellow corn and popcorn patterns along with mulberries and passion fruit patterns. My best fly for carp is a black Wooly Bugger, but I have also caught them on leech patterns and crab patterns and Gummy minnows. For dries I use a White wulff or a Royal Wulff. The majority of mine have come sub-surface. Find carp exhibiting feeding behavior. Present the fly to the carp so they can see it, but are not spooked by it. Slowly move the fly and wait till you feel tension from the fish. Give a slight strip strike. Let go of the line and let your reel sing. If you pin the line on these fish when they are first hooked, you will break them off every time. Carp have soft mouths, it doesn’t take that much to bury a hook.
Thanks for the follow up!
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