Fly fishing for carp you say?

http://www.flymartonline.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=9

It seems to be something that is more common over in Europe. BUt it is starting to become more and more popular over here. Check out this article to find out why and how!

Here in the Great Lakes region there is a growing following of respectable fly fishermen whom target carp. Now I had heard the stories about huge carp and had seen them too.

I listened with piqued interest when John Vincent, from Flymart Flyshop talked about stalking these fish on the flats of lake St. Clair, tossing custom tied flies on 6 weight fly rods to "mudding" carp. John explained that these fish were smart, real smart, and a approach one would use on a wary bonefish down in the Keys was what it took to get close enough to cast to them without spooking them out of range. Ok I said to my self, "hmm I like to hunt, so this sounds interesting". Then I thought out loud, Ok so how do they fight? I was barraged by stories of multiple long streaking runs, the sounds of reel drags screaming, testing man and equipment. I said to John, "are we talking about the same fish", or was there another species unknown to me that was a real worthy opponent? John told me I should schedule a trip with one of the local guides familiar with this "unknown sport" who could show me the ropes. I agreed and a trip was scheduled.

So being an avid Internet Surfer, I decided to do a little research on my new quarry. I began searching the net for anything related to fly fishing and carp. All the information seemed to be coming from the U. K. After hours of searching and reading it was obvious that Carp are the major targeted sport fish in Europe and gaining popularity here in the U.S.A.

In fact people have been fishing for carp for a long time. Izaak Walton - Author of "The Complete Angler" in 1653. writes: "The carp is the Queen of Rivers: a stately, a good and a very subtle fish that was not first bred, nor hath been long in England"

Arthur Ransome was an angling writer of great repute. In his great book "Rod and Line" he compared the feeling of striking into a carp to being "dragged out of bed by a grapple towed by an aircraft". He stated that although the salmon may give a faster fight, no fish can compare with the dour, stubborn, raw power that a carp has.

Ok so the date is coming and I am thinking "this sure sounds good, I just won't tell any of my other fly fishing buddies". So on our scheduled day, I met Jamie Kaminski - local guide, for the first time, and we jumped in my truck for my "St. Clair flats - carp trip". On the drive over to the "flats" we got to chat about techniques, strategy, flies and the fight. Keeping my eyes on the road most of the time he was talking, I threw a quick glance in his direction and noticed his eyes were as big as saucers as he retold memorable battles with this formidable fish. "This guy is hooked or crazy!" I said to myself as I remembered what I looked like in pictures proudly holding up trophy Michigan Salmon and wild Steelhead.

Much more on this article here

Thanks to Jeff Selser for this report

technorati tags:fly, fishing, carp

Bass fly fishing tips

Get the bugs out

This information will help those struggling when going bass fishing - check it out for some great tips.

Flyfishing for bass is a slow-paced antidote for metal-flake run-and-gun tactics. It doesn’t always offer the most or the largest bass, but it’s relaxing in the way bass fishing used to be, and that’s the fundamental appeal.

Sometimes, though, it’s too relaxed. Catching bass on a surface bug is so often assumed to be a simple process that too much gets taken for granted. Wobbly leaders land floating bugs off target. Sloppy line handling produces fewer strikes, and impatient retrieves keep bug and bass from making contact. Pay just a little more attention to these three problems, and you’ll take a lot more bass with surface bugs.

[1] A Poorly Placed Rod Tip
The biggest mistake most people make is holding the rod tip a few inches above the water. That leaves a short curve of slack line between it and the surface. When they strip a few inches of line to work the bug, the force of that strip is used up in shortening the slack and the fly moves only a little. If a bass does strike, that sag sometimes means you’ll miss the fish.

The rod tip belongs right on the water’s surface when you’re retrieving. With no slack line, if you make a 6-inch strip, the bug moves 6 inches. The retrieve is completely controlled, and you can work the fly more effectively.

For more tips click here

Thanks to John Merwin for these great tips

technorati tags:fly, fishing, tips, bass