The carp family has been called everything from a trash fish to the golden bonefish, to a culinary delight. Whom you’re talking to generally decides the descriptive metaphor used on this family of fishes. Carp fishing has always been wildly popular across the ocean but in the past decade or so an unlikely group of anglers have turned “trash fishing” into an art, those people would be fly fishers.

Carp can present a challenging yet very rewarding fly fishing experience simply because they are so wary. They are picky about what they eat, extremely difficult to sneak up on, unless they are tailing or already feeding, and you need to have a pretty accurate cast to entice these fish to take a fly. The most fun of any carp fishing endeavor is when you’re stealthy enough to hook up, a carp fights like few other freshwater species. Wait a minute… Many of these characteristics sound like bonefish and redfish! Probably because the three species are all very similar.

I recently heard a gentleman say he passed on a bonefish trip because he was afraid his casting was not good enough for them. My bourbon nearly shot out my nose at those words. I then explained that fly fishing for carp right here in Nashville was probably the best practice he could ever get. You should have seen his face, he was a diehard trout guy, when I suggested he do that. It’s true that Carp and Bonefish exhibit the same characteristics in feeding and the propensity to “bust” the wading anglers due to lack of stealth.

Carp are omnivores and very optimistic feeders. Their diet generally includes a variety of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. These include insects, crustaceans, small fish, and plant matter. Understanding the carps diet and the conditions that you find them in can be instrumental in selecting a fly that imitates the natural prey of that moment.

Carp will readily feed on insects such as caddis flies, damselflies, dragon flies and various aquatic larvae. A carp might be thought of as dumb however, you will need to figure out the right insect and have a realistic pattern to trigger the predatory feeding instinct. There are times that carp feed with reckless abandon but it’s rare, a large cicada hatch 17 years ago taught me all I needed to know about topwater carp in a feeding frenzy. I caught more carp in three weeks than I have in my entire life.

My first carp was a total accident years ago when I was in my youth. I was just learning to fly fish and was throwing a crayfish pattern against the edge of a large flat. The carp moved 10 or 12 feet to eat that crayfish pattern, then it taught me a hard lesson about fighting large fish. I came close to losing that fish a half dozen times before I managed to land it. The moral of the story is that most of you probably already have a few patterns that will work well for carp. Turns out that crayfish are a staple in the diet of most carp. Over the years I have learned that the smaller crayfish patterns seem to work the best. So when picking some patterns you would be extremely remiss if you didn’t include multiple variations of crayfish patterns.

Being an omnivore, carp will also eat various forms of aquatic plant matter. I know a guy who keeps fly tied with a wad of dubbing in his box, it’s the ugliest fly I have ever seen. He calls it his grass fly and it works wonders in the right situation.

A large majority of carp encounters happen in very shallow water. No more than knee deep to an average person. In this environment the angling is all about how stealthy and observant the angler can be. Carp are perhaps the spookiest fish in freshwater so sneaking up on them is more like hunting than fishing. It’s in this scenario that an accurate cast is paramount because you will only get one shot before the jig is up.

Still water ponds and lakes, or even a flat on a slow-moving river, are also prime habitat. The calm water provides the perfect visual setting to spot cruising carp. In the still water it does not take much to spook these fish. When approaching from the bank you must walk softly to not send sound waves out to the fish. The sun is also important as an ill cast shadow can ruin the shot before you get started. Still water carp tend to respond better to insect patterns whereas the carp in moving water are more apt to feed on crayfish.

Riverbanks, particularly those with expansive flats, are prime carp habitats. Carp will move onto these flats in search of food throughout the day. I prefer riverbanks and flats in a river, because I can drift a fly over the carps head. In that situation a botched cast can still pay off as you are not casting directly in front of the fish. Patience and observation are crucial as you scan the water for signs of carp movement.

When it comes to gear most any rod from a 5wt to a 9wt will work just fine for any of the carp family. However, if you are trying to up your bonefish, or redfish, game I would strongly suggest you use the rod you intend to chase those species with. Simply put accuracy is paramount for all flats fishing so use what you would use on a saltwater flat to get the proper practice.

 In most freshwater applications a reel is simply a device to store your line. In the world of carp fishing, you will be seeing your backing multiple times per fish. Pick a reel like what you would use for bonefish and redfish. A good drag is the difference between many hooked fish and caught fish. Lines and leaders are strictly situational to each angler. I keep a 7wt floating and sink tip handy, along with both monofilament and fluorocarbon leaders and tippet.

To become proficient at carp fly fishing there are a few things to focus on. 

First is spotting and stalking carp. Good sunglasses are without a doubt as important as the right fly patterns. Learning to stalk a seen fish is a skill that takes time to master, especially wading. You will blow a few stalks, but practice will reduce that number a lot over time. To get good at spotting and stalking carp your patience will be tested over and over. Don’t let frustration get in your head. There are plenty of carp around for you to hone your skills with. Besides, it’s better to make mistakes on a trip to a local pond than in the Bahamas!

Second is Precise casting to a specific fish and it does not come naturally to many anglers. If you find yourself botching the cast too often there is a trick you can use. Go to your local sporting goods store and buy several youth hula hoops. Scatter them at different distances and practice putting the fly in the hula hoop. Once you can do that more often than not add a cheap rubber ball, basketball size will work perfect, to the inside of the hula hoop and focus on hitting that ball. If you happen to be new to fly fishing, I suggest taking a fly-casting lesson or two. This will teach you the basic mechanics of the cast.

Third is learning to adjust to the conditions. Remember fish don’t have eyelids so they are ultra-sensitive to bright sunlight. Also, fish act differently in different weather conditions so become a student of carp behavior as the weather changes.

Finally, you will need to teach yourself to stop the trout sets. When a carp eats you need to set the hook with authority. Learn how to strip set and forget just lifting the rod tip.

Carp are the golden ghosts of freshwater and mastering the art of catching them will make you a better angler. Get out and try your hand at chasing the golden ghosts. It’s an experience you won’t regret.