How to Catch Grass Carp on the FLY! (video)

You guys have been asking for this for a while.  I've written a post or two (Click to read) describing what I look for and some of the mistakes I made when I started but I felt like a video would actually show what I'm talking about.  So here you go, this is part 1 of a 2 part series.  In part 2, I'll go over the flies I use and when I use them.  Hope this helps some of you put a few in the net.


As always, this will play better if you open it in the YouTube viewer.

Dry Fly for Grass Carp

One of the questions I get asked most often is what fly did that grassie eat?  So here's a short video of one that has always produced.  It's tied on a traditional nymph hook because dry fly hooks straighten too easily or you have to really tire out the fish first, which is just hard on them.  The tail will sink but the foam wings keep it on the surface.  Decided to make a YouTube video so you can see it tied.  It's best viewed from the YT channel and not blogger.  Hope it helps put a few carp in your hands.  Got several more that I'll be adding to my channel.

Grass Carp fly pattern - One of my favorites.

Over the last few months I've gotten a lot of questions about the what fly I use.  Here's one that I've had some success using.  It's a simple leech pattern (took me longer to type this post than tie the fly) that I've talked about before.  It's not much different than any other leech pattern except I add a foam head to either keep it floating or slow the fall down.  This allows me to drop it right in front of a feeding grass carp and it slowly falls right in front of their face.  They can't resist that slow fall.

Materials
sz 6 Gama SL45 Bonefish hook
Black or whatever color head you want craft foam.  Cut to less than hook gap and 1.5 inches long.
UTC 70 thread or whatever you have.
Black Marabou (or any color you prefer) I do these in olive also.
Black Rabbit strip.
Saddle Hackle
Black Crystal flash - optional

Secure the hook in the vise. I pinch the barb on mine but forgot to do it for this post.

 
Put down a thread base.  Then tie on the rabbit strip.

 Tie in the foam.  Leave enough room at the eye to fold back and build a small head.

 Next up is the marabou

Matched to the same length or slightly less than the rabbit strip...couple lose raps then pull to the length you desire.  

 More marabou on the bottom.  Measured at about half of the rabbit strip.

Add some flash.  Tie in on one side then cross over and down the other side.  I avoid the loud or obnoxious flash.  I skip this step at times.

Tie in the saddle hackle by the tip.  Only 3-4 wraps.  I don't want the longer fibers found at the base.

 Here you can see it's just enough to give it a buggy look but not too much.

For the head just fold the foam back to the desired size you want.  I make them in a few different sizes.  Bigger they'll float at or on the surface.  Smaller they'll sink head up.

Whip finish over the foam.

 Finished and ready to fish.

I fish these either under a small pinch on indicator, as a dropper or alone.

Got questions post in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

New Grass Carp on the fly video. Went a different direction with this one.

This was a fun project.  I wanted to do something more cinematic with the latest video.  There's still some gopro footage included but most of the camera work was done with my DSLR.  Still learning but I like the way it came out.  Take a look and if you feel like commenting please do...always open to feedback.

For best viewing open the link in YouTube and watch in 1080/60.

How to Catch Grass Carp on the Fly

I was recently asked to write a post for Orvis giving some tips about catching grass carp on the fly (link below).  I faced this scenario one weekend while trying to get some images to accompany the story.

You've paddled across a bay to a nearby flat that you suspect has grass carp feeding on it.  On the way you noticed more boat traffic than usual on the water.  You also managed to spook a couple carp that you did not see. 

As you stand to scan the flat before moving further, you notice a grasser tailing at the back of the flat. This is exciting because tailing carp give you a fighting chance.  As you begin to push pole across the flat being cautious not to make a sound, you see one swimming towards you.  Do you cast at it or try to avoid it?  From experience, I know if I spook that carp it's more than likely going to put that tailer down also.  Here's what I did.

I backed off and avoided the potential land mine.  I knew my best opportunity for getting an eat was getting a fly near the tailing carp.  The moving carp was also an opportunity but the odds were not in my favor.  It was moving towards me and I wasn't sure if it was one of the carp I spooked earlier.  If you present to every grass carp you see you'll likely have a tough outing.  Being selective sometimes increases your odds of success.  This was one of many tips I provided to Orvis found here:
http://www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/pro-tips-catch-grass-carp-fly/

Here are two flies I use:
Grass Carp leech pattern

Be sure to check out the dry fly tying video I made here:

And a short video from the pursuit: 

Quick carp trip

Last Friday, me and a buddy headed out to the flats to chase grass carp from kayaks.  I think it's his second time fly fishing from a kayak.  He's not new to the carp game just the kayak.  Didn't take him long to hook-up.  The process was repeated many times over the afternoon.

 In the beginning, we split up and worked the flats from about 50 ft apart.  Sighting and pointing out fish for each other and taking shots at those in range.  It was nice having another set of eyes scanning the flats.  In ideal conditions getting a 30ft shot is great.  Gives you enough space to make a presentation, possibly 2.  Anything closer and the odds of spooking the fish are really high.

The water wasn't clear on Friday but it wasn't chocolate milk either.  We've had a lot of rain and all the rivers and lakes in my area are high and stained...if not chocolate milk.  From the pictures you might think sighting a 20lb grass carp would be easy.  It was anything but easy.  But that's part of the challenge and I love the challenge.

The chrome colored scales and limited movement of the fish really conceals them in the off colored water.  We spooked a ton but we felt the pull of many.  It was a great day.  June starts the travel season for me.  Got a few trips lined up.  Stay tuned for reports.

Carp /ˈkāˌäs/

It's true I have several addictions.  My newest is video edits.  When I get to put some grass ghosts on film it gets worse.  Here's my latest edit.  These guys pull back...you be the judge.

Staying busy...

After my trip to Grand Isle, LA I spent most of the next week writing, attending Christmas parties (school and work), dance recitals, my oldest daughters birthday and some other things that I can't recall now.  The winter issue of http://somuchwater.com/ will be out soon and there's a good chance you'll find a bad article from me included.  The month of December is usually very busy and fishing takes a back seat, or maybe it moves to the passenger seat after the 1st week.

However, I found a few hours last week to check on my local carp waters.  As the temperature drops into the 30's at night the grassers are becoming harder to find.  It's a normal transition from the shallows to deeper water near the flats.

Targeting them shifts from looking for tailing and other aggressive behavior to trying to spot a shadow or tail in deeper water.  As you would expect, the catching has slowed way down.  But they still eat when you can find one.  The method has been a nymph under an indicator on a light fluorocarbon leader.

While the fishing hasn't been all that exciting (compared to sightfishing bull reds in SELA) I did get some really exciting news.  I was invited to join the Jackson Kayak Regional Fishing Team.  It's pretty cool getting to represent a company I respect, doing something I love.

Hope to get out a few more times before the new year.  My xmas, birthday, anniversary, father's day, I cleaned my wife's car, watched Twilight with my wife, said I'm sorry 1st, and anything that deserves a gift, was a GoPro 4.  I'm no JJ Abrams but hope to get some video on here in 2016.  

Techniques for targeting grass carp on the fly

Below is a collaboration from myself and a buddy** covering nearly 3 years of chasing grass carp.  They're a very challenging fish to take on the fly and it's taken some time to learn their behaviors and develop some techniques that offer repeatable success.  Over the years I'd estimate we've caught hundreds, if not more, grass carp on the fly.  I'm not an expert but here are some techniques that have helped me bring grassers to hand with regularity.   

The first thing I do is look for aggressive behavior and eliminate the carp that won't eat.  In life, there are situations that no matter how hard you work or what you do...you have ZERO chance of being successful.  Searching for carp in the right mood and moving past the ones that only offer rejection will help you in your quest for success.  Some things to look for include:

Caught this sequence of a grass carp porpoising...

If you see this and your w/ a buddy...you throw his fly rod in the water and move fast b/c that's an eat in waiting

Tailing - Fish feeding on the bottom, tail out of the water. 

Tailing in the shallows

Cruising - When you see them shining or porpoising in the distance.  But don't confuse with fleeing.  When a large group of carp are spotted moving in the same direction, away from your general direction, they've decided they don't like you.  In my experience these carp are on guard and grouped for protection.  Pack up and find new water.

Feeding on a hex hatch - epic days!

Feeding - Obviously if you see a grasser come up and eat something...bees, wasps, water bugs...go that way fast!  Feeding carp are aggressive and seem oblivious to their surroundings.  Example, a few weeks back I saw a group schooled up eating water bugs.  The water looked like bass schooling on the surface (hope you've experienced that situation).

After I find a target, the next part is getting a fly in front of the grasser.  I never blind cast.  I always sight fish them.  Having a kayak is a huge bonus in my opinion.  I've chased them from a boat using a trolling motor and feel like they can sense the motor turning.  The kayak allows me to access the skinniest water without making a disturbance.  The small footprint of a kayak allows me to get close (20-30 ft) to them and make accurate presentations.  I don't have much success outside of the dinner plate area.  They just don't go far to eat in most situations.  

I try to go in the middle of the afternoon with the sun high and when the wind is calm.  The water I chase them in is usually clear so spotting them is easy.  Conversely, it also helps them spot the kayak ninja.  Dressing to match your surroundings will help but it really doesn't matter how many buffs you wear, you'll never blend in all the way.  In the end, I still look like a a$$ clown standing behind an island in the picture below.  

Kayak ninja in action...can you see me?

What I've noticed and feel is vital to my success is how close I can get when I don't move.  See pic below.

2 grassers within 10 ft.  I was eating lunch and drifted into them.  They never knew I was there...until I stood up.

I'm convinced they pick up quick movements very well and react to them in sheer panic.  I try to avoid witnessing such behavior by doing my best to move slowly and being deliberate with my movements.  Example, if I need to squat to put my paddle down, I'll be casting from a squatted position...it's good for the glutes!   

Small bream poppers have been fantastic when they're looking up.  If you can make your own upgrade the hook and you'll lose fewer fish to straightened hooks.  Start with no movement and let it sit motionless on the water.  If that doesn't get any interest I'll give it a little twitch or drag it slowly across the water.  It's 50/50 on freak out or eat.  If they won't eat on the surface I drop something off the hook.  Droppers are typically small bugger types, nymphs, and other slow falling carp patterns.  I've had very little success dragging anything to a grass carp.  They don't like to see things moving around them.  A slow fall seems to elicit a better response.

One of several grass carp posts I have on my blog.

http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/2015/08/poor-mans-redfish.html

If any of these tips (cough), help anyone land a few I'd love to hear about it.  You can post directly to my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/looknfishy. Or send pictures to me here: looknfishy@gmail.com and I'll share if that's cool.

**My buddy goes by ark_salmotrutta on Instagram.  He's got some killer pictures from fly fishing around the US...if he'll ever share them.  He just got on social media (has a real job) so keep an eye out for future posts.   

Never ending fishing

It's been a while since I checked in on the blog.  If you've been following on facebook (thanks for the "likes" and comments, always appreciated...keep'em coming!) you know I've been fishing non-stop. The weekdays have me chasing grass carp.  Trying to get in as much carp'n as I can before the water gets to cold for them to be active on the flats.  Last time I checked I had over 500 pictures of carp swimming, running, pulling, flopping out of my hands, tail slapping me, and posing with me!  The fishing has been great...not 500 fish great, but it's been pretty insane.

In the middle of the carp'n a buddy invited me to the Little Red River for the weekend.  We had a blast camping and fishing 3 days...it was nice to be in a boat and not my kayak.

We were hoping for some high water and trowing some streamers...tied a few special for the trip but the COE never cooperated.  It didn't matter, we caught some beautiful fish.  Sight fished a few nice browns and 1 huge 25" bow.  Fish like that make it nearly impossible to get a good presentation.  I ended up snagging a branch on a roll cast and spooking it!

My buddies 17" bow

Sow bugs practically crawling out of the water. Guess what pattern was very productive!

Got back home on Monday and went back to the usual carp chasing.  My buddy has more pictures and when he sends them I'll post to FB.  It's been fun, never ending fishing continues....