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Bill de Brooklyn

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Posts posted by Bill de Brooklyn

  1. I fly-fished Saylorville Spillway (Saylorville Lake is a reservoir on the Des Moines River) during my lunch hour today. A couple of different friends had noticed the carp sort of "schooling" in the eddies and along the foam lines at the edge of the current for the past few days. They are somewhat frustrating because the fish appear to be sucking the foam off the surface, and seem very reluctant to take crayfish patterns near the bottom.

    I've had an idea for awhile about using a nymph fly pattern set 12" or less beneath a strike indicator. I've tried it a few times in the past when there weren't carp feeding on the surface, and did not have any success on those days.

    But they were still feeding on the surface today, so this is exactly the technique I tried. I was also breaking in a new rod & reel...a Lamson Konic reel and an Echo Ion 8wt rod. Both worked great!

    Anyway....I'd drift the nymph/indicator rig through the eddy near the visible pods of surfacing carp. Occasionally I'd get hits and the indicator would jiggle or get pulled underwater, and I'd set the hook.

    The first strike I was so excited to land the carp that I put too much pressure on the leader/tippet and broke it. Lost the fly and the indictor...bummer!

    Re-rigged and repeated the drift. Strike 2 broke the line almost immediately after I set the hook. Lost the fly and indicator again! UGH!

    Re-rigged and repeated. Strike 3, fish on...fought...and ...LANDED! Not an easy task amongst the rocks with no landing net. Released the fish.

    Repeated the drift. Strike 4, and soon another carp was landed. Took pictures of this one and released this fish too.

    DM_SS_Carp_5-25-2011c.jpg

    I had to be patient...but this technique definitely worked! I was setting my nymph at 12" or less beneath the indicator. I don't know that there is anything magical about that, its just what I was doing because I wanted the fly close to where the visible carp were feeding on the surface. Maybe you'd get bigger carp at 18" or more?

    My gear is in the background of this picture. I didn't notice the plastic bottle in the rocks there....lots of trash in this area!

    DM_SS_Carp_5-25-2011a.jpg

    Mouth shot with the fly pattern visible...this one was a #6 Hexagenia Nymph pattern. I tried 2 other patterns, that were different from this one, and both worked, so I think any nymph will work, but its a good idea to stick with #6 or #8 sizes with a reasonably stout hook.

    DM_SS_Carp_5-25-2011b.jpg

    If you see carp performing this behavior in your local streams, maybe give this technique a try.

    I think this technique is called "float fishing". there is a you tube video for traditional carp fishers showing the technique. I recently caught a carp using something like what you did. It was raining and carp were feeding about a foot beneath the surface.

  2. how big are the carp at central park?? i was always willing to try that spot out

    recently the lake was drained and it was discovered that the lake has a large number of 30 lb carp. I haven't caught any yet. the park is as safe as any place else. it is not like it was twenty years ago.

  3. Nice catch but I'm confused, how can you catch carp on a fly at night? I thought you just about had to sight fish for them which sounds impossible at night. I have a lot to learn about carp fly fishing so pardon me if this is a dumb question.

    I was fishing at central park in NYC. when the carp took my fly there was some daylight left (after 8:00pm) but it was almost totally dark by the time I was able to land the fish.

  4. 006-17.jpg

    I saw a total of 4 white Koi this afternoon and one that had the same color as Tony the tiger. But all were spawning along with the regular carp.

    007-13.jpg

  5. IMGP0283-1.jpg

    IMGP0284-1.jpg

    I came upon these Koi in a different part of Prospect Park Lake. the orange fish has a fan tail & is about 20 inches more or less.

    these guys are almost impossible to catch. they seem to never eat anything.

  6. Is a 9foot, 5wt. enough to land 20+pound carp? Or will they just snap the rod in two? ~8

    it will depend on your experience with carp. I often use a 2 wt rod ( called: "suicide carpin") & 5X tippet when I fish for carp. yes the carp is easier to handle with a bigger rod but if you have a plan on how you will deal with a carp you will have little difficulty. what ever you do don't just stand there whispering "Hail Marys" as your backing disappears; have a plan on how you will counter the carp's attack. I try to get the fish on the reel ASAP. use the butt of the rod not the "over the head fly rod technique" to gain leverage. This is not a trout!

    Bill

  7. IMGP0194-1.jpg

    This past weekend I took my switch rod and went carp fishing. I had grown tired of seeing feeding carp beyond the range of my 9 foot fly rod. used deer hair pellet flies, orange, a #14 fly and a 5 tippet.

    Bill

  8. Sweet bill. I would be terrified to fish my two wt out here. I break enough 7 and 8 wts duking it out with carp on the big c. I have used some fiberglass rods and had a good time fishing glass. I have a fen wick 6 wt glass rod. My first ever carp was on a six wt bamboo rod...just a little 7 lber but I didn't take the boo out for carp again. My friend chris builds bamboo rods and he is building a quad 8 wt to try for carp this summer.

    A few years ago my buddy Wendell berry landed a 13 lb on one of those micro rods. Just a crazy story. Check it out here.

    http://fishingandthinking.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html

    You have to scroll down a bit.

    John, thanks for giving what I do a name, "suicide carpin". It is not that hard to do but you must believe you can do it.

    I started after a buddy described how he did it the first time, accidently. most of my carpin is done in lakes & ponds. I have done it a few times

    with river carp. when I river carp, I keep the distance between myself & the carp the same by running with the carp along the river bank.

    when I sense that it is time to put on the brakes, I begin to pump the rod & take back any slack in the line. It is a long slow process.

    I plan to catch a few carp this season with a refinished bamboo and a cane rod I got on e-bay.

    tell chris he is a "suicide carper"

    2 months to mulberrys!

    Bill

  9. IMG_0759.jpg

    This carp was taken several years ago. I used a 6'6", fiberglass fly rod with an even more fragile carbon fiber fly reel.

    IMGP0459.jpg

    this one was caught last summer. 9', 2 wt march brown fly rod.

    IMGP0523.jpg

    yes on a 2 wt too!

    '

  10. Wondering if my 8 wt is going to be too much rod for the local Boston carp -- never fished for them before. Guessing that I'll be undergunned with a five weight. Floating or intermediate sink line or something else? What about leader? Thanks very much for any tips!! This forum is great

    An 8 wt rod is fine for carp. are you able to see the carp? how big are the carp? Most of the carp I have caught are taken on 5X tippet. if the carp you are targeting are river fish, use 0X tippet to start and adjust the tippet as needed. most of the time a floating line is all you need, as carp fishing with a fly rod is done in shallow water (less than four feet). I use about a 9' leader. the first carp I ever caught was taken on 5 wt; many times I use a 2 wt. if you have a fiberglass fly rod, start with that. I like glass for carp it gives me confidence that the rod will not break. if you have any other questions let me know.

    Bill

  11. It is one of the most amazing culinary creations i've ever had the opportunity to try. They basically took a half pound of lump lobster tail, battered it, and deep fried it.... ridiculous.

    How old do kids need to be before you have them catch their first carp??

    They need to weigh 5 times the weight of the carp.

    Bill

  12. Bill, my man!!!

    You were there! haha

    I'm going to miss you, buddy. This addiction is all your fault, and my wife really appreciates it...hahah

    I miss you too. I have some #12 white wooly buggers for Mr. River, when he is ready. what is a fried lobster?

    Bill

  13. Hey guys, sorry to dig up an old thread.

    I'll be moving to Fox River Grove, IL at the beginning of April. I love fishing for Carp on the fly and am just looking for some tips on where to go in the area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    did you ever catch carp on the passaic river?

  14. if they seemed to be eating, there may have been a hatch of some type( midge size). I have witnessed this behavior before. they are clooping on midge size bugs. standard size flies simply don't match the hatch. go home is my suggestion; or you could try a #24 PT! yes it is frustrating.

  15. At that time of year Mulberries fall from trees in the north, where I live. the fly I use to simulate berries are made from deer hair. there are a number of English fly fishing companies that tie deer hair flies in sizes #14 to #6 and in several colors. if grass carp will take them you will have a great time, they float.

    012-6.jpg

    pictured are some deer hair flies I use for carp( never fished for grass carp).

    Bill

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