2025 Carpin’ thread

[dc410]

Well, it’s time to get this thread kicked off again for 2025. If you have an interest in chasing carp with a fly rod or you are already an established PAFF Carper this thread is for you. It’s a place where we can share our experiences (successes as well as failures), ask questions, share tips, technics and even proven carp flies with each other. Over the past 12 years I have tried to share as much information as I can about what I have learned after many, many hours of on stream experience chasing carp with a fly rod.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been scouting for carp. I’ve located several dozen carp at this point that are definitely starting to move out of the deeper water and up higher into the water column in search of the warmer water. Eventually they will move into the warmer shallow areas and go into full feeding mode. I did actually find several carp this morning that were actively feeding, and a “good enough” placed nymph enticed one of them to eat it. My 2025 Carpin’ season is underway as I brought my first carp of the year to the net. This is just the very beginning and it’s only going to get a lot better from here on out the whole way up until Fall. Get out there and locate some feeding carp, go into stealth mode and get a fly into that “zone”. Good luck carpers!!

 

[hooker-of-men]

Still looking at ice here.

 

[lars]

was just watching a big pod of carp actively mudding. i've never been able to catch one on a fly. they are way spooky! i know they should be actively feeding when you target them, so the ones i was looking at are excellent candidates. gonna have to concentrate on making it happen.

i've hooked them as by-catch when shad fishing. sometimes even close to their mouth. 🙂

 

[dc410]

Still looking at ice here.

Yeah, you’re definitely looking at a few more weeks at least up north, but it’s coming!!

 

[dc410]

was just watching a big pod of carp actively mudding. i've never been able to catch one on a fly. they are way spooky! i know they should be actively feeding when you target them, so the ones i was looking at are excellent candidates. gonna have to concentrate on making it happen.

Yes sir, if you don’t concentrate on making it happen, I assure you that it won’t. 😉

 

[wildtrout2]

Well, it’s time to get this thread kicked off again for 2025. If you have an interest in chasing carp with a fly rod or you are already an established PAFF Carper this thread is for you. It’s a place where we can share our experiences (successes as well as failures), ask questions, share tips, technics and even proven carp flies with each other. Over the past 12 years I have tried to share as much information as I can about what I have learned after many, many hours of on stream experience chasing carp with a fly rod.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been scouting for carp. I’ve located several dozen carp at this point that are definitely starting to move out of the deeper water and up higher into the water column in search of the warmer water. Eventually they will move into the warmer shallow areas and go into full feeding mode. I did actually find several carp this morning that were actively feeding, and a “good enough” placed nymph enticed one of them to eat it. My 2025 Carpin’ season is underway as I brought my first carp of the year to the net. This is just the very beginning and it’s only going to get a lot better from here on out the whole way up until Fall. Get out there and locate some feeding carp, go into stealth mode and get a fly into that “zone”. Good luck carpers!!

View attachment 1641240734

You're as dedicated as they come. You earn every carp you catch!

 

[Ewanflyfish]

One of my goals this year is to land a carp on a fly. Most of the creeks around me have good populations, but they’re just so darn spooky. Usually they spook before I even have eyes on em.

 

[dc410]

You're as dedicated as they come. You earn every carp you catch!

IMO there really are no gimmes in the carpin’ game. The challenge is what keeps me motivated, I think.

 

[dc410]

One of my goals this year is to land a carp on a fly. Most of the creeks around me have good populations, but they’re just so darn spooky. Usually they spook before I even have eyes on em.

If you put your time in you will achieve your goal. Stealth is one of the most important aspects of carpin’. If they know you’re there it’s game over. Looking forward to hearing your story when you land your first one this year!

 

[lars]

One of my goals this year is to land a carp on a fly. Most of the creeks around me have good populations, but they’re just so darn spooky. Usually they spook before I even have eyes on em.

you've seen these ones. 😉 they were feeding at the head of the pool yesterday

 

[Tups]

Can we see pics of some of the flies you use? Will they take a swimming fly presented downstream near bottom?

 

[Ewanflyfish]

you've seen these ones. 😉 they were feeding at the head of the pool yesterdayView attachment 1641240744

Dang that’s a lot of carp, almost went to that spot yesterday, but called it off last minute.

 

[dc410]

Can we see pics of some of the flies you use? Will they take a swimming fly presented downstream near bottom?

Occasionally carp will actively chase down a swimming fly pattern but I wouldn’t consider it to be their normal feeding behavior. My most effective way to hook up with them is to target mudding carp (head down - tail up) and rooting on the bottom. I generally use the drag and drop method where I present the fly past the target carp and drag and drop the fly right into the zone in front of the feeding carp.

Here is a pic of some of my most productive carp patterns over the years.

Here is the actual nymph that I caught the carp on earlier this week. I call it my PMC nymph. (Pheasant-Mink-Crow) It’s a pheasant marabou tail, mink fur tied in a dubbing loop for the body and a crow covert feather tied in as a soft hackle collar. Medium black bead chain eyes to ride hook point up. All natural materials that impart good movement to entice the fish. No flash on this one and I never use any kind of adhesives, uv cure, head cement or any other smelly stuff on any of my carp patterns. If the bead chain eyes spin on the hook after a long battle with a good carp I just spin ‘em back. The PMC nymph is a big confidence fly for me as I have caught a lot of carp on this pattern over the years.