sandflyx
Well-known member
could be bait fishers catching and killing them
2025 Carpin’ thread
- Thread starter dc410
- Start date
dc410
Well-known member
I’ve also had some areas over the years where bowfishermen have really taken their toll on the local carp population. However, I generally had found them on the banks with arrow holes in them. The carp that survive the bowfishing pressure reach another whole level of “spookiness” after having fish arrows launched at them making them incredibly more challenging to catch on a fly rod. It seems a bit early in the season to me for bank bowfishermen to after them but it is certainly not out of the question.
bdhoover77
Well-known member
Maybe it’s just me, but, I’m sorry, I just don’t see the allure in shooting arrows at any type of fish and then just leaving them dead or dying in the water or on the bank. It seems like an incredible waste.
hooker-of-men
Well-known member
While I agree, I don't think that's what is happening in my scenario. I have never seen anyone bowfishing in this spot (I have never seen anyone else fishing in this spot - it's a gnarly mud pit), and, regardless, there have not yet been sight fishing opportunities in this cold, muddy water. Suspect #1 is the giant otter that swam circles around the area while I stood there.
Your point still stands 100%
tomgamber
Well-known member
otter would have eaten some.
dc410
Well-known member
My early season carpin’ is proving to be very challenging so far this year as I took home the skunk yet again. I was out at daybreak this morning on one of my favorite home carpin’ waters. This was the first time I fished this stretch this year. I saw a lot of fish this morning but most of them were in some very challenging spots, so the number of actual shots I took were pretty limited.
I located one big fish that was feeding close to the bank I was fishing from. I tried the “drag and drop” method. It was close enough that an underhand flip was all I needed. My distance was good but I totally misjudged the current speed which instead of allowing me to drop it in front of the feeding carp the current took the fly into the side of the carp. I felt the hook point get into the fish as it exploded in a mud cloud. My reaction launched my whole leader straight up 15’ and into a box elder branch above me. So I ended up leaving my whole tippet section and fly up in the tree. Totally botched that one!!
It was still a good outing as I was encouraged with the number of good size carp that I located. I took the opportunity to do a bit of maintenance by cleaning a few small branches out of the creek at one of my prime netting spots at one of my berry holes. The most encouraging aspect of this morning’s outing was that the mulberry trees are starting to develop berries and it appears that some of my primary mulberry trees may be putting on another good crop of berries this year. Long about Memorial Day the “berry hatch” will be on! As of now the water is warming up and the carp are definitely getting into normal feeding mode. Good luck carpers!
I located one big fish that was feeding close to the bank I was fishing from. I tried the “drag and drop” method. It was close enough that an underhand flip was all I needed. My distance was good but I totally misjudged the current speed which instead of allowing me to drop it in front of the feeding carp the current took the fly into the side of the carp. I felt the hook point get into the fish as it exploded in a mud cloud. My reaction launched my whole leader straight up 15’ and into a box elder branch above me. So I ended up leaving my whole tippet section and fly up in the tree. Totally botched that one!!
It was still a good outing as I was encouraged with the number of good size carp that I located. I took the opportunity to do a bit of maintenance by cleaning a few small branches out of the creek at one of my prime netting spots at one of my berry holes. The most encouraging aspect of this morning’s outing was that the mulberry trees are starting to develop berries and it appears that some of my primary mulberry trees may be putting on another good crop of berries this year. Long about Memorial Day the “berry hatch” will be on! As of now the water is warming up and the carp are definitely getting into normal feeding mode. Good luck carpers!
Ewanflyfish
Active member
I also got out today, originally was targeting smallmouth in a local creek. Came to a point in the creek where a large tree had fallen across the whole stream. Had probably 25 carp on it and 2 bright orange koi. Was very close to getting an eat, but they got wise quick.
dc410
Well-known member
Many of the carp I saw today were also hanging out around or under woody debris in the creek. When one of them senses something isn’t right they have an unbelievably effective way of sounding the alarm to the rest of the group.
barrybarry
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2009
- Messages
- 419
I found this image this morning on the PA Herps website. Looks like a number 10/12 black bugger might work. As kids, we used to use bullfrog tadpoles for smallies. They might be the best bait ever. These Tadpoles are much smaller.
The carp are probably pretty spooky in the shallows.
The carp are probably pretty spooky in the shallows.
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ChuckofWagon
Member
I will agree 100% with them getting very spooky when they start getting shot at. Much like whitetail they run for deep cover.
A friend of mine has a pond on his property. The pond is constantly "coffee with cream" brown and simply has too many carp and catfish in it. The catfish grow to maybe 6" and that's it. The "guess" is because there just isn't enough food supply there.
The owner wanted the carp out (along with the cat's population cut) so I began to bowfish it. Initially, the carp would be all around the pond edges and under a dock on the pond. After a few days of shooting the carp went deep. I would literally be there for an hour or two and see no carp at all. That lasted the entire summer.
