| The ultimate catch for many fly fishers is a | | | | necessary to use smell induced bait to attract the |
| jumbo carp, a bottom feeding fish that can grow | | | | proper specimen. The fly you will want to use is |
| in lakes and ponds up to a staggering 60 pounds. | | | | one that combines the smell of food with a sight |
| Carp are bottom dwelling fish, eating whatever | | | | to which the carp will respond. Many fishermen |
| debris falls to the lake floor, making them capable | | | | find that a fly resembling small live creates works |
| of growing into massive catches for a patient | | | | well; insect larvae, worms, miniature crayfish, and |
| angler. Fly-fishing for carp is less common than | | | | leeches are on the regular menu of a carp. Other |
| fly-fishing in busy rivers, so that not many | | | | flies imitate plant matter or even human produced |
| fishermen deliberately catch carp-but the challenge | | | | food (such as thick bread) to which a carp in a |
| of doing so is well worth the struggle for many. | | | | stocked lake may be accustomed. |
| Fly fishing is divided into sight casting and blind | | | | The poor eyesight of carp makes the actual |
| casting; the difference between being able to see | | | | movement of the fly more important than the fly |
| your quarry and simply angling into busy water. In | | | | itself. When hunting along the bottom of a lake, |
| clear, fast running rivers it is not difficult to sight | | | | visibility may be so poor that only rapid |
| cast as the fish show up easily, but in deep, still, | | | | movement can alert a carp to a tasty morsel. |
| murky water there is no way to tell what lies | | | | Some fly fishermen do not cast on the surface, |
| beneath. Whenever carp come up to the surface, | | | | allowing their fly to sink just deep enough into the |
| however, it is possible to sight cast on your | | | | water to touch the bottom. If they are sight |
| target. Set the fly about one or two feet further | | | | casting, the angler need only flick it against the silt |
| out than the fish itself with consistent motion to | | | | of the bottom, which the carp will automatically |
| keep the attention of the fish. | | | | react to in the hopes of getting a meal. Casting |
| Blind casting requires angling in a place where you | | | | on the surface may draw the attention of shallow |
| are certain there will be fish, such as a submerged | | | | dwelling fish, but to get a higher chance of reeling |
| log or a spot laden with bait. Carp hunt mostly by | | | | in a trophy, make sure to set in deep water and |
| smell, riling up the muck to eat fish and | | | | allow the fly to sink further down. |
| invertebrates living in the mire, so it may be | | | | |