Staring at 4 good size carp. Never fished for these before. What do I use? They don't want my woolly bugger. Thanks.

Something light that will fall very slow and land it quietly in there line of sight good luck

Good info right here

Thanks. Do Carp feed throughout the day or do they mostly eat dusk/dawn?

Feeding patterns change with weather conditions and location. I have caught carp at high noon in the middle of the summer, but I mostly focus my efforts on morning and evening.

Depending on the water, carp are generally pretty tough to catch. I have yet to catch one on a fly. I've tried wooly buggers, muddler minnows, parachutes, crayfish imitation, and many more. Not a single hit. However as I've been browsing through many sites, this one fly keeps coming up as a great fly for carp. The Clouser swimming nymph. I'm going to buy one and give that a try. Just an idea, you might wanna try it out

The only one that I've caught so far was on a brown carp crack fly.

Carp are some of the hardest fish to land without live bait. It can be done, has been done, and some people spend a lot of time doing pretty effectively, but don't be discouraged if you don't hook into one. I've only caught three, and all were nothing but dumb luck.

Thanks all for the tips. I think I was fishing the bugger too fast. Sounds like carp are harder to catch on the fly than I thought. Looking forward to trying a slower presentation next time. Also, going to take a look at the Clouser Swimming Nymph.

Best thing I can say is to get it in front of them close enough to be in their path, but not close enough to spook them. Once they get within a couple feet of it, move it just enough for them to see it and that's it. If they want it, they'll take it...

Carp on the fly is a challenge! That said , I have a few spots near spillways that fish stupid easy when water is flowing over the dam. The extra water keeps the carp very active right at the inflow. The added noise and water movement allows me to make less than perfect cast to the fish feeding. Not near as spooky as "normal" conditions. The water gets clear and I have even had cruisers chase flies in those conditions. Great fun. Find a similar spot and the right water flow and its game on. I literally caught 20-30 carp in a few days with those conditions and areas.

Just last Saturday I hooked up with three, two buffalo and one common.. but talk about tough! These fish were at my feet and dangling the fly right in their face didn't work. The two that actually took the fly (1 buff and 1 common) came after it while all the others just didn't seem it notice. The fish were working the shoreline vacuuming up shad eggs from the mornings spawn and were doing some spawning themselves. The common carp have been a little more interested in taking the fly than the buffalo overall. I have targeted carp just a few times with marginal success. It is very tough fishing but little else I catch in freshwater fights so hard and long.

carp fishing starts at about the 13 minute mark.

Mr Tedrick you have the best videos on the interwebs. I could watch them for hours, and do, keep up the good work.


My best carp fly is a damsel nymph, olive or light tan. Cast beyond the fish by several feet then drag it back and over them to about 3-6 inches in front of them then just try to jig it in place, they will usually chase it down. The hybrid has also been a pretty good fly for me, get it in their feeding path and just let it sit til they find it. Carp can be tough but are quite rewarding, keep after them and you will figure them out.