I have never fly fished for carp and I am interested in trying to do so. How would I catch them this time of year? I am fishing in a local creek near Grapevine Lake for them; the average size of them I would estimate around 3-4 pounds. Please tell me any tips, flies, or locations that you might have. Thanks!

in my experience carp cannot be caught on a fly & why dear god would you want to ?

I don't know to much about catching them in creeks, particularly this time of year. Most of the carp I have caught in creeks have been on accident while fishing for sand bass. But I have caught a few sight casting. One was eating cotton wood seeds off the surface. I threw an Elk Hair Caddis at him and he took it. The others, I caught on a crawfish imitation. The fish were holding at the end of a riffle, in a slack water pool. I drifted the fly through the riffle then let it settle to the bottom once it reached the pool. If the carp saw the fly drift into the pool they would swim over and pick it up once it settled on the bottom. This was in shallow water and I could see them take the fly.
Your best bet, in my opinion, is to pursue them in the spring. When the spawn gets going they are a lot less picky about fly patterns and not quite as spooky. I mostly fish for them on flats on large lakes during the spring and summer.
Do a u-tube search for " carp flies ". There are a lot of good patterns on there that I use on the flats.

The first time you hook a six pound plus carp in shin deep water in a fly rod, you'll understand why.

Exactly why the question to experienced carp fly fishers, how do you do it?
Those of us that have hooked into a carp of any size know the power of these fish and as stated above, hooked in shallow water much like any fish they head for deeper water at a high rate of knots. Adrenaline pumping for sure.

wait until spring or summer you will have an easier chance finding the fish and getting them to eat. small buggy flies with rubber legs...its not so much about the fly but getting it right in front of the fish. imagine about a 10" circle infant of the fish the fly needs to fall in that area.

Excellent advice. I feel the OP pain. I've seen tons of them this winter. With the low water on most Texas creeks they are concentrated and easy to spot and tempt you to take a try. However, 90% of the time they are not eating and if they are the last thing they seem to want to do is chase a fly. If someone did manage one in the middle of winter I think we'd all be very impressed.

In my very limited experience, 75% of the battle is sneaking up on them while in "feeding mode" with a clear view of their head and as Lone Star said putting the fly right in the 10" they can see right in front of their face. Either landing the fly there gently or stripping it in front of them and letting it sink in front of them. Even then they will spook far more often than they will eat for me. Even when you have it in their mouth you will have to be exra quick and extra gentle with your hook set. I would say at most you have 1.5 seconds before they their extra soft and sensitive mouth will recognize their mistake will spit it right back out. If you do manage a good hook set, be ready because they will pull harder than most are prepared for. All in all fly choice is pretty far down the list of considerations in actually getting a carp to the hand. However, anything sufficiently nymph looking should work. I don't think they can see all that well.

All good advice. Winter time is slow stack fishing, the 10" circle is really tight, and the clear water and noise is an issue. Carp are the freshwater bonefish, but they can catch in numbers at times in the year. I had fair succes at conrete structure or large rocks well alge is present, and the fish are grazing. The trick is not moving the fly to fast,a crayfish,rubber leg nymph, or helgamite pattern will work. Mudflats are ggod that a slight kickup of dirt helps. If it turns on the fly, and stares it down it very easy to move it to much I have blow several getting excited on big carp.On sunny warm winter days carp will move in bright light areas. I like things area because if do hook a bute , it can be managed. On a side note look in the spring for mulberrys along creek banks, as kids on the Bosgue/Paluxy/Leon rivers, we would find when the fruit was falling off and carp would suck them up.This was fun on old fly gear and store bought flies rolled in mulberries to stain them purple. later found out that bread dough with mashed mulberries worked well too. good luck

There is a fly fishermen in the Houston area, his name escapes me but he is into carp on the fly. I'll see if I can get his info and get it to you. He is also a guide and I don't beleive you could go wrong going after them. In Europe and Austrlia they have carp flies and they look like a small ball of cotton, they are dry and the carp just suck them in.
A nasty fish unless you get the grass carp which are good smoked and canned. Carp are also good in your garden and compost but will draw critters.

Texas Yankee the Houston area carp guru youre probably speaking of would be Mark Marmon. He creates a coffee bean beetle fly

Les

I have decided to make carp on the fly part of my 2015 fishing resolution. I have only hooked up once so far, but what a fight!!! In Texas we have so many opportunities to target carp I need to up my game.

Yes I believe it is Mark. There is the Houston Fly fising club and they have some carp guides listed. What part of the state are you in? Do you do the salt?

I live in north Texas, but grew up in Houston and visit family. I want to fish the Galveston area more and get some reds there. Most of my salt fly action has been further south rockport and port a.

Les

I was fly fishing Hords Creek lake one day and I seen great amounts of Glass minnows in a shallow cove busting water, closet thing I had to copy them was an olive green wooly bugger that kinda matched the green stripe down the body of them, thought it was bass chasing them, I caught many large carp that day in that cove, lots of fun, and a work out on a fly rod, never would have believed it, thats my story and I'm sticking to it, yes they are fun

Thats interesting about the minnows. Carp are mainly vegetarians but of course eat worms and grubs etc and i caught an 8 lb monster a couple of months back whilst pulling a minnow imitation got me baffled for sure. Not sure what the carp took it for but the fight was amazing
Going to target them more this year on Bastrop lake

Mike

Interesting.