Description
Common Carp are an introduced fish species to the United States. They were initially brought in as a food source from Asia and Europe. Common Carp have downturned mouths for feeding and have barbells. They are relatively deep-bodied, with tough scales. Often, you can find carp with fewer, larger scales called mirror carp. They are usually a bronze color, but koi, which can be almost any color, are also a subspecies of common carp.
Size
Carp can grow to over 50 pounds regularly. The world record came from Europe, and it is well over 100 pounds. The average fly-caught carp ranges from 5 to 20 pounds, with bigger fish being trophies on fly tackle.
Habitat
Common carp live in virtually any body of water in the United States. They can withstand virtually any range of temperatures and live in water with very low oxygen content. They commonly live in city canals as well as large rivers and lakes.
Food Sources
Carp eat anything and everything. There is no one killer carp fly because it depends on the water. In ponds, they may eat nymphs. In rivers, they eat crayfish. Great Lakes carp are well known for being predators that actively chase down gobies. What carp eat depends on the water, so the best way to fish for them is by determining what their forage is where you are fishing for them.
Tactics
Carp are extremely spooky. They are by far the most skittish warm water fish I know outside of grass carp. Fishing for them requires silence, little movement and extreme patience. They are my favorite quarry to sight fish to, and blind casting to them is rarely productive at all. Common carp are often fished for with small crayfish flies that sink to the ground right in front of them. In shallow water, it is best to lead the fish and let the fly drop in front of them with maybe one twitch. Once it hits the bottom, use slow strips until you feel the fish on or see them take. Once hooked, they make a long, strong run and continue to fight by running more later in the battle. Landing a big carp is a chore, but getting him to eat is definitely more difficult.
During the Mulberry hatch carp become easy to catch because they feast on mulberries falling off of the trees. People tie flies with purple ice dub or purple foam and let the carp come attack them when they plop on the surface.
Equipment
Rod: Many people prefer a 9 foot 8 weight rod. I have fished for them with both a 6 and an 8 weight. Truly, it depends on the angler. If you want to be more delicate, a lighter rod is preferable. On larger water, an 8 weight may be necessary for casting power and distance. I believe a mid-flex 9 foot 7 weight is a great all around carp rod.
Reel: You better have a strong reel with a smooth drag for this fish. They run fast and hard and fight you until the bitter end. They have been called "golden bonefish" for good reason.
Line: Any weight forward line that loads your rod and has adequate delicacy to present flies with little noise but also has a heavy enough head to cast carp flies, which almost always use some sort of bead chain or weighted eyes.
Leader: You must fish at least a 9 foot leader to catch these fish, and many prefer leader lengths up to 12 feet. I would never go lighter than 3x tippet because these fish are big and will break light tippet if you're not careful. Fluoro is always preferred for its abrasion resistance and invisible quality in the water.
Flies: Carp will eat damsel nymphs, crayfish, clams, worms, leeches, dry flies, berries and sometimes even sculpins and baitfish. Great lakes carp in particular key in on invasive round gobies Your fly selection depends on the carp in the area's main forage. Many people have had good luck getting carp everywhere to rush egg patterns, and this may be a universal carp pattern.
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