C&O Sipping Carp?

[Andrew R]

TPFR crew,

Took my dog out yesterday for some afterwork fishing, targeting smallmouths on the C&O by Lock 7. Had moderate success, catching two and getting broken off by a third after he ducked into the downed tree I was targeting.

Anyways, as I worked my way down towards lock 6 I noticed a number of large carp (a few looked at least 20lbs+). I stopped for about ten minutes to watch them as I've never really targeted carp and was curious to learn more about them. I noticed two behaviors. 1) Like advertised, three or four of them were working their way slowly along the canal floor kicking up mud with their mouths as they dredged for food. 2) I noticed most of the other carp were close to the bank and appeared to be sipping like a trout? I would guess they're eating either insects or small vegetation/berries, but their actions reminded me more of a fishing suffocating from low oxygen. Anyways, for those more carp inclined/experienced, what's the explanation?

Also, I'm now pretty intrigued and definitely want to start targeting carp going forward. I know they love mulberry imitations, but are there other good flies for the canal I should start tying?

Thanks

Andrew

[Jeffrey Silvan]

This time of year they do feed on the surface a bit. The mulberries are just about to start dropping if they aren't already, but I don't think there's a tree in that area. I'm fairly certain based on where you are describing you were, you likely saw them some seeds from an American Elm tree. 

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[namfos]

Jeff Silvan = Carp Whisperer

[Rob Shane]

They are taking seeds.. Myself and a handful of my coworkers who fish up there for carp have had some decent success with soft hackles, mostly light colors...yellow, orange, soft green etc. If you look at an elm seed, they're pretty close to that kind of emerger in the water.

[Nick F - Gaucho Fly]

I had no idea what kind of tree it was (thanks for the lesson Jeff) but I have fished to those guys before with little success with a fly that pretty closely matched the seed pods.  Seems like most of those fish are smaller, and given the amount of naturals on the water, it was a challenging proposition to get one of them to focus on my imitiation.  Had much better luck (and lots more fun) targeting the active, bigger feeders south of lock 7 with crawfish patterns and wolly buggers for whatever that is worth. 

By the way Jeff, I saw you on the cover of a Florida saltwater magazine holding one of the redfish you caught with Greg Moon.  Not sure if you were aware of that or not, but I can try to track it down for you if you haven't seen it!  Pretty cool accomplishment...  One of my bucketlist items actually! haha.

On Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 3:37:10 PM UTC-4, Andrew R wrote:

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Nick, pretty cool that you saw it! I did hear about it - it's actually nationally syndicated for Coastal Angler Magazine, so anywhere that has that magazine in the country will get to see my smiling face. My compensation for use of the picture was supposed to be them sending me a few copies, but they never did and ignored all my emails/calls afterwards. I'd love it if you (or anyone) stumbled upon it snagged a copy or two for me!

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[Ashley Frohwein]

Carp fishing in the canal was amazing yesterday. I probably got 40+ shots at fish. I caught 4, which I'd normally be proud of, but a 10% hook-up rate ain't great.

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[Kevin]

Speaking of the canal, anyone have a good handle on how far down it has water? Georgetown?

[Jeffrey Silvan]

The whole way. Two weeks ago it was overflowing at the overflow point.

On May 27, 2016 3:26 PM, "Kevin" <kjea...@gmail.com> wrote:

Speaking of the canal, anyone have a good handle on how far down it has water? Georgetown?

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[TurbineBlade]

Just missed what would've been my 4th carp of the year, though not my biggest.  Solid take under a mulberry tree, but came unbuttoned.  Oh well -- 

Also missed 2 more NSH, including a monster.  

So basically went out and got a lot of sun is about it ;).  Oh, and got in some work with an slo-mo fly line I've been meaning to try.  

Beth snagged what was probably a 30 pound blue catfish, but (luckily) he came off.  

Gene

On Friday, May 27, 2016 at 3:27:33 PM UTC-4, Jeff Silvan wrote:

The whole way. Two weeks ago it was overflowing at the overflow point.

On May 27, 2016 3:26 PM, "Kevin" <kjea...@gmail.com> wrote:

Speaking of the canal, anyone have a good handle on how far down it has water? Georgetown?

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[Ashley Frohwein]

Is it ever possible to sight fish for snakehead in the canal?

[TurbineBlade]

No idea -- I don't know the canal very well.  

Gene

[Carl Z.]

On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 4:50 PM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just missed what would've been my 4th carp of the year, though not my biggest.  Solid take under a mulberry tree, but came unbuttoned.  Oh well -- 

Also missed 2 more NSH, including a monster.  

So basically went out and got a lot of sun is about it ;).  Oh, and got in some work with an slo-mo fly line I've been meaning to try.  

Beth snagged what was probably a 30 pound blue catfish, but (luckily) he came off.  

So by Snagged, do you really mean snagged?  That must have been a fight.

[Clever Knickname]

I was out there Friday with a friend from 6 am till about 1pm - between the two of us we hooked up on 5,landed 2 including one 27" pig. Saw lots of fish, but many appeared to be in the "thrashing around in pods" mode which I assumed was spawning behavior as they showed no interest in eating.

[Jeffrey Silvan]

I've gone out for the past few days. Mulberry hatch is starting to pick up. Got five in a couple hours yesterday. I'm on the canal now if anyone wants to join. PM me.

On May 29, 2016 7:30 AM, "Clever Knickname" <andy.r...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was out there Friday with a friend from 6 am till about 1pm - between the two of us we hooked up on 5,landed 2 including one 27" pig. Saw lots of fish, but many appeared to be in the "thrashing around in pods" mode which I assumed was spawning behavior as they showed no interest in eating.

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[Patrick Kearns]

Sightfishing NSH in the canal is definitely possible!  I've tried it (with spinning gear), though not to any great success, due to sloppy casting and short time.  I've done so successfully in the Tidal Basin.  Pattern doesn't seem to mater much on spinning gear or fly, to my (limited) knowledge, just something big enough to be food and flashy enough to p*** them off! 

[tperkins]

Landed one carp on a floating mulberry pattern this morning, had a few others look at it. Had a few carp look at a sinking mulberry fly, ended up hooking a few catfish. Solid Friday morning before work 

[Art Friedlander]

Can someone remind me what sections of the canal are best for Carp

Thanks

---

From: tperkins <thomas....@gmail.com>
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 3, 2016 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: C&O Sipping Carp?

Landed one carp on a floating mulberry pattern this morning, had a few others look at it. Had a few carp look at a sinking mulberry fly, ended up hooking a few catfish. Solid Friday morning before work 

On Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 6:52:41 PM UTC-4, Patrick Kearns wrote:

Sightfishing NSH in the canal is definitely possible!  I've tried it (with spinning gear), though not to any great success, due to sloppy casting and short time.  I've done so successfully in the Tidal Basin.  Pattern doesn't seem to mater much on spinning gear or fly, to my (limited) knowledge, just something big enough to be food and flashy enough to p*** them off! 

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[Jeffrey Silvan]

It depends on the type of fishing you'd like to do. This time of year, I typically fish the Georgetown stretch because the mulberries are falling and you can catch carp on topwater. The rest of the year, You're more frequently looking for carp feeding along the edges between Georgetown and Fletchers Cove. You'll have some shots at fish towards the middle, but for the most part, they're too deep and you're casting at signs of fish (versus seeing the fish) and your catch rates will drop. From Locks 6-8, you have more opportunities to do sight fishing that will be similar to saltwater flats fishing. I've never seen a fish north of Fletchers to the next lock, and I've never seen water above Lock 8 til you get much higher up.

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[Art Friedlander]

Many thanks

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From: Jeffrey Silvan <jeffre...@gmail.com>
To: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 3, 2016 1:23 PM

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[Marek Rich]

I was out just above lock 7 this afternoon. Besides the challenges in actually landing the fish (deep muck), seeing feeding carp and catching them was pretty "easy". I landed 3 in an hour or so before getting chased by the rain. I easily saw over 50 good sized goldy's in the 3-400 yards of water just above the lock. I was using my 4wt, which was pretty interesting at times, and had the most luck with a weighted Prince Nymph. Broke off what was easily a 30"er - major bummer.

Logical places to drop down to the waters edge for better access/casting.

Good luck!

Marek

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 3, 2016, at 3:34 PM, 'Art Friedlander' via Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com<mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>> wrote:

Many thanks


________________________________

From: Jeffrey Silvan <jeffre...@gmail.com<mailto:jeffre...@gmail.com>>
To: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com<mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Friday, June 3, 2016 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: C&O Sipping Carp?

It depends on the type of fishing you'd like to do. This time of year, I typically fish the Georgetown stretch because the mulberries are falling and you can catch carp on topwater. The rest of the year, You're more frequently looking for carp feeding along the edges between Georgetown and Fletchers Cove. You'll have some shots at fish towards the middle, but for the most part, they're too deep and you're casting at signs of fish (versus seeing the fish) and your catch rates will drop. From Locks 6-8, you have more opportunities to do sight fishing that will be similar to saltwater flats fishing. I've never seen a fish north of Fletchers to the next lock, and I've never seen water above Lock 8 til you get much higher up.

On Fri, Jun 3, 2016 at 1:05 PM, 'Art Friedlander' via Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com<mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>> wrote:
Can someone remind me what sections of the canal are best for Carp
Thanks


________________________________

From: tperkins <thomas....@gmail.com<mailto:thomas....@gmail.com>>
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com<mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>>

Sent: Friday, June 3, 2016 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: C&O Sipping Carp?

Landed one carp on a floating mulberry pattern this morning, had a few others look at it. Had a few carp look at a sinking mulberry fly, ended up hooking a few catfish. Solid Friday morning before work

On Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 6:52:41 PM UTC-4, Patrick Kearns wrote:
Sightfishing NSH in the canal is definitely possible! I've tried it (with spinning gear), though not to any great success, due to sloppy casting and short time. I've done so successfully in the Tidal Basin. Pattern doesn't seem to mater much on spinning gear or fly, to my (limited) knowledge, just something big enough to be food and flashy enough to p*** them off!
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