Another Carp Story

[Jeffrey Silvan]

I went out for carp on Friday afternoon on the C&O. It's become an obsession. The water was extremely muddy when I got there, so I had a feeling it was going to be a wasted trip. Instead, best day I've had going after them. I ended up landing three but losing five more. There were quite a few feeding up against the edge, but that was only half of the ones I hooked. They were extra spooky today. I had always had a problem with the fly sinking out of view and not being able to see when the fish bit, so I finally remembered to bring a strike indicator. I had to be careful with the casts, since it would spook some of the fish, but it made a world of difference. I actually even picked up one fish that I never saw, aside from the puffs of silt from it feeding.

Three of the ones I lost wrapped me on a log, and one broke on the hook set. One even took me into backing (just barely), the first time a freshwater fish has done that. My biggest of the day was a 26" fish that was FAT. I'm not that good at estimating weight of fish, but I'd guess it was 8 lbs plus. 

[tperkins]

Nicely done!

[namfos]

Cool. Well done.

[Jamie Carracher]

Nice work, Jeff! Where about on the canal were you fishing? Also, were they on the edge closest to the trail?

I'm a newbie myself. All I've been getting are shrimpy smallmouth bass. Thanks!

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Thanks, guys. I put together a (long) video from my GoPro of the trip. It's got most of the fish I caught and lost, but there were a couple where there was just nothing good on video, and my first battery died in the middle of one of the fish I landed. Fair warning: I am terrible at video editing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3W-MpNvqtU

On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 8:24 AM, namfos <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:

Cool. Well done.

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/09cce5de-7b4f-4b84-a0dc-75b113f4de42%40googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Jeffrey Silvan]

I caught them between Lock 8 and 6. I usually park at 8 and walk towards DC then turn around halfway between locks 7 and 6 near the dam. The ones I caught were along the trail side, although I'm sure there are some that do the same on the far side of the canal. It's just extremely difficult to see them and to have enough room to cast that far on the majority of the canal.

On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Jamie Carracher <jcarr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Nice work, Jeff! Where about on the canal were you fishing? Also, were they on the edge closest to the trail?

I'm a newbie myself. All I've been getting are shrimpy smallmouth bass. Thanks!

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/1b1b7985-1163-409e-9713-3c126628646f%40googlegroups.com.

[Aaron O]

Jeff,

    Thanks for the post.  I now can't stop thinking about giving carp a try.  I liked your video and I will definitely be giving that part of the C&O a try soon.  If I may make a suggestion, I was wondering if you would try to show us and at least mention the flies that you are using along with any other specific information on the fish or the hole you are fishing at.  I know your fishing for your own enjoyment but we could also use it as an educational video too.  Just a thought.

Thanks,

Aaron

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Aaron, thanks for the idea. I had just been throwing on the GoPro for fun in case anything cool happened, but never really thought of doing it as an educational/instructional video. I hardly consider myself an "expert" at this point, but enough trial and error experience to start getting some good results. I'll have to try one next time I'm out there. Hopefully the carp will cooperate, and people won't think I'm TOO weird for talking to myself.

For everyone's reference for the questions you specifically asked, I was throwing a basic bead-head soft hackle. I throw those nearly every time, but have also had success on a hare's ear nymph. I ran into someone that said he was having better luck this year using bigger flies. As far as the hole I was fishing, it wasn't really one specific hole or section. I've found they can literally be anywhere along the canal in the sections I've fish, which is between lock 6 and 8. There are a few places where I can usually expect to find them every time - particularly around downed trees - but seemingly no real rhyme or reason to where I find them one day (or even one hour) compared to another. 

I'll likely get back out there either Friday afternoon or one day this weekend if you/anyone would like to join me.

--

http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/2d3ad63d-ca8c-47fb-b061-974235e71188%40googlegroups.com.

[namfos]

Question, Jeff:

Are you strictly sight fishing, or tossing to likely spots as well?

I might head out to the C&O on Sunday.

Thanks, 

Mark

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Mark, 95% is sight fishing where I actually see the fish before I cast. The other 5% is casting to fish I can't acutally see (because the water is too muddy), but know for certain a fish is there because I can see the silt plumes from it actively feeding. You really need to use a strike indicator for that type of fishing, and it is still a very low percentage situation.

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/cbe07061-dbf7-4fba-97f4-12731332ad72%40googlegroups.com.

[namfos]

Thanks, Jeff. I suspected it was mostly sight fishing. Fishing is always great; catching is highly variable.

Mark

[TurbineBlade]

Great fish Jeff!  

Gene

[Aaron O]

Hey Jeff, I'm hoping to go there Wednesday morning to try some myself. Got a couple questions I'm hoping you can help with.

1: with the size 12 to 14 bead head soft hackle your using, what size tippet would you suggest. I'm not the best fisherman so I don't want to go too light but I obviously don't want to spook them more than I already will.

2: any noticeable difference with the tides? Any better for the canal? I know it's better with moving tide in Potomac and I'm guessing the same for he canal.

3: any suggestions with distance between fly and strike indicator? I'm sure he tide height and clarity has a lot to do with it but any thoughts would help. Aiming for bottom dragging or middle of water? Etc... I'm also guessing that smaller and duller colors would be better.

Any help would be appreciated.

Aaron

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Aaron - 

1. I've been using 3X tippet. I only broke one off, but it was on the hook set and likely due to not paying attention to chaffed line. It still seems to give me enough oomph to be able to try to stop a run into a branch. I haven't experimented with heavier line, so not sure if doing 2X will make spook.

2. I don't think the C&O is tidally influenced both because of its design and because you're above the fall line. If it is, I've never noticed, and definitely haven't made any correlation to fishing conditions.

3. I've typically tried to stay 2-3 feet between fly and indicator. For the most part, when you cast to the fish, it'll take it in the first 5-10 seconds if it is interested. I've mostly had success hanging it mid-water column in front of them. It takes too long to sink to the bottom - or where I believe the bottom is most of the time - to really be able to get an accurate shot where the carp will see it. The biggest thing with the indicator is to use as small of one as possible because they will spook the fish when they land if you don't drop it like you're presenting a size 24 midge. I'm going to try yarn next time I'm out there. If you're having a lot of trouble with spooking with the indicator, try casting a bit beyond the fish and dragging the fly into position. The dragging never seemed to spook, but the plop landing did. The only thing I noticed with color of indicator (I haven't used many different colors) is that the carp started to rise to, then refuse, a white one. Maybe they thought it was bread at first? I've generally used fluorescent colors because that's what came in the package I bought for other purposes. Lastly, if/when you encounter a fish feeding along the edge of the bank at your feet, you'll have one shot. Either take off the indicator or slide it WAY up the leader so it doesn't touch the water. It WILL spook. If you pull the fly away before it eats, you'll rarely get a second chance too. I usually don't even cast to these fish and just drop the fly into the water. I try to get it a foot or so in front of its nose and just let it go to the bottom. 9 times out of 10, it'll swim right over and suck it up. If you pull the fly away too soon or reposition it after it sees it, you'll rarely get a second chance.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

Jeff

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/9bf75e08-ef15-4cb6-98e7-93f6817c9c29%40googlegroups.com.

[Sparkr]

Jeff,

do you mind sharing what kind of fly patterns work best for you?  

sparkr

On Monday, July 14, 2014 9:19:04 AM UTC-4, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Thanks, guys. I put together a (long) video from my GoPro of the trip. It's got most of the fish I caught and lost, but there were a couple where there was just nothing good on video, and my first battery died in the middle of one of the fish I landed. Fair warning: I am terrible at video editing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3W-MpNvqtU

On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 8:24 AM, namfos <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:

Cool. Well done.

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

[Jeffrey Silvan]

I've only two - bead head soft hackle and a hares ear nymph.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/3ac418b0-d39d-46ff-8168-e3e68cafa233%40googlegroups.com.

[Sparkr]

Thank you Jeff.  I think I read where you're using 12/14 which is smaller than what I'm used to using in Colorado for carp.  Anything "buggy" seems to work best for me over the years, esp. a black wolly bugger, which I have caught the most with in the South Platte.  But I've certainly heard of a lot of success with a prince nymph in the canals here, although I've not tried that.  The water has been so muddy and full of debris the times I've tried that sight fishing was difficult, not to mention the casting issues.  Sounds like you've found the all the right angles, congratulations!  Carp fishing does become addictive if not obsessive as compared with bass or even trout.

Steve

On Wednesday, July 23, 2014 8:18:10 AM UTC-4, Jeff Silvan wrote:

I've only two - bead head soft hackle and a hares ear nymph.

On Jul 23, 2014 8:09 AM, "Sparkr" <stephen...@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeff,

do you mind sharing what kind of fly patterns work best for you?  

sparkr

On Monday, July 14, 2014 9:19:04 AM UTC-4, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Thanks, guys. I put together a (long) video from my GoPro of the trip. It's got most of the fish I caught and lost, but there were a couple where there was just nothing good on video, and my first battery died in the middle of one of the fish I landed. Fair warning: I am terrible at video editing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3W-MpNvqtU

On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 8:24 AM, namfos <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:

Cool. Well done.

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsubsc...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/09cce5de-7b4f-4b84-a0dc-75b113f4de42%40googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

[namfos]

Amen on the rarely getting a second chance part. But that's what kept me at it on Sunday instead of wading the river. ;-)

As for flies, I got some good looks and missed (all) strikes (klutz) with Carp Carrots and Bristle Leeches. You can find tying instructions via a Google search. Same flies should work well for panfish on vacation in 4 weeks.

Mark

[Chuq Yang]

Jeff, 

Great video.  That's much better editing than I would have done.  I was at Lock 7 today tossing some buggy looking flies, and had a carp inhale my fly, and then spit it right out.  I then proceeded to spook the three others there when I got so excited.  Anyway, do you think a 6wt (my biggest rod) is too small for landing a carp there?  It looks like your setup was bigger, but it could be the fish eye lens on the GoPro.  Also, it seems that right around lock 7, there is the pool above the lock that doesn't have all the green stuff on top like below the lock.  I also didn't see anywhere that I would even be able to get close enough to the water to net a carp.  I'm not trying to hotspot your fishing hole, but where abouts was the video filmed?  It looked like a pretty decent place to get close to the water there, but I didn't see anywhere like that immediately around lock 7.

Thanks.

Chuq

[Jeffrey Silvan]

You should be fine with a 6. I've used it before there. I was using a 7 in that video. As far as spots, it's hard to "hot spot" the canal even if one wanted to because fish could literally be anywhere. I believe I was between lock 7 and 8, but may have been between 6 and 7 as well. At least a few weeks ago, the green surface "mat" thinned out and disappeared if you walked about a half mile below lock 7. As you're fishing, just keep in mind the little access points down to the canal level. You'll see them - they're cut outs into the side. Just fight the fish towards one of them and you can get to the water. Sometimes there's a pretty long ways between those cut downs. I try to avoid casting to fish in those situations because landing them would be so difficult or I'd have to drag them (in the water) a really long ways, and I just don't feel good about that.

--

http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/beb83b24-e507-48f9-9e27-11e4bf51576e%40googlegroups.com.

[Misha Gill]

Another thing that I want to throw out there - I think it's really important not to trout set on a carp, rather, one should "come tight" to the fish with a slow raise of the rod. Jeff and I talked about this in the shop the other day, and its up for debate because trout sets do work sometimes. One thing I can say for my alternative method, iIt will definitely reduce your tangles.  

Btw I used 0X when I caught my carp out of the canal about a month ago. I'm sure it wouldn't have hurt to go smaller. 

Bank diggers are the best. Drop the fly 3 inches to either side of their face and they will lunge for it. 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Agreed, Misha. I love the bank diggers, but seems much less challenging than casting to a feeder in the middle. Those bank diggers are the situation where trout setting works best - and you really don't have any other option anyway since the line is often 90 degrees to the rod. Strip sets end up having the same impact as a trout set in that case. All that being said, while I haven't focused too much on the set, thinking back, I definitely miss a lot more eats when I get too excited on the set compared to calm and collected. I have a feeling that translates to exactly what Misha said - a slower, more steady set rather than ripping on the line like it's a tarpon.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/538619de-380f-446c-9ef2-e3772770586a%40googlegroups.com.

[Michael Selby]

Hey Jeff and all, just wanted to say thanks for all the great carp advice.  Finally got a chance to hit the canal on Wednesday and was on with nice one on about the 10th cast.  Of course he broke off pretty quickly, which I attribute primarily to the fact that I was so shocked that I actually hooked one, and also because I didn't notice until I got to the canal that the package of the leader I grabbed walking out of the house said "best used by August 2003".  The only thing else I had with me was a spool of 12lb fluorocarbon that I think was just too big.  Got lots of looks, but no more takes.

Walked the dog down to Urban Angler (he loves the treats!), restocked on leaders and flies and got back out there today. Weather was nearly identical, but conditions in the canal had changed significantly.  Above lock 8 was essentially dry.  Below 8 and 7 was the same level, but almost completely opaque - maybe 6 inches of visibility.  Much harder stalking fish, but eventually connected and landed one.  Wasn't the monster I had been chasing, but first carp on a fly.  Guess I am a carp addict now too!  Can't wait to get back

Mike

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Nice work, and congrats!

--

http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/24a63cae-b578-4d27-8770-ec612198ac5a%40googlegroups.com.

[Zachary Manning]

I've tried several times on the canal for Carp and have had 0 luck. Anyone looking to school a newb on an up carp fishing on the canal?

zachary...@gmail.com

On Friday, August 14, 2015 at 9:20:52 PM UTC-4, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Nice work, and congrats!

On Fri, Aug 14, 2015 at 6:21 PM, Michael Selby <mikese...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Jeff and all, just wanted to say thanks for all the great carp advice.  Finally got a chance to hit the canal on Wednesday and was on with nice one on about the 10th cast.  Of course he broke off pretty quickly, which I attribute primarily to the fact that I was so shocked that I actually hooked one, and also because I didn't notice until I got to the canal that the package of the leader I grabbed walking out of the house said "best used by August 2003".  The only thing else I had with me was a spool of 12lb fluorocarbon that I think was just too big.  Got lots of looks, but no more takes.

Walked the dog down to Urban Angler (he loves the treats!), restocked on leaders and flies and got back out there today. Weather was nearly identical, but conditions in the canal had changed significantly.  Above lock 8 was essentially dry.  Below 8 and 7 was the same level, but almost completely opaque - maybe 6 inches of visibility.  Much harder stalking fish, but eventually connected and landed one.  Wasn't the monster I had been chasing, but first carp on a fly.  Guess I am a carp addict now too!  Can't wait to get back

Mike

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

[Ashley Frohwein]

i somehow caught two last week on trout flies: a size 18 brassie and and size 16 pheasant tail nymph.

[Aaron O]

Ashley,

Don't be too surprised about catching carp on trout flies, I know Jeff commonly uses similar flies to catch them. He also somehow steals fish from off of my line and puts them on his, without me seeing him do it. I don't know how but I will find out.

Aaron

[John Bilotta]

I agree. Nymphs are good.


Sent from my iPad

> --
> http://www.tpfr.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.

> To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/bbb11828-1b9c-48a8-b0ba-dfe0f6298078%40googlegroups.com.

[MattT]

I would be interested in learning more too. I've tied the flies, listened to the podcasts, read the books, stalked Silvan's every post. Chasin' the golden bones for around 2 years now without a take. 

On Monday, August 17, 2015 at 11:46:59 AM UTC-4, John wrote:

I agree. Nymphs are good.


Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 17, 2015, at 11:13 AM, Aaron O <osh...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Ashley,
>
> Don't be too surprised about catching carp on trout flies,  I know Jeff commonly uses similar flies to catch them.  He also somehow steals fish from off of my line and puts them on his,  without me seeing him do it. I don't know how but I will find out.
>
> Aaron
>
> --
> http://www.tpfr.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Rob Snowhite]

I just uploaded two hours of me and Dan Fraiser discussing carp. Look for it on iTunes. 

Sent from my iPhone

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/07fb5773-786c-4821-8428-755070eaded2%40googlegroups.com.

[TurbineBlade]

Beth hooked a fairly nice one on a pink trout magnet last year -- but on the big river they can easily run off not only a lot of line, but also into a wide variety of snags (or bridge pylons in her case).  So long as the hook wire is strong enough, "trout flies" are like any other -- focusing on fly type is a waste of effort to me.  I'd spend it finding carp, and then finding the 1 out of 15 or so that is moving more slowly, puffing bottom amidst the other 14 that are cruising at moderate speed and will seldom take anything (though I had one turn and grab last year).  

Dan and I were gabbing about "secret dough recipes" last beer tie; they're FAR easier to take that way if you've just never caught one period and want to see what the fuss is about.  Rig up ~200 yards of 6-8 pound mono on a spinning reel with a good drag (I formerly preferred Mitchells...but modern "bait runner" reels are the hot ticket now in Europe) and a #6 baitholder hook (I don't care for trebles) and a few slip, egg sinkers and you're set!  Well, and 2 boxes of jiffy corn muffin mix, 1 box of strawberry jello, some vanilla, and some sugar and flour to set overnight in the fridge.  

They're a great fish, hard-fighting and challenging to hook and land.  If I could find more in "fly casting" areas I'd fish for them more often for sure.  

Gene (source: 7 on the fly with 4 landed, more than I can even remember on spinning tackle back on Lake Springfield, MO...and quite a few off Belle Haven marina)  

I posted this one a while ago, but it was one of the better ones caught that way.  

BTW -- if anyone objects to handling a big carp that way, be aware that the DDOE fisheries guys taught me the "eye socket" grip for big carp....if you have to ask, you'll never know.  

Gene

[TurbineBlade]

I'm having to back-up a hard drive this week and came across this other Belle Haven carp I must have taken at some point.  I guess it was early winter based on my garb. 

The other is a typical Lake Springfield, MO specimen.  That was probably one of the first times Beth and I fished together. 

Gene