Carp Flies
Fly fishing for carp is a segment that will continue to grow for many reasons...but most importantly, because catching carp is so much fun! Though there's a steep learning curve, stick with it because perseverance, time, and knowledge of carp behavior will help to ensure success. Have confidence in the patterns below, as they are some of the "tried-and-true" ones of this niche in fly fishing.
Featured in this "Two Minute Fly Tying" tutorial is the Krazy Carper from Jamie Kaminski. Though catching the attention of those fly fishing for carp, this pattern is quickly developing into one that's known to be effective with many species. The Krazy Carper is a simple one to tie, and allows for many color combinations and variations with its body material.
This pattern, created by John Montana, incorporates few materials, is easy to modify, and has endless color combinations. I discuss the original pattern in my introduction, and examine some possible variations available during the tying of the Hybrid Carp Fly.
Featured in this YouTube fly tying tutorial is the "Sculpzilla," an excellent representation of a sculpin from the Solitude Fly Company. This is a nasty streamer that is known to catch some really large fish, plus try it as an articulated streamer... ;-)
There are many leech patterns out there, yet this one may be the fastest I've ever tied; thanks to Landon Mayer for creating this simple yet effective pattern! This fly is a variation of his original, being that I have modified it slightly for carp.
In this fly tying tutorial, I share a popular streamer, the Zuddler Conehead Minnow, which is a cross between two other extraordinary patterns. This fly, part Zonker and part Muddler Minnow, has lots of characteristics that fish like, including great movement from the rabbit strip and a front profile that resembles many bait fish.
Guest tyer John Mlakar ties a great pattern known as the Swimming Crane Fly Larva and then shares some of his personal variations (which I highly recommend looking into!). John also gives us some tips to fish this fly, which is a simple and effective one. Have fun with the variations of your own, and let us know how you like this Swimming Crane Fly Larva.
In this fly tying tutorial, I show an easy way to vary the traditional Woolly Bugger, which is by substituting a schlappen hackle for the traditional saddle hackle. Have fun with this one, and enjoy its movement in the water.
In this fly tying tutorial, I demonstrate the tying methods for a fly called the CrawBody Crayfish. Representing a favorite meal of both trout and smallmouth bass, the crayfish as a pattern is intended to be fished lower in the water column, and can be utilized in both streams and lakes.
For this fly tying tutorial, I share a pattern that needs little introduction, Bob Clouser's famous fly, the Clouser Deep Minnow. This is a "go-to" for most fly fisherman, and with good reason: It catches fish! I share a few tips to employ when tying this pattern, plus various pieces of information I learned from Mr. Clouser during his demonstrations.
During this fly tying tutorial, I showcase my friend Tony Spezio's pattern, the Chili Pepper fly. Tony shared a few stories related to this Woolly Bugger-type pattern, thus I take the first few minutes to share those with you. I also have modified a few of the techniques and components of this fly, but wanted to ensure that the integrity of the original was still intact. Thanks, Tony, for sharing this great pattern with me!
For this tutorial, I chose a great streamer that is known to catch large fish. Have fun with the color combos, though I prefer the purple shown in the video.
The Sculpin Bugger is easy to tie, and more importantly, encompasses some great characteristics of the natural sculpin. ***Fish this one as an aerticulated streamer, too!
In this fly tying tutorial, I demonstrate the techniques for tying the Black Bunny Leech. This pattern is suggestive of a leech, though if you vary the colors of the rabbit strips, other baitfish can be represented.
In this fly tying tutorial, I show the steps to tie a fantastic fly for steelhead, known as "DeFrank's Grim Reaper." Originally tied for the Great Lakes region (specifically the tributaries of Lake Erie) and the steelhead within, this pattern is useful for a number of species (i.e. CARP!), and is a "go-to" for many fly fishermen.
Leech patterns are favorites among stillwater fishing specialists, and this pattern tends to be a common "go-to" for many. The Simi Seal Leech, created by John Rohmer, is a great fly tying pattern for everyone due to its relative ease. FYI: Carp love leeches, right? ;-)
McTage's Trouser Worm, created by the owner of http://www.flycarpin.com, is a pattern that comes highly recommended in this niche of our great sport. Fish this pattern with confidence, and feel free to vary the color, with red being another effective selection.