As per title can anyone recommend me some minimum requirements for a fly setup for carp tia
In reply to Post #1
Depends on the size of carp.
I like an 8 or sometimes even 10wt for what I'm asking of it but a 5 or 6 will suffice for doubles
A saltw@ter specific rod, though usually pretty fast, will be less likely to go pop so it should have the power to over line it (use a heavier line than stated) to slow it down a bit.
Some cheaper rods aren't as hard to get to grips with, but will have a higher swing weight that takes its toll after a day chucking fluff.. airflo Bluetooth is a capable rod for the money that's happy casting baitfish flies for pike or to pop in a suitcase for holidays too.
A good reel is a sound investment, matched to rod weight and preferably a reliable sealed drag.
floating pike line may be a good start down to your preferred floater hooklink, though if tied straight through without a leader arrangement expect some knots in it while you get to grips with casting
A cheap outfit from orvis or airflo will do the job initially if you just want to dip your toe into the hobby a bit.
Flies are a minefield and while putting a mixer fly amongst a few handfuls of freebies is probably your best chance, it isn't really fly fishing... it's carp fishing with a fly rod
Enjoy it whatever way you approach it, it can be great fun and infuriating at the same time
Depends on the size of carp.
I like an 8 or sometimes even 10wt for what I'm asking of it but a 5 or 6 will suffice for doubles
A saltw@ter specific rod, though usually pretty fast, will be less likely to go pop so it should have the power to over line it (use a heavier line than stated) to slow it down a bit.
Some cheaper rods aren't as hard to get to grips with, but will have a higher swing weight that takes its toll after a day chucking fluff.. airflo Bluetooth is a capable rod for the money that's happy casting baitfish flies for pike or to pop in a suitcase for holidays too.
A good reel is a sound investment, matched to rod weight and preferably a reliable sealed drag.
floating pike line may be a good start down to your preferred floater hooklink, though if tied straight through without a leader arrangement expect some knots in it while you get to grips with casting
A cheap outfit from orvis or airflo will do the job initially if you just want to dip your toe into the hobby a bit.
Flies are a minefield and while putting a mixer fly amongst a few handfuls of freebies is probably your best chance, it isn't really fly fishing... it's carp fishing with a fly rod
Enjoy it whatever way you approach it, it can be great fun and infuriating at the same time
In reply to Post #2
Brilliant thanks for that, really helpful, did think about the mixer before but seeing carp this evening pacmanning through a mosquito hatch got me thinking about trying a more traditional fly, matching the hatch so to speak. Also thinking of giving it a go for perch. Thanks again.
Brilliant thanks for that, really helpful, did think about the mixer before but seeing carp this evening pacmanning through a mosquito hatch got me thinking about trying a more traditional fly, matching the hatch so to speak. Also thinking of giving it a go for perch. Thanks again.
I tried casting one of those imitation dog biscuits on my fly rod last summer.
Unfortunately it went out like a lead balloon and i was soon frustrated.
You can buy tied "flies" which imitate bread or mixers which would be much better to cast.
I've yet to catch a carp on the fly but it is on the to do list, but a lot of coarse fishing lakes i usually fish are not suitable for casting due to trees and bushes restricting the back cast.
So choose your water carefully.
And i would use a #8 set up minimum for carp.
Unfortunately it went out like a lead balloon and i was soon frustrated.
You can buy tied "flies" which imitate bread or mixers which would be much better to cast.
I've yet to catch a carp on the fly but it is on the to do list, but a lot of coarse fishing lakes i usually fish are not suitable for casting due to trees and bushes restricting the back cast.
So choose your water carefully.
And i would use a #8 set up minimum for carp.
In reply to Post #3
That's how I've approached fishing for them; it's hard work but not only is it more rewarding than static fishing, you can use the term ‘match the hatch' without sounding like a knob
I do prefer perch and pike fishing with a fly rod though, you want 2 different set ups really but an 8 will cover you for most freshwater fishing and even from the rocks or beach.
Kizzi on the forum has a lot of freshwater experience and will no doubt have some good advice when he sees the thread
That's how I've approached fishing for them; it's hard work but not only is it more rewarding than static fishing, you can use the term ‘match the hatch' without sounding like a knob
I do prefer perch and pike fishing with a fly rod though, you want 2 different set ups really but an 8 will cover you for most freshwater fishing and even from the rocks or beach.
Kizzi on the forum has a lot of freshwater experience and will no doubt have some good advice when he sees the thread
In reply to Post #1
I took up Fly Fishing for the first time late last summer, I was advised – 10ft 8# Rod, Reel size to match the Rod, Floating weight Forward Line, "as a good all-rounder set up"
I would strongly advise if you're not already proficient at casting a Fly – go out with someone for a hour or two who knows what they are doing, Neil Smith kindly taught me. Otherwise it's very easy to pick up bad habits that at a later date are hard to then iron out.
If it was not for this lock down I'd be learning to Roll Cast as well now, spent all winter practising over-head – think it was the same day for the trout season to open and the lock down came in place!
I did have few short sessions for Pike over winter, and landed a few, nothing big just Jacks but was excellent fun! The constant rain made the water very coloured all the time, limited when it was viable.
I'd be going after Carp now if not for the lock down, 10lb fluro Carbon leader, there's a mass of Flys /Imitations for Carp to choose from.
Go to Troutflies UK on ebay
I took up Fly Fishing for the first time late last summer, I was advised – 10ft 8# Rod, Reel size to match the Rod, Floating weight Forward Line, "as a good all-rounder set up"
I would strongly advise if you're not already proficient at casting a Fly – go out with someone for a hour or two who knows what they are doing, Neil Smith kindly taught me. Otherwise it's very easy to pick up bad habits that at a later date are hard to then iron out.
If it was not for this lock down I'd be learning to Roll Cast as well now, spent all winter practising over-head – think it was the same day for the trout season to open and the lock down came in place!
I did have few short sessions for Pike over winter, and landed a few, nothing big just Jacks but was excellent fun! The constant rain made the water very coloured all the time, limited when it was viable.
I'd be going after Carp now if not for the lock down, 10lb fluro Carbon leader, there's a mass of Flys /Imitations for Carp to choose from.
Go to Troutflies UK on ebay
Thanks for all the advice chaps much appreciated, Im not a complete novice when it comes to fly fishing, believe it or not when I was at Sparsholt we had lessons lol and went out for a couple of days and even caught some fish including a lovely wild brownie from the river test. It's been a few years now though so couldn't really remember much about the Tackle ratings, so I take it for floating Baits such as a deer hair mixer I use a floating line from the fly to the fly line but if using a sinking fly a fluorocarbon to help it sink?
I recommend Flyfishing for Coarse Fish by Dominic Garnett. It has a chapter on carp and is full of good insights.
In reply to Post #8
Cheers for that I'll look it up gonna troll through you through YouTube in a bit see if I can find any vids.
Cheers for that I'll look it up gonna troll through you through YouTube in a bit see if I can find any vids.
In reply to Post #7
I use a mono leader for dry flies with a little bit of Gink floatant.
And for wet flies a fluorocarbon leader will help get it down.
I use a mono leader for dry flies with a little bit of Gink floatant.
And for wet flies a fluorocarbon leader will help get it down.
In reply to Post #9
John Wilson catches carp on a fly rod
https://youtu.be/QGeMb1feGPg
One of my favourite episodes.
John Wilson catches carp on a fly rod
https://youtu.be/QGeMb1feGPg
One of my favourite episodes.
In reply to Post #1
I use an airflow Bluetooth salt water 9ft #8/9 I think it is. A #8 wf cortland and plastic reel for carp, pike and bass fishing. I tried a lighter set up but was worrier about busting it. I have found drenan specialist wide gape hooks a good hook to tie flys on. We catch on lots of patterns but when using biscuits I whip a hair with a small piece of zig foam onto the hook colour to suit my eyesight but black is my go to. . I use double strength or zig line straight through to the fly. Only tend to fish before or after work in normal years.
I use an airflow Bluetooth salt water 9ft #8/9 I think it is. A #8 wf cortland and plastic reel for carp, pike and bass fishing. I tried a lighter set up but was worrier about busting it. I have found drenan specialist wide gape hooks a good hook to tie flys on. We catch on lots of patterns but when using biscuits I whip a hair with a small piece of zig foam onto the hook colour to suit my eyesight but black is my go to. . I use double strength or zig line straight through to the fly. Only tend to fish before or after work in normal years.
Nice one chaps great info and imput from all 👍🏻
In reply to Post #13
All the advice here is good. But I would add that any rod will do if you have one to hand already - I have used soft 4 weights and been fine but a 7/8 weight will feel less frightening when playing a carp!
The back cast is the problem on most UK lakes ... unless you can get afloat.
You can also cast out a popup superglued to a carp hook if fishing amongst floaters. And trimming it down to be a slow sinker can be very effective - as can coating it in the thick Goo. As Jon said, it's not really fly fishing at that point but it's still fun!
All the advice here is good. But I would add that any rod will do if you have one to hand already - I have used soft 4 weights and been fine but a 7/8 weight will feel less frightening when playing a carp!
The back cast is the problem on most UK lakes ... unless you can get afloat.
You can also cast out a popup superglued to a carp hook if fishing amongst floaters. And trimming it down to be a slow sinker can be very effective - as can coating it in the thick Goo. As Jon said, it's not really fly fishing at that point but it's still fun!
In reply to Post #12
i have a Bluetooth #10 rod for my heavier sal****er outfit, though have matched that with a more expensive reel. if it can be used to land tarpon to 50lb (not by me i hasten to add!) it will deal with any carp imo. the Bluetooth outfit is very good value for money (i also have the #8 outfit for a back up #8 sal****er outfit).
I'll be taking my #8 out this year for a bend. not used for carp yet but looks a fantastic fun thing to do.
i have a Bluetooth #10 rod for my heavier sal****er outfit, though have matched that with a more expensive reel. if it can be used to land tarpon to 50lb (not by me i hasten to add!) it will deal with any carp imo. the Bluetooth outfit is very good value for money (i also have the #8 outfit for a back up #8 sal****er outfit).
I'll be taking my #8 out this year for a bend. not used for carp yet but looks a fantastic fun thing to do.
In reply to Post #15
I use okumer airframe reels, the drag is ok imho and the salt don't rot em. I first bought one with a set of spare spools and have picked up a couple cheap on eBay. The Bluetooth I have is a nano I think and is probably 8yrs old and has been a proper workhorse I would recommend it to anyone for the money although I don't know what the current models are like.
Get out and have fun. We normally start at the beginning of March with biscuits and foam and go through until October with Daddy's. I like to fish surface or just under sight casting to them. It's great fun for a few hrs after work and can be very productive.
I use okumer airframe reels, the drag is ok imho and the salt don't rot em. I first bought one with a set of spare spools and have picked up a couple cheap on eBay. The Bluetooth I have is a nano I think and is probably 8yrs old and has been a proper workhorse I would recommend it to anyone for the money although I don't know what the current models are like.
Get out and have fun. We normally start at the beginning of March with biscuits and foam and go through until October with Daddy's. I like to fish surface or just under sight casting to them. It's great fun for a few hrs after work and can be very productive.
In reply to Post #16
I used to do a lot of “fly fishing” on a runs water in the evenings after work. I used a 9' 6weight and it handled fish to upper doubles. Mates had a few low 20's on the same gear. Loads of fun in snag free waters but you may want to step up as others have said if there's many obstacles about.
We always used deer hair flies (Fulling Mill) in amongst dog biscuits. Anything other than a fly (pop up, mixer, plastic) casts like a bag of tits and takes away the enjoyment imo.
It can be a very efficient way of picking out the bigger fish too... within a second of seeing a better one you can have the fly pretty much in its mouth as there's no feeling in and overcasting etc (provided you can cast).
Will have to dust the old gear off once we're out of lockdown. Shame the owners of the lake cottoned on and made a special “fly fishing” ticket costing considerably more than a day ticket
I used to do a lot of “fly fishing” on a runs water in the evenings after work. I used a 9' 6weight and it handled fish to upper doubles. Mates had a few low 20's on the same gear. Loads of fun in snag free waters but you may want to step up as others have said if there's many obstacles about.
We always used deer hair flies (Fulling Mill) in amongst dog biscuits. Anything other than a fly (pop up, mixer, plastic) casts like a bag of tits and takes away the enjoyment imo.
It can be a very efficient way of picking out the bigger fish too... within a second of seeing a better one you can have the fly pretty much in its mouth as there's no feeling in and overcasting etc (provided you can cast).
Will have to dust the old gear off once we're out of lockdown. Shame the owners of the lake cottoned on and made a special “fly fishing” ticket costing considerably more than a day ticket
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