Carp Flies and Techniques with Richard Magill

If you can consider the common carp to be a world class fly fishing target, then the metro Denver area is undoubtedly a world class fly fishing destination.

Sight fishing for Colorado's golden bones can challenge the savviest of anglers. It is more akin to hunting than trout fishing as it is an entirely visual game. An angler must stalk their target with precise and stealthy intention. One false move and any hope of feeding the golden ghost goes out of the window.

The Denver South Platte or DSP for short is home to one of the most prolific carp fisheries in the area. A challenging mix of current, stained water, and spooky fish make for a stellar time on the water.

Gear is pretty straightforward. You will need either a 6wt, 7wt, or 8wt with a 7wt being the most ideal. My favorite rods are the Sage POWER R8 690-4FB and the R8 CORE 790-4. The ARBOR XL in 6/7/8 is hands down the best reel for the job. Featuring a sealed drag with a huge arbor to tame any angry fish, the ARBOR XL allows your new carp setup to also be used on your favorite bonefish flat as well.

The best lines for carp fishing are RIO's Gold XP, Elite Smallmouth Bass, and Flats Pro. This summer, the Smallmouth Bass taper has been my go-to. The 7wt line has a 240 grain, 37’ head that makes loading the rod at short distances a breeze. This is ideal for most "Drag N Drop" situations. My leader is a 9’ 16lb Fluoroflex Bonefish/Saltwater leader with roughly 16” of 12lb Fluoroflex Saltwater tippet to the fly.

When targeting carp there are three main techniques to consider. The first is the “Flats” approach which is when the fish is happily feeding 20-40’ away in stillwater and you present a fly by leading the fish and allowing it to intercept your presentation. This requires sharp accurate casts and flies that aren’t too heavy as to prevent spooking the fish.

The next and probably most common technique is the "Drag N Drop." In order for this to work the angler must be stealthy, moving slowly through the water. Once a feeding target is located the angler must get as close as possible without alerting the fish. To present the fly you will simply cast 3-4’ past the head of the carp. The second your fly hits the water you will need to lift your rod tip up bringing the fly to the surface, then drag the fly on the surface of the water dropping it when it is in line with the feeding carp. If the fish doesn’t respond you can try twitching the fly. Carp will either eat or spook at this point.

The final presentation is a modified version of the "Drag N Drop" called the "Swing N Drop." Fishing the DSP, I have noticed that carp enjoy eating in faster water. The current certainly can be challenging to navigate, but it also forces the carp to eat more aggressively because they don’t have time to give the fly a thorough inspection. This is when the "Swing N Drop" comes into play. For it to work the angler must be up river from the feeding fish. Cast above the fish while keeping enough tension on your fly for the current to carry it down. Once the fly drifts into place, give it a bit of slack allowing it to fall into the carp's feeding zone. This is when the carp will either charge forward, pinning the fly down or it will spook.

Presentation is a huge part of the game but if you don’t have the right flies you won’t catch many carp. Carp flies come in varying weights and sizes and generally imitate either a crayfish, leech, aquatic insect or fresh water mollusk. In order to shorten the learning curve a bit, here are a few of my favorite flies.