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Best-Flies-For-Carp-FishingHow can one make a decision on what carp flies are most effective. With the Carp Throwdown coming up on June 1st, I thought it was a good idea to put together a list of my top-10 best carp flies. Carp are omnivores which means they can – and will – eat almost anything but they are very particular what they want to eat at that moment. I have caught carp on a Dustin’s Destoryer in Shad while fly fishing for bass and even while leaving a BH Olive Woolly Bugger on the bottom for carp feeding on algae. We even have carp that eat grass hoppers during the right time of year.

Fly-Fishing-For-Carp

Thankfully carp are simple so if you can sneak up quietly and make an accurate cast with one of these then you should have a good chance at coming tight with these fish at your local lake.

Carp-Crack-FlyCarp Crack

This is one of my go-to carp flies when I see the fish moving around on muddy bottoms. All the colors work well but the Orange or Brown in a size #8 are my go to colors.

San-Jaun-Worm-Carp-Fly

San Juan Worm

Great for cruising and bottom feeding Carp. The #12 Red San Juan is my go to but the Brown or Pink are great carp fly patterns as well.

Woolly-Bugger-Carp-Fly

BH Woolly Bugger

 Yeah, pretty much every fish that swims in freshwater will eat a Woolly Bugger. Carp are included in this list. Woolly Buggers can imitate a leech, crawdad, algae, minnow and the list can go on. A#10 Olive or Brown are my go to colors but you can never have enough Woolly Buggers in your box at any time.

Mop-Fly-Carp-Fishing

BH Tactical Mop Fly

The Mop Fly has been the cleanup carp fly for almost as long as it has been for Trout. Make sure to drag a #10 Chartreuse, Tan or Orange Mop Fly along the bottom to induce a Carp to eat the fly. 

Damsel-Fly-Carp-Fishing

Identity Crisis

This is my go to carp fly pattern when I see a bunch of damsel and dragon flies hatching out of a lake or river. A #10 Olive or Tan Identity Crisis are two great colors.

Clouser-Nymph-Fly

Clouser Nymph

Conway Bowman has been using a Clouser Nymph for years to trick the massive carp that lurk in Lake Hodges. This carp fly has a great profile and color for a small crayfish imitation.

NOTE: we have the regular #8 Clouser Nymph online but we only carry the bead chain version in our shop.

Glo-Bug-Carp-Fly-Fishing

Glo Bug

Yes, I know there are not any salmon or trout eggs around but carp still love them. Mainly because they look a lot like a berry, corn or pellet. A #10-12 Oregon Cheese or Yellow Witha Black Dot are two good choices for this carp fly pattern.

Parachute-Adams-Carp-Fly

Parachute Adams

The Adams caught more Carp on the surface for me than any other carp fly. If I see fish feeding on the surface, then a #10-14 Parachute Adams will be the first fly that I tie on to my line. And the pic of the carp on the main blog page was a carp caught on a Parachute Adams.

Foam-Emerger-Fly

Foam Emerger

This carp fly is for the fish that are gulping on the surface in the scum line. Cast a #12-14 Adams or Olive  Foam Emerger as close as possible to the gulping carp and hope for the best.

Clod-Hopper-Fly

Clod Hopper

There’s a special time of year at Lake Henshaw when the Carp go nuts for a hopper. So we have to add this carp fly to our list. Throw on a #10-12 Clod hopper in Yellow or Tan when the sound of hoppers fill the air and a nice after afternoon breeze kicks up.

Carp Fly Assortment

We offer a Carp Fly Assortment/Package for those just getting started or wanting to really dial in their carp fly selection.

Carp on a Clod Hopper

Fly-Fishing-Carp

Don’t Forget that the Carp Throwndown at Lake Henshaw is coming on June 1st 2019. Stop by our shop or check out the Carp Throwdown’s wesite for more information.

Carp-Throwndown-Group