Carp: The Smartest Fish a Fly Angler Can Chase

August 01, 2012

by Kirk Deeter

Let's face it, the carp's number one asset is its convenience; they're almost everywhere. Odds are you can get out and find a carp to cast at within an hour's drive from where you're reading this right now. And in many cases, it's more like five minutes. I'm not encouraging you to blow off work this afternoon and go carp fishing, but I'm putting that out there.

While I've heard carp being called many things, from trash fish to the queen of rivers (Izaak Walton), here's the deal: I'm hearing more and more people laud carp for their intelligence. One of my favorite trout gurus, who has fished from Alaska to the tropics for hundreds of species, called the carp "the smartest fish in the river." (He shall remain nameless because I don't want to put him on the spot.)

I'll say it. Carp are harder to catch than bonefish, and a heck of a lot harder to catch than trout.
Sure, with trout, you have to figure out what's hatching (if anything) and float your fly just so in order to get bit. But it's not that hard once you figure it out. Why do you think anglers relish the abundant PMD hatch so much? Because they don't have to think as hard when that happens.

For those of us who like to cast flies at carp (and that number is growing exponentially according to product manufacturers and retailers I'm speaking with), the good news about carp is that they are omnivores, meaning they eat just about anything, from Cheetos to grasshoppers to vegetation to minnows and crayfish. The bad news about carp is that they're omnivores, meaning they eat just about anything from Cheetos to grasshoppers ... well you get the idea. On any given day, an angler has an abundance of options when choosing a fly. This also means that on any given day, a carp has an abundance of reasons to refuse a fly. (Look closely at the photo above and you'll note that this one indeed ate a hopper fly.)

One thing for sure is that carp will make you think. I wonder if you think I've completely lost my mind when I say this might be the smartest fish you can chase with flies?

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from Sayfu wrote 45 weeks 4 days ago

It's not that the carp are getting smarter...it's the fact that the angler is getting stupider.

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from buckhunter wrote 45 weeks 4 days ago

What makes carp fishing different is that they are casual eaters. Bass and pike will attack, trout get keyed in on one insect and are programmed to eat, and most saltwater species are opportunistic/attackers. Carp, however, just slowly wander the bottom in search of any little morsel available. With little or no science such as match-the-hatch, carp fisherman are left to the trial, error and pray technique. I think most fly fisherman like the fact that they can fool a fish at it's own game. Carp do not give you that satisfaction. They have no predictable eating habits.

Does this make carp smarter than other fish or just harder to take advantage of?

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from buckhunter wrote 45 weeks 4 days ago

Sayfu, We have been doing so well the last few weeks. Is your therapist on vacation?

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from Sayfu wrote 45 weeks 4 days ago

We have been doing so well the last few weeks.? At what, and where? When other rivers are shutting down because of drought, nine is just now being lowered into great fishing shape. I have been working out, and doing therapy...I'm ready!

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from Koldkut wrote 45 weeks 3 days ago

I think Buckhunter hit it, they are not predators, and that's what makes them difficult. Catch them when they are eating, or have a backup plan for another species.

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from Sayfu wrote 45 weeks 3 days ago

I've watched some exciting carp flyfishing videos on my Cable flyfishing Tuesday. A show called FLY MAX. Fly Max has several guys that are excellent casters, and fly anglers, and it also has an outstanding fly fishing gal named April Golkey on the show!!! They fish for carp in great visible sight areas. Clear water with structure..weed beds, and bolder patches. You can see schools of carp moving in the video, then the cast, and the take. Sometimes short takes, and they come off. Sometimes the water surface explodes with a take, and it scatters the school. Shallow water, and just like bonefishing accept you can see the carp better than you can spot a bone. That could get me excited. I think of carp as being in a swamp...no thanks. I had enough blood suckers on my feet lately!