Tag Archives: Fly Fishing

Fishing Strategies

Carp Fly Fishing Is Not Your Average Sport

Although fishing with flies is most popular with trout and salmon anglers we also find carp fly fishing and fly fishing of an even tougher variety amongst deep and saltwater fishermen and women. Fly fishing for carp is not your average sport because there is nothing which is average about these fish.

It’s all about spotting the fish first and for this reason the correct tackle is required. The rod has to be able to make an accurate cast from 3 to 15 meters so the type of rod used is probably the most important piece of equipment. These fishermen have to be accurate and fast so a graphite rod of a 6 ‘ 8 weight which is between 8’6′ and 9’ is ideal.

It should have a medium tip and good backbone in the butt. The 9 foot rod would be a better choice if the water where you fish is snaggy and the carp weigh between 16 and 25 pounds.

A hard rod will not give an accurate cast and a soft rod will not stand up to the fighting vigor of a carp. They have a reputation for being notoriously dirty fighters, but this is obviously the reason why anglers enjoy fishing for carp, it definitely isn’t the delicate flavor.

Exposed rim reels of the larger variety are the best reels to use and this energetic and tricky fish will give the reel a workout. It needs to have disk drags, and approximately 150 m of backing line. Fly fishing for carp will see the reel’s maximum capacity put to use at times.

Micron or Dacron line of a 9kg or 20lb weight is best, push this up to 30lbs for snaggy waters. Use a 10 pound tip, tapered leader and get a feel for the amount of additional tippet you require. They are not that choosy about flies as carp are traditionally insect eaters, but experts find that they are easy to catch with wooly buggers of all the different colors, muddler minnows, Daves hoppers, and many more.

Because fly fishing for carp is about speed and accuracy, it is essential to wear polarized sunglasses. The brown or amber variety are recommended as these create contrast, while still completely blocking out glare off the water. But these lenses are recommended for all types of fishing and as this particular sport is about spotting the fish first, you won’t have much luck if you can’t see what is going on in the water.

Duncan is an avid Fly Fishing expert and if you are struggling when carp fly fishing or just looking for that edge then download his FREE 101 Fly Fishing Tips Ebook from http://www.Fly-Fishing-Revealed.com.

Fishing Strategies

How To Fly Fish For Carp

Fly fishing for carp is awesome and frustrating at the same time. Carp have a really uncanny ability to spit out baits they deem suspicious before you have a chance to set your hook.  Although it’s a very exciting thing to see, it can also be heartbreaking to see a large carp disregard your bait and quickly swim away. If you do hook one, however, hold on for deal life and hold on to that trembling, vibrating fishing pole!

Carp regularly come to the surface looking for food and the best baits to lure them there are breads, chic peas, salmon eggs and canned corn. These are all inexpensive baits as well.  These baits must be securely attached to a #4 or #6 hook.  It’s advisable to break your bread into small portions, dampen it, seal it in a sandwich bag, and let it sit in the sun for about an hour or so.  Since different breads have different textures,you’ll have to experiment to know which one will stay firm enough to cast.  Another great bait are the pellets which you can buy ready to use.  These are simply store made versions of classic baits, all rolled into a convenient, and smelly pellet!

Carp tend to scare easily, so when they begin to swim around your bait, be careful not to jerk the bait and scare them away.  The longer they analyze the bait, the more comfortable they’ll become.  This is the fisherman’s best chance for a nice strike.  This tactic can be very useful if using zig rigs.

If a carp takes your bait, quickly rebait your hook and cast back in.  Don’t cast directly on top of the feeding carp or they will surely scatter.  Cast away from the feeding area then slowly reel the bait into position.  Slowly reel your bait into the middle of the feeding carp, and try hard to keep it as close to the surface as possible.  You may want to rig it 6-8 inches unter a float to ensure it sits close to the surface. 

Here are some tips that have been helpful to me:

-Use smaller amounts of bait for carp.  They nibble at the bait, and a big chunk will allow them to nibble for a long time before getting to the hook.  You don’t want them to get their fill without taking your hook.

-Use heavyweight line and a steel leader.  Carp tend to rub their teeth and gums together after they bite, and this can break your line.  I recommend at least thirty pound test line, as carp are voracious fighters.

-Dip a piece of sponge in some fish scent (can be bought at any bait 7 tackle store) and hang the sponge above your hook.  The scent will help the carp find the bait-and your hook.

-Using a float is a good idea because it helps keep your bait close to the surface and it’s easy to find your rig.  You can also tell right away when you get a bite.

-When fly fishing for carp, use a standard five second count after your fly or bait hits the water.  If you don’t get any hits, increase it to ten seconds.  Carp tend to practice restraint if they are unsure of a bait.  Those extra seconds could mean the difference between getting a bite or not. 

In the end, it really isn’t the bait that’s most important but how the bait is fished.  Throwing some bait into the water before fishing, also called “chumming”, can also be an effective technique to draw carp to your fishing area.  This makes the carp think that there is an excessive amount of food for them there and before you know it there will be a large school of them ready to feed.  The number one key to fishing is patience.  If you can wait them out and wait for them to realize there is food available, you’ll definitely catch a big carp.

If you would like to learn more about fishing for carp and read some more fly fishing tips, visit: Fishing Tips For Beginners

Carp Fishing Equipment

Family Fishing Holidays in France

France is a country that has a wonderful variety of fishing from the North through to the South and caters for fly fishing, course and game fishing on a wide range of rivers and lakes. Plus there is plenty of coast line for the sea angler to enjoy as well.

Carp fishing, cat fishing, not forgetting course and pike fishing are just some of the holidays that you can enjoy in France and whilst some places cater for the dedicated angler, others are more family orientated with accommodation and activities for the non fishers.

There are several types of fishing holiday available and for trout fishing, you would need to book from around the middle to end of March up until around the first week of September, which is the only time frame you are allowed to fish for trout in France.

In certain areas of France, salmon fishing is prohibited all year, so it is always best to check on the area you are going, prior to thinking that you will be able to get a licence for fly fishing, just like that.

Every country has numerous different regulations and France is no exception, with specific rules in place for what type of fish you can catch, when you are allowed to catch certain species of fish and what equipment you are allowed to fish with.

For some, this can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are not fluent in French, and although in some areas it will be easier than others to organise your fishing venue and licence, it is often easier to pre-organise your fishing holiday, so do try and get as much information as possible.

You must have a fishing licence to fish in rivers, streams and lakes throughout France unless these are privately owned or booked as a fishing holiday where the fishing licence requirements are normally included, but it is advisable to check this out before you travel!

If you need to obtain your own fishing permit, these can usually be obtained from the local fishing tackle shop or alternatively from the local bar or tobac. But if you are not sure on what is required then you can get advice from the local tourist information board, which can also provide maps of where you can and cannot fish.

If you are only going to be on holiday in France for a short time, then you can get what is known as The Carte de Peche de Vacances, which covers an angler for up to fifteen consecutive days and can be used between 1st June and 30th November. However, outside of these dates an annual fishing licence is mandatory.

An annual permit may be used for the whole year but bear in mind that this will only be for one department unless you get it stamped for different areas that you may go to and this is something that you will need for all fresh water fishing.

When it comes to catfish and carp fishing, you can get a licence to do this in the local rivers or public lakes, but the majority of people will want to opt for a carp fishing holiday on a dedicated lake. And when you go to a dedicated privately owned lake for carp fishing, cat fishing, etc, then you will not normally have to worry about getting your own individual licence as this will already have either been sorted out by the travel agency or the owner under their regulations.

Boats are allowed to be used quite a bit in France, but you may need to have a separate part to your licence to enable you to use a boat, even if it is only for baiting. But be careful if you have an echo sounder in your boat, as you are not allowed to have both this and your tackle in the boat at the same time!

Also, night fishing is prohibited in a lot of places in France, but when on a private fishing lake, or if with the correct licence on certain waters, this can be allowed. If not, then you can only fish half hour after sunrise to half hour before sunset. Some places on the rivers seine, rhone, mosselle, oise, madine and rhine, etc do allow night fishing, but there are many places that do ban the use of a bivvy or tent even if night fishing is allowed and you may only get away with a brolly!

Sea fishing off of the Atlantic coast is excellent and you will be pleased to know that a licence is not needed, and you can go out on a boat to catch bass, conger eels and even tuna or surf cast for sea bream to name but a few.

Fly fishing for salmon and trout is available in lots of public canals and navigable rivers but as with most countries, these will also contain other fish such as Pike, so beware! However some of the best places to try your hand at fly fishing are often owned by groups and in this case you would need to pay the owners for a permit to fish as well as having your licence.

Some of the best salmon fishing in France can be found in the Pyrenees Atlantiques and the river Loire is also a major salmon fishery for France.

Some of the best fishing in France is for course fishing where you will find lots of different species, but with carp, catfish and pike being in abundance, especially in areas such as the Dordogne, Lot and Charente Maritime. But if you like fishing for black bass, the river Rhone is known as a premier bass fishery, as is the river Saone.

The fishing dates and times do vary each year in France, so it is always advisable to check on these before planning your fishing holiday, and at the end of the day, forget about the headaches of the licences, just enjoy the whole experience and you too could be in with a chance of catching a fish that has never been caught before!

www.placesinfrance.com


Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions – Family Fishing Holidays In France

Fishing Tips

The Secret To Fly Fishing For Carp

Fly fishing for carp is a popular variation on fly fishing and many anglers enjoy this sport. However, most anglers think fly fishing is associated with trout and salmon,  but it is also associated with carp and even deep-sea fish. Carp are a real fighter and there is nothing about angling for this fish which is ordinary or average, hence the popularity of carp fly fishing today.

The secret to catching carp is simple, speed and accuracy. You need to spot him and have your line in the water before he spots you. The below items are a must as there is a fine line between being fast and accurate and having heavy enough gear to be able to land the beastie.

The carp fly fisherman or woman needs to be able to spot the fish and cast accordingly, so the most important item is the rod. You and your rod have to be able to make a fast and accurate case over 3 to 15 m of water and whatever else is in your way so a 6 ‘ 8 graphite rod of between 8’6′ and 9’ in length is a good choice according to experts of this sport.

Because the carp put up something of a fight the butt of the rod needs a solid back-bone while the tip should be medium. If the carp are larger where you intend fishing then the 9 foot rod is also highly recommended, big is anything from 16 to 25 lbs!

To be accurate and fast, means that a hard rod won’t be accurate and if the rod is too soft, it won’t be able to take the weight of these dirty fighters. Carp are energetic to say the least when they have been hooked and this is what makes them such an attractive prize for fishermen. The prize certainly isn’t in the delicate flavor or great good looks.

A large reel with an expose rim is required and your hooked carp will give the reel a run for its money. It is a large an tricky fish so you need Micron or Dacron with at least a 20 pound weight. If the water is snaggy ‘ make this 30lbs, and have at least 150 m of backing line, carp will take out the maximum of line on many occasions.

Use a tapered leader of 10lbs and additional tippet, carp will happily take many different flies, with woolly buggers being a favourite. Keep a good stock of all the woolly bugger colors and varieties, and try Daves hoppers, muddler minnows and others. Carp eat insects as a big part of their diet, so getting them to take flies is not a problem. The problem lies in accurate, fast casting

Because your cast has to be fast and accurate, a pair of polarized sunglasses is the next important item on your shopping list. Choose the amber or brown variety as these, cut glare to a minimum and create great contrast.

Duncan is an avid Fly Fishing expert and if you are struggling when fly fishing for carp, then download his FREE 101 Fly Fishing Tips Ebook from http://www.Fly-Fishing-Revealed.com. Or Grab some great inside secrets and dirty tactics.

Fishing Strategies

Fishing from the bank or shore of a lake, pond or river

Shore (bank) fishing is an exciting form of recreational fishing where the primary reward is the challenge catching non-common species. Some lakes, rivers and ponds are particularly attractive, such as the Red Lake Rivers running between Minnesota and North Dakota, and encompassing more than 70 species of native fish, including a world-class channel cat fish.

There are many other Shore (bank) fishing locations, in which the methods of fishing vary according to different factors, including the area where shore fishing is practiced, the targeted specials, along with personal strategies of the participants and the resources available in each place. Shore (bank) fishing allows a diversity of techniques, from the art of fly-fishing to the high-tech methods used to get catches such as tuna and marlin. Experts recommend hook, rod and reel for fishing rather than using nets or any other fishing aids.

Fishing from the shore is an ideal adventure for both expert fishers and novice anglers, who fish from the shoreline banks of ponds, rivers, lakes and streams, but also on the Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific and Gulf coasts. In the United States, there are countless opportunities for shore bank fishing, including man-made structures especially intended for the practice of this sport, including bridges, walkways, piers and jetties.

Inland or coastal fishing offers the benefit of natural surroundings for the personal enjoyment or family entertainment. Kayaking, canoeing, biking and other activities are usually available near the shore, including lodging facilities for families and groups, as well as boat renting for the serious fisherman.

Each of the different locations has their own trophies. Atlantic shores are the destination for fresh water fish, including salmon considered the king of kings of all the catches, while the lake trout is the favorite of those who prefer inland shore (bank) fishing, particular boat fishing to enter the middle of lakes. Fishing from the shore is exciting for new anglers, but some species of fish cannot be caught along the shore.

There is a large array of fish available to people fishing on the shore, but free-swimming ocean fish are not found close to shore, particularly trout, they are usually found in cool, clear streams and lakes. However, Shore (bank) fishing offers stream trout and other species such as northern pike, sunfish, and bass, catfish, carp, perch, walleye and suckers.

There is a website that describes boat fishing, ice fishing, and has info on numerous freshwater fish, baits, and lures, plus other great freshwater fishing tips. The website is called: Fishing Stringer, and may be found at this address:

http://www.fishingstringer.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released software on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970’s-80’s.

RB59 Software

http://www.rb59.com/software