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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <META content="Microsoft FrontPage 5.0" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY><table bgcolor="#DADA2E" border="0" width="700" height="100%" cellpadding="15"> <tr> <td> CHASING CARP WITH A FLY ROD - An Interview with Charlie Moore      by Dan Craven</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" colspan="2"> Our readers have expressed interest in angling opportunities for "other", less commonly angled species. We interviewed Charlie Moore, who has extensive experience chasing Carp with a fly-rod. Craven: For starters ,what sort of outfit should we be using for carp? Moore: A 7 or 8 weight fly rod works well for Carp fishing. You should also get a matching weight forward line. Carp fishing requires accurate casting and sometimes distance casting. Weight forward lines are essential for both of those things. Make sure you have a reel with a smooth disc drag. Carp can make massive runs. Any faults with the drag will result in a broken line. Craven: What conditions are optimum for carp (fly-fishing) in lakes and rivers (still water, current, sight fishing, etc...)? Moore: The first thing to mention here is that carp fishing with a fly rod is a visual game. You have to see the fish to catch them. There are very few times that you blind-cast for carp. Water clarity is essential. Calm, sunny days are the best. The sun warms the bays up well and brings the carp in to feed. Plus, it makes visibility better. This is true for rivers and lakes. Look for shallow bays that have a mud or sandy bottom. For rivers, you can also look for shallow eddies that create scum lines. The scum lines hold insects that the carp will be feeding on. The optimum condition is to find carp that are mouthing on the surface. These are your most aggressive fish and provide the best opportunity to catch. Craven: What type and length of leader...? Moore: I generally use a tapered leader that is 8-9 feet long and tapers down to 8 pound test. Make sure to use a tapered leader. With accurate casting, you need a soft water presentation. Tapered leaders lend a good hand in creating very little water disturbance when they land on the surface of the water. Craven: What are your favorite three or four flies for carp - and in what size? Moore: My favorite pattern is called "Charlie's Carp Candy." That is simply an olive dubbed body with an olive marabou tail. This pattern has worked from Arkansas to Kansas to the Dakotas, Minnesota, and all the way to New York. Some other really good patterns to use are: any mayfly larval pattern (olive), Wooly Buggers (olive and brown), crayfish patterns, and always have at least one minnow pattern along preferably a Simm's Snake. With the larval patterns I will use a size ten and twelve. With the crawfish and minnow patterns, a size 2 to a size 6. Craven: Can you name a few hotspots for us - for numbers, size or alternate species? Moore: The Mississippi River from about St. Cloud on down provides us a quality fishery for carp. You will have some issue with water clarity at times. There are many lakes in the Twin Cities that have great carp fisheries. For traveling, Lake Oahe in South Dakota is one of the best carp fisheries I've fished for numbers of carp. They don't get very large there - up to about 13 pounds. If you are looking to chase giants I will give you a few options... Milford Lake in Kansas is a great choice. Milford lake has true giants up to 40 pounds. Milford also has a great population of mirrored carp. In Little Bay de Noc in Escanaba Michigan you have a legit shot at a 50 pounder in the Bays de Noc. You won't catch many, but when you do, they are huge. Lake Superior at Ashland, WI has some fantastic flats fishing for carp, good numbers with fish up to 30 pounds. The Glacial lakes in North East South Dakota has great carp fishing. You have many lakes to choose from and the fish get good sized with fish up to 30 pounds caught each year. Craven: Thanks, Charlie! Any last tips? Moore: Don't underestimate the power of a carp. Their runs are explosive and more powerful than many other freshwater fish. Be prepared and have fun. </td> </tr> </table> </BODY></HTML>

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