Current Works

 

O.K., admit it, you are curious about the buzz that these fish has brought to the sport of fly fishing the past number of years, aren't you?

Once considered a trash fish, anglers who have pursued them with the fly and fly rod have developed a respect for these brutes. While not exactly like a bonefish as some have claimed, I like to compare them to Redfish. When hooked, its similar to being attached to a big truck - they pull hard and steadily while showing you what color your backing is - often a few times before landing them. But the fight is only part of getting your "carp on a fly" fix.

Getting these fish to eat is not what you might think. They demand well presented flies and the right fly pattern. Like most species of fish, you can have days when they are "on" but more often than not, you need to get them to eat and this is where the fun and challenge is and knowing what and where pays off.

 

 

The season for carp on the flats of Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan ranges from Mid-May through Mid-July. Weather and hence water temperature is a big factor determining success in finding fish; you might find them happily eating on a flat one day and few fish

there the next day not eating. You must get to know the idiosyncrasies of carp to be successful with them day after day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often, Smallmouth Bass can be found in the shallows and flats looking to eat. Considered one of the best Smallmouth fisheries in the country, Grand Traverese Bay, both East and West produce fish over five pounds which not only are exciting to fish to, but also to pring in with their ability to jump out of the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like a number of saltwater species, I prefer to use 7 - 9 weight rods with Scientific Angler's Redfish fly line, saltwater tapered leaders with fluorocarbon tippets. Crayfish and nymph patterns are my personal favorite patterns to use. These same flies are also preffered by the Smallmouth Bass that often "swim with the fishes" with my first choice always being a crayfish pattern.

This is no place for a beginner to learn to cast. Simply put, you must

 be able to cast anywhere from 20 to 45 feet with accuracy and often into wind. What makes this different from saltwater fishing is that you won't need to wash your tackle free of any salt - the bays of Lake Michigan are pure, freshwater.

 

As the water temperatures warm, some clients choose to wet-wade rather than wear waders when carp fishing the area. It usually a good idea to be prepared to do both based on the ever-changing water temperatures. Sometimes we need to wade above the belt and when the water is cool, well, you know.

Thanks to Dave Whitlock and his articles ("Golden Ghosts", July 1998 & "Golden Ghost II", September 2008) in Fly Fisherman magazine for bringing more attention to this great gamefish and their possibilities with a fly rod. I have introduced more than enough skeptical trout anglers to the carp through guiding who were more than surprised at how much fun carp are to fish for - Book a day and try it for yourself.

  

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         Bonus Fish                       Herd of Carp                      G.T. Bay Carp

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