seems like I missed the boat on the excellent carp fishing that was going on during most of May. Well, I caught the tail end of it.

We've had some really hot weather, and are headed into summer. How do you do the Lake fishing for them at this time of year?

I went to one Lake this morning and didn't see many in the shallows, where as last week it was filled with them.

I went to another one, and could tell that the shallows had plenty of carp, but it was so muddy I couldn't see the fish. I mainly would just see the swirls of mud, in the muddly water, as I waded. The water was really off color. I could only see about a foot or less.

I don't think you have missed them for this year. Carp are good for the whole summer, and into the fall. I caught them up until late October and maybe into November last year. Actually, I think carpin' is better in mid summer, when the fish are really foraging.

For lake fishing, you need to visit the water over and over, to get a feel for their activity. They seem to do the same thing at the same time of day. Once you figure out their schedule, adjust yours to fish for them when they are in the shallows or near the banks. Some days are different, depending upon the weather, more specifically, cloud cover.

Probably the most difficult part of carpin' is seeing the fish. There are most likely many fish that you cannot see. The real secret to catching is seeing them. I look for light or dark spots in the water - very subtile color or density changes - and watch to see if they are moving. Often when I'm sighting carp, I wonder if I'm seeing things or not, it sometimes has me wondering about my sanity.

One thing that works for me is using the same type of vision necessary to see the hidden images in the type of stereograms at the following links. I use the same eye muscle control, and perifferal vision to spot fish in nearly all fishing conditions.

http://www.vision3d.com/sgwall/sgfish.html

http://www.vision3d.com/sghidden/candy.html

http://www.vision3d.com/sghidden/dino.html

http://www.vision3d.com/sghidden/saturn.html

Mark

Mark that was fun, it only took a few seconds to see the hidden images. Thanks

so Andrew, do you have anything to add to what Mark said ?? You're the professional carper...

thanks
markg

Sure! First of all Mark hit in on the head. I tend to look for fish in clear water though. Hooking a Carp in muddy water can take allot of patience. From my experience Carp don't have as good of vision as you read about. With that said you need to know exactly where your fly is in relation to a Carp feeding in muddy water. The next part of the problem is trying to figure out if the fish ate your fly or not. This becomes a zen like moment. I keep my rod tip pointed at the fish and almost in the water. If you think your fly is in the zone try a tiny, 1/2 inch strip. This strip can sometimes lead to a strike in this situation. If you can see the fish's tale sticking up in the water look for signs of what I call an excited tail. Sometimes a fish will kind of flutter the tip of there tail when they take a fly and I have caught many fish by setting the hook when I see this.

Learing to spot fish in the water like Mark said is key. Here are a couple of photos that can help.





Finally it can really help to spend a day on the water with someone who does this all the time. IM me and maybe we can work something out!

Andrew,

IM sent.

thanks!
markg

Alright, now I know I'm not alone, because some days when it's tough, or the water a little cloudy, or passing clouds etc, I swear I see Ghost Fish, sometimes they are fish, and sometimes not, and sometimes I'm not sure. Ghost Fish usually pop up when things are getting tough. They go away when the universe gets straightened out, and the Carp start acting properly, and showing themselves.

MK

Ahhhh! A true carper. I can tell because you see the ghost fish. The thing is I've caught more than a few of those danged ghosts.

Mark