I realize most people don't target carp, but there's a cool fly fishing tournament coming up in May that is based on the number of different species you can catch.

I've never caught a carp, on the fly or conventional. Any advice on what type of fly/technique to use? I'll be fishing somewhere along the Guadalupe below Canyon Lake.

https://www.flygeek.net/shop/carp-it-bomb?category=Flies

I've never caught one, but have cast at them a few times. They're extremely skittish and hard to catch. Have you cast well above them and drift a fly in front of them.

Mad river outfitters put their old vhs/dvd "carpin' " on the YouTube's....recommend you check it out.

They are challenging but a lot of fun to catch.

Never caught one on a fly but have caught a few on hair rigs now.

rather be fishing said:

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https://www.flygeek.net/shop/carp-it-bomb?category=Flies

I've never caught one, but have cast at them a few times. They're extremely skittish and hard to catch. Have you cast well above them and drift a fly in front of them.

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Same. I have a few store bought carp flies that I keep in my box. I tie one on and try it sometimes.

I had a buddy in high school that would tie a couple of cottonwood seeds on a small hook and a tiny piece of styrofoam to get it to float.

He caught them fairly often that way.

I fly fish for carp regularly. If you can come across some nice flats in our lakes, it's just like fishing for reds. Had a buddy that actually used to guide trips on lake Ray Roberts.

Wheaties + Big Red on a treble hook provides a ton of fun when nothing else is biting.

We used to catch them with coffee beans under the fish feeder.

Carp on the fly is my new obsession. Those central Texas rivers are great spots for carp. Small crawfish patterns, mop flies, worm patterns all work.

Cicadas, and puffballs or something like a parachute adams to look like cottonwood seeds

In our local ponds (CO), there are stocked carp for vegetation control. Some are pretty dang big. About the only reliable way I have found to catch them is on the fly. I will take a bare hook, and grab a bag of grass clippings. I will tie a blade of grass to the hook. When I find a little corner or cove the carp are hanging out in, I make a stealthy approach in the kayak upwind, throw out a handful of grass clippings. I'll then cast the "grass rig" near the edge of the clippings I threw out where I can watch it. The carp will come feed on the grass, and one will invariably suck down my offering as long as they don't see the line first.

My guess is these carp love to eat the grass that blows in from the lake houses cutting their yards.

AggieChemist said:

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Cicadas, and puffballs or something like a parachute adams to look like cottonwood seeds

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This ^ I've caught them on parachute adams and my old standby adams irresistible. I've even caught a few on a caddis.

Matt Bennett's Carp-It Bomb is a great fly choice and it was developed for Hill Country Rivers.

www.flygeek.net
[url=www.flygeek.net][/url]

Carp can be pretty damn difficult to catch on the fly. A friend of mine is damn good at it and created this fly: Brass Hawk

He does really well with it.

https://instagr.am/p/B7Mt4qmhjXN