2024 Carpin’ Thread

You watch.....I shot 7 over par Saturday when I didn't fish and 13 over for just the front 9 on Monday the day I fished. So I predict when I bring my 8wt and net those carp will ignore every offering!
 
So yesterday I did bring the 8 wt and net but forgot the camera! Stuck and netted 2 pretty fat ones....pics next time if they don't roast to death first.
 
Nice job, Darby!! A lot easier with the net, huh? Don’t worry about the carp, they like it hot! I got skunked this morning. Effectively spooked every carp I took a shot at. Some days they seem to be on high alert.
 
Good morning carpers, it’s time to start thinking about getting out there and scouting out your mulberry trees. Which ones are loaded with developing berries and which ones aren’t? If you haven’t located any mulberry trees yet now is the perfect time to nail a few down. Looking back through my carpin’ log book over the past 11 years, the earliest I ever caught a carp on top on my deer hair berry fly was May 30th - the latest I ever caught one on the berry hatch was July 5th. I would estimate that the peak berry fishing window in my neck of the woods is around June 10th- June 15th. It’s a bit of a short window and sometimes storms with heavy winds can shorten it a bit, but if you haven’t figured out the “berry hatch” yet devote a little time to it and if you happen to locate yourself a berry “honey hole” you’ll be hooked big time! Good luck!
 
dc410 said:
Good morning carpers, it’s time to start thinking about getting out there and scouting out your mulberry trees. Which ones are loaded with developing berries and which ones aren’t? If you haven’t located any mulberry trees yet now is the perfect time to nail a few down. Looking back through my carpin’ log book over the past 11 years, the earliest I ever caught a carp on top on my deer hair berry fly was May 30th - the latest I ever caught one on the berry hatch was July 5th. I would estimate that the peak berry fishing window in my neck of the woods is around June 10th- June 15th. It’s a bit of a short window and sometimes storms with heavy winds can shorten it a bit, but if you haven’t figured out the “berry hatch” yet devote a little time to it and if you happen to locate yourself a berry “honey hole” you’ll be hooked big time! Good luck!
Click to expand...

I’ve never eaten any mulberries, at least not that I can remember, but from what I read on the internet they are quite tasty and very healthy. No wonder the carp like them! Do you ever eat some mulberries yourself when you’re out carp fishing?

And by the way, your mulberry fly almost looks good enough to eat too. Except for the big hook. 😊
 
mt_flyfisher said:
I’ve never eaten any mulberries, at least not that I can remember, but from what I read on the internet they are quite tasty and very healthy. No wonder the carp like them! Do you ever eat some mulberries yourself when you’re out carp fishing?

And by the way, your mulberry fly almost looks good enough to eat too. Except for the big hook. 😊
Click to expand...
I prefer to flyfish for carp just after daybreak, so I have to admit that I have eaten my fair share of mulberries for breakfast while out carpin’. They are tasty. However, after sticking and netting the first fish of the day, the desire to eat mulberries after being inundated with carp slime becomes less desirable! 😉

The carp definitely love eating them! Here’s a pick from back in the summer of ‘22 of what they look like after continually sucking in berries for weeks on end. After awhile I do think they suffer a berry hangover!! This stuff is just fun!

IMG 7685
 
getting my carp fly gear ready on june 1st. i do it every year on the same date. i start to ease back on the trout and start targeting smallmouths and carp. its a love hate relationship. i like fishing the the rivers in the summer. but cant cant stand working in it! looking forward to another year wet wading the rivers for carp and smallies.
 
I went out berry scouting early this morning. Checked about 6 or 8 of my normal mulberry spots. The trees are in differing stages of devolpment which is a good sign that it may extend the “berry hatch” timeframe. All the trees I checked seemed to have a solid amount of mulberries just starting to develop.

I saw a few actively feeding carp and took a few shots at some of them. However, they were low percentage shots and I couldn’t connect with any of them. There is one fish that I’m calling the “rainbow carp” with a bright strip of orangish/gold scales on top of its back on both sides of the dorsal fin. I’m hoping to connect with it when the berry hatch kicks into gear. In about a month it will be “game on”!! Good luck, it’s a cool time of the year to be sleuthing along the carp streams.

IMG 9948
IMG 9939
IMG 9941
 
Finally saw some fish out and about! The most likely eater was in a spot with too much brush that I couldn't get into, and the rest were sexin' and wouldn't give a look.

Did get this nice perch:

PXL 20240510 185747709


And this free sweatshirt that I had to drag 30 feet across the creek bottom (luckily body not included):

PXL 20240510 190807770


Feeling optimistic about the next few weeks!
 
Does anyone know of any carp marks in the Pittsburgh region? I’m thinking lower chartiers or duck hollow but I haven’t tried either and still have yet to chase carp at all even though I’ve tied the box
 
@hooker-of-men fish looked to match your shoes lol
 
Cool shoes! I’m still a strong advocate of not actually getting into the water when carpin’ until you need to get one in the net!!
 
dc410 said:
Cool shoes! I’m still a strong advocate of not actually getting into the water when carpin’ until you need to get one in the net!!
Click to expand...
Same. I very much hoped to not get in this water at all. It was a quick mission, though, so I wasn't putting on waders. Maybe the toxic sludge mud would've dulled the shoes a bit...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Harman's North Fork Cottages


Real Time Data From
the USGS Site

Share this page

Back
Top