2026 Carpin’ thread

troutbert said:

The most carp I've ever seen was in the West Branch Susquehanna River below the Williamsport dam.

If you have a boat you may want to give that a try.

I don't know if the huge numbers of carp there was a seasonal thing or if they are there all the time.

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Dear troubert,

Bow hunters have shot the crap out of carp on the Susquehanna over the last ten years. They are hitting the Juniata hard too. There are nights when it looks like a war-time amphibious assault, and for what?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

I recall a good number of years ago, me and a buddy encountered a school of carp like I'd never witnessed before or since. We were fishing just south of Harrisburg, Pete's Island maybe? We saw probably 30 or 40 of them going upriver in shallow water. I'm talking a foot of water. Their backs were sticking out above the surface. My buddy said he thought we were seeing them spawning. These were carp in the 10lb-15lb range. We actually tried to net one of them, but it broke the aluminum net! I'll never forget that day.

I'd be very interested to pick brains about the where and how of finding carp spots. (I don't know if this is the right thread for that or if this is intended to be about results.)

This seems wildly hard without second hand intel? How are folks finding spots? I'm using Google Maps, interrogation of random anglers I encounter - who clearly give no sh!ts about carp - anecdotes from bartenders about where they walk their dogs, sketchy internet searches, etc.

I understand that this endeavor is kinda weird since it's an intersection of where they've been planted and where they can thrive, but it's been so much more perplexing than other species. So far, I've patterned:

-mud bottom
-warm water
-slow to no current
-often very near confluences with faster water, particularly large, warm waterways

I'm aware this is not by any means universal, but this is what I've seen in relation to the Hudson and connected waters.

So... my questions:

-how are you finding the carp water you fish?
-what are the metrics for water you consider to be productive?
-are you familiar with any books or resources on carp fishing that discuss or, better yet, focus on fly fishing (I think there are none???)

hooker-of-men said:

I'd be very interested to pick brains about the where and how of finding carp spots. (I don't know if this is the right thread for that or if this is intended to be about results.)

This seems wildly hard without second hand intel? How are folks finding spots? I'm using Google Maps, interrogation of random anglers I encounter - who clearly give no sh!ts about carp - anecdotes from bartenders about where they walk their dogs, sketchy internet searches, etc.

I understand that this endeavor is kinda weird since it's an intersection of where they've been planted and where they can thrive, but it's been so much more perplexing than other species. So far, I've patterned:

-mud bottom
-warm water
-slow to no current
-often very near confluences with faster water, particularly large, warm waterways

I'm aware this is not by any means universal, but this is what I've seen in relation to the Hudson and connected waters.

So... my questions:

-how are you finding the carp water you fish?
-what are the metrics for water you consider to be productive?
-are you familiar with any books or resources on carp fishing that discuss or, better yet, focus on fly fishing (I think there are none???)

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Hooker,

Your persistence will eventually get you into carp. Many of the resources that you have listed are legitimate ways to get some local intel but I’m not sure there is a “silver bullet”. Boots on the ground and scouting new potential areas are absolutely critical in my opinion. Seems like you’re focused in on that.

Here are a couple of “Flyfishing for Carp” books that I have read that you may find helpful or possibly pick up some tips.

dc410 said:

Hooker,

Your persistence will eventually get you into carp. Many of the resources that you have listed are legitimate ways to get some local intel but I’m not sure there is a “silver bullet”. Boots on the ground and scouting new potential areas are absolutely critical in my opinion. Seems like you’re focused in on that.

Here are a couple of “Flyfishing for Carp” books that I have read that you may find helpful or possibly pick up some tips.

View attachment 1641252562
View attachment 1641252563

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Wow. Not sure how I missed these. Thanks!

My problem seems to be timing. I see lots of carp cruising around but have never seen them actually rooting around and feeding. I’m done trying this year as I injured my already injured knee and can’t walk to my known carp holes. Good thing there is always next year,

hooker-of-men said:

Since my previous go-to seems to be momentarily in decline 🤞😬, I've been doing a lot of Google maps recon and slowly exploring some new water.

After spending the morning hours walking through some wonderful swamps and waste treatment outlets... I found a couple spots with lots of potential! I had 10-15 shots in the early afternoon with a couple looks but no takers.

I think I can make this work as an early morning mission on the way to the office, so this could be big!

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If your near southwest pa, I could direct u to a few lakes that are great with kayak

wildtrout2 said:

I recall a good number of years ago, me and a buddy encountered a school of carp like I'd never witnessed before or since. We were fishing just south of Harrisburg, Pete's Island maybe? We saw probably 30 or 40 of them going upriver in shallow water. I'm talking a foot of water. Their backs were sticking out above the surface. My buddy said he thought we were seeing them spawning. These were carp in the 10lb-15lb range. We actually tried to net one of them, but it broke the aluminum net! I'll never forget that day.

Click to expand...

We were actually fishing near Steelton, about 4 miles southeast of Harrisburg. Don't know where I got Pete's Island from. 😆

hooker-of-men said:

I'd be very interested to pick brains about the where and how of finding carp spots. (I don't know if this is the right thread for that or if this is intended to be about results.)

This seems wildly hard without second hand intel? How are folks finding spots? I'm using Google Maps, interrogation of random anglers I encounter - who clearly give no sh!ts about carp - anecdotes from bartenders about where they walk their dogs, sketchy internet searches, etc.

I understand that this endeavor is kinda weird since it's an intersection of where they've been planted and where they can thrive, but it's been so much more perplexing than other species. So far, I've patterned:

-mud bottom
-warm water
-slow to no current
-often very near confluences with faster water, particularly large, warm waterways

I'm aware this is not by any means universal, but this is what I've seen in relation to the Hudson and connected waters.

So... my questions:

-how are you finding the carp water you fish?
-what are the metrics for water you consider to be productive?
-are you familiar with any books or resources on carp fishing that discuss or, better yet, focus on fly fishing (I think there are none???)

Click to expand...

I've been lucky in that I live very close to several excellent warm water rivers - I'm still very new to this game but I do realize now how carp seem to be everywhere but I wasn't looking for them. I think any warm water body of water will have them. When you are out fishing for other species look for the little patches in the gravel where the carp have been feeding and at least you'll know they are around. I've found that I was never looking for the silt clouds which can actually be very subtle especially if the water is off color. (sometimes is seems entire stretches of river are off color just because of all the carp up stream) Polarized lenses really help. I sometimes have to look from several different angles both up and down stream to be sure its actually a drifting silt cloud. I'm also shocked by how often the carp are feeding within a foot from the bank and you are looking out past them.

I'm definitely looking for slower but not still water with access to deeper water and cover. I think that if you see large fallen trees in the water it's a cheat code - there are nearly always carp around using them for cover. Weeds in the river seem to always have carp (and usually muddy bottoms). rocky shallows seem to be great feeding areas but unless there are some weeds it seems like the fish are very spooky.

I bagged this guy this am 30" 17" girth, - longest run I've ever experienced - I actually thought she would spool me. Finally got it in close and it wrapped around a branch and I had to wade in chest deep to free it. It was completely exhilarating. I thought it would be a multiple carp day but despite all the opportunities I could not get another in the 2 hrs I was out. I did see a bunch of large bass glued to cruising carp. Frankly carp fishing has made me reassess what I thought about smallie habitat. I've seen more big fish in "carp water" instead of what I thought was prime smallie water (rocks etc)

Was dead drifting a deep hole on the conestoga yesterday and thought I got snagged on a ledge and then it started moving upstream! Cool looking mirror carp!

laurelhighlander said:

If your near southwest pa, I could direct u to a few lakes that are great with kayak

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Thanks, but I'm about 8 hours away in Upstate NY 😂

Striperbobby said:

Was dead drifting a deep hole on the conestoga yesterday and thought I got snagged on a ledge and then it started moving upstream! Cool looking mirror carp!

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Awesome! That's a neat looking carp, I've never seen one like it.

Water was very low and clear and the fish were spooky- manages to find this battle scarred beluga looking guy feeding a foot off the bank and dropped my damsel nymph right in front of him. He charged it and game on. Love the golden tail colors

laurelhighlander said:

If your near southwest pa, I could direct u to a few lakes that are great with kayak

Click to expand...

I would be interested in learning about where I could hook up with some carp.

hooker-of-men said:

I'd be very interested to pick brains about the where and how of finding carp spots. (I don't know if this is the right thread for that or if this is intended to be about results.)

This seems wildly hard without second hand intel? How are folks finding spots? I'm using Google Maps, interrogation of random anglers I encounter - who clearly give no sh!ts about carp - anecdotes from bartenders about where they walk their dogs, sketchy internet searches, etc.

I understand that this endeavor is kinda weird since it's an intersection of where they've been planted and where they can thrive, but it's been so much more perplexing than other species. So far, I've patterned:

-mud bottom
-warm water
-slow to no current
-often very near confluences with faster water, particularly large, warm waterways

I'm aware this is not by any means universal, but this is what I've seen in relation to the Hudson and connected waters.

So... my questions:

-how are you finding the carp water you fish?
-what are the metrics for water you consider to be productive?
-are you familiar with any books or resources on carp fishing that discuss or, better yet, focus on fly fishing (I think there are none???)

Click to expand...

I mainly fish lakes in kayak for carp. Main things I look for are a very shallow average depth of the lake, (a few lakes in my area have average depth of 4-5 ft) important because ur sight fishing carp feeding on the bottom. Also relatively clear water (some lakes are always very dirty which makes sight fishing near impossible

I finally got back out after more than 3 weeks off due to work/travel. Fish seem much less activity the last two mornings in my favorite spots. Yesterday I found a big one feeding 30 yards up a skinny tributary - put a stalk on it and got the eat - it charged down stream and I bent out the hook trying to keep it out of the woody debris. This morning i got one to eat literally at my feet but had the line wrapped around the rod butt and lost it. I was about to give up but switched spots and after an hour found this guy feeding in about 10" of water a couple feet off the bank, I had to slide down a 6 ft bank in slow motion and dropped my fly in front of its nose. 32", 21" girth - should be 17-18 lbs

8wt Loop from an enormous grass carp in a public park. Rod broke 2/3 way down. Probably my fault. That was fun.