When we think of carp fishing in Europe we tend to pictures scenes of big French waters. Three rods on bite alarms, kilos of boilies and the potential of a monster fish in the net. So where does the fly rod come into this I hear you ask!?
Well, for those who prefer intimate sport, stalking these wily, hard fighting fish with fly tackle, there are also many possibilities. Spain, with its barbel and bass as well as carp, is now firmly on the radar for travelling anglers- but Portugal can be equally thrilling and is a recent favourite for my fishing.
Welcome to Alqueva: perfect for carp fly fishing holiday
As mentioned, flights to Europe offer a world of options- but one great destination for fly fishing is Portugal, and in particular the region 'Alqueva'. Just last month I returned from a week-long adventure. That said, the tactics and approach I describe also applies to Spain and other hot parts of Europe.
This seemingly barren, desolate landscape couldn’t be more different to the English countryside. Littered with harvested cork and eucalyptus trees, it offers little in the way of shade, and as the black kites and vultures circle overhead, along with the occasional lizard scuttling across the quartz engrained sharp black rock, one could easily believe they're on the film set of a Western.
Look a little closer, though, and you'll find water, lots of it. In fact look on any OS map of Portugal and you'll find hectares of water...colossal expanses of the stuff, reminiscent of inland seas!
It's within these waters that you'll find black bass, channel catfish and barbel- and along the shallow sun-warmed shorelines, carp...the game fish you didn't know existed!
This is perfect for carp on the fly. One of the constant challenges in the UK is finding space and venues not dominated by bivvies and bait. In Portugal, however, it’s a very different picture. There's no need for manmade baits and hair-rigs because the carp are hunting crayfish, nymphs, larvae and more...all you need is a fly to suit!
Tips and tactics for Continental carp fly fishing
Without going into endless detail, here are some useful notes on fishing tactics and techniques for carp:
-Armed with a 7/8wt rod, a reel with a good drag, plenty of backing and a floating line, (preferably a warm water saltwater line- the properties of such a line helps turn over the weighted flies attached to your 9' nylon leader accurately, thus maintaining it's rigidity in 35•c+) you are ready to wet wade the clear margins looking for a 'tailing' carp!
A 'tailing' carp is a feeding carp, and as described, it can be seen head down, tail up, waving frantically as it sucks and blows out the unwanted sandy-detritus through it's gills, having already filtered through the small food items present.
Such a sight is one to behold, especially when it's a wild, uncaught 20lb+ fish surrounded by plumes of stained water as it grazes like a horse!
Now here lies the tricky part, presenting the fly…
Fly patterns and presentations for carp
A lot of the flies used are much of a likeness and more often than not they are tied to be suggestive rather than specific “match the hatch”. Such patterns fare better in my opinion as they replicate not one, but many food items that carp are likely to encounter.
Black, olive, rust and orange make up the typical colour range of such carp flies and with bead-chain eyes and a little wire wrap, these relatively small, slow-sinking 'flies' can be cast ahead of the target, and “dragged and dropped” into the 'zone'.
The so-called “drag and drop” technique is nothing new, and has been championed by many within the 'carp on fly scene' for many years, all over the world.
Such a method allows the angler to cast their fly ahead of the tailing fish, drag the fly across the surface and drop it within several inches of the feeding carps mouth- accuracy is key here, but once you've got your eye in, a take is often forthcoming!
Visually, this is a very exciting way of fishing, watching the carp’s response to the fly and reacting to it akin to any other species you might fish for. Some of the takes are that aggressive, you're grateful carp don’t have sharp teeth, because you’d need a wire trace!
Sometimes the carp might miss the fly momentarily and so a short strip to move the fly into its path can often redeem any slight mistake. Speed and injecting life are key here- we’re not generally talking long pulls, and short 2" strips are more than sufficient to move the fly enough to grab the fish’s attention.
When the moment of truth comes, be mindful of not 'trout setting' the hook. Opt to strip and lift into the fish as you feel resistance in one fluid movement if you can! The reason for this is that if the fly hasn't been taken initially then you still have a chance of a take- 'trout setting' (i.e. a fast upward strike) when the fish hasn't fully committed and you run the risk of spooking the fish and those around it altogether!
How to play carp on fly tackle
Once a fish is hooked, a long and dogged battle begins! The carp often takes fast runs that take you well into the backing and it's with this game of cat and mouse that you tease line back onto the reel steering these big powerful golden scaled fish from the snaggy structure of submerged tree stumps and weed.
We cover tackle in just a minute- but suffice to say, you must be tooled up for the job. 12lb tippets are the norm- and in the rigours of battle, you should use ALL of the rod. Many trout anglers keep a high rod and only use the top section of the rod- but to subdue a large carp, a lower rod is often more effective, allowing you to bring the middle and butt into play.
It’s also worth noting here that a decent level of fitness is required to take on such an environment. The battles are only one part of the exertion- because finding the fish alone can lead to amassing 10+ miles a day in the search of willing takers. If adventure fly fishing is in your blood, however, this is a spectacular challenge- and witnessing heart-stopping takes and searing runs from incredible wild carp is the stuff of dreams. Or at least, it’s an experience I keep coming back to every year now.
TACKLE AND ESSENTIALS FOR CARP ON THE FLY
- 7/8wt rod
- Floating line
- 9' nylon leader (15lb)
- 1' Flurocarbon tippet (12lb)
- Selection of carp flies- tied on STRONG hooks
- Generous sized landing net and fold up mat
- Polarising sunglasses
- Sunblock + plenty of water
- Comfortable, quality walking boots/walking trainers
- Long sleeved UV shirt
- UV face buff
- Gloves
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