Blog

Apologies for the lack of posting activity.  Myself, my family, and the shop employees are all hyper focused on the Lake Michigan trip coming up this weekend.  Hopefully this time the weather will hold (it has been super windy on the Michigan side) and water temps climb a bit so we do not...

A selection of Carp fly fishing videos for slow days at work.

I love short fly rods.  Carp rods under 8 feet are my absolute favorite.  There I said it.  But beyond personal preference, there is a reason that short rods perform better than the standard 9 foot rods.  They are simply more accurate.  There are some mathematic models...

Scott rods has listened.  They designed their new A3 rod around the wants and needs of warmwater anglers with input from carp heads like us!   They come in a 6 and 8 weight version that are incredibly powerful rods that can slow down even the hardest running carp, while still being...

I remember this winter trick from back in Michigan.  When the weather is bone chilling cold, you can still find active carp milling about in the warm water discharges from power plants and other wonders of the post industrial world.  I am getting twitchy enough from lack of fishing to...

I live in the north.  The high is in the low teens right now.  I have not gotten the tying bug, have not even put away carp gear from last season.  Just patiently waiting until the deep freeze ends and I can chase tailing carp on the Great Lakes again, or cast for some fish in the...

Today is warm.  Mid 50's warm.  I am not looking forward to months of cold weather and no carp fishing.  It is time to hit the maps and check out some new spots, as well as talk to some of the river rats to figure out the Mississippi backwaters.  Over the next few days we...

It is the off season in more than one sense.  The trout side of life is closed, and despite an uptick in temperature, the waters here are much to chilly to chase carp.  So, after a brutally difficult summer of carp fishing, what do I do during the winter?  Simple.  Check my maps...

Just got done talking with the manager of Tight Lines from up near Green Bay who guides carp on Lake Michigan.  My frustration was also his.  Low water temps, fish holding out too deep, few shots at fish.   Sometimes it is just good to have somebody else let you know that you really...

check out Ray Troll's website for some pretty cool designs.

I have not been out nearly enough to chase carp this season.  Here in Wisconsin our weather has stunk for carp.  Cold summer means low carp activity.  Add to that the trout side of the store hopping because of the chilly summer, and well you get to only read about others catching...

I have been out 'fishing' again the past couple of days (I say fishing as all my trips this year have turned into scouting trips.  Locally conditions have been terrible this summer).  Found a few flats to check out next season when the waters actually warm up and fish feed...

My good friend Michigan John and I have been tinkering with some fly rod ideas, mostly in the shorty warmwater realm.  The measurments on some of the 'tournament legal' rods were just odd.  Doing some measurments we found that many of these specialty designed rods were just 4...

There is an interesting discussion on the Carp Anglers Group fly fishing board.  It started as a question on indicators possibly spooking fish, and spun into a discussion about using 'curly' indicators (imported from czech style nymphing) for a subtle strike detector that fish will not...

I have been putting this off for a week now.  My staff, my family and I headed up to the Michigan side of the Great Lakes for a much needed vacation, and a chance to chase some carp on the flats.  But despite some cheery weather predictions, water temps hovering just below 70...

After being stymied on the flats a couple weeks back, I have put some thought and research into the effect of water temperatures on carp.  Instead of running the long format, here is the bulleted version of findings and musings Carp prefer stable water temperatures, rapid increases...

Last Chirstmas I was visiting family in the Los Angeles area.  What did I do, went fishing naturally!   Just outside LA is a great fishery in the Glendale Narrows.  Just remember to bring your tortilla flies! The fishery is incredible, springs and seeps through...

This line is one that I have been fiddling with for light and heavy weight rods for about a season now.  It is described in the catalog as:   "Originally designed for UK Stillwater, the Delta's unique taper creates a smooth transition of energy to deliver the most delicate cast...

The internet is a wonderful thing.  If only I would have made one click to check the most important thing that will determine if the fish will come on the flats or not.  I failed to check water temperatures.   I was caught up in the excitement of the whole experience....

  I think I found some likely spots...

 Due to the interest in the backstabber article, here are some of Jay's carp fly fishing videos.   Muddy Water and Wind (Notice the stalk along the edges for shallow feeders) http://www.youtube.com/user/ZimmermanFlyFishing#play/uploads/5/aElq1s2PKwk Overcast, cool days...

It is no secret that we are Scott heads here at the Uncommon Carp.  I currently fish a Warmwater series rod (I have an odd fascination with short fly rods) and have not found a match for the performance and feel of a Scott rod.  I asked the president of Scott (and chief rod designer)...

My parents are cruel.  They sent this video (and a couple other short films)filmed out their back door (they live on Lake Michigan).  Fish feeding right up to their feet.  I need to find some time to get out and fish the big pond soon.  I am starting to twitch!

Carp Season is Here.  We're Spreading the Joy Fish are feeding from north to south and we could not be happier.  So happy, in fact, that we are going to offer some killer deals to get you out fishing. Pick up a dozen carp flies and get a FREE Uncommon Carp Fly Box Purchase any...

As the carp are on the spawn in Lake Michigan (and from all reports the fishing is en feugo!) I am on the other side of Wisconsin in sweltering heat scouting water on the Mississippi with my wife and kid.  Put the boat in near some backwaters and decided to go get lost in the maze of flats and...

Yes you heard it correctly.  The state of Nevada is holding a carp on the fly clinic.  It is nice to see carp getting a bit of attention from a state agency, as well as seeing more people interested in chasing them on the fly.  Nevada, expect the UCC crew to visit your state for a...

No, not another report on my lack of ability to consistently hook carp so far this season, but the reason why it has been quiet here the past few days.  My family just picked up a 14' jon boat (tentatively named the Cloop)and are converting it into a carp chasing machine.  Temporary false...

Went to a new lake on Monday of this week, and violated one of the cardinal rules of fishing big rivers.  Check the flows before you go!   My wife, son and I put in and the clarity of water was less than a foot, as the lake we were in was over 4 feet high.  We found carp in...

Rain, runoff, erosion.  All are the bane of the sight fishing carp angler.  A recent discussion on the Carp Anglers Group Fly Fishing Forum brought up the question of whether or not you are able to catch carp without seeing them. The short answer is absolutely, but do not expect to...

A FEW years ago there was a boy in Japan, who was very diligent at school and had made fine progress in his studies. He was especially quick at learning Chinese characters, of which every Japanese gentleman who wishes to be called educated must know at least...

Brad Befus, inventor of some really nice flies for carp, and other species, and the national sales manager for Ross Reels talks carp.  A co-author of the book "Carp on the Fly",  Brad is a carp nut of the highest degree.  Click here to listen.

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  I remember when I first started seriously chasing carp with the fly rod and the first major hurdle I had to cross was where to look.  According to the books they are everywhere, which is somewhat true, but where should we, as carp anglers, start looking to find some great spots to...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there, from all of us that only a mother could love.

One of the best articles to get your feet wet catching carp.  Dave Whitlock was one of the first pioneers of carp on the fly here in the states. "Stalking The Golden Ghost" Give it a read if you have not already, and if you have go over some of the ideas and techniques in...

I'm not very good at fooling anyone, and when my incredibly transparent attempt at asking my wife if she thought it would be a good idea to head to the big city to get some groceries at Trader Joe's, her immediate response was "You want to try catching carp in city park don't...

Sister Carol's Grass Carp Fly The must have grass carp fly that works anywhere.

I am a fly freak.  One of those people who has an endless supply of patterns, most of which never get fished, many of which are late night ideas that looked great on paper but end up looking as patched together and about as functional as a B movie Frankenstein.   There is one fly however...

Went fishing for a couple of hours on a little pond near Mad Town last night.  I was in a rush to get out the door and squeeze a few hours of fishing in a spot that I did not have to do any scouting or deal with muddy water.  I did not figure that I needed anything but my fancy flies this...

A couple of exciting carp patterns just hit the carp bins here at the Uncommon Carp Fly Shop.   Both have a ton of undulating movement, lead eyes to get down quickly, and are great crayfish imitations as well as overall good carp bugs.  Check them out in the flies section of the...

One of my favorite blogs has another genious article out on dubbing blends.  It seems many serious tyers get mistaken for caffine junkies as ownership of a coffee grinder for mixing dubbing is as important to a serious tyer as having a plastic replica of the stanley cup is for a diehard hockey...