Blog
May 26, 2009
What to do with muddy water
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 have banner days.
Because of their adaptations in smell and sound carp can feed in the muddiest of water, and as much as we would all love to be able to fish crystal clear waters on calm days, sometimes we have to deal with what conditions we have. As waters start to muddy up remember that carp are still eating, and possibly more so as the extra water means access to more food in lakes and ponds, and a flush of new food in rivers.
Rivers are a bit easier when conditions get cloudy. Look for your typical carp holding water in the slower flows and eddies and drift or swing flies to them. Keep in mind that the raging torrent in the main flow where you caught carp under lower water is not going to hold them now. They will seek calmer water and stick to the bottom of the stream where the flow is the least. Heavily weighted flies or a sink tip line will help get your flies down.
Lakes and ponds present very different challenges. Blind casting into chocolate milk will get you nowhere. You need to still find some clue as to where the fish are. Lee Baermann of fly fish the surf is a carp head who fishes a ton of muddy water and offered the best tips for still water carping in muddy water:
The first is finding the bubbles that are left after carp vacuum up food from the bottom:
"When fishing bubble trails, you have to time the intersection of carp mouth and fly while considering the current speed and how it effects the bubbles at the surface. We know the bubbles do not come straight up so you have to figure just how in front of the bubbles the business end is? Also you need to know which way the carp is headed or you're casting to its tail. Not good."
Second is actually spotting the fish feeding in the shallows and bank sides. Remember that as water goes up and muddies, carp are happy to root around for food in the rich feeding grounds that are harder to get to under normal conditions.
"If you are lucky enough to not spook them, bank feeding carp are the neatest to catch because you can watch the posture of the carp change......if you can even make the shape out that is. Now all you need to do is dip the fly either straight down to the mouth or anticipate the direction the carp is moving and place the fly in front of him/her."
So do not give up in muddy conditions. If you can still see fish in the shallows, or evidence of their feeding in mud clouds or bubbles you will still be able to have a shot at them and save a trip!
All photos Lee Baermann
The short answer is absolutely, but do not expect to have banner days.
Because of their adaptations in smell and sound carp can feed in the muddiest of water, and as much as we would all love to be able to fish crystal clear waters on calm days, sometimes we have to deal with what conditions we have. As waters start to muddy up remember that carp are still eating, and possibly more so as the extra water means access to more food in lakes and ponds, and a flush of new food in rivers.
Rivers are a bit easier when conditions get cloudy. Look for your typical carp holding water in the slower flows and eddies and drift or swing flies to them. Keep in mind that the raging torrent in the main flow where you caught carp under lower water is not going to hold them now. They will seek calmer water and stick to the bottom of the stream where the flow is the least. Heavily weighted flies or a sink tip line will help get your flies down.
Lakes and ponds present very different challenges. Blind casting into chocolate milk will get you nowhere. You need to still find some clue as to where the fish are. Lee Baermann of fly fish the surf is a carp head who fishes a ton of muddy water and offered the best tips for still water carping in muddy water:
The first is finding the bubbles that are left after carp vacuum up food from the bottom:
"When fishing bubble trails, you have to time the intersection of carp mouth and fly while considering the current speed and how it effects the bubbles at the surface. We know the bubbles do not come straight up so you have to figure just how in front of the bubbles the business end is? Also you need to know which way the carp is headed or you're casting to its tail. Not good."
Second is actually spotting the fish feeding in the shallows and bank sides. Remember that as water goes up and muddies, carp are happy to root around for food in the rich feeding grounds that are harder to get to under normal conditions.
"If you are lucky enough to not spook them, bank feeding carp are the neatest to catch because you can watch the posture of the carp change......if you can even make the shape out that is. Now all you need to do is dip the fly either straight down to the mouth or anticipate the direction the carp is moving and place the fly in front of him/her."
So do not give up in muddy conditions. If you can still see fish in the shallows, or evidence of their feeding in mud clouds or bubbles you will still be able to have a shot at them and save a trip!
All photos Lee Baermann
Note: All comments must be approved by the blog author.