Mud Marlin, Swamp trout, Hillbilly bonefish, Pond pig, River rabbit, Worm hoover, Ghetto trout, Mud sucker, Septic salmon, Sewer bass ...
Never has there been a fish with such a huge list of nicknames as the Common carp (Cyprinus carpio). These fish are native to parts of Europe and Asia, but have been introduced to waterways throughout the world with incredible success. Carp are so successful that they make up 90% of the biomass (all the living things) in Australia's largest river system - the Murray-Darling - where they are an invasive species and individuals, if caught, must not be returned to the water alive. Of course this is probably not the case outside of Australia, so always make sure you check your local fishing regulations before you go fishing.
Carp are highly successful outside of their native range for a number of reasons. They are highly adaptable and able to withstand a wide variety of water temperatures and water quality variables (like pollutants, turbidity (muddiness), oxygen levels etc.). They are highly successful breeders and able to expand their population size very quickly (that's why they have the nickname "River rabbits"). And they compete for food and habitat with native fish species. This means (in Australia for example), native fish like Murray cod and golden perch are being out-competed by carp, making their populations diminish throughout their native range. So it's fair to say that carp are a bit of a hated species in Australia, but the news is not all bad.
Carp are a fantastic fly fishing target species. That doesn't mean they are easy, in fact carp are notoriously tricky to catch on the fly, but what better way to polish your fly fishing skills and learn the importance of accuracy and presentation. Best of all, there are probably ponds or rivers containing carp close to where you live! Because carp have such a huge range and live in diverse habitats, they are likely to be skulking around on a mud flat somewhere near you.
While carp are a lot hardier than many other species, like trout, it's still important to treat them carefully in areas where they can be released using the keep fish wet methods and to treat them humanely in areas where they cannot be released. Carp can take a variety of flies, but here's a few suggested by Fly Tyer magazine to get you into the game. Happy carp fishing!
Comments