Spawn

A little pre-Alaska carping send off...

Over the past few years of fly fishing for carp, I've come to realize that they can be caught during the spawning period. Carp spawn when water temperatures reach into the upper sixties. This can vary from body of water significantly and it can also span a few days to several weeks. The next time you reach your favorite body of water and find the multitudes of carp spawning, don't dismay, wrig up and look for carp on the periphery.




When carp spawn, you'll find them located in large groups near vegetation in shallow water. Most often, this occurs in places you wouldn't normally find carp. During the spawn, carp create a lot of commotion and stir up plenty of sediment. Males repeatedly ram the females that are full of eggs. The eggs are released and the males fertilize the eggs by releasing their sperm. When this is happening, do not target these fish. They are extremely occupied and will not pay any attention to your presentation.

In order to find the fish that are able to be taken via a fly, you need to target fish on the edges of the spawn. Typically, there are several fish in the water that are not in the act of spawning and are readily mudding and feeding in their normal locations. If you don't find these fish, you might have to come back at another time. If you find carp spawning in the middle of the day, try targeting them in the morning or evening. I've found that carp can be spawning en masse in certain locations of canals and ponds and a few hours later be actively feeding in the same areas. Carping during the spawn is not as productive as the rest of the year, but it can still be accomplished.

During the spawn, carp can get pretty beat up…

Late evening session...

New favorite carp stick: Loop Opti River 798-5

Carp caught twenty yards from a dozen spawning carp...

A pod of mid-column carp taking a break from spawning...