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Well,
There are many different places to fish for carp and the fishing is very different depending the type of water. Small lake carp and river carp are very different from carp on the flats in the great lakes. In the river I have never had a carp take more than about 30 yards of backing even 20 pounders. On the flats however it is a different story. These fish on the flats are very much like bonefish. The main difference being carp are far stronger than a bone with much more stamina. Carp swim slower than bones however giving you a slow consistant run out to the horizon.

I'm glad you brought this up since it gives me yet another chance to post my favorite picture.


This 30 pound fish made 3 seperate runs into my backing. The first run was nearly 250 yards and there was almost no stopping him. The fish almost spooled me.



This guy was about 28 pounds and made similar runs.
This fishing on the flats is as good as bonefishing yet I can do it for only a few hundred bucks a week.

Here's some reasons I like to fish for carp on the flats so much.
1. They are the biggest toughest strongest fish that can be caught on fly gear in fresh water.
2. They are the smartest and most challenging fish to hook in fresh water
3. Carp (on the flats) will test your tackle more than any other fish in fresh water. Only Salmon can compete and I've never heard of a Salmon getting 100's of yards into your backing. (they will usually be around the bend by then)
4. Carp test your fish fighting ability. Once a large carp is on the run and headed for deep water there is nothing you can do to turn them. Even with 17 pound tippet if you try to horse a 30 pound carp he will break something.
5. The flats of the great lakes are beautiful and easily accesible.
6. There are very few people fishing carp on the flats. I get much more solitude out there than on any trout or warmwater stream in Michigan.
7. Carp are very abundant.
8. Carp fishing on the flats is really good practice for bonefishing. I only get to bonefish for about a week every other year and there is no other good way to practice. The casting is very similar with the same gear and very similar conditions including wind. Presentation is very similar to bonefishing as well.

I believe the main reason carp are not considered game fish is because they are omnivores and not predators making them very challenging to get them to bite. They are also not very good to eat (at least to me). I catch and release almost everything anyway so why would I care if they are good to eat or not.

I release all the carp that I catch. I'll list the reasons that I release them

1. I have no use for dead carp. I don't like to eat carp and I'm not a gardener so I wouldn't use them for fertilizer.
2. I have nowhere to keep the carp for the rest of the day of fishing. It's not practical to toss 2-3 carp in a creel. It's also not practical to carry each carp miles back to the truck. I am only concerned with catching another carp so I release my catch right away and get back to fishing.
3. I do not believe in killing any fish just for the sake of killing. If I have no use for a fish, I will not kill it. No matter the species I believe it is only respectful to use as much of your kill as possible.
4. My enemies are anyone who kills any fish including carp and does not use any of the fish. I can't stand people who will kill a carp and just throw him on the bank, send him down the river or toss him in the garbage. This is disrespectful to life. Besides the fact that dead carp floating in the river or rotting on the bank make an awful stink. Bowfishermen are the worst culprits and I've had many run ins with these guys. I have no problem with the bowfisherman or any fisherman who wants to kill carp and has some use for them. Some people do eat carp and I understand they are pretty good when slow smoked. Carp also make excellent fertilizer for the garden.

I've had a lot of arguments with other guys on the stream when I have released a carp. We have a number of groups in my area who also promote killing all carp. On my river I probably catch more carp than all other fisherman combined and my total was probably only around 100 fish. If I had killed them all it would not have made one bit of difference on the carp population anyway. It's a bit rediculous to think that a few sport fisherman could have any impact on the carp population of a 100 mile long river with about 10 impoundments. In fact the Michigan DNR poisoned the entire length of the Huron River with Rotenone in 1979 killing virtually all the carp and restocked with other game fish. It didn't take very long at all for the carp to come back. I agree that carp are detrimental to other species. I just don't think there is anything the sport fisherman can do about it so I have decided to take up the challenge and fish for them every chance I get. I also made about $1500 bucks last year guiding for carp. I actually get more requests for carp trips than anything else.

I am absolutely carp crazy and I am the self appointed president of Carp Unlimited.

I'll be fishing for carp in Grand Traverse bay for 2 weeks in late spring and then I'll be fishing for carp during the Mulberry hatch on the Huron River for about 3 weeks in early summer. If anyone here makes it to my area I would be happy to show them the joys of carp fishing, but be careful. I have made some carp crazies out of a number of guys.
I am very serious about carp.

Last year a buddy met me up in Traverse City and wanted to test the carp. He only hooked 1 fish in three days. He brought a cheap 6 wt graphite rod and a cheaper reel. He said "carp just lay over and let you bring them in. It's like fighting an anchor." I inspected his gear when he arrived and offered to loan him my extra outfit. The guy thought I was ridiculous for using my heavy saltwater gear. A comedy of errors occurred after he hooked his one fish.
1. The fish almost spooled him and when he tightened up the drag it seized.
2. Upon seizing the carp broke his rod right in the middle
3. Trying to fight the fish with a seized reel and broken rod the fish broke off at his backing knot and he lost his fly line.

Every time I see this guy at our meetings he can't wait to go back for some more. He has a new found respect for the carp and has purchased a 9wt rod and Ross Big Game reel.