Most anglers struggle to find a balance between family, work, commitments and squeezing in fishing time.   One answer to this dilemma is to target fisheries closer to home.  This week, I’ve had a two hour fishing window (during our baby’s nap time).  My fishing solution was to return to my boyhood roots of chasing carp in the canal.  I can easily bike or drive, the Towpath allows easy access, and it is pure sight fishing in shallow water!

To be candid, I didn’t start out the week with intentions of catching carp on a fly. I was riding my bike on the Towpath for exercise.  Around mile two, I noticed carp milling around and casually feeding on a shallow cement bank.  Seeing those carp motivated me to ditch my cycling plans and speedily return home.  In short order, I threw two fly boxes into a fanny pack and grabbed my 6wt.  Soon, I was back on the canal and scouting out shallow water carp.  It’s surprisingly easy to strap a four piece fly rod to your bike frame with 3-M blue painters tape.

My tactic was to spot the carp, drop low and get within an easy casting distance.  Sometimes, these fish are so focused and comfortable feeding on the bottom that they don’t look up.  It could also be that they are accustomed to movement above them.  I would gently flip cast a #10 nymph and try to put it in front of a cruising or laid up fish.  Most times there were single fish, but sometimes a pair would be close to each other.  Any sudden movement from the fly would cause the fish to bolt.  Super slow, dropping  or twitching movement right in front of the carp yielded subtle takes.  You can’t see the fish open it’s mouth.  The carp gradually surges forward and tilts the head, or rolls a bit on it’s side.  Observing this was my best strike detection. On  my first fish, I strip set and promptly snapped the 4x flourocarbon.  Smaller, shaggy nymphs out fished any bugger style pattern.   It takes some practice to decipher the fish’s behavior.  Some spook easily, while others tolerate several casts.  Each trip yielded several 20″ to 28″ carp.  Three of my larger fish fought me to the backing.   It is an angling rush to stalk these fish, make an accurate cast and read the body language of each fish.  It’s not the same as fishing tailing bonefish on the flats, but it still fun.  Most important, it is local, manageable and it is a fishery in my backyard.   In addition, you provide some entertainment for fellow cyclists, dog walkers, joggers, etc.  Twice, I handed my rod to passerby’s and they enjoyed the thrill of bringing in a decent carp.  Speaking of bringing in, those carp really slime up and stink your fine trout net.  I’ve washed mine several times and it is still in the sun drying.  I even took it out of the garage, as my wife began to notice the odor!  That said, don’t let the carpy scent discourage you.  It’s a great backyard fishery and where else can you hunt tailing fish around here?