Caprs on jigs

[Buzzy]

My 86 year old friend Jerry came over to the Basin yesterday to fly fish for caprs. He called me on his way home and told me he'd see a lot of carp but they weren't feeding: cruising fast and in groups. I asked if there were fish spawning in the reeds and cattails, he said they weren't. So..... I figured the fish were going into spawn mode, it's warm, it's that time of year.

Today I had the chance to get out carping for the second time (I drew a blank on my first outing - I didn't see a single fish). I decided to fish a mudhole from my pram. For the first half hour I wondered if I could find a fish or two that weren't in spawn mode as the mudhole was loaded with spawning fish (what a hoot when they're in the tules thrashing around and you hear one making a -------- noise, like a Hoover cleaning up spilled water.

I did find fish not in spawn mode, quite a few. Unfortunately the damn wind came up so I quit about noon. I landed seven carp, five fair hooked. I hooked one about seven or eight pounds in the tail, I thought maybe I had a real toad capr.



Per @Bongoman: "Check your Fly". Second jig hook that I've broken. This one broke when I pulled if from old rubber lips (with my fingers, not pliers).

 

[skyriver]

Nice! What hook is that? It looks a little skinny for capr work, but maybe it's just the photo. And it sounds like it got worked!

 

[clarkman]

what jig hooks do you like for capr, Buzzy?

 

[clarkman]

Nice! What hook is that? It looks a little skinny for capr work, but maybe it's just the photo. And it sounds like it got worked!

I dunno, looks rather burly to me as far as small jig hooks go.

 

[Buzzy]

what jig hooks do you like for capr, Buzzy?

That's a Saber 5220 size 4 with a 4 mm tungsten bead. I liked these hooks until today; that's the second hook that's broken. I'm in the market now for a better (stronger) hook.

 

[FinLuver]

My 86 year old friend Jerry came over to the Basin yesterday to fly fish for caprs. He called me on his way home and told me he'd see a lot of carp but they weren't feeding: cruising fast and in groups. I asked if there were fish spawning in the reeds and cattails, he said they weren't. So..... I figured the fish were going into spawn mode, it's warm, it's that time of year.

Today I had the chance to get out carping for the second time (I drew a blank on my first outing - I didn't see a single fish). I decided to fish a mudhole from my pram. For the first half hour I wondered if I could find a fish or two that weren't in spawn mode as the mudhole was loaded with spawning fish (what a hoot when they're in the tules thrashing around and you hear one making a -------- noise, like a Hoover cleaning up spilled water.

I did find fish not in spawn mode, quite a few. Unfortunately the damn wind came up so I quit about noon. I landed seven carp, five fair hooked. I hooked one about seven or eight pounds in the tail, I thought maybe I had a real toad capr.

View attachment 184635

Per @Bongoman: "Check your Fly". Second jig hook that I've broken. This one broke when I pulled if from old rubber lips (with my fingers, not pliers).

View attachment 184636

View attachment 184637

Admins… we need a money icon

 

[clarkman]

That's a Saber 5220 size 4 with a 4 mm tungsten bead. I liked these hooks until today; that's the second hook that's broken. I'm in the market now for a better (stronger) hook.

Hmm, I have a few carp flies tied up on some ahrex jig hooks. May have to play around. I use mostly gami egg hooks (down to 10 seem strong enough), am searching for a solid jigged option.

 

[skyriver]

Hmm, I have a few carp flies tied up on some ahrex jig hooks. May have to play around. I use mostly gami egg hooks (down to 10 seem strong enough), am searching for a solid jigged option.

I've had good luck so far with Ahrex and Hanak jig hooks for some fairly stout rainbows and smallies, but haven't tried them for carp. I think the Hanaks are stronger. I use the H 450 BL. I had an Ahrex break on me one time, but it was when I had a hold of it and the fish wagged right at the wrong time. I think most hooks I break happen in hand or in the net. Or on the rocks behind me if on the sound.

I have used Daiichi 1530 Heavy Wet fly hooks on a regular damsel pattern for carp under 10#. There's a couple heavy/stout jig hooks out there, but not all of them have a wide gap.

 

[Evan B]

What I gotta do to get these carp jig flies in Myflyvise

 

[clarkman]

What I gotta do to get these carp jig flies in Myflyvise

shut up & be patient.

 

[clarkman]

I've had good luck so far with Ahrex and Hanak jig hooks for some fairly stout rainbows and smallies, but haven't tried them for carp. I think the Hanaks are stronger. I use the H 450 BL. I had an Ahrex break on me one time, but it was when I had a hold of it and the fish wagged right at the wrong time. I think most hooks I break happen in hand or in the net. Or on the rocks behind me if on the sound.

I have used Daiichi 1530 Heavy Wet fly hooks on a regular damsel pattern for carp under 10#. There's a couple heavy/stout jig hooks out there, but not all of them have a wide gap.

so what yer sayin' iz use one until it breaks?

 

[skyriver]

so what yer sayin' iz use one until it breaks?

Exactly! I actually do enjoy seeing how long a fly and leader can survive. I think my record is 6 capr in a row on the same fly with no leader repair. And that was with 10# fluoro & a couple of dorsal "twangs". It's not the best strategy to land that fish of a lifetime, but oh well.
Crazy how tough fluoro is if your knot is good. And most carp hooks!

 

[Buzzy]

so what yer sayin' iz use one until it breaks?

I have to wonder about Stacy's rationale ;-) I'm a strike-2 sort of angler. Years ago I got the less than brilliant idea of (gasp - perfection) loop to loop Maxima Chameleon tippets (6# for steelhead? = dumbass) for my 8-weight steelhead rod. My good friend Chuck and I had run his jet boat upstream on the Snake above the Snake/Grand Ronde confluence, anchored and were wading this fantastic run. I hooked a steelhead, instantly broke it off and looped on another 6# tippet (I wonder what the tensile strength of Maxima 6# leader is tied with a (gasp) perfection loop?), hooked another fish and instantly broke it off. Strike-2, no more perfection loop, no more 6# tippet. (Strike-2 in this case was strike-3 as I'd worn out my welcome in the run.)

The point of my rambling is no more Saber 5220 size 4 flies for carp, ain't gonna be a strike-3. I'm struggling to find a heavy wire size 4 jig hook. I love Stacy's Hanak H450BL's for river nymphing and for some of my smaller indicator ties but size 10 is as big as they go. (More drift: I hit the back of my head with a Prince nymph tied on a size 10 H450BL - the bead was a 4.something mm tungsten. It didn't stick but I felt it!)

 

[skyriver]

Ouch, that would haunt me. I was always a 8# Max guy for summer steel. And always blood knots. My buddy was trying to convince me to go 2x on a particular clear river one time. I told him he could take his 2x upriver and catch rainbows if he wanted. I'm sticking with 8# Max no matter how clear the water gets.
These days, it's probably going to be P-Line CFX 10# fluoro. That stuff is tough and stealth. It's my full-time carp tippet now. Usually 10#. If some toads are patrolling I'll break out the 12#.

Back on topic, I really like the Fulling Mill Bonio Carp Barbless hooks. What's the reason for an actual jig hook?

 

[clarkman]

Ouch, that would haunt me. I was always a 8# Max guy for summer steel. And always blood knots. My buddy was trying to convince me to go 2x on a particular clear river one time. I told him he could take his 2x upriver and catch rainbows if he wanted. I'm sticking with 8# Max no matter how clear the water gets.
These days, it's probably going to be P-Line CFX 10# fluoro. That stuff is tough and stealth. It's my full-time carp tippet now. Usually 10#. If some toads are patrolling I'll break out the 12#.

Back on topic, I really like the Fulling Mill Bonio Carp Barbless hooks. What's the reason for an actual jig hook?

So it rides hook up when you rip it right through a capr's grill...

Honestly, for me? I can't speak for Buzzy, but I just like to tinker...it's like, "oh, this works great? Ok, I'm gonna go a different direction...". .....that eye roll was to myself.

 

[skyriver]

Yeah, I get that. The only thing I would be concerned about with a jig hook, even if you could find a heavy/stout one, is the slightly tighter gap between the eye and hook point. Even a good wide gap one like the H450BL, the gap is smaller than a regular carp hook.
I miss enough eats, I don't want a smaller gap possibly making me miss even more.

And if you're going for the gills I suggest a #8 treble.

 

[Buzzy]

Ouch, that would haunt me. I was always a 8# Max guy for summer steel. And always blood knots. My buddy was trying to convince me to go 2x on a particular clear river one time. I told him he could take his 2x upriver and catch rainbows if he wanted. I'm sticking with 8# Max no matter how clear the water gets.
These days, it's probably going to be P-Line CFX 10# fluoro. That stuff is tough and stealth. It's my full-time carp tippet now. Usually 10#. If some toads are patrolling I'll break out the 12#.

Back on topic, I really like the Fulling Mill Bonio Carp Barbless hooks. What's the reason for an actual jig hook?

What's the reason for an actual jig hook? I'm going to second @clarkman's "I just like to tinker". ;-)

I started going through my carp box looking at the hybrids and only found two more tied on the 5220. Most of my hybrids are tied on a combination of hooks including Owner 4306-091 #2 (No escape hook, barbless)........ huh. CRS.

I emailed Firehole and asked about their 570 stick, I might try some of them and they do offer them up to size 2. Gonna check out your Bonia carp barbless............ "Heiwa!"

So it rides hook up when you rip it right through a capr's grill...

Honestly, for me? I can't speak for Buzzy, but I just like to tinker...it's like, "oh, this works great? Ok, I'm gonna go a different direction...". .....that eye roll was to myself.

 

[Stonedfish]

It’s too bad Mustad doesn’t offer this hook in a 60° option. I’ve caught some big fish on them and never had any breaking or bending out issues using them. The nice thing about them is the number of sizes they are available in.
SF

Mustad Jig Hooks Style 32833NP-BN Sizes 10 - 6/0

Barlow's Tackle. The best selection of fishing tackle components and lure building supplies to build your own tackle. All at the best prices available online.

barlowstackle.com

 

[Matt B]

What I gotta do to get these carp jig flies in Myflyvise

How are you feeling about the apostrophe in the subject thread? I’m surprised it’s made it this long.

 

[Evan B]

How are you feeling about the apostrophe in the subject thread? I’m surprised it’s made it this long.

I do need to take care of that. My eye twitching is secondary to them actually hurting the googler-ability of threads. Main reason I do it.