5 Must-Know Tips for Carp On The Fly
With: joshdiller
We recently caught up with Josh, a dedicated fly fishing guide based out of Summit County, Colorado, to hear about his journey from discovering fly fishing back in Pennsylvania to becoming a seasoned guide on the water. Josh shares some real talk about what it takes to improve your carp fishing game, the hard-earned lessons from guiding, and how fly fishing keeps him grounded through life’s ups and downs. Whether you’re new to the sport or chasing that next level of skill, Josh’s story and tips are full of the honest wisdom only time on the water can teach.
Josh, how did you first get into fly fishing, and what inspired you to pursue it seriously?
The first time I really got into fly fishing I was mid twenties in Pennsylvania, I saw a short film on YouTube of Colorado fly fishing the salmon fly hatch which inspired me to move to summit county Colorado in 2013.
What are your top five tips for someone looking to improve their carp fishing on the fly?
Oh man that’s a loaded question, I’m still learning so much every time I get out, but here are a few that I have learned in my short time in the game.
1: Don’t worry so much about the fly pattern, but maybe more on the weight or presentation of the fly. Sink rate of the fly can be huge in river vrs. Lake conditions.
2: They spook easily, wear colors that blend in. It’s a sight fishing game. If you can’t see them you probably can’t catch them, but if they can see you, it’s usually game over.
3: Fish to feeding fish. Most of the fish you will see are not feeding and you’re wasting time casting to them (potentially spooking them which will spook feeding fish). Look for the fish that are actively feeding. The tail tells it all. You can really pick up the nature or attitude of the fish by its tail. From the activity of the fish to the actual eat of the fly.
4: Time of day can really play a big part to your productivity. I find that early morning when wind is calm and sun finally gets high enough to see is the sweet spot. Wind tends to pick up in the afternoons and can make sight fishing conditions tough.
5: Every fish is a trophy! No matter the size, they are hard to feed. If I catch three in a day it’s been a great day. It’s not necessarily for the beginner angler. They are super spooky and require a lot of time searching, hunting, and making the perfect presentation. A great sport fish to take your skills to the next level.
How did you become a guide, and what has that experience taught you about fly fishing and working with anglers?
It kind of fell into my lap. I was offered a job guiding at Trouts Fly Fishing in 2015. I’ve always said I thought I knew how to fly fish until I became a guide and was on the water everyday.
There is no short cut to time on the water. You can read all the books you want, until you have experienced everything an ecosystem has to offer first hand from hatches to food sources as well as stream flows and migrations, there is no short cut to time on the water.
Looking ahead, Josh, what exciting projects or goals do you have next in your fly fishing career?
Man I’m going through a lot of life lessons right now outside of guiding and fishing. Fly fishing is keeping me connected and alive. It’s hard to look ahead in these times, but the adventures driven by fly fishing are setting me up for my future. I’m enjoying exploring new water and checking off new species or experiences on the fly!
