Seasons of the Carp Fisher, and the Quest for a 20-Pounder

Written by: Dan Frasier


This 18-pound carp was tailing in skinny water, and it’s dan’s biggest fly-caught fish to date.
Photo by Dan Frasier

This morning, my windshield was covered in thick dew—a sure sign of cooler nights gnawing at the hot days of summer. Fall will be here soon, cool and glorious and way too short. Winter will follow, locking down any real chance of fishing until late March. In South Dakota, where I live, the winters are. . .

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Meet the Winner of Our Carp Photo Contest!


Chad Fairbanks with the winning entry, from our summer-long Carp Photo Contest.
Photo courtesy Chad Fairbanks

After a flurry of voting, we have a winner of our summer-long Carp Photo Contest! Chad Fairbanks’s photo of himself holding a fish he caught while scouting for the 3 River Carp Cup took top honors. Here’s Chad’s telling of the story behind the photo: . . .

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Photos of the Day: Carpocalypse 2013 Roundup and Winners

Written by: Adam McNamara


Rob Tibbett releases a fish to grow bigger for Carpocalypse 2014.
Photo by John Montana

After a crazy storm on Friday night, complete with 50 m.p.h. wind, blowing dust, and a multitude of lightning strikes, Saturday dawned clear and calm for the 2013 Carpocalypse on the Columbia River, near Kennewick, Washington. At 7 a.m., the participants started to arrive, and by 7:45 there were about 30 people milling around with. . .

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Summer of Carp: Vote for Best in Show, Plus Craziest Location and Prettiest Winners!

It’s time to VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE entry to win the Orvis Summer of Carp BEST IN SHOW. Remember, the winner of the Helios 2 Outfit depends on YOUR votes, so come back often and give your support!

We want to congratulate our final two winners who are now in contention for the big prize:

Our winner in the “Craziest Location” category was Chad F. of Seymour, Tennessee. This is what it’s all about – chances are there are accessible  carp somewhere near you.

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Our Summer of Carp Ugliest, Funniest and Video Contest Winners!

We hope you’re enjoying the Orvis “Summer of Carp” celebration as much as we are! As part of the festivities, we’re holding an eight-week carp-photo contest that anyone can enter. Remember, the winner depends on YOUR votes, so come back often and give them your support! Here are the winners for our Video, Ugliest, and Funniest categories, as well as a special extra winner in the Smallest category:

Congratulations to Nicolas C. of Montreal, Quebec on his second win (this time for video!)

Click “Read More” for all the winners.

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Photo of the Day: Accidental Trophy Brown Trout

Written by: Robert Daniel


Who catches a trout of a lifetime while fishing for something else? That may be the very definition of good luck.
Photo courtesy Robert Daniel

The 28-inch brown in the picture was actually caught when I was carp fishing! It was the last day of the week-long Sweetwater Guide School on the Bighorn River in Montana. I—as well as two other students and Ron Meek, who runs the guide school—had decided to fish for carp in the reservoir above the dam on the Bighorn. We were catching decent carp on cicada dry-fly patterns, and they would take you. . .

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Podcast: The Coming Carpocalypse


This week, I interview Adam McNamara of Orvis Portland in one of our continuing series of carp podcasts. As usual, I learned some hot new tricks (like how to imitate a clam with a fly!), and I am sure you will, as well. Adam is the founder and organizer of Carpocalypse, one of the. . .

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Photos from The Carp-O-Rama in Western New York

Written by: Steve May


Big carp put up a heck of a fight, and this angler pays tribute to the big lips.
Photos courtesy Steve May

Last weekend, I was at an event in Upstate New York called Carp-o-rama. It was a chance for a bunch of guys to go out and try their hand at carp fishing around Grand Island and share stories and some fine craft beers at a wrap-up BBQ with the folks from. . .

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