Fly fishing for Carp:
Fly fishing for carp is not easy, and landing a carp on a fly is one of the great fly fishing challenges. The Canadian Carp Registry is a place for carp fly fishing aficionados to say, "I did it."

Luckily most carp fly fishermen have not been jaded by the need to get 'the big fish.' Carp fly fishermen are purists, giving all carp the same level of respect regardless of their size. The Canadian Carp Registry reflects this, as there are no prizes or kudos for the biggest fish, or for that matter the smallest fish. The size of the fish is listed solely for 'interests sake.'

The Canadian Carp Registry is not just for Canadians, Canadian carp or fly fishermen visiting Canada who catch a Canadian carp. It is open to carp fly fishermen around the globe.

The up keep of this page, and the costs associated with keeping the registry working, are covered by the funds generated from the sale of my Scratch and Dent Flies.

How do I register?
1. Send me an e-mail to let me know you want to register.
E-mail: Canadian Carp Registry

2. Send a picture of your fish, and the fly to:
Ian Colin James, The Canadian Carp Registry,
Box 48034, POND MILLS, London, Ontario, N6M 1K5.

(Don't forget to let me know where you caught the fish, the name of the fly, and the weight of the fish!)

You will be listed when I receive your fly and fish picture, plus in return l will send you one of my favorite carping flies. If you don't have a photo that's fine, just send the fly. Please remember, the registry is built on an honor system.

I have said many times that a strike indicator is nothing more than a bobber. Please give carp the respect they deserve and do not use a strike indicator when fishing for them. If you want to scrape the bottom of the fly fishing barrel, stick to fishing for trout with an indicator. Carp are a very tough fish to take on a fly, so improve your angling skills and pursue carp 'bobber free.'

Thank You
I would like to take this opportunity to say 'Thank You' to everyone who has let me know, the list won't be a long one as carp are hard to get on a fly. Nothing like a bunch of fly fishermen, with free time on their hands, who have panache for stating the obvious. I guess the Ask Ian Pages are starting to rub off . . . and may God have mercy on our souls. Naturally, if you are an atheist please disregard that last sentence. You see, that's the point. Had I started a trout registry, I would have had thousands of names on the list in a matter of days.

Carp are a truly wild fish. They were introduced into North America in the 1800s and since then they have done rather well for themselves. Love them or hate them, there is no denying that carp are one of the top dogs of adaptability. They are now found in most watersheds across North America, and all this from a handful of fish. As they are wild fish, they do not possess 'Stockie Genes or Catch Me Chromosomes' which one could argue are responsible for the quick demise of so many stocked fish. Which brings me back to this being a short list.

An important bit
Please don't send me your picture as an e-mail attachment. It will be instantly deleted, nuked, fried, erased or toasted before I get it. I don't accept e-mail attachments, plus I won't even know you sent me the e-mail. Also, if you can't find the fly you used, send me a copy of it.

A good idea.
Someone suggested using a code for the style of fly, which would save space in the table. I think it is a good idea. See, as I have been saying all along, carp aficionados are at the top of the fly fishing evolutionary ladder. A smashing idea. Here are the codes:
Bf - Baitfish
Cr - Crayfish
Df - Dry fly
Ny - Nymph
St - Streamer

So what are you waiting for?
To get registered.
E-mail: Canadian Carp Registry

Blackwells Baitfish
Here is a link to a wee bit of carp fly fishing history.
"The Baitfish."