Common Carp (Introduced Specie)
Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Cyprinus carpio

Maximum Size: 40+
Shape: Compressed
Suggested Hook & Size: Mustad 33909 #1/0 - #14
Thread: Dark Brown, 8/0 Uni-thread

Tail: Gold Hanked Lite-Brite
Tail Fin: Orange Prismacolor Pen or Crimson Red Prismacolor Pen
Body: Gold Bodi-Braid
Eye & Insert: Gold, Spirit River, Real Eye with Priz Gold 3-D Molded insert
Lower Side: Gold Hanked Lite-Brite
Upper Side: Hare's Ear Hanked Lite-Brite

Snout Color or Change Thread: Dark Brown
Belly or Stomach: Brite Yellow Hanked Lite-Brite
Dorsum or Back: Copper Hanked Lite-Brite with Fox Fire Peacock Hanked Lite-Brite over sparsely

Head Color: Brown Bronze
Cheek & Chin Color: Yellow
Pectoral Fins: Orange Prismacolor Pen or Crimson Red Prismacolor Pen
Anal Fin: Orange Prismacolor Pen or Crimson Red Prismacolor Pen
Pelvic Fin: Orange Prismacolor Pen or Crimson Red Prismacolor Pen
Dorsal Fin: Orange Prismacolor Pen or Crimson Red Prismacolor Pen

Colored Markers: Orange Prismacolor Pen or Crimson Red Prismacolor Pen for all fins
Tying Notes: None

Distribution: Found throughout North America below the fiftieth parallel south throughout the Mississippi basin and eastward to the western Florida. Also found west of the Rockies as well.
Habitat; The Common Carp inhabits medium streams to large river, lakes and reservoirs, preferring mud or silt bottoms.
Spawning Period: April through June in water temperatures of 62-81 degrees.
Spawning Habitat: Scattered randomly over weed beds in shallow still water.
Important Notes: Common Carp are now considered detrimental to other species of fish and waterfowl because they disturb the bottom destroying vegetation and increasing turbidity. The state of New York had a $50 fine for destroying a carp in the early 1900's. The first Carp were introduced into the Mississippi Drainage accidentally by floodwaters that rose over the banks of a holding pond.