carp?

[BurleyDog]

Last year I caught a HUGE carp, completely by accident on an in-line spinner. Seriously the thing was 30"+
Anyhow I want to pursue these fish this year. I have watch a couple of In Fisherman shows about em and I was just wondering if any of you guys tried to fish for carp.
If so....any advise?:)

[kyhunter28]

I know they are fun to catch but I have only caight them by accident. I know that they do very good on Vanilla flavored dough balls.

[trader rob]

they are like most other fish, they have their favorite places to feed and loaf. fish where they are at and they will bite most things. i have fished for most every kind of fresh water fish and day in and out a carp is about the hardest thing to catch consistently. try mostly shallow water and watch for them tailing while they feed, like a bonefish.

[chucky]

Last year I caught a HUGE carp, completely by accident on an in-line spinner. Seriously the thing was 30"+
Anyhow I want to pursue these fish this year. I have watch a couple of In Fisherman shows about em and I was just wondering if any of you guys tried to fish for carp.
If so....any advise?:)

1 lb of hambuger and a box of wheates. Pour wheates in a brown paper bag and crush using your hand. Add buger and mix till you can form a ball without it falling apart. If you want you can add others, corn, garlic, cheese...good luck

[notimlmit]

Sweet corn -- chum an area then bait up and get ready

[jarrodcombs]

Me and some friends take one weekend a year, and have a carp fishing tournament. We call it the carp master classic. Over the years we have tried about every bait imaginable, and it seems like its hard to beat nightcrawlers to me, but location is the key for sure

[big bubba t]

Sweet corn -- chum an area then bait up and get ready

Best night I had catching carp was using this method.

[MasterB]

I usually catch grass carp. I use bread on top water with an ultra rod and reel, 6lb test. Just cut the ends of the bread, fold it in half and ping the ends together forming somewhat of an air pocket, then put the small hook on the pinched end, and send it out there. Dont use any weight and cast it using the weight of the bread. Dont wing it out there so the bread flys off, just a simple toss and thats good enough. Then you will see mouths on top just sucking away, then when they start on your bread, wait till you see your line movin at a stready pace and get ready. Results are below: 47lb grass carp, close to the state record

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/landjr/100_0306.jpg

[BurleyDog]

Dang! That is a beautiful fish! Thank you all for the advise, I can't wait to try it.
I have one more question... When is the best time to carp fish? I mean in terms of time of year.
Thanks again!

[trader rob]

i have caught them in small creeks very early in spring, around drifts.

[trust me]

The most consistent way I've found to catch them is to chum an area with a sandy bottom with corn for a few days, then go in at night with a #8 hook covered with 3 kernels of corn and let it soak on the bottom. For a while I was getting 2 or 3 hookups in as many hours. The bullheads will drive you crazy but a few huge carp will make it worthwhile. It's like tying on to a locomotive.

I've used everything from 6lb line up to 17lb and the carp don't seem to mind. Go heavy and prevent the breakoffs.

[KYBOY]

I always fished for them in the spillway at dewey lake. Its full of them. Doughballs,corn or wax worms. They sure are fun to catch.

[MasterB]

Dang! That is a beautiful fish! Thank you all for the advise, I can't wait to try it.
I have one more question... When is the best time to carp fish? I mean in terms of time of year.
Thanks again!


Whenever you see them is the best time. Right after someome mows their lawn and direct the clippings in the lake, HOT days, early morning, late night. As long as you can find them, its almost certain you will catch them. Sometimes they can be stubborn, but at some point in the day they WILL eat. You just gotta keep bugging them. Throw some bread out there but not to much, maybe 2-4 pieces, then when you see one, throw it right at him and be patient. It might be instant, it may take 15 mintues. Everytime I was inpatient and reeled in, they always swiped my bread afterwards. Carp in the lake by me seems to make rounds in the lake. They circle then entire lake, then they are back to you and they keep doing it. You will also catch channels. You can tell the difference between the 2 by their tail flaps and boils/rolls. Carp are boilers/rollers and cats are tail flippers for the most part. Oh, and the lighter the tackle the funner but you got to remember these are big fish and they have short spurts of energy. So even when fishing light tackle, get them is ASAP because they will/call build up lactic acid and die. Never assume a grass carp is ok untill you aquamate properly. Just grab him by his tail and push/pull him thru the water then stop, release your grip a lil and see if he swims off, if he don't keep doing it till he does it his own. You dont have a 30+ lb fish dead because you was lazy or just dont care of "assumed" he was ok, always make sure. A net is great if you have one that can handle them. They tend to swallow the hook many times so just break your line as close to his mouth or to the hook as possible. Also on light line they will twist your line, roll in the water wrapping the line around them, etc etc. Your line will be put to the test if you catch enough of them in different scenarios.

That carp I posted won longest carp of the year for 2007 :)

[BurleyDog]

Thanks everybody! thanks MasterB for reminding everyone how to make sure not to hurt the fish. I am not sure but think some of those big carp like that are old and I don't wanna hurt em when I fish for em.
I do wanna hurt those bigheads when I bowfish for em though:cool:

[TedB]

I'm wondering where all the "KILL ALL THEM TRASH FISH" guys are?

I fish for carp all the time, up until white bass start running that's where I'll be. I bait them in with field corn and then fish over it. I've fished "european style" for a couple of years and really enjoy it. Google it and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to. Carp fishing in europe is like bass fishing here.

Boil field corn for an hour or so and then let it soak for a couple of days. Throw it out where you know fish are and then fish over it the next day. I mostly fish in Jacobson park in Lexington. A number 6 or 8 baitholder hook and use cheap sweet corn works best. Use a 1/4-1 oz sinker (using a bolt rig with baitrunner reels we'll use up to a 3 oz sinker). Just make sure you have your drag set right because I've had them burn a cheap reel up.

We'll fish for them all summer, I've had days on the river where we've caught them on minnows and one day last summer they were sucking weeds off the top of the water. I shelled some crawdad tails and we lost count of how many 10-15 lb fish we caught. Good luck, be careful though, you might not bother with bass anymore.

[shot'm&hook'm]

I have some grass carp in a pond and when I feed my cats in the hot part of the day around 12-1 o'clock is when I see them feed the most! you can see their wierd little mouth just sticking out of the water. The worst thing I have seen about them is not fighting them in the water but on land. after you get them on the bank and go to grab him to unhook they will make a fast jerk and roll and will break your line every time and I fish with 14 and 25 lb. line cause I don't like to loose'm. the last one I caught was about 3ft. long.

[dead eye]

Hey fellows
Don't forget to try to smoke these carp. If you never tryed it don't laugh. They are great smoked. You won't get any better fish to smoke. I know a lot of you are going to laugh, but like I said there is none better. It's worth the effort.
Dead eye

[headoftheholler]

http://www.fishingmagic.com/news/images/emir8412.jpg
http://www.fishing-blog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/5.jpg
They get big. . .

[BuckUp]

Cook em on a board......through away the carp.........eat the board!!:D