MyFishFinder Forum

MyFishFinder By Species => Carp => Topic started by: Basspro23 on May 01, 2010, 10:27 AM

Title: How do you catch carp?
Post by: Basspro23 on May 01, 2010, 10:27 AM

How do you catch carp in lakes? There is a tournament for the lake im going to and it is catfish and carp only. Just curious on what baits to use. The carp are HUGE. Do i need stronger line than 10 lb?

Title: Re: How do you catch carp?
Post by: stoph on May 01, 2010, 11:22 AM

 If chumming is legal, chum with a whole can of sweetcorn and creamed corn.  Use small single hooks, like size 6-8 roe bag hooks with 2 peices of corn on and the hookpoint fully exposed. Don't cheap out on hooks, get decent ones like gamagatsus or whatever (trying to land 30lb+ fish on small hooks that are cheap and weak is gonna be a nightmare!) keep away from trebles for carp in my opinion.
 10lb line is fine, use the longest heaviest rod you own to have more leaverage on the fish, keep your drag loose to start with, and just keep the rod tip high and play the fish wisely, they will turn with gentle pressure (after the first run, for that just hold on and let em go!)
 Keep your bait right on bottom with an oz+ of lead and be patient, its like trying to catch cows, they are in no rush, it can be frustrating at times but oh  so rewarding!
 Make sure line will pull from your reel VERY easily, keep the bail open even. you don't wanna get your rod and reel pulled in!

 Check the carp species section, theres some good info on there.

 and good luck!

Title: Re: How do you catch carp?
Post by: skidplate on May 01, 2010, 01:11 PM

The only thing I can add to that is, use a sliding egg sinker so the fish can swim away with it, and might try like, #10-#12 Gamagatsu circle octopus hooks.

Title: Re: How do you catch carp?
Post by: Basspro23 on May 02, 2010, 10:08 AM

Great! Thank you so much! This should help ;D

Title: Re: How do you catch carp?
Post by: Water Wolf on May 03, 2010, 01:10 AM

Another good bait to try are earthworms / nightcrawlers.
They should catch both cats and carp. ;)

WW

Title: Re: How do you catch carp?
Post by: tsmith17 on May 03, 2010, 01:35 AM

Use a hair rig. Check out this site for different rigs.... Good Luck.

http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7202&hl=hair+rig (http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7202&hl=hair+rig)

Title: Re: How do you catch carp?
Post by: slipperybob on Jun 07, 2010, 05:18 PM

I usually go with 10 or 14 lb Fireline.  For braid, maybe 20 or 30 lb.  Hooks generally for river fishing I will use #2 or #1 and weights of 1/2 oz to 1 oz.  Lakes fishing for carp, something I haven't done, I suppose I will defer back down to smaller hooks in #6 or #8 and weights of 1/4 to 3/8 oz.