Carp Fishing

Carp is indigenous to Europe and Asia. Carp are excessively fertile, greedy and cause the degradation and deterioration of the aquatic habitat.  They are large fish that fight hard when hooked.  All carp types have very sharp eyesight, sense of smell and hearing.  They are quite clever that they are known to test bait with its fin if it has a line without the angler getting any wiser.

Carp are quite hardy. They will thrive in almost any water condition. They can even survive in a pool that is almost completely dried up or in pool that is almost frozen.  When plucked from its habitat and introduced into a new environment, the carp will adapt well, even spawning abundantly. Carp are therefore “colonizers” and to most American anglers, “pests” as they tend to “damage” and overwhelm native fish. However, many avid American anglers now perceive carp as a game fish as it has repeatedly proven its worth as one.

Carp do not have teeth in their mouths but in their throats. They eat a wide variety of food and can tolerate low oxygenated and polluted water.  Typically, a carp’s average weight is 10 pounds.  Some varieties of the carp are: mirror carp; leather carp; wild carp and common carp.  Asiatic carp species are:  the grass carp, koi, karnatic carp and the blue carp.

Carp Fishing Tips

Carp are smart fish. Once hooked and able to get away, they will never make the same mistake again. Although they eat anything presented to them, they are quite cautious.

Carp will be happy to suck in food from the water surface that is why floating bait such as bread crust will be eagerly sucked-in.

When fishing for a carp it’s important to locate them first.  They like to stay near lily pads, weed beds, snags,  overhanging trees and branches, reed rush beds and any other  branches protruding from the bank.

Carp like dog biscuit and any other type of bread. They seem to prefer spicy and salty food.  They also love maggots.

Bottom fishing is also effective. An angler uses a bolt rig wherein bait is sunk with the use of a ledger which makes it possible to cast a bit farther. A short length of slack line carries the hook and bait which fools the carp into biting.

Float fishing is particularly successful as an angler can put the bait in the carp’s path while a driftbeater float can register even a tentative bite. The months from June to September are the best months to fish for carp.

Fishing Gear for Carp

For surface (floater) carp fishing, 11 to 12 feet through action rod with a 2-pound test curve will bode well.  A line that stretches well is good as it will absorb the initial pull and flight power of the carp. Hook size should be limited to #6. Smaller hooks are better at times so as not to be seen by the sharp sight of the carp. A standard reel with a good drag will do.

For float fishing a rod with a 1.5 to 2 pound test curve is preferred. A rod should have a smooth action to flick a light float at least to a distance of 6 meters or 20 yards.

As to the choice of hook, there is the barbless and the barbed one.  A thin wire hook is better as it will easily “hook” a carp than when using a thick wire hook.

Popular Spots for Carp Fishing

Since carp can thrive anywhere, most rivers and lakes in North America have a variety or more of carp.  They love slow moving water that have medium depth and has a proliferation of weed beds and snags.

Tennessee River boasts of great winter carp fishing.  The Saint Lawrence River that connects Ontario and New York has a huge population of carp.  The Seneca River in Baldwinsville, NY pride itself with trophy carp fishing.  Lake Austin in Texas is on the Colorado River and has been noted for a 25-pounder carp caught there.

If there is a pool of water with enough thriving weeds and rush reed, there is most likely carp patrolling its water.