Carp Fishing

[Wayne SW/MO]

I grew up using Wheaties because it always out fished everything else for us. No soda, the Wheaties cost enough then. To make the doughballs you take a handful and dip your hand in the water, pull it out and start squeezing the water out. It seems like it won't bind, but it will and when you get a ball that stays together set it aside and let it dry a little. In 15-30 minutes it will develop a rubbery consistency. You can fish them fresh, but only where you can gently lob them.

There are videos showing how to skin carp. If I remember right they start near the anal fin and using a sharp knife they cut the skin and scales away.

[WettinLine]

You should try fishing Carp with a Muzzy!

[fishbait3]

ive seen and been shown to clean carp all u do is fillet them cut the dark meat out then score them.

Wheaties do work great with or without strawberry soda or koolaide.

[MarkinKC]

Fished for Carp often when I was younger. Best dough bait was a mix of Wheaties, ripe banana and cheap strawberry soda pop. Stickiness of the banana helped bind the Wheaties together and I think the strawberry pop created good scent in the water. Always worked well for us. Simple Wheaties and water works also, but the extra attractants may draw more fish.

[Wayne SW/MO]

To really score you need to feed them. Sour some feed corn and throw it in the area you intend to fish about 12 hours before. Fish on top of it. They seem to keep checking an area up to 16-20 hours, or so it seems, I don't have any hard stats.

[Walcrabass]

O.K. you guys finally got me fired up. I used to Carp fish when I was young. Even went to a lake that was specifically for Carp. You paid by the pound. No kidding it was like one cent per pound !!! I have to go back to my recipe for soaking the White Bass.

Heavy Salt Water with 3 or 4 Tablespoons of White Vinegar per bowl. You can score the filets if you like right down the middle of the red streak. Soak them in this overnight. Rinse them the next day and rinse the bowl. Continue rinsing and soaking for 4 days in the plain water. Carp are actually pretty good to eat. I have cleaned them up to about 35 pounds. Better have a sharp knife as their rib bones on the big ones are tough. If you cut it into chunks, roll it in dry batter, deep fry it, and eat it with good horse radish tarter sauce it will beat a lot of other fish I have eaten.

As far as the bait goes.......Wheaties, Corn Meal, Flour, and Strawberry Jello. Mix it together however you like. Make balls around your treble hooks. We used old Panty Hose to wrap around them and then let them dry pretty good. Get a good locking snap swivel on your line and now you are ready to snap the trebles on and fish.

You guys are making me hungry.....good fishing.....Walcrabass

[Wayne SW/MO]

No trebles here. I never did care for them because the hooks are small and if you only get one bite you don't have much to hold on too. The other problem with carp is their habit of sucking a bait in and then blowing it out. many think this sucking on the bait, I bought into it at one time, but videos show it is as I said, in and out of the mouth. Enter the Brits and their hair Rig. This thing will catch more carp than all other rigs combined. The secret is in the bare, sharp hook that turns and snags virtually every time. This works, believe me.

Here is one of many tutorials on the net.

http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-Times/Section/how-to/Coarse-fishing-advice/Fishing-Knots/Knotless-knot-hair-rig/

After you put your dough ball on the hair stick a small twig or toothpick through the loop and keep it from sliding off. I always used braid for the rig. It seems everyone has some left over and this works well with it. This is a leader, so what you don't see is a loop on the other end. The rig also requires a sliding sinker to work well. The idea is that when the hook pricks the carp they will bolt and when they hit the sinker the hook will set.

[blacknoseddace]

Fly rod is fun too. I like sight fishing in the backs of coves during low water periods. It's a challenge because carp spook easily, but they will eat an artificial fly that is presented softly. It's like fishing for bonefish in the keys, but a lot cheaper.

[big blue fever]

what flies do you use iv always wanted to try that i bought a fly rod a couple of weeks ago

[blacknoseddace]

Flies that imitate small crayfish are good. Carp eat a lot of aquatic insects too like dragonfly nymphs that live in the silt and vegetation in the backs of coves. Small woolly buggers are perfect in blacks, olives, or brown. The thrill is to watch the fish inhale your fly. Quick reflexes to set the hook help a lot because a carp will quickly spit the fly out when he realizes it is fake. During the dog days of summer when bass slow down carp can supply action. Hook one and hang on while he towes the boat around the cove. I would use about 6 or 8 lb leader tippet. Also, good polarized sun glasses make a big difference for spotting fish. Also, look for mud clouds caused by feeding carp and determine which way he's going for cast placement. Good luck!