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Time to read 5 min
Ah, the much maligned American carp. Like the late comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, this ubiquitous member of the minnow family – Yes, minnow! – doesn’t get much respect from any but those who truly appreciate everything this overgrown goldfish brings to the table.
First is the word “ubiquitous,” for carp are found in waters throughout the United States and Canada, except Alaska and, perhaps, some of the West’s high mountain streams, which are more suited for trout.
Generally speaking, carp prefer shallow, warmer water, i.e,. larger ponds or lakes with soft bottoms and the abundant aquatic vegetation and insects upon which carp feed. Rivers, too, often harbor excellent populations of these overgrown goldfish, particularly in the backwater section where any current might be less substantial.
Second is simplicity. Unlike many other game fish species, carp tackle, per se, can be as simple or as high-tech as one wishes, with the former being the more preferred. A six- to eight-foot medium to medium heavy rod with a matched spinning or bait-casting reel, along with an elemental array of the tackle to be discussed momentarily, is typically all that’s needed to be successful.
Do you consider yourself a flyfisherman? There’s no reason not to use that favorite 8-weight rod for carp. Partial to floats and bobbers? Suspended baits catch their share of these big gold fish; so, too, do presentations fished on or near the bottom. Believe it or not, plenty of carp are caught on artificial lures, including twister tail jigs/grubs, crankbaits, and flashy spinners, e.g., Roostertails and Mepps Aglias. Baits? Carp are omnivorous; the list of bait options, again discussed in a moment, is practically without limits.
As for the carp’s strength and endurance when caught, especially by those using light tackle, is almost without equal to that of any species swimming in freshwater. The aforementioned fly fishing gear? One best be prepared for a long, drawn-out tussle should one choose such light and limber equipment.
Perhaps one of the most common arguments against carp and carp fishing is the carp’s value as a food fish, or rather, the species’ ill-perceived lack of value. When caught in clean, cool water, smaller carp can be excellent baked or deep-fried. One of the more popular methods of preparing carp is to slowly smoke the fillets over alder or cherry chips, following a thorough soak in a simple brine consisting of rock (pickling) salt and brown sugar. Carp is also excellent canned, as the pressure involved in the canning process softens the irksome Y-bones.
The simple answer to the question “Where to fish for carp” is essentially anywhere one would find any freshwater species, with perhaps the possible exception of the many cold, fast-flowing mountain streams more commonly associated with rainbow and brook trout. Carp can be found, often in great numbers, in metropolitan ponds and small lakes, as well as sloughs, canals, and slow-moving riverine systems. The larger rivers, e.g, the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and the upper reaches of the Columbia, all harbor carp, as do the Great Lakes and bigger inland impoundments like Dale Hollow (Tennessee/Kentucky), Pymatuning Lake (Ohio/Pennsylvania), and Lake Okeechobee (Florida).
The truth is, however, that any body of water, be it river, lake, or pond, that features shallower water or a portion of which is shallow, murky, quick to warm, and holds ample vegetation and aquatic invertebrates, holds the potential to provide excellent carp fishing opportunities.
When it comes to carp and the aforementioned tackle, rigging, and bait, simple. And fancy, or rather, more sophisticated, also works. First, baits. Carp are both omnivores and opportunistic; thus, a variety of natural and prepared baits can be effective. Under the heading ‘natural,’ there are nightcrawlers – Always a good choice! – crickets, and grasshoppers, three of the most common offerings. Whole kernel sweet corn is a traditional and often productive carp bait, along with homemade dough balls or small pieces of plain white bread. Prepared or commercial baits for carp are many and varied, and include choices from companies such as Carp Angler, Big Carp Tackle, and Catfish Sumo. It's hard to go wrong with a bait that goes by the name of Mega-Spice Tiger Nuts!
When it comes to terminal tackle and riggings, the mantra again is either simple or slightly more complex. A young carp angler’s tackle box will always include a selection of egg-style or bank sinkers in weights from ½- to three or four ounces, black snap swivels, #10 fluorocarbon leader material, and quality hooks ranging in size from #6 up to and including #2. The tried-and-true ‘bottom rig’ consisting of an appropriately-sized egg sinker, swivel, 12-inch leader, and a strong #4 works well for carp. Developed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, the hair rig addresses the issue of light biting or hook-savvy carp. With the hair rig, the tag end of a self-snelled hook – the ‘hair’ – is purposely left long and the bait attached to it rather than the hook itself. When a fish inhales the bait, it inadvertently pulls the hook into its mouth, becoming caught.
Once carp are found, catching them (in theory) becomes no more involved than casting a baited rig out into a likely-looking spot, letting it sink to the bottom, and then waiting for a strike. There are two schools of thought here – the tight line method and the slack line method. With the tight line technique, the main line is reeled up taut, creating a direct (no-slack) connection between the bait and the rod, the bouncing tip of which indicates activity. When using the slack line method, the angler watches closely the point where the slack line enters the water. Movement away from the point of origin, the angler, signals that a carp has found the bait.
Baits can also be suspended within the water column under a balsa wood float using a light split shot weight. Floating baits, e.g., bread or commercially made ‘boilies,’ small balls of flavored paste attached to the hook, some of which are purposely designed to be buoyant, often come into play whenever and wherever fish are feeding on the surface.
M.D. Johnson
Born in Nelsonville, Ohio – home of Rocky Shoes and Boots – outdoor writer, M.D. Johnson, spent 28 years in the Buckeye State before moving to Washington (state, that is) in the Fall of 1993.
