Catching Carp!

[Sean]

Just found a freshwater stream near me that has the biggest Carp I have ever seen, I estimate from rough jew sizes I have caught that these fish are up around 10kg, yep thats right!!! As soon as I saw them I jumped out the boat and grabbed 2 tins of corn but not the slightest bit of interest???? Talking to anoyher guy fishing there he rekons he has tried every bait under the sun and never yet caught one, For these bloody things to be so BIG they must be eating something my question is, What is the number 1 gun bait for these suckers and what can I do to hook one of these MONSTERS???? Thanks Sean

[el_carpo]

Hi ya Sean.

I find that to catch carp, chumming helps a great deal. Carp are scent oriented feeders. Next time you see the tell-tale signs of carp (mud puffs rising from the deep and small air bubbles), take a handful of chum and toss it out there. You'll draw them in in no time and they'll be eating, even competing with eachother for the food. Take your line and quietly cast out into their midst. Be careful not to spook them off (they scare easily). I use a short shank, strong hook buried in dough bait. This keeps the carp from feeling the metal which will scare them off. When the fish first finds your bait, he will mouth it a little. This is to test if it's safe and good for him to eat. You will feel a quick series of little thumps on the line. Once he is convinced, he'll gobble it up and probably hook himself a little. At this point, he'll run. SET THE HOOK! BOOM! and hang on!

Dough bait. Everyone has their own special recipe. The most popular one seems to be "Wheaties" soaked in water. That's a breakfast cereal. Take a bowl and fill it will wheat flakes or corn flakes. Add a little water at a time and mix it together. Keep doing it until it becomes a ball. Don't make it too soft or it's no good. This, by itself, will work, but many people like to add other flavors too. Strawberry gelatine, vanilla extract, peanut butter, corn juice (stuff in a can of corn), molassess, brown sugar, salt, mulberries, etc. Try your own combo. Eventually you'll find one that does the trick. There are tons of other recipes on the net too.

Just chum a little and use the same stuff for bait and you should catch that monster. Good luck!

E.C.

[Render]

I'm in the middle of writing an article for Zeeke on exactly this subject, Sean.

I don't claim to be any great shakes as far as Aussie fish go, but I damn well know my carp!

I'll be sending it to Zeeke soon - look out for it on his site.

Cheers,

R

[Brenno]

i'm from out west and we get sick of catching them.

the main bait we use is the garden worm. just put it on a 2/0 hook and throw it in.

but saying that the biggest one i'v ever caught was when there was a mouse plague, i caught one an put it on a hook and wondered off and forgot about it the next day the hand line was floating in the middle of the river. must have been about 3ft long, i cut it up with and axe and gave it to my grandfathers pigs.

[Sean]

Thanks heaps guys. If I get some I'll get some pics....these are big fish!!! I will be fishing with 4 kg line though, I think I'll have to hook a few b4 I get any!!!

[Volvo]

Was gunna say worms but Brenno beat me to it..Another bait you can try is maggots if ya dont mind breadin em yourself lol..
Cant understand why they didnt take the Corn as thats supposed to be another of their favourites ey ???..

[woolybugger]

Keeping in mind, we need to rid of these fish ASAP. So where is this river and location?, so that I might be able to get there with the fly rod and priest.

[Volvo]

See how thic comes out ???

[Volvo]

There ya go laddie

[Render]

Just one other thing, Sean

I think it might be spawing season for the carpsters right now.

You probably won't catch one during that time. They are notoriously difficult to hook during spawing. I would say that's why the bigguns in Ballina ignored your bait.

Hmmm... I have relatives in Ballina. Maybe next time I'm down we could hook up and go a-huntin'?

Cheers,

R

[toometwo]

new to this sent an e mail as well ----used annise as in aniseed as flavour in both dough and berley works well on carp
able to find and obtain seed from bushes along river banks

[Sean]

Yeah render, would love to hook up with someone for a fish......as long as they don't start sprouting off some crap just because the poms finally won something!!! Just kidding mate, if you are up here send me a msg and I'll show you where fish are and you can show me how to catch them. ??? Give me a bit of notice as my boat won't go in this particular stream, I'll have to borrow my bro's. Sean

[caveman]

a 223 & a shotty woks well on them also if all else fails