Carp Fishing

Carp is a fish found in almost all over the world. The carp normally live in freshwater, and is by some considered food, or by some as sports in form of fishing. While some consider carp as sports and food, others categorize the carp as a plague. A problem found in USA in particular, is that the waters are often polluted, which makes it unhealthy/dangerous to eat the meat of the Carp.

Carp is often categorized as the Cyprinidae family. Among them we find common carp, crucian carp, grass carp, silver carp and big head carp. In Japan we find the locally known hoi is also considered to be a carp (some gold fish breeds are also considered to be carp). The hoi have been bred for centuries in Japan, and is found as tamed, and capable of eating from a human hand.

There are several ways to start fishing carp. I would recommend choosing the way most suitable for your patient and fishing style. If you are new to fishing you might consider ordinary distance casting. The methods for carp fishing discussed in this hub are: distance casting, using marker float, spodding, margin fishing, stalking and fishing in weed.

Distance Casting
In some cases the carps are found 100 feet or longer from the shore; if you don’t have boat available you will need to practice, or get equipment for distance casting.
It is often having equipment as a rod, reel, line and rigs/bait which allow you to cast further. Equipment is of course not everything as a great casting technique will help you to reach further.

Marker float
Fishing with a floater is maybe one of the easiest ways of fishing, in particular if you are bringing your kids with you. You put the floater on top to indicate whether a fish have taken the bait or not.

The rig set up is simple; you put a floater on the top, a bit lower you put lead to make it sink, and some bait at the end. Worms/maggots are well suited as live bait giving something for the carp to both see and smell.

The rig should not be placed under shadow as it will make it hard for the carp to see the bait if the shadow is hiding it.

Spodding
Spodding can be used with the above methods; and is not as much as a method. Spodding is to feed bait to the hook. Bait as trout pellest, hemp, multimass and partiblend are too small to be attached as bait directly, and needs to be added accurately, and in correct amount. Spodding is tool to let you add bait to your hook after you have dropped the line.
To make use of spodding you will need some special equipment.

Margin Fishing
Many start of fishing by throwing in the lines once they arrive at the lake; however; if you want to improve your rate of catching fish you should look at the margins of the water you are fishing in. When checking out, and fishing from the lakes margins you have to be quiet as the carp have a good hearing, and can easily catch sounds from you. You should also equip clothing easily camouflaging with the green/brown colours found in nature around you. Stay low as you approach the water.

It is possible to climb, and hide in trees to stalk carps in the margins.
You should place the bait according to the weather temperature; if it is warm the carp will stay closer to the surface; if it’s cold the carp will stay low in the water.

Stalking the Carp
It is often easiest to stalk the carp in the margins; if you approach them carefully as discussed. Make sure every movement you make are quiet, and don’t disturb the carp. Once you have located the carp you should start to learn and understand the behaviour of the carp. Only when you know the carp’s behaviour you will start fishing. I would advice to add some odour to your bait, and keep it out of the shadow so the carp can easily find your bait. Maggots are great bait for fishing by margin stalking.

Carp Fishing in the Weed
Some fear fishing in the weed; with good reason. You might easily lose your rig when if it get caught in the weed; however; it is also a fact the carp enjoy staying in the weed during the day (lack of oxygen make it hard for the carp to stay there during the night).

As with almost everything; risks give rewards. This is also true for fishing in weedy areas.

It is important to use a rig that let you cast accurate to hit some of the clear spots in the weed.

it is also recommended; as with margin fishing/stalking to find clear spots close to land.

There are several ways to fish carp. I would in most cases advice to use margin fishing or stalking. In some waters it might be best suited to fish in the weed or distance fishing.

If you are fishing close to land it might be best to use a floater and spodding/maggots.

Only in a few cases it’s worth using distance casting; and for those you will most likely need equipment capable of throwing your bait more than 100-150 feet.

You can learn more about rods in my hub “carp rods” and about bait in my hub “carp fishing bait”.