How To Fish

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   What Has Been Your Best Method For Catching Carp?
   I need some help from all my fellow anglers out there about catching Carp.As some of you know & have seen the pics of my other catches of Bass & Bluegill in the pond I fish in,I have yet to snag one of the huge Carp there.I've been trying just about all I know & still none caught to post.I've almost been tempted to jump in & wrestle one in! lol But that just wouldn't be fishing.So,my question is, what baits or lure have you used that were successful? Any other technique that proved useful? We're going tomorrow & any advice would be appreciated.
   Thanks in advance & happy fishing all!

   • ANSWER:
     hi carol if you cook some toast and put it in a polythene bag when its cooling down it goes rubbery then cut it up into inch squares and put your hook through the middle of the crust through the bread until the hook comes out the other side then turn the hook to latch over the edge it will stay on the hook and you can cast it with a drift controller up to a good 80 yards. i use this method on my local lake and fish the far bank where the carp sunbath and generally hang around the pieces of toast with no crust i use as freebees if the wind is in the right direction it drifts to the far bank i also do the same with a loose running bomb so the toast sits on the surface you can also fish into a bay if the wind is blowing into it the fish will follow the freebees right into the bank. otherwise use dog and cat biscuits throw loads in wait until the fish stop checking to see if there are hooks in the bait when the fish are taking several biscuits one after another then its time to cast. the night before you go fishing put a load of biscuits in a poly bag with some water shake well drain the excess water off tie the bag up and shake them several times to stop them sticking together this way the biscuits will hook straight onto your hook they should be light and fluffy and not too wet. carp also love dog and cat meat . all of the above are very good and work very in the evenings

2. QUESTION:
   What are good bait , rigs, and methods to catch carp?
   I fish at a small pond in Colorado

   • ANSWER:
     Wheaties...yes the cereal. Crunch some up in your hand, then dip your hand in water and knead it into a tough dough. Pack enough of this around a #10 treble hook to just cover the hook and fish it on the bottom. If there are carp in the pond they will bite.

3. QUESTION:
   How can i catch a carp? What methods and bait?
   I have some 30+ pounders in a local lake and i'm really hoping to catch a few. What bait should i use to lure them in to the area and to finally catch them? THANKS!

   • ANSWER:
     My dad was a carp fisherman and I learned all I know from him.

     You need some high test line and a good carp rod. You cant be using a match rod on them, theyre far too strong and I guarantee you theyll pull you in!

     Either use a swing tip or a bite alarm, no float.

     I use pellets as my bait. 2 large pellets so smaller fish cant swallow them, thread a loop just before the hook into them, the carp will swallow the pellets and drag the hook into its mouth, plus this way because its not on the hook, it feel more like free floating food so theyll eat it more readly.

     Groundbait tends to be effective so perhaps invest in a catapult.

4. QUESTION:
   What is the best way to catch carp from a dock? Method feeder, chum, hook and liver?
   I'm on lake sammamish in Bellevue, Washington. I can see them swim by in pairs every hour or so, but they ignore my spinners and spoons that I use to catch bass.

   • ANSWER:
     Corn or doughballs

5. QUESTION:
   what is the best bait/method to catch carp anyone know ?

   • ANSWER:
     well, you want to have your sinker about 10 inches from the hook, then tie a barrel swivel to the line, then tie a knotless knot around a smaller sized hook. (google this, or look on youtube) (i like this rig because a carp picks things up off of the bottom of the lake and if he cant eat them he will spit it out, and when a carp sucks this rig in it will turn and hook him, it makeas a world of difference, and to check if you did this right take it and pulll it up over the side of your hand)
     next you will need to get a bait needle, take half a dough ball (boile) and a piece of boiled corn, put the needle through it, and pull the loop of string back through, then take a piece of straw, or a twig and stick it through the top of the loop (once again google, or you tube this)

     here are a few good baits...
     corn
     boiles/bread
     worms
     crayfish
     dead minnows
     spikes
     caterpilllers

     generally a longer pole is the best choice for carp, and 20-30lb test line, a fairly loose drag is important too