It seems that everybody has an idea for an invention or product. A famous saying is that invention is the mother of necessity. Anglers are no exception. It seems that in every fishing outing, there is experimentation with weights, style of cast, types of fishing line, equipment adjustments, etc.
One of the main focuses is on the fishing bait. Yes, there are many off the shelf baits. However, an increasingly large number of anglers are making their own homemade bait. Why? Because, they realize that any given fishing hole on any given day will have anglers using the same store bought bait.
Having unique bait is good because these anglers want to offer the fish something that stands apart from the crowd. The store bought baits are all mixed up in a watery cloud while the fish are homing in on their strange new bait. It’s a theory of course, but through observation and experiences, I have found this statement to be more true than not.
Carp fishing is very popular. With the popularity, derives various bait formulas for catching carp. Although there are a limitless variety of baits, each one can be broken down to a few essential ingredients.
To make a winning carp bait, one only needs a base (something that holds all the ingredients together), a liquid (mixed with the base to form the mixture), and an attractant (the ingredient that actually brings the fish to the hook).
When making your own bait, consider using one base, one liquid, and up to three attractants. The list below lists all the different ingredients found in winning carp bait formulas. The best approach is to take from each category.
Bases – This is the stuff that adds volume to the bait.
1) Cereal. Popular cereals include sugar corn puffs, wheat flakes, corn flakes.
2) Corn Meal – A great base. Actually the corn is a form of attractant.
3) Flour – the powder form or bread products
4) Instant mashed potatoes – This is found in dry form in a box.
Attractants – There are many to choose from.
1) Flavored gelatin powder – popular flavors are cherry and strawberry.
2) Canned corn or canned cream corn - It seems that carp like corn or any corn products.
3) Frozen or fresh corn kernels – same as canned corn. Sometimes just using the kernels on the hook is all you need to catch the big one.
4) Sugar – Carp likes the sweet stuff.
5) Vanilla extract – smells good to humans. Carp must like the smell also.
6) Marshmallows – found in store bought bait, must be good. – can add a little buoyancy to the bait.
Liquids – not many but essential to keeping all the ingredients together.
1) Water. This is the most popular liquid.
2) Juices from canned corn.
3) Sodas – Strawberry or grape soda. Carp must have a sweet tooth.
Remember to write down every measurement and ingredients because a depressing realization is that you are catching your limit of carp and don’t know how to remake the bait.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
UK anglers -- explain fishing to us?
This question goes out to UK anglers or someone intimately familiar with fishing in the UK and Europe. James W's recent question...http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ajs2HdEVpLcOTmb7sx.oZa_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100422020500AA0VKLi&show=7#profile-info-TeNIStN1aa
...and a few other recent questions about UK gear and techniques, like this one...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao94_BuGLLLykOyPbH5XET4eDX1G;_ylv=3?qid=20100421091908AAP18Wp
...have got me really curious about the various ways you Brit's go fishing. Izaak Walton and J.R. Hartley are prophets to me, and I reverence the UK because it is generally held that modern fly fishing is descended from there, but I have only the most vague understanding of what you guys call coarse fishing, sport fishing, carp fishing, float fishing, the private clubs, how fishing permits work for you, the very long poles, feeders, etc., etc. For example, you politely call carp a "coarse fish," but you seem to make a distinction between "carp fishing" and "coarse fishing."
If someone could briefly but clearly explain the various types of fishing practiced in the UK and any other interesting info that might help a Yank understand, I would gladly give you 10 points.
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ANSWER:
I'm interested also.
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QUESTION:
why do the fat headed yanks treat carp as being trash fish, but revere bass.?
went fishing for carp while on holiday in america, and asked where i should be heading to try for carp in the local tackle shop, the response i got wasn't exactly helpfull, seems unless they are flicking a spinner about with a 4 foot rod they dont want to know. how can a 2lb bass compare to a 50lb+ carp. if thats what you want to catch fine. but don't give someone a load of grief for trying to catch something different. and believe me i've fished all over the world, yanks are not the most advanced anglers, in fact your far from it.-
ANSWER:
Fishing for trashy fish like carp from a ,000 bass boat does seem like a waste of time. Especially when a good tourney angler can win thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars by catching bass. Maybe it's just me but the sport of sitting on a bank with a can of corn or some dough balls and hair rigs seems rather apathetic. Sure a carp will stretch your string, but even a decent catfish offers a far better fight and much better taste than some old carp. I'll take a 2 lb bass any day over ten 50 lb trashy carp.Any of you that I may have offended, let me show my respect by offering a Carp recipe.
1) Catch a Carp.
2) Nail Carp to board.
3) Smear lemon, butter and seasoning over it all.
4) Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
5) Remove nails from Carp & board.
6) Throw away Carp.
7) Eat the board.BTW...Nobody uses a 4 foot rod for bass fishing because you can't get enough leverage against it while fighting a spirited 2 lb bass. Especially a smallmouth bass.
Best of luck and enjoy your Carp fishing future.
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QUESTION:
How to use a blue gill to catch Catfish... Also, how to fish for Carp?
I dont exactly know how to fish for carp. Should i sink it to the bottom using dough ball? Also, i just recently pyrchaseda large surf pole & rod but i dont know how to bait a blue gill. I have heard through the spine/tail but i am not sure. I need some help ANGLERS!-
ANSWER:
hook the though the spin if they are small enough if not cut them in 1/2 slicesas for carp chum with corn then fish with a worm
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QUESTION:
How to fully waterproof bite alarms for fishing?
I have just developed a new concept to house the bite alarm from the rain; protecting the line roller sensor and speaker aperture. The concept doesn't impede the strike action when hooking a fish nor affects the roller system.
I believe this is extremely effective and serves a purpose but WILL CARP ANGLERS BUY IT!Please give an opinion and if you think this has a place in the market, as I wish to get solid feedback on the idea before funding the project into manufacturing.
Thanks
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ANSWER:
I have three Fox bite alarms that are well over ten years old and which have been soaked countless times. They all still work perfectly.I know carp anglers are renowned tackle tarts, but I doubt that many people would see the need.
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QUESTION:
A lake without bait or forage fish?
A little about the lake (PLEASE READ EVERYTHING)I fish at this 165 square acre lake in middle Ohio. It is in a gated community (Cinnamon Lake). It isn't the healthiest body of water I have seen. In late spring it starts growing weeds and every GD year they dump poison in there. It kills the weeds and all summer the lake is filthy with loose strands of weeds everywhere. In fact last summer they stocked the lake with at least 10 50 pound grass carp. I would say the fish are under somewhat high pressure from anglers but the main problem in my opinion is the unhealthy ecosystem.
So that brings me to this point. There are definitely NO type of forage fish in the lake. The only type of small fish would be after the bluegill/pumpkin seed spawn, bass spawn, or small perch or even bullhead and baby channel cats. Basically the small game fish are the only possible bait fish. I thought that a lake of that size should have some type of forage fish. What would a proper forage fish be?
It seems to me that the decisions on lake management are made by stubborn old men an old ladies who have no knowledge on the matter. They just throw a fit because the weeds look ugly and tangle up their little 2 horse power trolling motors on the back of their 14 foot pontoon boats. Then the lake committee decides to spray the lake with algicide. I don't know if they are invasive or not but in early spring after the lake warms up the water is very clear and there are healthy looking green beds along the bank in front of my grandparents house. Also, the live "weeds" don't uproot and float to the top of the water like the killed ones, therefor boats don't get stuck in them and you can put out casts all day long and never pull up 5 pounds of dead weeds. A Texas rigged anything just glides right through the live stuff. So why do they continue year after year to kill the stuff? What do you think about it? How would you fish the lake?
Questions: So why do they continue year after year to kill the stuff? What do you think about it? How would you fish the lake? What would a proper forage fish be? How do you think this should be handled? What would be a good bait?
Additional information: It is very hard to catch a fish there. I stay there a couple times over the summer for 2 week periods. In one stay I may catch 10 largemouth. It is a bit easier to catch sunfish but not enough to have a fish fry for 4 people.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. The first answer that puts time and thought into it will be chosen as best.
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ANSWER:
Good question. Next weekend alot of the yahoo pros will come on and try to answer this question so post it again if you want to. Now to your question I believe you are referring to grazers which feed on the plant material. Usually carp is a good bet however it is not a native species. Suckers such as the yellow, longnose, white suckers can be used but they do not consume as much algae or plant material as the carp. Tilapia is a good choice but they are a warmwater species. I believe that the reason why the city or state put alot of algacide and herbicides is because it is more of a cosmetic reason, meaning that they want the place to look good and attract people. The old grannies on the plantoon boat could be part of it but I do not believe the city gets that much revenue from grannies unless there are alot of them. Anglers would also complain about this too because getting snags all over would irritate people one way or the other. I am not for invasive species and the lake seems to large to drain so introducing native species such as the suckers would be a good solution, bluegills would also work. If that doesnt work than more carp would be needed , if the carp would be continued to be used it should be sterile males only and they should be restocked periodically to keep things under control. If the city or state wants to use alot of suckers or bluegills than they could be easily controlled with tiger musky which are always sterile and are good sport fishing. I believe the easiest fish to catch are bluegills, sunfish, and bullheads. For bluegills and sunfish just fish with a fly near structures or you could use worms. They always hide around rocks or what not. Bullheads use the egg slip rig and fish at calm deeper pools or in the summer at night. Worm is the best bait and if you catch one there should be more since they swim in schools so keep fishing the same area until you get no bites. I believe bullheads which are my favorite have no limit and you can catch as many as you like
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