Carp is considered to be a queen of rivers, no wonder that so many fishermen want to catch this beauty! They are known for their taste, feel vision and hearing, so it may be quite a challenge to catch them. Wondering how to do that? There are few things that you will need to pay attention to in order to proudly present your prey.
Where To Start?
One of the basic things that you should start from is looking for an area where carps can be found. They love areas with vast vegetation, places where two bodies of water connect, river inlets and outlets since there is usually plenty of food for them. Carps are always on the look-out for secure places where they feel protected.
Catching a carp is not easy at all. You must be prepared to wait. In order to patiently wait for one, you must find a place where it will be cozy for you. If you are a duck lover and you notice them in the water, you will be glad to hear that carps will be someone near.
However, you must have patience on your side and be very, very still, since carps are shy and can be easily frightened.
Look for still waters like ponds, rivers, and lakes. Once you find the right place, you will need couple more things: fishing rod, appropriate bait, hooks and comfortable clothes.
Pick a fishing rod that suits you
It can be a carbon fiber rod, called graphite, or E-glass. You will need the one that can endure the weight of the carp, but not all carps are the same. If you are planning to go for a bigger carp you will need a rod that that can band more and be able to pull it out of the water. It also depends on the technique and the angles you like to make when fishing. Most beginners take two or even three rods with them in case one break.
Carbon fiber rods are sensitive and you will able to feel all the movements, even the smallest ones. This is very important when it comes to carps since they don’t like sudden moves. These are also recommended when you are fishing in deep waters. On the other hand, e-glass rods can be more durable when catching a bigger fish, since carbon fiber is stiff and may break.
Find the right bait for Carps
Experience fishermen use corn as the most effective one, particularly sweet corn. Keep in mind that you must check the regulations in your state concerning the baits that are permitted for use. Some fishermen even prepare their own baits. Here is one way to do it:
- mix one cup of flour and two cups of yellow cornmeal
- dissolve 45ml of strawberry gelatin in 710ml of boiling water
- stir for five minutes
- leave it to cool down
- place it in the refrigerator
- make small balls when necessary
However, in order for fish to bite you need to start a feeding cycle. There is a great choice of food you can offer, such as worms, maggots, chickpeas, insects, algae, dips etc. The more food you throw into the water, the more carps will come. After one or two fish try the food, more of them come to try it, but this means that only the first feeding cycle is finished.
After a while, there is a great chance that a flock will come which means that the possibility of catching one big carp increase. When it comes to a bigger fish, this cycle lasts longer.
This method will especially give results in spring since carps stop feeding during winter and go to the bottom, so when they eventually come out they need to recover their energy. In this period of time, they can almost always be found near sources of food.
Barbed or barbless hook – now is the question?
After the rod and the bait, finding the right hook is essential. It must penetrate enough to keep the fish on the rod. If you don’t choose one carefully, all your efforts can be in vain. The decision is up to you. Most fishermen prefer barbed one since there is a very small chance that the carp can escape.
On the other hand, if hooked by a barbless hook, carp can eject the rig so fast even without triggering the sound of an alarm. They often shake their head until is completely out. The hook must be very sharp, so it can penetrate well and keep the fish on a hook.
If you use a blunt one, then you significantly decrease your chances of going back home with a carp, or any other fish. It is also important to hook the carp not too little and not too much. In the first case, the fish will fall off the hook and in the second, it will cut the mouth of the fish more than it should.
Get the right clothes
The choice of clothing will differ depending on the weather, but it must always be comfortable. You don’t know how long it will take to catch a prey, so it must be clothes that make you feel good. If it’s sunny, a good hat will protect your eyes. The pants must be waterproof and keep you dry while you enjoy your day at the river.
A good, warm jacket is absolutely necessary if you like to go fishing early in the morning and a fishing vest to put all the things you need at your fingertips. Don’t forget the right boots! You wouldn’t want to sit all day with wet feet. It would drastically impact your experience and cut the time for enjoyment.
After all of the preparations, the only thing left to be done is to sit, relax and try your luck. Bear in mind that even though the equipment is important, at the end the skills are the ones that matter and they come with experience and time. Try a couple of methods and find the one that is the best for you.