Whats The Best Bait 4 Grass Carps?

[Bluebasser86]

i saw 1 time in the everglades a guy in a canoe catching big craps with a cross bow,he was really raking them in i tell ya...does any1 know if u can eat those grass carps?..ive heard of folks eating ;GARS; and they say its very tastey.

People eat them around here, they cook them just like common carp. Not sure if they're supposed to taste good or not.

[Insanity]

Grasshoppers! So I'd guess crickets would work as well. A buddy stocked a few in his pond back when I was a kid. I used to use huge grasshoppers ( three inches long when I could find them) for catfish and bass back then. And found out the grass carp liked them as well.

I'd suggest using them weightless if possible. If not bobber them.

If you do go after grass hopers in the summer of corse. A two liter coke bottle works great to hold them. Poke a bunch of holes in it and stuff a little grass in it to keep them from piling up and killing each other. Easy to put them in and shake out one at the time.

Best catfish bait. I'd even say there better then shad for channel cat.

Regular carp love corn so I'd guess they would to. That would be my second choice. About four or five pieces on a four oo eagle claw bait hook will do. The larger you go the more they will chew and spit it out. Trying to work the size down.

I've seen them follow lures on many a occasions but never had one bite.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Ive heard apple chunks work too, but I havent yet tried it.

Apple chunks are killer for suckers on the river out here.

The way we'd catch carp as kids is as follows:

-Mix wonder bread with italian dressing and mash it up into a thick goo.

-Poke holes in a can of corn and chum with it (tie a string to the can so you can remove it when you leave.)

-Coat a size 2 or 4 hook with the bread/dressing goo and cast it out.

-Sit and wait.

On a side note, I am totally fascinated by British carp hunters. It's something I'll never understand. To each their own, but I just don't understand why folks are so enthralled with the carp over there when they have pike in their rivers/lakes. Sometimes I even watch youtube videos of carp fishing (but I always have to fast forward to the part where they catch a fish, because it's painful to just watch a guy sit there.) There's an entire industry built around it with chum sling shots, and carp mats to lay the fish on, etc. There was a famous trophy carp named Two-Tone who was memorialized after it was found dead (a grave and a plaque at the lake iirc,) and there are also obituaries written for this fish. Very intriguing.

Here is a photo from the Two-Tone's funeral. I'm seriously not making this up.... Google it.

 

I truly admire the passion of the carp hunters out there, but it leaves me scratching my head. Just more proof that fishing is a lifestyle and not just a pastime/hobby. 

[Cryoglobin]

I use a spear (hawaiian sling).  As far as eating them, it can be done.  But, they have more bones than a 14 year old bulldog.  And it is a darker meat.  The way I saw them prepared was slow smoked whole.  The meat was then pulled from the carcass and sifted for bones, at which point it was useless for anything but a stew or croquettes.  I had the croquettes, and they were not bad.  Like I said, its pretty dark for a fish, and very much reminded me of ham in consistency and taste.  It is not something I would want all the time, but an interesting experience.

[Insanity]

Slack line keeps the carp from running into it and getting frightened. Just keep an eye on your line and you'll see them start to pull at it.

Your dead on there.

I no when most people think of bottom fishing they do so with the sinker tied in place on the line. . So I thought I'd add. It's best to use a leader, swivel, and a slip sinker on your main line. That way they can run around with the slack line and not feel anything till you set hook. Because they are spooky as you said. If they feel the sinker they will sometimes drop it and not come back.

[jonnysmith]

this pasted tuesday i was in the everglades on my atv, exploring a new canal i found on goggle maps.in 2 hours i hooked like 20fish all types,small bass,oscars,snake heads,cat fish, a few gars,using a bobber & live bait,then i see this huge fish i thought it was a cat fish coming up2 my bait,2 my suprize it was a huge caro,dam this did look like a fresh water tarpon,i calculated its size between 3ft n 4ft long,it was a monster!!..the size of the scales was amazing they looked like quarter sized..i assume to net that fish u need a heavy action rod and like 60lb text line?

[Stlbob]

In a city lake right down the street from me..there is a monster carp..i have seen it twice..both times it broke the rod of the poor folks trying to catch it...I have homemade carp bait in the fridge..i just want to catch it and weigh it..here is the rub the city does not stock the lake with carp..no idea who put it in there..

[Goose52]

this pasted tuesday i was in the everglades on my atv, exploring a new canal i found on goggle maps.in 2 hours i hooked like 20fish all types,small bass,oscars,snake heads,cat fish, a few gars,using a bobber & live bait,then i see this huge fish i thought it was a cat fish coming up2 my bait,2 my suprize it was a huge caro,dam this did look like a fresh water tarpon,i calculated its size between 3ft n 4ft long,it was a monster!!..the size of the scales was amazing they looked like quarter sized..i assume to net that fish u need a heavy action rod and like 60lb text line?

 

Well, if you have open water and lots of time on your hands you can do it with lighter gear.  I posted this photo earlier in this thread. This was a 47 inch long, 48 pounder caught with a 7' medium power BC rod and 10lb test.  It took 53 minutes from hook-up to landing.

 

[PondHunter]

The best bait? Dynamite..............