NathanW Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I estimate that I spent an hour and a half of my very valued time on the water last weekend battling these fish. In total I snagged 5 carp last weeknd that I could not shake off and had to battle 3 of them into the boat to avoid losing LC crankbaits. The other two I just broke off because they were on a drop shot and a tube. And a handfull of others I was able to shake off. I dont remember having this problem a few years ago. Are these fishing getting more aggressive? Are they evolving? (; These fish dont quit, and they are so strong, and I end up chasing them down the lake most the time while fighting them. I was thinking about getting a gaff pole so that I could get them in the boat quicker...Anybody have experiance using a gaff? Would this help? Quote
McAlpine Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Sounds like a good fight. I don't see the problem? 4 Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted April 11, 2014 Super User Posted April 11, 2014 I catch one or two a year on accident, sometimes in the mouth, sometimes on other parts of the body. Let me tell you a 35-40lb carp, hooked in the tail with a red eye shad is quite the tussle. I enjoy it, and have gotten most of them in successfully, but I am glad it's only a couple times a year. 1 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted April 11, 2014 Super User Posted April 11, 2014 I love catching them it's a great battle... 1 Quote
OntarioFishingGuy Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I love fishing for and catching carp, but they are ugly as heck... 2 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted April 11, 2014 Super User Posted April 11, 2014 I have yet to catch a carp, even the few times I targeted them! Guess that means this is my year, LOL. Quote
livetofish28 Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I will snag them every once in a while the first of the year being this week i was throwing a wiggle wart and and with the bass just getting into prespawn here i thought i hooked into a massive lunker until I saw the fish probably weighed about 20-30 pounds was a bit of fun especially on a medium moderate Avid ive never seen that rod bend like that tight lines Andrew Quote
NathanW Posted April 11, 2014 Author Posted April 11, 2014 I will snag them every once in a while the first of the year being this week i was throwing a wiggle wart and and with the bass just getting into prespawn here i thought i hooked into a massive lunker until I saw the fish probably weighed about 20-30 pounds was a bit of fun especially on a medium moderate Avid ive never seen that rod bend like that tight lines Andrew Yeh, if you hook them close to the mouth they sometimes feel like largmouth the way they bulldog you. Its pretty heartbreaking when it surfaces. The Carp in our area are typiclly in the 8lbs to 15lbs range but they swim so good and have endless stamina. 20+ pounders must be another story. Quote
livetofish28 Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Yeh, if you hook them close to the mouth they sometimes feel like largmouth the way they bulldog you. Its pretty heartbreaking when it surfaces. The Carp in our area are typiclly in the 8lbs to 15lbs range but they swim so good and have endless stamina. 20+ pounders must be another story. Snagged him right between the eyes and had the strength to spin the boat as it was heading for open water talk about a fight. it had been a while since i had hooked one and it was a rush slash heartbreak once i saw it tight lines Andrew Quote
Super User tomustang Posted April 11, 2014 Super User Posted April 11, 2014 Carp fight so much better than bass, I don't get disappointed when I hook into them. Quote
Bass NC Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I'm always scared when I catch/snag one that I will break my rod..... Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted April 12, 2014 Super User Posted April 12, 2014 If fishing is slow, why complain about the fight that fish has given you. Unless you plan on keeping that carp you gaff, then it wouldn't be a good idea. I don't believe in just killing a fish just because it happens to be the wrong kind, ugly, or some think it's useless, not to mention if you buy a commercial gaff, odds are it's not gonna be as good as you would like. Having made many a gaff while working on sportfishing boats in S.Cal, those gaffs are crap, the hook is normally too big, and depending on your state fishing regulations, IE, Cal, it's illegal to gaff ANY freshwater fish. Get a net and release your opponent safely and be thankful for the fight it gave you. It maybe annoying when you hook them, but it's still fun to pull on something that pulls so hard without giving up. 8 Quote
Super User Munkin Posted April 12, 2014 Super User Posted April 12, 2014 I catch one or two a year by accident and will admit at first thinking I have the new state record bass. For anyone trying to catch them on purpose just use some oatmeal on a size 6 treble hook with some sugar or koolaid mixed in. Allen Quote
clark9312 Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I had a neighbor that kept a .32 in his boat and every carp he caught ended up with a bullet in it. 1 Quote
boostr Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Well, its better than getting skunked... I'm happy when I snag some weeds... it feels like a strike Quote
JeziHogg Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I started fishing carp with my old man @ Toronto Island as a youngster. Coming from Europe he loves carp fishing, they're like our version of the bass over there. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted April 12, 2014 Super User Posted April 12, 2014 I target them whenever I can...underrated sport fish and the most fun on a fly rod I have ever had. 1 Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted April 12, 2014 Super User Posted April 12, 2014 Are these grass carp or asian ( bighead/silver) carp? Jeff Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted April 12, 2014 Super User Posted April 12, 2014 Are these grass carp or asian ( bighead/silver) carp? Jeff Think we are talking about the good old common carp. Quote
Pmoss1 Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 When I used to visit my dad in South Carolina, we would go to carp rodeos at night and it was always a blast. Never have caught them other than that Quote
bmac31 Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I didn't think you could catch carp on lipless cranks. I thought they only went after dough balls and such. Interesting topic, up intill now I thought they were a boring catch. I'm hoping to land my first this year, might have to target them some outing this year. Brian Quote
nascar2428 Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I've always got a can of corn with me when I'm fishing. When the bass bite slows down I'll start chumming some corn and go carping. Tremendous fighters and I'm usually the only one going after them on purpose. 1 Quote
McAlpine Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I didn't think you could catch carp on lipless cranks. I thought they only went after dough balls and such. Interesting topic, up intill now I thought they were a boring catch. I'm hoping to land my first this year, might have to target them some outing this year. Brian I caught a big one in the mouth on a spinnerbait once. That was a surprise when I saw it. There are a lot of guys that tie flies that look like grass to catch those big suckers. What a fight that wiuld be! If you don't like carp, go catch some freshwater drum. No way I am believing something that is in essence a 5-10 lb bluegill shape is not a gamefish. Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted April 12, 2014 Super User Posted April 12, 2014 One of, if not the, strongest freshwater fight I have had in that current behind me! Jeff Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Wait till you try fly fishing for big 30-50 lb grass carp. Now that is FUN!!!! Quote
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