How Long Do Grass Carp Take To Mature?

[smr_hga]

Ok so I have a little retention pond in my community and I heard they stocked grass carp in there in March to control the weeds. It only has Bluegill and Largemouth Bass in it so I was very happy to hear this and I really want to catch them. But I know that it will take a good while for them to grow large enough to bite my hook. So the question is how long will it be until I can go try to catch one? Also it would help to know what bait they take. I'm pretty sure chumming corn is the best method but I'm not sure.

[CeeJay]

From my reading about carp, they apparently grow 8" their first year and then an additional 1-1/2" per year after that.

(from Kugach's book Fishing Basics).  The carp that were stocked in your pond may have been fully mature though...have you been able to see any of them yet? 

 

Grass carp are very fun to catch.  They look different than the common carp I've usually caught in the past.  The grass carp have a barrel-chested, sleeker look to them.

 

Here's what's weird about catching grass carp....all 4 of mine were caught while fishing for bass and panfish on artificial lures!  A topwater popper, an inline spinner, a spinnerbait, and a nymph (fly) cast with one of those weighted casting bobbers. 

 

The "standard" bait for the regular common carp is corn and candy dough baits and bunches of other homemade stuff    But as far as targeting grass carp specifically I don't know how effective those would be.

[smr_hga]

Thanks! And no I haven't spotted any yet. I do see little fish by the bank but I'm pretty sure they are bluegill because I can see the little black stripes they have. Do you think they'll be in deeper water or in the shallows?

[CeeJay]

Thanks! And no I haven't spotted any yet. I do see little fish by the bank but I'm pretty sure they are bluegill because I can see the little black stripes they have. Do you think they'll be in deeper water or in the shallows?

 

Most likely in the shallower water, but I'm not an expert on carp at all.  I used to "sight fish" for them (common rather than grass carp) by looking for the bubbles they would send to the surface while they muck around on the bottom   Many times they would be very close to shore.

When the water is clear you can sometimes see them basking in the shallows as well.

 

The largest fish of any species I ever caught was a 20 pound common carp that I caught from a small pond with sweet corn a mere 15 feet from the pond's bank.  It nearly spooled my real (I was using 6 pound line I think)....those fish will take off when the hook is set. 

[the reel ess]

I thought they were kind of big before they were put in so bass wouldn't eat them. My friends have some. They make there presence known in that pond by splashing around in the shallows.

[everythingthatswims]

You will see them if there are enough to target. Sight fish with corn weightless on a #6-#4 hook, or chum where you see them and use a c-rig with corn.

[Wayne P.]

The issue with those are it takes too long for them to die.

[WRB]

Bow & arrow works goods or carp of all species.

Tom

[Goose52]

Grass carp are stocked in my local lakes for aquatic weed control. Since they are stocked for that purpose, and in quantities calculated to be sufficient to "accomplish their mission", they represent an investment by our homeowners association.  As such, I don't specifically target them. However, I occasionally snag them when working the water for bass. Once I've snagged one, I have to get my lure back so it's game-on...

 

You might want to check with the entity/agency that stocked the grass carp in your water to see what policy they might have in regards to specifically fishing for the grass carp or whether they discourage it in order to allow the carp to accomplish their primary mission of aquatic weed control.

 

On growth rates, grass carp grow VERY fast.  The one in the photo below was 48 pounds and probably around 10 years old.