What Fish Did I See?

[smr_hga]

Ok so was fishing on a side of my neighborhood pond that i normally dont go to. I was fishing when at about 40 feet out i saw something poke out of the water. I thought it was just a turtle since i see them all the time. But on a closer look i saw what was a fin and not a turtle! It kept poking up in different spots of the area and some times i would see silvery scales! At this point i knew it was a fish! Recently they stocked grass carp in with the bass and bluegill to control the weeds. So i am very conviced it was a grass carp feeding, it was even shaped like a grass carp. However they shouldnt be that big being stocked in recently, but i have heard that they are stocked in at a decent size so the bass dont eat them. This seems possible as it was about 20 inches long. So my question is was that a grass carp and how can i catch it?

[Cgolf]

Would go with corn, that is what people, not me, use around here. A quick search showed grass carp like this too. Also hold on carp are tough fish, but will give you a fair fight on med spin tackle with 10 or 20 lb braid or fire line.

[C0lt]

 how can i catch it?

with a bow     (with proper gear and licensing of course)

[smr_hga]

Ok will this work for catching it:

I have a medium action rod with a strong spinning reel and 15lb mono. I will need a weight or two to get it out there although i know weightless is best. I will chum corn and then throw a circle hook with corn.

Any suggestions?

[smr_hga]

Oh yeah also should i try to sight fish or just pick a spot and go with it?

[the reel ess]

Ultra Light Barbie combo?

 

Most people avoid catching the grass carp since they don't want to take a chance on hurting the fish they bought to eat the weeds. I saw some cruising a private pond maybe 4" below the surface. They would thrash about ever 20 min or so.

[Senko lover]

There are carp in the ponds I fish ranging in my estimation up to 60 pounds. I've tried corn, bread, cherry tomatos, even snagging, and I can't catch one of the darn things. 

[RAMBLER]

You should check with the property owners before you catch those fish.  If they are grass carp, more than likely, someone paid for those fish to be put in that pond for vegetation control.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

When we can't catch bass, we usually bring some old bread with us and put a #1 hook on with a split shot.  We make bread balls and stick it on the hook.  You gotta let the carp eat it, they nibble.  Eventually they will make the ball small enough that they inhale the hook and start swimming off.  Set the hook and get ready for one of the most pullingest fish you will ever hook into.  They don't fight much, just pull.

[C0lt]

There are carp in the ponds I fish ranging in my estimation up to 60 pounds. I've tried corn, bread, cherry tomatos, even snagging, 

why would you want to do that?

[flyfisher]

grass carp are really hard to catch since they most eat, well, grass.  I have caught a few but common carp are "easier" to catch.  And don't be surprised at all at a large growth rate as the ycan grow very large and do it in a short amount of time.

[the reel ess]

In case you didn't know, they're sterile (correct me if I'm wrong about this). They aren't replenishing themselves. If you catch one and it dies, you're out one grass eater. The bigger, the more valuable it is.

[basscatcher8]

with a bow     (with proper gear and licensing of course)

 

That was my thought to, or a big treble hook.

 

Only issue is like said above if a private pond the owner probably paid for them for grass control so he wouldn't be to happy. But if you want a fun fight snag one of them in the tail and hang on lol

[smr_hga]

Yeah ive already checked with the owners and they said i can fish for them as long as i release them.

[Senko lover]

why would you want to do that?

 

I honestly don't know....I just want to fight one really bad.

[Sea NaCl]

I accidentally caught a 30+ pound grass carp while fishing for catfish. I still see him swimming around the pond and he has doubled in size in only a year. I also see him when I feed the bluegills (he eats the leftovers)

 

Don't worry he's still alive even after having some of his slime coat off

[C0lt]

I honestly don't know....I just want to fight one really bad.

what I mean by my question is why would you want to intentionally foul hook a fish. 

[Bluebasser86]

what I mean by my question is why would you want to intentionally foul hook a fish. 

Snagging non-game fish is legal in several states. I wouldn't want any grass carp in a pond or lake I owned, so I'd be doing it to remove them. Bowfishing is the fastest way to get a grass carp though, although it's still not easy, especially the large ones. 

[Senko lover]

what I mean by my question is why would you want to intentionally foul hook a fish. 

 

with a bow     (with proper gear and licensing of course)

 

For the same reason you might want to shoot one. 

[nicksmurf111]

French fries.  And hold on tight, it's like reeling in a log.

[C0lt]

For the same reason you might want to shoot one. 

bowfishing is legal where i live, intentionally snagging fish (with some exception, ie. bunker) is not. just saying. your laws could be different though.