The_fisherman Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 What carp bait works in the US the best? People say that boiles don't work here as they do in Europe. I tried sweet corn but it doesn't work. Also, I tried dough bait with strawberry jello and it didn't work as well. The only bait that works well is quick greats+white bread+creamed corn. If you know other carp bait and it's known to be working please share it here. Quote
Quebecbassangler Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 Hi, I have had success(at night mind you)with a wormball,basically a batch of worms on a decent hook,they are bottom feeders so I have also caught some on doughballs,fish egg sacs(they sell em in the pro shops) hunks of stinky meat etc.There is also a product called erni's method mix,I have not used it but it breaks down chums the water and attracts the carp I am sure there will be other posters with more helpful tips but it has been a while since I went out for carp so just going from what I have used Sorry I could not be more helpful, Good luck John Quote
CeeJay Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 Interesting you didn't have any luck with sweet corn, as that's what I normally use for carp. Definitely best to experiment in your situation. Try adding some vanilla extract to those homemade dough balls, perhaps. I've actually tried commercially prepared carp bait...but only caught turtles Quote
The_fisherman Posted June 5, 2015 Author Posted June 5, 2015 Interesting you didn't have any luck with sweet corn, as that's what I normally use for carp. Definitely best to experiment in your situation. Try adding some vanilla extract to those homemade dough balls, perhaps. I've actually tried commercially prepared carp bait...but only caught turtles What brand of sweet corn did you use? Quote
CeeJay Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 What brand of sweet corn did you use? The cheapest generic can of sweet corn at the grocery store is my primary carp bait. Whole kernel rather than creamed. Maybe there's just more artificial sweeteners in this cheap stuff that the carp like. I fish it on a hair rig under a waggler float, with the bait set just at or above the bottom. Quote
The_fisherman Posted June 6, 2015 Author Posted June 6, 2015 The cheapest generic can of sweet corn at the grocery store is my primary carp bait. Whole kernel rather than creamed. Maybe there's just more artificial sweeteners in this cheap stuff that the carp like. I fish it on a hair rig under a waggler float, with the bait set just at or above the bottom. Do you chum the area? If you do, what do you use? Thanks. Quote
CeeJay Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Do you chum the area? If you do, what do you use? Thanks. Yeah when I'm targeting carp I'll chum the area around where I want to place my bait, with the same corn as used on the rig. I forgot to mention that I'll open the can of corn, pour the amount I need (and some of the liquid) into a plastic container and then store it at room temperature the night before fishing. This might cause a slight fermenting of some sort, I'm not sure though. You could always mix up a can of sweetcorn with some added flavors. Maybe experiment with chumming different types and see if it draws in the carp. 1 Quote
MassBass Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 whole kernal corn works but its not crack to them. To me its a proven bait but i always have in the back of my mind there must be something better. Quote
CeeJay Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 whole kernal corn works but its not crack to them. To me its a proven bait but i always have in the back of my mind there must be something better. Yeah I'm sure there's something better as far as natural baits. But if I plan to fish for carp in lakes and ponds I still think I'll use corn. I have caught them on preserved (freeze-dried), colored maggots (can't remember the brand) while bluegill fishing, but my tackle was for bluegill and I couldn't land those giant carp at the time Later I tried those maggots on my dedicated carp rod and caught nothing but bluegills. Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted June 6, 2015 Super User Posted June 6, 2015 Wheaties bait ball.. Or a good ole fashioned red worm. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 6, 2015 Global Moderator Posted June 6, 2015 A fiberglass arrow works great! Right now you can go looking for a mulberry tree dropping fruit if there's any in the area. If you find one hanging over the water, you'll be able to catch carp there for sure. 1 Quote
The_fisherman Posted June 6, 2015 Author Posted June 6, 2015 A fiberglass arrow works great! Right now you can go looking for a mulberry tree dropping fruit if there's any in the area. If you find one hanging over the water, you'll be able to catch carp there for sure. I prefer fishing, not hunting. Especially more challenging with lighter tackle. Quote
CeeJay Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 What's your setup for carping? I used to use a 6'6" UL rod with 6 pound line, then went up to a beefier 6' rod with 10 pound line after an epic battle with a 20 pound carp on the UL tackle. I love light tackle fishing for all species Quote
Super User scaleface Posted June 6, 2015 Super User Posted June 6, 2015 I'm sure boilies will work just fine. I use whole kernel corn , wheaties balls , Strawberry jello bait , mullberries when ripe like now ... There is one commercial anise flavored bait that works well and I have a recipe handed down from an old carp fisherman . I'll have to try to find it . If I do I will post it . For now I will try to do this from memory .It may not be correct . If I find the orignal recipe I will share it . It is very good . 1 cup corn meal 1 cup oats 1 cup flour 1 tbs salt 1 tbs sugar and some water to make it doughy , dont remember how much water mix together and make into patties , like hamburger patties . Boil each pattie in rapidly boiling water for three minutes . Let cool then cut into little cubes . refrigerate . note : I remember that sometimes , instead of water I used the juice from a can of corn . 2 Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted June 6, 2015 Super User Posted June 6, 2015 Whole kernel sweet corn I dump half the can out and chuck it out as chum then one or two piece on a circle hook. I run a barrel weight above a swivel basically a Carolina rig with a circle hook and corn. Or by hand while fighting one on the other line 2 Quote
CeeJay Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Awesome pics Clayton. I had considered circle hooks for carp before...what size hooks, line, weight, rod, etc. do you use by the way? Man I wish I had a photo of the 20 pounder I landed years back....it's probably double that size now. Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted June 6, 2015 Super User Posted June 6, 2015 Hook size idk off the top of my head. I'd have to go look. Line is 12lb big game trilene rod at that time in them pics was a 6'6" M bps extreme combo now I have a eagle claw some thing I bought years ago for cheap just for carp it's like 8'6. Carp usually not my cup of tea targeted them maybe 3 times in the last 8 years. Been trying to get one on the fly lately though since I've picked up fly fishing. 1 Quote
CeeJay Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Hook size idk off the top of my head. I'd have to go look. Line is 12lb big game trilene rod at that time in them pics was a 6'6" M bps extreme combo now I have a eagle claw some thing I bought years ago for cheap just for carp it's like 8'6. Carp usually not my cup of tea targeted them maybe 3 times in the last 8 years. Been trying to get one on the fly lately though since I've picked up fly fishing. Cool thanks for the tackle info. My 20 pound common carp was caught on 6 pound line...my adrenaline was running as fast as the carp was. I was literally shaking after I landed that amazing fish. I have caught smaller grass carp while fly casting in the past. A Nymph fly, hellgrammite pattern I believe it was. Carp have a cult following among fly anglers. Dave Whitlock has always loved them on the fly: http://davewhitlock.com/2014/05/stalking-golden-ghost-fly-fisherman-magazine/ I love how he called them the "Golden Ghost" 1 Quote
The_fisherman Posted June 6, 2015 Author Posted June 6, 2015 What's your setup for carping? I used to use a 6'6" UL rod with 6 pound line, then went up to a beefier 6' rod with 10 pound line after an epic battle with a 20 pound carp on the UL tackle. I love light tackle fishing for all species I use 6'6 rod and multirig. Wan't to try float fishing. Learning the technique so far 1 Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted June 6, 2015 Super User Posted June 6, 2015 When I was younger I used a UL for everything I caught so many fish on a cheap Walmart Shakespeare combo and probably the cheapest line I could get tons of big carp, bass, catfish, pike you name it. Now I'm all into specialized gear and more lures I know what to do with and a rod count that keeps building up lol. Everything was so much simpler back in the day. 1 Quote
CeeJay Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 I use 6'6 rod and multirig. Wan't to try float fishing. Learning the technique so far Yeah I enjoy using floats when fishing for carp. The thin European style stick and waggler floats are great as you can detect lift bites and they're ultra sensitive. Great picture by the way and a very nice carp there 1 Quote
CeeJay Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 When I was younger I used a UL for everything I caught so many fish on a cheap Walmart Shakespeare combo and probably the cheapest line I could get tons of big carp, bass, catfish, pike you name it. Now I'm all into specialized gear and more lures I know what to do with and a rod count that keeps building up lol. Everything was so much simpler back in the day. It's funny I find myself going simpler and minimal lately Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted June 7, 2015 Super User Posted June 7, 2015 It's funny I find myself going simpler and minimal lately Me too, I grow weary of power fishing.. I enjoy light lining more now than ever! It's good sport 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 7, 2015 Global Moderator Posted June 7, 2015 I prefer fishing, not hunting. Especially more challenging with lighter tackle. It's bowfishing, bow-fishing Honestly, I catch a lot of carp when I choose to target them with very small jigs. The lakes around here are loaded with big carp, they aren't hard to catch on any of the typical carp baits. Quote
CeeJay Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 Carp can be surprisingly picky at times. I guess it depends on how pressured they are, if they were caught before, etc. The folks over in Europe appear to have turned carp angling into a science to overcome the "older and wiser" and wary carp Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.