Is Carps everywhere? How can you tell?

[Fred Allen]

I use the DEC websites and I notice when they list the fish they dont say carps are there when I know that they are there. Is it safe to say there are carps in every water where fish is?  Thinking about trying for some when I shore fish just have a pole with carps bait sitting for fun. 

[Michigander]

It's a pretty solid bet that there's carp and/or catfish in most bodies of water that you fish.

[Bluegillslayer]

No, carp are not in every body of water that has fish. At least around where I live.

[Russ E]

Generallly, if there is creek or river access to the body of water, you probably have carp.

Also if minnows are allowed for bait, chances are there are carp.

I don't know of any bodies of water around here that are carp free.

 

fortunately most lakes here still have no asian carp. With the missouri river close and loaded with asian carp, it is probably just a matter of time.

[soflabasser]

Grass carp and common carp are found in most states so there is a good chance they are near where you live. Try fishing corn on the bottom.

[TnRiver46]

On 4/8/2021 at 4:29 PM, Russ E said:

Generallly, if there is creek or river access to the body of water, you probably have carp.

Also if minnows are allowed for bait, chances are there are carp.

I don't know of any bodies of water around here that are carp free.

 

fortunately most lakes here still have no asian carp. With the missouri river close and loaded with asian carp, it is probably just a matter of time.

I'm going to make a bold prediction: asian carp are about to start a slow decline. They have been here since the early 90s and have yet to make all other fish extinct. As with all other exotics, I think they have come close to "running their course" at this point. I would imagine they will always be around but they should have eaten all of our children by now according to scientists 

[fishingtx]

carp are likely stocked or native in your local fisheries to look for them they will likely surface a lot

[TnRiver46]

33 minutes ago, bass4life.... said:

carp are likely stocked or native in your local fisheries to look for them they will likely surface a lot

They aren’t native to any local fisheries in North America 

[Russ E]

6 hours ago, bass4life.... said:

carp are likely stocked or native in your local fisheries to look for them they will likely surface a lot

Besides grass carp, I don't know any wildlife division that would stock carp. And like @TnRiver46 said They are not native

 

[bulldog1935]

9 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

They aren’t native to any local fisheries in North America 

 

George Washington imported many, simply for gamefish, and fished for them with "coarse" tackle.  

 

We of course have other, native cyprinids.  

This is a native redhorse sucker, which are great game in our cold tailwater - we call them Guadalupe redfish.  This one took a swinging caddis during a hatch.  

[TnRiver46]

26 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

George Washington imported many, simply for gamefish, and fished for them with "coarse" tackle.  

 

We of course have other, native cyprinids.  

This is a native redhorse sucker, which are great game in our cold tailwater - we call them Guadalupe redfish.  This one took a swinging caddis during a hatch.  

Oh yes we have a litany of native sucker species but common carp is exotic 

 

there’s people around here that still eat Buffalo, they must not have directions to the Kroger store 

 

id like to kick ole George in his wooden teeth for bringing those things 

[bulldog1935]

you may not have noticed I agreed with you about them being exotic

 

you must have never tied cottonwood seed flies to target carp on a 4/5-wt in a cottonwood seed fall.  

[Fred Allen]

Thanks I assume if a carp was in a lake 25 years ago then they are still in there today then. Would be fun to get a big one for the fight too.

[TnRiver46]

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

you may not have noticed I agreed with you about them being exotic

 

you must have never tied cottonwood seed flies to target carp on a 4/5-wt in a cottonwood seed fall.  

I gotcha buddy! From what my friends tell me, we have no cottonwood trees here. But we had to learn them in college anyway so I’m familiar with the seed and I’ve heard they eat them. I only fish for carp if I’m DESPERATE for a fix 

[TheBasslayer]

For carp, especially if you fish in small lakes like the lake that I fish, you will see them, either by them jumping or just being on the surface. Where I live, there are carp in a lot of lakes, but I doubt they are in all fisheries, like my local Trout Creek.

[N Florida Mike]

Ive got some huge stocked grass carp in my lake. Would anyone believe me if I said one of them looks like its 5 feet long? These carp wont bite anything- corn or bread balls. I finally snagged one and it was 23 pounds- only a year after we put them in weighing 1 pound... That was  at least 5 years ago... Im afraid of snagging one now because they would destroy anything Id catch them on, except maybe a couple of my biggest saltwater combos. Got quite a ride from the 23 pounder !

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

Ive got some huge stocked grass carp in my lake. Would anyone believe me if I said one of them looks like its 5 feet long? These carp wont bite anything- corn or bread balls. I finally snagged one and it was 23 pounds- only a year after we put them in weighing 1 pound... That was  at least 5 years ago... Im afraid of snagging one now because they would destroy anything Id catch them on, except maybe a couple of my biggest saltwater combos. Got quite a ride from the 23 pounder !

I’d believe it, I grew up fishing golf course ponds and snagged a few beasts. The place I teach fly casting has a pond with a couple. The students say “is that a shark???” when one swims by.