Carp?

[Captian Planet]

I usually fish a small pond in north east Massachusetts, and was wondering if there are any Carp in these waters. If there are, any tips on catching them would be greatly appreciated.

[Marty]

You can use corn, bread, cereal and many other baits. I always use corn. By cereal, I mean Wheaties or Bran Flakes or the like. Grab a handful, immerse and squeeze out the excess water.

If you use a sinker, use a slip sinker and fish with the bail open. Watch your line, they'll usually take off with the bait. All you need to do is close the bail to set the hook.

Get ready for some fun, they'll take you for quite a ride and make your reel sing.

[Captian Planet]

Thanks for the help. Would you recommend any specific time of day or place to fish for these guys?

[Boots]

captain planet where in northeast mass do you fish?

bread seems to work wonders, just toss a few pieces on top of the water and the carp will come grab them and have your hooked piece with the floating bread and your golden.

[GUTT3R]

Outmeal does good in the river by you

Grab a pile... Wet it in the water and form a ball

also corn works GREAT in the lowell canals

[Marty]

Thanks for the help. Would you recommend any specific time of day or place to fish for these guys?

Sorry. I do almost all my carp fishing in the Erie Canal and wouldn't know what to say about ponds or lakes.

[Captian Planet]

captain planet where in northeast mass do you fish?

I usually fish the North Andover reservoir, and ponds near it.

Thanks for all the tips, ill probably try them out this weekend and hopefully get something.

[GUTT3R]

I live in Bradford one town over from North Andover

i use to fish in that lake all the time! Caught some real big bass in that place

[jvox]

I dont know if there is really a "good" time of day for carp. Ive caught them everywhere from 4am to 11pm. You have to be patient with these fish as well. I will sometimes sit for 8 hours before I get a hit. Carp are one of the most trickiest fish to catch imo. Corn works just fine. I also make a homemade oatmeal bait that is killer. Be sure to use a sliding sinker if you are fishing on the bottom. Alot of times the carp will notice the weight of the setup right away, and spit it out. Also, wait until your pole gets SLAAAMED before you set the hook. If you are getting some decent looking hits, WAIT. Sometimes the pole will bounce pretty good for 10 or 15 seconds, and then WAM! Be sure to set your drag nice and loose, because when they take the bait and run, they go full steam. GOOD LUCK!!  

[fuzzynuttz]

Thanks for the help. Would you recommend any specific time of day or place to fish for these guys?

Sorry. I do almost all my carp fishing in the Erie Canal and wouldn't know what to say about ponds or lakes.

I fish the canal over here , tons of huge carp, pike, bass, everything where the Mohawk and the Erie canal meet up it's great.

[Blade-Runner]

I dont know if there is really a "good" time of day for carp. Ive caught them everywhere from 4am to 11pm. You have to be patient with these fish as well. I will sometimes sit for 8 hours before I get a hit. Carp are one of the most trickiest fish to catch imo. Corn works just fine. I also make a homemade oatmeal bait that is killer. Be sure to use a sliding sinker if you are fishing on the bottom. Alot of times the carp will notice the weight of the setup right away, and spit it out. Also, wait until your pole gets SLAAAMED before you set the hook. If you are getting some decent looking hits, WAIT. Sometimes the pole will bounce pretty good for 10 or 15 seconds, and then WAM! Be sure to set your drag nice and loose, because when they take the bait and run, they go full steam. GOOD LUCK!!

This is good advice ^

WAIT WAIT WAIT until he really takes it before you set it. He will sometimes dick around with that doughball, etc. until what seems like an eternity. Make sure he takes it before you rip into him.

I recommend either Wheaties-balls (crushed up Wheaties mixed w/ water and hand-rolled) or soft craws (particularly good on rivers).

I use a 7' composite rod w/ 15 lb. Big Game "Blue Flouroscent" line.

[bilgerat]

I used to fish for carp as a kid. I remember my dad showing me to completely bury the hook in the doughball or whatever bait your using. Something about them being sensitive to the metal hook, they will spit it out at the first taste of it.

And, like jvox said, when you hook one, it's on !!!!