Carp Fishing (Please Read First)

[Facepalmmaster]

I have this suspicion that there are some carp in my small pond near me, partly because someone told me they had seen a big white fish swimming around and partly because a fish took a worm of mine, took out tons of drag, then snapped my line easily. Since that day, ive tried a doughbait trying to catch the elusive carp/possible big catfish but whenever I try to use it the tons of sunnies that are in the pond stole it before the fish can even get a whiff of it (the sunnies in that pond will eat ANYTHING, I once accidentally put the tip of my rod in the water and a couple of sunnies hit it). The doughbait was mostly flour, water, sugar, bread pieces, vanilla extract, and some things like garlic powder (ive heard it was good for catfish, in case it is a big catfish). I've tried it twice, but the dough either falls off or gets eaten by sunnies. I don't have any circle hooks or any money to buy them with (or, for that matter, a way of getting to Dick's or BPS), but i've heard any small hook will do for carp, so I use my little size 6 hooks. The first time I hooked it, it was on a size 4/0, so anything I have should do fine. But, enough beating around the bush, on to my question: Is there a carp bait or a way of using a carp bait that will catch carp but not allow the sunnies to take bites out or steal the bait?

[VolFan]

Canned or fresh corn makes great carp bait. With doughballs, buy cheap white bread or hotdog buns, and squeeze it tight with just a little water on it. You kind of form the doughball to the hook. If you do it right, the sunnies have a hard time pecking away at it. A treble works better for this. You can also wrap thread semitightly around the doughball several times to help keep it on the hook. But I'd go with corn, especially if you're using a #6 hook. You could catch some sunnies and cut them up for catfish bait too. Then you'd need that 4/0 hook.

[Facepalmmaster]

Canned or fresh corn makes great carp bait. With doughballs, buy cheap white bread or hotdog buns, and squeeze it tight with just a little water on it. You kind of form the doughball to the hook. If you do it right, the sunnies have a hard time pecking away at it. A treble works better for this. You can also wrap thread semitightly around the doughball several times to help keep it on the hook. But I'd go with corn, especially if you're using a #6 hook. You could catch some sunnies and cut them up for catfish bait too. Then you'd need that 4/0 hook.

I can't believe I forgot about corn . There are carp at the lake at my camp, and we used corn a couple of times, I don't know how I forgot. I would just need to hook the corn REALLY well because those sunnies will rip anything off that isn't hooked well enough. Also, i'm not sure about sunnies for bait. I've done it, but usually live, and I believe it's illegal in NJ. I dont have a knife for cutting it up. Thanks .

[Marty]

Corn has been my exclusive carp bait for years. I've never caught a sunny on it, but there may be very few sunnies in the canal where I do my carp fishing. I also use a #6 hook and that'll do just fine for some pretty good-sized carp.

[Facepalmmaster]

Corn has been my exclusive carp bait for years. I've never caught a sunny on it, but there may be very few sunnies in the canal where I do my carp fishing. I also use a #6 hook and that'll do just fine for some pretty good-sized carp.

Thanks, though if the sunnies will bite the top of a jig (yellow with a black dot), im sure they will bite corn. Im gonna try though

[Marty]

If I was carp fishing and having my bait stolen by sunnies, I'd have no idea as to what could be done to get fewer sunnies and more carp. ???

[Facepalmmaster]

If I was carp fishing and having my bait stolen by sunnies, I'd have no idea as to what could be done to get fewer sunnies and more carp. ???

I know, it sucks But im gonna try corn and see what results I get as to whether or not the sunnies can steal it

[Marty]

I'll be very interested to see your results and hope that they're good!!

[Facepalmmaster]

I'll be very interested to see your results and hope that they're good!!

Ill post if I get to go out, thanks

[Facepalmmaster]

I'll be very interested to see your results and hope that they're good!!

Ill post if I get to go out, thanks

[Bluebasser86]

You may try chumming one spot in the pond (if legal in your state) for about a week with corn before you try to fish it. If there are carp in there you might even get to see them start to show up if you make sure to go at the same time every day. As for sunfish and bluegills eating corn, a single kernal on a small hook used to be one of my favorite baits for both before I found out a small piece of a grub works just as well and I didn't have to carry a canopener fishing You might try to look for a really sticky carp dough bait that the sunfish couldn't pull off the hook also.

[Facepalmmaster]

You may try chumming one spot in the pond (if legal in your state) for about a week with corn before you try to fish it. If there are carp in there you might even get to see them start to show up if you make sure to go at the same time every day. As for sunfish and bluegills eating corn, a single kernal on a small hook used to be one of my favorite baits for both before I found out a small piece of a grub works just as well and I didn't have to carry a canopener fishing You might try to look for a really sticky carp dough bait that the sunfish couldn't pull off the hook also.

Thanks, although there are two things I cant do that you said; Chum the pond for a week (school) and get grubs (no money or place to get them). I've tried finding some recipes for doughbaits, but they all either seem to be the same or I cant make them because I don't have the ingredients. Ill keep trying though. Ill also try corn eventually, I dont really care all that much about catching sunfish instead of carp, big sunfish are always fun, but if I do catch a carp, itll be a pleasant surprise Thanks