Carping

[JackK]

Anyone ever done it? TDF showed me the ropes the other day... What a blast on light tackle. Fight better than stripers for their size- long, steady runs reminiscent of an albie (although obviously not as fast).

Sometimes it's nice to go relaxing fishing- throw out some corn, plunk a line in on a fishfinder rig, and just wait.

First trip got a 24... Next day managed a 19 and a 17. Gotta find something to do before the bass make their way up north... Beats schoolies

[Nebe]

Nice goldfish
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[spinncognito]

Nice job Kevin(s).

Do you use creamed corn for chum?

[niko]

looks pretty fun. nice looking fish

[JackK]

Originally Posted by spinncognito

Nice job Kevin(s).

Do you use creamed corn for chum?

Actually...

I mistakenly grabbed a can of creamed corn the second day... A real pain finding large enough kernels in it to bait a hook, but the carp were all over it...

[fishbones]

Looks like a lot of fun, Kevin. Must have been a nice distraction to keep you from thinking about the shellacking the Flyers got from the B's.

[JackK]

[Sea of Atlas]

Nice fish looks like that could be fun. There is a guide here in Maine that specializes in fly fishing out of a flats boat for carp on the Merrymeeting Bay.

[Raven]

we used to make pizza dough like recipe
that had garlic or cheese or both
that you squeezed on a hook
for easy casting

or you can use cheap wonder bread with no crust
and sprinkle Parmesan cheese or garlic powder
onto the bread before you squeeze it on the hook

and true ---most underrated fighting fish around
the Brit's would kill for what we over look

[DanSmithCFI]

Anyone ever try to carp on flies? what a blast on the 6wt.

[johnny ducketts]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Looks like a lot of fun, Kevin. Must have been a nice distraction to keep you from thinking about the shellacking the Flyers got from the B's.

Yeah, what happened there.. Maybe there playing golf with the habs?

[MarkB]

Most people fish with bread/corn etc, but they'll take nightcrawlers too. They eat pretty much what they can get a grip on.

I just decided to try carp fishing this year, and I found this site:

Wild Carp Club of New England | Wild Carp Club | Wild Carp Companies, Baldwinsville NY

They're having a tournament over the year, and this Sunday, May 14, they're meeting at Brookline reservoir. I'll probably join them and try to learn from the carp-sharpies. Everyone wants to catch the biggest fish possible - why not just target the biggest fresh-water species?

[chefchris401]

Check out David pickering's carp blog, awesome info.

Rhode Island Carp Fishing

There's a lot of places that have carp and make for some great fishing.

Careful with that boga grip on there lips, they tear pretty easy.
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[Rob Rockcrawler]

Looks like good time for sure.

[johnny ducketts]

used to do it at home, chummed the area with corn, and wrapped a dough ball on the hook, easy peasy. Fun too.

[agsurfr]

A friend of mine introduced me to carp fishing last year during the doldrums of mid-summer. What a riot on light tackle! The first run is pretty spectacular. You can feel that huge tail powering away, peeling line off the spool. Very heavy, blocky fish. Makes for a fun and relaxing night.

I know it's hard to believe, but last year I fouled hooked a carp, probably about 15lbs, in the fleshy part of its tail. What a battle. I'd gain 2 yards, she'd take 3. I was starting to think I'd be unable to land the fish. Finally got it close in shallow water and my friend shines his headlamp on it. He busted out laughing. Never seen anything like it. I waded in a bit and got soaked from the thrashing tail. Finally got her close and unhooked her. Nice to watch these heavy fish swim away.

If you never have, you should. You will not regret carp fishing.

[FishermanTim]

I had visited my younger brother back in the early 90's when he lived in CA, north of San Fran.
We went to a place called Lake Barryessa (?) and while he and his friends went water skiing, I fished. This particular section of the lake had a boat dock with an open middl section (picture a rectangular dock with a 4-5' opening in the middle). When we pulled up to the dock, you could see the carp and suckers scatter from the surface.
Once my brother and friends took off, the fish returned to forage around the dock.
Unfortunately I didn't have much bait, which went quickly from the suckers. In desperation I chose the only thing I could find for bait......potato chips. I would create a hole to put the hook thru and drift them on the surface away from where I was standing. The chips would get soggy and when they reached the far end of the dock the carp would dart out from underneath and inhale the chip.
I managed to hook a few before they got wary and took off.

As for local carp waters, check out the Charles River. It runs through a good portion of the eastern part of the state and is known for holding carp. The real challenge is finding access points close to where you want to fish.

[EarnedStripes44]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

As for local carp waters, check out the Charles River. It runs through a good portion of the eastern part of the state and is known for holding carp. The real challenge is finding access points close to where you want to fish.

Indeed, the charles river is loaded with carp, especially the basin. I have seen a few that had nice color variations.

[MarkB]

If you're new to carp fishing like me, check out this guy's site:

Rhode Island Carp Fishing

He's gone hard-core carp fishing, and he's caught some monsters, mostly in RI.

[PRBuzz]

Time for a Carpo diem Forum!

[spence]

Back in Iowa we used to spear fish for them after floods.
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[Rob Rockcrawler]

Originally Posted by spence

Back in Iowa we used to spear fish for them after floods.
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In michigan after the floods they would be in a lot of the drainage ditches, sometimes in peoples front yards. The only time i ever tried bow fishing. It looks easier than it really is.

[Rockport24]

some nice fish there dudes!

[FishermanTim]

They're one of two things that can be fished with a bow and arrow in this state, but unless you were planning on keeping it I would go at it the old-school way on rod & reel.

[FishermanTim]

I do a fair amount of fishing at an area off of the Sudbury River, and have seen some monster carp that have rammed my kayak when they were spooked.
I think this year I will give them a try.

[Green Light]

Nice fish!!!! Once upon a time, I use to fish carp exclusively. I am planing to get back into it. I read somewhere that carp is a common Polish dish. For me, it's just C/R.

[Rockfish9]

Grape soda mixed with bran flakes, make a stickey dough... wrap in plastic and refrigerate.... pinch off a piece a little larger than a pea and bait with that... chum heavily with corn ( Green Giant nibletts are best, due to sugar content).... I've caught them up to 30lbs in the Merrimack... and I know larger ones exsist there....I've used Strawberry soda, but grape seems to be their favorite..

they were brought here origianly for sport... they bull dog... and even jump... I caught one once on a jig ( yes it ate the jig) bellow the Lawrence dam.. i was positve I had a bass of 20lbs or better.. it was a 8lb carp... you just never know...

[SeaMule]

Wow! Must have been a blast on light gear. I always wanted to do that, however never found an area locally that had a carp population. Does anyone out there know of a decent spot relatively close to Mansfield, MA. Love to turn my kids on to that as well.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by SeaMule

Wow! Must have been a blast on light gear. I always wanted to do that, however never found an area locally that had a carp population. Does anyone out there know of a decent spot relatively close to Mansfield, MA. Love to turn my kids on to that as well.

I'll gladly put you onto a great carp spot for another one of those Cohibas.