By Tom Gengerke, Fisheries Supervisor, Iowa DNR
Words alone have seldom convinced a sportsman that the carp has merit as a sport fish. Indeed, say "carp" to many fishermen and non-fishermen alike, and you will invariably elicit a multitude of negative responses.
Throughout the worldwide distribution of carp these negative attitudes only persist in the United States. In Asia, carp is the "King of Fishes." Europeans hold this fish in highest esteem as both a sport and commercial food-fish. Great Britian fishermen rank carp second only to trout as a game fish. Catch and release carp fishing is prevalent -- and there just aren't enough carp to go around! The British Carp Anglers Association has records of individual fish being caught 300 to 500 times each during their lifetime. It is also an important fish in competitive angling events in England.
Not until they have given carp fishing a try do fishermen realize what a sporting opportunity they have been neglecting. While the popularity of carp fishing in Iowa may never rival that found in other parts of the world, carp fishing nevertheless is becoming increasingly a part of our angling scene. More than twice as many anglers reportedly preferred carp during a survey conducted in 1981 as compared to a similar survey conducted five years earlier.
Our carp resource is large. Carp inhabit almost every stream and lake in Iowa, and in virtually all cases are here to stay. Many lakes support more than 100 pounds per acre. This abundance and the resultant availability of carp makes them an excellent candidate for increased utilization -- especially fishing.
Probably more good fishing equipment has been put to the ultimate test by carp than by any other fish. Carp are powerful, brutally strong fish that typically make long runs and have a propensity for thick vegetative cover. They also grow quite large. The Iowa record is 50 pounds, and 10- to 25-pound fish are quite common. With this in mind, it is advisable to obtain equipment capable of handling large fish with these physical and behavioral characteristics. A medium-action, fiberglass rod, 6 feet long or longer, will improve your chances of landing a good fish. Long cane rods were developed in England just for this type of fishing. The angler could cast a 1-ounce weight for a distance of 100 yards with these rods and handle fish up to 40 pounds with ease. Fiberglass versions of these l0 foot rods subsequently replaced many of the early rods. Individual preferences will dictate the style of reel selected, either open-faced spinning, spin-casting, or bait-casting. Whichever reel type is chosen, it should be capable of holding 100 to 150 yards of 12 pound-test monofilament line, possess a good drag system, which will enable you to put increasing pressure on the fish, and have the capability for rapid line recovery should the fish decide to run towards the angler instead of away. Most bait-casting reels possess these attributes, but with most bait-casting reels it is difficult for the fish to take line without offering some resistance. Carp will pass up a bait which offers any resistance when ingested. For this reason, most ardent carp anglers prefer open-face spinning reels.
Line strength and type depends upon water conditions, potential obstacles, size of fish, and angler expectations. In general, 6- to 12-pound test line is adequate. Although not crucial, monofilament in either clear or green is preferable to braided or any of the highly visible lines.
The size and style of hook used for carp fishing influences the number and size of fish caught. There is some indication in lakes that treble hooks out-fish single hooks, while in streams there doesn't appear to be any measurable difference. Remember that when dough baits are used, treble hooks will hold the bait longer than single hooks and will require less rebaiting. When smaller single hooks, such as No. 6, 8, 10, or 12 sizes are used, smaller carp will be caught. However, a greater number of larger carp will also be taken if the hooks are kept baited. Carp larger than 1 1/2 pounds are taken more often with hooks smaller than No. 6. The best single style hooks are No. 6 or 8, short-shanked, and straight-eyed. Treble hooks in sizes No. 8 through 12 give excellent results and may be baited with a variety of baits. The hook should be tied directly to the line with an improved version of a clinch knot or similar style knot. Sinkers should be used only if the weight of the bait is insufficient to maintain position on the bottom or if additional casting distance is required. If sinkers are used, they should be the egg or slip-sinker style. A stop must be employed to prevent the sinker from touching the bait. A barrel swivel or split shot larger than the hole in the sinker is a good choice. Again, it is imperative that the fish can not feel resistance when the bait is ingested. In general, always use the least possible weight necessary to get the job done.
The use of a bobber is not recommended in carp fishing since they offer too much resistance when a fish takes the bait. If the need for a bobber arises, such as might be the case with an inexperienced angler, use a quill or pencil-type, not a ball-shaped bobber.
The two most commonly used carp baits are canned corn and dough bait. There are unquestionably thousands of secret recipes for dough bait, each with its most ardent advocates. However, in some tests of carp baits in Nebraska using some of the more common "home brews" (anise oil, molasses, vanilla, beer and cereals), the results showed that canned corn was nearly twice as effective in running water as dough baits. There was no marked difference between bait-types when tested in lakes. When canned corn was crushed and added to dough bait, the dough bait was equally as good as corn. Of the thousands of possible recipes it is definitely possible that several might have the "magic makings" for carp. But for the majority of homemade concoctions, dough bait that does not contain canned corn probably adds more to the spirit of fishermen than that of the fish. One advantage to dough bait comes when fishing snag infested waters; hooks covered with dough bait hang-up less often. The disadvantage is that many dough baits are soft and wash away readily in water.
One favorite recipe, one that will stay on the hook and can be cast into the swiftest water without difficulty, yet is soft enough for a delicate hook set, consists of equal parts of yellow corn meal and white flour mixed together plus enough water to give the mixture the consistency of biscuit dough. The mixture is dropped into boiling water a spoonful at a time and allowed to cook for 5 minutes or until it is cooked throughout. It can be tested by removing a good-sized lump and breaking it open; when the doughball is yellow clear through, it is done and can be removed from the boiling water to cool. As soon as it cools enough to be handled, all of the dough lumps are kneaded together into a large ball from which individual baits are pinched, as needed.
A favorite recipe among western Iowa anglers is to mix 2 cups of corn meal with 1 cup of flour. Stir one-half package of jello, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla into a pint of boiling water. Add the corn meal-flour mix to the jello. Remove the recipe and let it cool. Knead the dough bait into a single ball and wrap it in aluminum foil for refrigeration.
While not as satisfactory as either of these recipes, one that can be prepared quickly, is fresh bread with a little moisture added and then kneaded into a heavy dough. As an all-around bait for carp, there is no doubt baits prepared in this manner will function adequately. In using any dough bait, the best results can be expected when the bait is freshly prepared. Stale bait does not stay on the hook nearly as well as fresh bait. You should be aware that dough bait used in cold water -- below 55DoU F -- should be fairly soft since there is a tendency for it to become firmer when immersed in cold water. Likewise, dough baits kept in the refrigerator and then cast into warm water may become too soft. Additional flour will add firmness under these conditions. Alternate baits that are often times used for carp fishing are nightcrawlers, peeled tails of crayfish, boiled potatoes, marshmallows, and ripe mulberries.
Small baits are usually considered the best for carp. Some anglers prefer a small, round ball of bait placed on the tip of the hook only, while others use a pear-shaped bait and cover the entire hook. Both methods give excellent results.
In its simplest form, carp fishing in lakes should be done with slack line. The bait is cast out, allowed to sink to the bottom, dragged for a short distance to take the bend out of the line, and then 3 to 4 feet of slack line is stripped off the reel after the rod is in position. The hook should be set as the line begins to tighten. Do not wait for the feel of the bite.
In streams, the current will take the slack out of the line so the line must be kept tight. The hook should be set immediately in warm water, on a firm bite or line movement. In cold water, the hook should be set when line movement is noticed. If snags or thick vegetation pose a problem, a longer rod will allow the angler to drop his bait in a more vertical fashion. Both of these techniques are satisfactory under the majority of conditions; however, as with most species, to catch more fish and bigger fish a few additional techniques should be considered.
Greater distance can be achieved in casting by using a longer rod -- up to 10 to 11 feet in length. These rods also allow for quick line pick-up which provides for a more forceful hook set. To use these long rods most effectively two rod rests should be utilized and the rod tip should point toward the water. This arrangement will provide the least resistance to biting carp. Veteran carp anglers almost universally employ bite indicators, which range in complexity from a simple piece of paper draped over the line to rather elaborate commercial electric activated indicators.
An inexpensive, yet highly reliable indicator, can be fabricated using a small piece of styrofoam. Make a slit in the styrofoam just wide enough to accept the line. Attach this "flag" to the line directly in front of the reel. Line is then stripped off the reel and the flag rested on the ground. When a fish picks up the bait and the line begins to move, the indicator will rise from the ground. It is preferable to pick up the rod, take up the line, and set the hook all in one motion.
Excellent fishing may be found throughout the day in cool weather. However, during the heat of summer, early morning and evening produce the most consistent catches. Fishery research studies on carp fishing concluded that the best fishing in lakes usually occurred between 10 AM-1 PM when the water temperature was 35 degrees to 55 degrees F. Carp fishing in Iowa is generally regarded to be the best during May, June and July. High water levels usually slows carp fishing. Good success occurs when the water is fairly clear and the weather not too warm.
Where to fish may or may not pose a problem depending upon whether or not you prefer fishing in a lake or river. In general, carp may be found any place in a river where one might expect to catch fish. Deep holes and driftwood piles will produce good catches from a seemingly inexhaustible supply -- day after day. Fishing below lowhead dams is always productive. Carp populations in lakes may represent a substantial portion of the standing stock of all fish species and individual fish may reach tremendous size, but fish may prove more difficult to catch. Consider a carp tournament held on East Lake Okoboji in 1982; only 5 carp were caught by contestants. Obviously, carp density and catch success are not necessarily associated, because the commercial catch in this lake exceeded 1,000 tons the previous year. The selection of a fishing site must be done with some thought to fish behavior. Select a site in the shallower portion of a lake, relatively free of shoreline snags or heavy aquatic vegetation. Scattered weed beds within casting range may be desirable.
Success can usually be increased by chumming a likely fishing spot by throwing additional bait into the area as soon as you arrive and periodically repeating the procedure while fishing. Even better success often results from chumming an area prior prior to fishing. Large scale ground-baiting can be achieved by using 12 to 30 pounds of bait per 100 feet of shoreline. Done on this scale, though, it will prove expensive.
Occasionally carp may be observed feeding on the surface, especially during early morning or late evening. The English term for this phenomenon is "clooping" because of the sucking, slurping sound made by the fish while it is feeding. This is the perfect time to try surface fishing. The best bait is a piece of bread, approximately one-half to 1 1/2-inches square, with the crust attached. Pinch the soft part of the bread hard and insert the hook through the crust from the top. Cast this arrangement to the "cloopers" and keep a tight line. Set the hook when you are certain that a fish has engulfed the bait.
Two problems common to carp fishing are fishing on soft bottom and too many other fish working the bait. Both problems may be best solved by fishing with half-boiled potatoes. A half-boiled potato about the size of a golf ball will discourage other fish because they can't break it apart. A half-boiled potato with the hook inserted and subsequently sliced into a thin piece will sink with a swinging motion, thereby coming to rest lightly on top of the mud or weeds. Ground-baiting is usually necessary to condition the fish to this new food source.
Night fishing, especially just before dawn can be very productive for carp. The same techniques used during daylight are satisfactory. Since carp have excellent hearing senses and the night-time hours are typically free of many noises, it is important to walk softly on the shoreline and to remain quiet. An English technique, which can be quite exciting, is fishing the "margin patrol" or the actively feeding fish that are cruising the shoreline. In margin fishing the best area is the windblown shoreline where drifting food collects. The approach is to place a small piece of bread crust on a sharp hook, crumb side down. The rod rest must be placed so the tip of your rod hangs just over the edge of the water. The crust bait is placed just in the water, and no line is allowed to touch the surface. Slack line should be stripped from the reel to prevent the untimely loss of your equipment. A mixture of bread and water can be poured into the water to act as an attractor. Margin fishing can be extremely effective for taking large carp.
Another exciting technique and one that can be practiced only during a limited time in the summer is fly fishing for carp when the cottonwood trees go to seed and the white, billowy seed pod is floating on the surface. A white marabou dry fly is presented just ahead of feeding carp. This technique is quite similar to casting for trout on a secluded pond or pool.
Fly fishing and the use of artificial lures specifically for carp is not as common in Iowa as it is in other states, such as South Dakota. Fish are often times caught on a variety of these lures by anglers pursuing other species of fish. The concept of imitating a natural food source with an artificial lure is common. The challenge is in the fish itself. Carp are wary creatures and not prone to making rash "judgements" when it comes to feeding. Their mouth is really quite sensitive, even tender, and they have an amazing ability to eject foreign objects from it if they perceive anything not natural. The challenge is out there -- waiting.
Carp fishing can afford unlimited enjoyment and outdoor recreation. Carp are here to stay, and their utilization should be encouraged. Each year more and more anglers turn to this fish for their sport. Izaak Walton described the carp as the "Queen of Rivers," a quality that has eluded many anglers for many years. As one fisherman put it, "Carp are exciting and somewhat easy to catch, plentiful, and good to eat." Fishing for them can be suspenseful, thrilling, and relaxing at one and the same time; so what more could you ask?"
| Back to the Common Carp Card | Back to Minnows | Back to Fishes of Iowa |
