Targeting species

[fritzy]

Targeting carp is extremely easy. Other purists will tell you otherwise...

My advice, you have to use common sense when targeting these fish. What I mean by this is....

Let's say you're fishing a harbour (Pier 4 in hamilton) well, this a huge body of water and what exactly can you do to get the fish to come to you? Oh, I should mention, location is everything with carp - if they just aren't there you won't have a hope in hell.

With that said, bait up HEAVILY - at ALL times. Now, I realize some will disagree but this is just my opinion. For places that are infested with gobies, shy away from sweet corn at all costs. Instead, get a bucket, some instant oats (red bag from quaker) or large flake oats (yellow bag from quaker) and mix with 1 can of creamed corn for every kilo of oatmeal. No other flavourings are necessary really, but you can add them if you like. (Vanilla, cinnamon, chili etc.) I typically don't, I find the creamed corn gives it enough of a smell and attractant power. Mix it all together, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. It will become nice and sticky and you make it into balls. You can mould it around your sinker and cast it out, but it may fall off mid cast. So, I usually just chuck it out. Carpet bomb the area, and then cast over it with your hookbait. Works the treat for me everywhere I go, and it's cheap.

How much you ask to throw in? Use common sense, if the fish are steady use the idea of "a little and often". If it's dead, go a bit heavier. That's how I've done it.

As far as baits, the best ever, most instant carp bait EVER is sweet corn right out of the can. No flavouring added. However, nuisance fish like gobies and catfish will also take this. However, in areas where these populations are low sweet corn is straight up deadly.

In gobie / catfish waters, use boilies or maise (feed corn). Go to your local bait shop and they should have carp bait by now as the sport is starting to catch on here.

Rule of thumb for flavours - fruity in the summer/spring, and fishy in the winter/autumn (I.E. Pinapple in the summer and a mussel/halibut flavour in autumn/winter.)

Rigs? Don't let the purists fool you here, you can fish the sweetcorn or manufactured corn straight on the hook without issue - i've caught loads on this method. However, if you are using boilies or other harder bait (maise) use a hair rig. These are super easy to tie and always result in a solid hook hold. Keep it simple, and don't get blindsided by how the europeans complicate this rig. YouTube is your friend in this situation.

Next, you will want to use a heavy led/sinker. I advise 1.5 ounces plus - the heavier the better really. The idea is, that once the carp feels the prick of the hook it will bolt and hook itself. YouTube "bolt rig". This is almost mandatory. I use this style of rig 100% of the time and it results in a good hook hold with no hook-set necessary!

Rod / reel wise? Well, a baitrunner is handy. Or, a simple spinning reel/baitcaster with the drag all the way down. Why? Well, once the carp feels that prick of the hook it will go on an instantaneous run. This run, will and has pulled rods into the water. I've seen this happen many, many times. It's a great laugh actually. So, get yourself a cheap baitrunner, or use your current reel with the drag all the way down and then adjust as necessary when the fish is hooked.

Carp fishing in general is a circus. Please don't get blindsided by all the euro tackle, baits and rigs. All you need is a hair rig/hook, a heavy sinker, chum and a silky smooth drag and you're good to go. A rod pod is nice (I have one) and a bite alarm makes it all that much more exciting but none of it is necessary.

All depends on how far you want to take it... don't blame me when you're bass tackle starts to collect dust!