Carp, a fish of considerable size from the cyprinid family. This type of fish is highly desired among sport fishing enthusiasts, more specifically carp fishing or carp fishing. In this guide, we will talk about common carp, fishing techniques, and much more.
Common Carp Description
Scientific name: Cyprinus carpio
Family: Cyprinidae
Order: Cypriniformes
Class: Actinopterygians
Max. weight: 82 lbs. (37 kg).
Max. length: 48” (120 cm).
Common Carp Fishing Techniques
Let’s see what is the behavior of these cyprinids and what are the best strategies for successful fishing. Areas rich in vegetation are invaded by insects that in turn are a supplement in the diet of cyprinids, which eat all kinds of invertebrates, aquatic or terrestrial, that hatch or fall into the water by accident.
Carp know how to take advantage of these moments and the fly fisherman has to know them. The first sunny days of spring begin to warm up the water and as the surface layers warm-up, the carp rise to the surface and approach the banks to taste all kinds of algae and seeds, but also insects. This is the time to fish for carp and barbel on the surface.
Depending always on the place where we intend to fish for carp, we will act differently, according to their eating habits and customs.
Are Carp a Selective Fish?
It cannot be said that carp is a selective fish when it comes to eating, as they will take anything to see if it is edible. On calm days, especially when the air is still, there will be a moment when they will start to eat on top and any imitation or lure that we present near their mouths will take it, being guided more by colors than by shapes.
There are other situations in which they are dedicated to absorbing the concentrations of particles and microorganisms that are in the first layer of water and just below the surface, so everything we offer above the water will be rejected. Here, the emerging fly will fulfill its role perfectly and will make them better if they are in their absorption path because they are just below the surface.
Bottom Carp Fishing
Bottom fishing for common carp is very simple. I usually use a sliding sinker and medium nylon. And the baits to use are different depending on the fishing spot, it can be corn, worms, homemade dough, etc. I will soon put together a topic of rigs to fish for different fish, including the common carp.
How to Fish for Carp in Autumn
It is important to know how carp behave in autumn, knowing their seasonal peculiarities and their behavior before the arrival of the cold winter will increase your chances of catching one of them. The behavior of some species such as carp depends, on many occasions, on the weather conditions that accompany our fishing days. It could be said that carp have a ‘sixth sense’ that makes them able to detect and foresee any weather change in advance.
Therefore, it is normal to go fishing a few days before the arrival of a cold front, and, even if the conditions at that moment are favorable, notice how in a moment the bites fall suddenly and without warning. In these cases, do not be alarmed because you will not find a logical explanation at the same moment, but a few hours later or even the next day because the weather will change abruptly, something that the fish notice long before we do, so they rush to take shelter. This can happen to you whether you are sport fishing or scuba diving.
Carp in particular retreat to areas with deeper water and are sheltered from the storm where the temperature is warmer and more stable than in other shallower areas. Carp have a cold-blooded metabolism, so the drop in water temperature will slow down their metabolism and digestion process. In this way, the activity of the carp will decrease a lot because their energy consumption necessary to survive is low, they will not need a higher energy input to do so. That is why the carp are dedicated to seeking as many nutrients as possible to accumulate the necessary reserves to face the long and hard winter. And this makes the weeks leading up to the onset of winter the perfect opportunity to get the best results as the carp reach their maximum weight just at this time.
5 Infallible Tips or Tricks for Carp fishing
Carp fishing is one of the main hobbies of anglers around the world, it is a species that generates a lot of addiction despite the difficulty of getting their bites. Long and cold nights, as well as days of incessant heat, will accompany your fishing days if carp are what you want to catch. Here are some brief and useful tips to catch more carp: infallible tricks that you should always keep in mind when you go fishing.
Be careful with movements and noises:
Carp is one of the shyest and cautious fish, they can detect the presence of any fisherman who approaches them, so you better be stealthy if you don’t want the carp to catch you. It is very important to keep your fishing lines resting completely flat on the bottom of the lake, as many make the mistake of keeping them too taut, which only makes them stay on the bottom and remain still, making them tremendously more difficult for the carp to detect.
Don’t pay too much attention to the details of the rigging:
Don’t waste your precious fishing time on that, it’s better to focus on other aspects. Only in waters where the fishing pressure is very high will the rigging be crucial.
Be active:
Carp anglers have to keep active fishing to notice some details, such as the change of location of carp at dawn and dusk, when they gasp on the surface. This is a perfect indicator to know where we can place the bait and thus increase the number of bites. Don’t fall asleep… Keep your eyes open!
Master other techniques:
Such as float fishing or surface fishing, so you can combine them and apply them to significantly increase the number of bites. Especially in the fishing bite, you will have to know their attitude because sometimes you can catch them with a simple piece of cracker when they are on the surface, and other times when they are more submerged you can catch them with the help of float baits.
Look for a good spot:
Keep in mind that the time you spend looking for fish will be time well spent and will increase your catch. To do it more accurately, it is enough to use a depth sonar or a map of the area. Some fixed laws tell us that, for example, in spring the carp will tend to be located where the water is warmer.
Learn more How to Catch a Carp.
