11 Steps to Start Carp Fishing

Even if you've never fished before, you can learn how to fish for carp and get started carp fishing with a few simple steps. I will teach you how to catch carp with corn in a pond, lake or river.

Carp Fishing Tackle

1. Buy a fishing rod

An inexpensive medium action rod of 8' to 9' will be affordable to get you started. A few ideas to help you research include these possibilities:

• Ugly Stik GX2
• Whuppin' Stick (I have 2 of these myself that I use as "travel rods")

2. Buy a fishing reel

You use almost any reel and make it work by loosening the drag, but for beginners a baitrunner reel will be highly desired. Some potential choices:

• Okuma ABF-55 (I started with 3 of these myself)
• Penn Fierce II
• Daiwa Regal

There are other choices that will work just fine. Almost any 5000 - 8000 series reel will work. 

3. Buy fishing line

Monofilament is inexpensive to get started (15# test), but braided fish line works better for me (50# PowerPro). With less "stretch" braided line provides more control once you hook a carp.

4. Buy the required hooks, swivels, leads

A size 4, 6 or 8 hook will work, but if putting the corn directly on the hook size 2 or 4 is likely a little better. I use a size 8 swivel rated at 20 pounds or better. A "bolt rig" is great, but you can use a regular "smooth" or "flat" lead with some bread molded around it and tuck the hook lightly in the bread making it easier to cast. 

I prefer an inline lead. Fox brand makes leads that are available online. Sizes from 3 oz to 5 oz will provide for waters ranging from calm lakes to flowing rivers.

5. Buy a suitable landing net

You need to get a net capable of landing a 15 pound or larger fish and hoisting it up without breaking. I recommend a flat bottom Ranger brand net with rubber coating (available at some Dick's Sporting Goods stores). My favorite is a Tournament Series muskie net with the 84" telescoping handle. Big nylon nets are cheap, but will cause more harm to fish. Focus on a rubber coated net with a smaller opening in the webbing no larger than 3/4".

6. Use a yoga mat or old pillow stuffed in a trash bag to lay the fish on for unhooking

When you get more serious you can buy a padded landing mat from an online carp tackle vendor for $25 - $35 that works well.

Carp Fishing Bait

7. Buy a can of corn and a baiting needle

You can put kernels of canned corn directly on the hook and catch fish, but learning to tie a "hair rig" is fairly easy and very effective. You can improvise instead of using a baiting needle with various crafting or needlepoint items. A baiting needle will save you a lot of frustration.

Boiling "field corn" aka "deer corn" and flavoring with salt, cayenne, anise or vanilla is a step up from canned corn and field corn stays on the hair rig or hook easier. There are also commercial flavored baits available online such as those offered by Trilogy Carp Baits and a few others.

Use a pot big enough to make chili in. Fill it 1/2 full of field corn and the rest with water. Add some salt. Add some cayenne if desired. Cook on medium low heat until the corn puffs up. Check for tenderness and continue cooking, adding small amounts of water until tender. It's truly easy as heating water. I mix this corn in my pack bait.

Or, you can also try to make homemade boilies.

8. Buy some panko bread crumbs or oatmeal

I like to buy this in bulk at Gordon Food Store near my house. You can get 3 pound bags off the shelf or order 25 pound bags for bulk purchases. I usually by 50 pounds at a time (2 bags). I use this as a base in my pack bait (aka ground bait). 

You will need a wetting agent like syrup or cream corn. I prefer cream corn from Aldi. The cheaper the price, the better.

9. Mix in some boiled bird seed

I usually buy this at Wal-Mart in 10 pound bags. Boil it on the stove top in a pot until it expands and softens up. Store the boiled bird seed in resealable bags and place in the refrigerator.

10. Use some deer attractant powder or peanut suet

This is a "secret" tip that I've giving you as a reward for reading my blog and taking an interest in carp fishing. A little goes along way, so you can use a cup or less of each. It will also help "bind" the pack bait better.

Carp Fishing Rigs

11. Learn to tie a knotless knot aka "hair rig".

YouTube is a good place to learn how to tie a hair rig for carp fishing. You can make it complicated or keep it simple. I prefer to use my main line braid for my hair rigs also, but you can also use different rig tying materials or shrink wrap to make the rig stiffer and help prevent tangles when casting.

North American Carp Angler has some knot tieing tips from time to time in the magazine as well.

Conclusion

This shopping list may sound a little "pricey". But taking into consideration the savings you get from bank fishing as compared to fishing from a boat, it's really a nice bargain. 

For many, fishing is a great way to unwind after the work week. It’s a meditation and a popular destressor allowing you to get off the couch, out of the house and into the great outdoors.

By learning to fish for carp, you can save $80,000 right out of the gate. A new bass boat runs $30,000 more and add another $50,000 for a new tow vehicle. And that's before you put any fuel in the boat or the truck!

By shore fishing, you are ahead of the game before you even start. And, it may save you on a psychologist's bill down the road. :-)

As an alternative to buying new gear, consider shopping around at yard sales or borrow from a friend to "try before you buy," and save money.

You can get started with a little or a lot of money. It's up to you.

(I also wrote a How to Catch Carp blog post you may enjoy.)

Disclosure: This post contains links to products sold by affiliate companies. If you decide to purchase a product, I may receive a small commission. The decision to purchase is entirely yours.

Fall Carp Fishing in Michigan

I fished for 7 1/2 hours today, but could have probably still been catching as I write this if I wasn't fishing alone.

This spot has a huge weed bed that runs from about 20 feet to 150 feet off shore. You have to cast out past the weeds and then fight the fish through the very thick weeds. It's a good workout. Of course you end up losing about 30% of the fish.

In the past I've pulled 25# and 31# carp from this spot including another 7 or 8 #'s of weeds.

I managed to land 10 fish (the most ever from here) ranging from about 3 pounds up to 20 pounds (18 pounds was the next largest). But perhaps best of all I landed a nice little mirror. It's my first mirror from here.

The bigger fish seem to head elsewhere in the afternoons, so it pays to be on your game from the jump. There is heavy, heavy boat traffic here in the traditional boating months. It's a spot I only fish a couple times a year if it's raining or too cold for comfortable boating.

It's also a good spot for blanking.

This session is a great example of the need to be prepared when you go carp fishing. You really need to be on your game to consistently land carp. It can make the difference between a great, enjoyable day and a day filled with frustration.

Recasting quickly can increase your catch rate dramatically. At one point the action was so fast that I literally couldn't keep rods in the water.  Fish move in shoals, so if you catch one there are likely others nearby.

You need a process for landing the fish, capturing the photo, releasing the fish and recasting without wasting time or energy. Doing this when fishing solo takes some pre-planning and preparation. Taking the time to do it can help you catch many more carp throughout the year. If you catch 200 carp and being organized helps improve your results by a 10% rate, that's 20 more chances to land your new personal best. 

Carp or Catfish Fishing Reel at Good Price

I have been looking for good prices on fishing reels, recently ran across a series of reels and found an extremely good value reel for carp fishing. 

Product Features

• 17 pounds of drag pressure
• CNC Aluminum High Strength Spool
• 5.0:1 High-Speed Gear Ratio Provides Quicker Retrieves
• CNC  Machined Aluminum Handle - Left/Right Interchangeable
• Graphite Body
• Graphite Rotor

I ordered the 7000 series of this reel today, so I should get it by this time next week. This may turn out to be one of the better reels for carp or catfish available.

Stay tuned for a detailed review once I have a chance to test it.

Disclosure: This post contains links to products sold by affiliate companies. If you decide to purchase a product, I may receive a small commission. The decision to purchase is entirely yours.

2nd Carp Fishing Trip to New River Spot

This time of year I schedule vacation time on Fridays to take advantage of the carp fishing conditions. The cool weather seems to spur the carp to "put on the feed". As the natural food sources begin to decrease, the carp seem to be more willing to feed on baits provided by fishermen.

This spot has only yielded 2 carp (and 7 catfish) so far, but this 19 pounder was a welcome addition to the tally.

I pixelated the background on this picture out of courtesy to a fellow fisherman. It's a spot I scouted 4 years ago with Linda while we were traveling, but never got around to fishing. I mentioned it to a friend last year, who fished it in October 2019. He absolutely killed it there with numerous fish greater than 20 pounds and a couple over 30 pounds. 

For the investigative types reading this post wondering where it is, I can tell you it's not the Rouge, Detroit or Raisin rivers that I have frequented in the past.

New River, New Carp Swim

Today I fished a new river and new swim for the first time. The fish were stingy with their bites, but I ended up with 3 catfish and a carp; landing one of each.

Here are some pictures:

I caught the catfish on a boilie hookbait and the carp on some flavored corn. The regular ground bait of panko, cream corn, bird seed, field corn, peanut suet and flavors did the trick.

Fish Art

This mural adorns the west side of the Schultz Outfitters location in Ypsilanti.

Go check it out the next time you're shopping for fly fishing items.

New Mirrorless Camera

Entry Level Sony Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

Deja Vu Carp Times 2

Fishing at the Detroit River today for carp, I had two catches at 15+ pounds each. To my surprise, it appeared to be the same fish.

It wasn't very easy to tell because the fish had a couple of missing scales on the side opposite the camera.

The first catch was at 10:15 and second at a little after Noon. We managed a better photo the second time around.

These catches demonstrate an important concept in carp fishing: consistency. Consistent casting and baiting will help you catch more fish.

After you have identified a likely location that holds fish, recasting to the same spot does three things:

1) Holds fish already there in the location for a longer period
2) Draws more fish into the spot
3) Increases the odds you may catch one or more fish

You can't catch what's not in front of you. So its a smart strategy to hold what's there and bring more in. More fish for longer periods translates into more fish selfies! Yay!

Link to more info about carp fishing on the Detroit River: The Strait

Update: Upon closer inspection of these photos it is apparent these are two different fish.

Deeper Pro+: A Useful Tool for Carp Fishing

I have had the Deeper Pro+ for two years. It is a useful tool for carp fishing.

I have used the tool when scouting new spots more than for identifying actual fish location, but it is useful for both tasks.

The set up and synching with my SmartPhone was very easy. Using the Deeper, fishing or scouting for carp is pretty  straightforward.

Here are some examples of the capabilities:

Courtesy Deeper

Courtesy Deeper

Courtesy Deeper

The brown signals the contour and green signals vegetation. A fish is signaled by an unmistakable fish symbol.

During my first attempt at fishing a new spot on the Detroit River, the Deeper helped me decide where to make my first casts. The depth finder capabilities signaled that my spot ranged from 5 feet to 11 feet deep all within a 50 foot cast. It also helped identify an area relatively free of snags.


I should use it more and more, but it does draw battery power so when fishing alone I tend to conserve battery use in case I need to make an emergency phone call.

We Need More Fishermen to Start Carp Blogs

It's no secret. Facebook and Instagram are taking over the world of photography.

They have just about cornered the market on carp fishing communications also. And I don't think that's a good thing.

I get it. It's easy to post on Facebook and Instagram. It requires no special knowledge, programming or skills. It's as simple as snap, crop (if needed) and share using our phone.

The "likes" on Facebook and Instagram provide an instant dopamine rush. The feedback is quick and nearly immediate.

Why is that not so good?

We have ceded control to Mark Zuckerberg. We are building his empire and adding to his net worth. We are granting Facebook permission to use our fish photos, likenesses and fishing experiences to sell advertising to companies and products to our friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

Having a personal website is a possible way to begin taking some of that control back. Developing our own platforms to share our carp fishing adventures is a way to regain some amounts of control and build something of our own that builds our own worth.

If you have always wanted to have a blog, website, discussion board, etc. of your very own...why not do it now? Why not today?

If you have a carp fishing website and would like to have it listed here, please let me know.

We can build a network of carp fishing information outside of Facebook and Instagram. I'm a big fan of that.

If you have a website and want to work on improving Search Engine Optimization here's a link that may help.

If you want to start a side hustle but need to build your skill set, free online courses on sites like Coursera or Codecademy are a great place to start.

If you're looking for blogging options Blogger, Wix, and WordPress provide a few options for consideration. All offer free options, but for more customization the paid WordPress platform is the better choice. Blogger is the easiest for a web programming novice.

When you start your blog, you may find the post I wrote about choosing a niche useful.

Koi/Carp Hybrid Catch

Two years ago today I caught this koi. It is an ogon variant of some type that has likely hybridized with common carp. It's the first and only koi for me.

Zen and the Art of Carp Fishing

Carp fishing isn't always easy. Blanking, aka not catching fish, happens sometimes. And it is frustrating.

• My first inclination is to start re-casting more frequently
• Second, I change packbait ingredients
• Then I change hookbait flavor or types
• If all else fails to work, I typically pray for bites :-)
• I also try different spots within a swim starting medium, near and far distances to find the shoals of fish

Any time a new area is being fished for the first time, a blank is always a possibility. It's the nature of exploration. 

It takes a while to find all the ins and outs of a venue. I fish two swims that produce fish in very defined areas spanning 10 to 20 feet square. One is a small opening in the thick weed bed and the other is a drop off immediately beyond a flat "shelf". Those characteristics take time to locate and understand in any new spot.

I have learned that blanking becomes easier on my ego if I place less emphasis on catching fish and more emphasis on enjoying the process and being mindful of "not being mindful".

Here's the formal definition from Wikipedia:

Zen is an expression meaning mind without mind - and a state of no-mindedness. The mind is not occupied by thought or emotion.

With the "zen" approach, it becomes less about disappointment and more about enjoying being outside in nature.

May you find your zen during the next fishing session.

Or, to put it another way (in the words of famed philosopher Immanuel Kant), find your "purposeless purpose", meaning "to escape the rat race."

Fishing for "no purpose" is the best kind of meditation (and medicine for the mind).

Quillback or Carpsucker

Ninety-five percent of my catches are common carp with an occasional mirror, catfish or buffalo. Yesterday I caught something different that I first thought was a smallmouth buffalo. Upon further examination I realized it was a new species for me.

The final determination may never be made, but 90% of those seeing the picture favor a quillback and the remainder lean toward it being a carpsucker variety. Either way I win, because it's my first catch of either species.

I had some time this afternoon and experimented with Snapseed and Pixlr to create several black and white versions of my favorite picture. Versions 1 and 2 have more tonal contrast dialed up than version 3. I favor #3 myself, but I can see that changing based on my mood. 

2 Tips for Taking Better Carp Photos

Here are two simple ways to ensure the hard work, sweat and money you spend carp fishing pays off with a good quality photo of you favorite captures.

• When taking self-posed carp pictures, remember to present the fish square to the camera. 
• If you really want to be conservative and ensure a nice photo, tilt the head slightly closer to the phone camera than the tail.  

For a good example of what happens when you don't follow that guidance, refer to the photo below. Unfortunately, I missed an opportunity for an average photo to be a really good one.

Fishing alone can be challenging, and in this example I was getting so many runs that it cut the time for photos shorter than I would have preferred.

9 Carp Caught in Detroit River After a Rain

It's Saturday, so I went fishing. I caught lots of fish and caught my new Detroit River carp personal best and my new Detroit River carpsucker personal best (either a River or a Highline). That's the first carpsucker I have caught in the river.

These are pictures of most of them, but not all. The river was on fire today after the rain.

Update: It appears the sucker could also be a quillback. Whatever it is, it's a first for me.

22 pounds

Release picture of my new Detroit River
personal best.

I used chocolate hazelnut flavoring in my cream corn, with Beet Crush Deer minerals and peanut suet in the packbait mix.

This one took his time navigating through the thick weed cover in this location that becomes very thick at summer's end.

Another of the numerous common carp I caught

Sometimes the action is fast and furious and there's only time for a quick mat picture.

Definitely a surprise catch that was completely unexpected

"You can call me quillback, or you can call me carpsucker, just don't call me a quillback carpsucker."

In my experience, this is a typical size for Detroit River common carp.

I ended the day tired and wore out. Days like this make me appreciate having someone to help with netting and taking pictures. I kept getting runs while trying to get the pictures captured.

One of numerous catfish I caught

The first catch of the day turned to be a catfish

In a prior post, I suggested using the smallest possible size lead weight when carp fishing in the Detroit River. For these fish, I used a 2 oz leads.

This day of fast and furious fishing also required using the voice activated picture capability of my Galaxy S9 SmartPhone.

Carp Photo Tip: When taking self-posed carp pictures, remember to present the fish square to the camera. If you really want to be conservative and ensure a nice photo, tilt the head slightly closer to the phone camera than the tail.  For a good example of what happens when you don't follow that guidance, refer to the first photo above. Unfortunately, I missed an opportunity for an average photo to be a great one.