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Introduction The History of Carp Fishing The Carp The different types of Carp Where are Carp found? What do Carp eat? Carp Breeding The plain facts about Carp Carp Fishing Equipment Rods Reels Fishing Line Bait What are Boilies and Hair Rigs? Other things to find in your tackle box Getting out on the water Where to find them How to fish for carp What about the weather Reeling in your carp What on earth is watercraft? Enjoy your Carp Fishing Top Carp Fishing in the World Carp Recipes Glossary Introduction You get up at the crack of dawn because it might take you all day to reel in your first 40-pound carp. You must have cast your rod hundreds of times over the past year and the best you can come up with is a pan-sized puny. Today, we are going to change all of that. Carp fishing is a hugely popular faction of the sport fishing world, with millions of people worldwide participating every year. It can be a year round sport where families and friends go out for entire days, weekends or weeks to bring in the big lunker lurking at the bottom of the lake. On these pages, I am going to provide you with as much information as I can to give you a rewarding experience fishing for carp. There are many facets to this fabulous sport fish to cover and in the following pages you are going to be taken on a crash course, so you can start fighting the big ones and bring the trophy to the shore. Here’s what you are going to find on these pages: • History of carp fishing • What is a carp? How many kinds are there? • The equipment you are going to need to start • Where the carp are going to bite • Bringing in the big one • Building your own carp pond • The best carp fishing spots in the world • And more! I could never claim to include everything about carp fishing on these pages, but I am going to give you as much information as we can, so you are armed to catch as many carp as you can. You have chosen a sport that requires patience, guile and the smarts to outsmart the fish at the bottom – but is it ever fun! I hope this guide provides you with as much valuable information as possible, and you have tremendous success reeling in the big catch! Happy Angling! -Back- The History of Carp Fishing Carp has been one of the most prized fish in Asia for over 4,000 years – symbolizing strength and courage for the people who consumed it as a food source. It has been a popular fish in Europe as well for over 2,000 years, and early immigrants in the United States could not understand why there were no carp in North America. It wasn’t until some bright businessmen decided that they could make a fortune bringing native-European carp into the country in the late 1800’s, before it actually made it to North America. It was brought over to consume as a food source, but it eventually proliferated their waters. Still, 90 per cent of the world’s 11 million ton production is still in China. The monks spread carp around Europe during the 17th and 18th century by monks. They were impressed with the fish’s ability to grow to very large sizes, and therefore it was a great source of regular food for them. Also, they were tended to in small ponds so they did not need large areas to cultivate the fish. Carp in the United States and the UK While the carp were rapidly becoming one of the most popular sport fish in the UK, the late 1800’s saw the introduction of the carp into American waters. The American public wanted more carp available and the United States had endured years of declining fish populations. Because the carp has no particular affinity for types of water or water conditions, they adapted and quickly thrived in the rivers of the United States. At one point, the United States government started intensive cultivation of the carp and the fish flourished. But, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. While there was an abundance of the carp, different areas of the angling world and also public-interest groups felt the carp was becoming a problem. The anglers felt that the carp had choked out the other exciting game fish like the trout and grayling and some freshwater salmon. Interesting Fact: Biologists doing tests on the effect of pollutants on carp populations tested 1600 chemicals on controlled groups of fish and found that only 135 of them killed all of the fish. Carp are one of the most pollutantresistant fish, and it has helped them build populations in many streams and rivers. The reason why this was happening was because the carp frequently searches for food on the bottom of a river or lake. The carp suck in the mud and vegetation and spits out the parts that do not provide any nutrients. This creates very murky water and it doesn’t allow other fish to be able to see their food sources. Consequently, the other fish do not survive. The carp also have a tendency to crowd out other fish. They can lay up to 2 million eggs at a time and fish that are only one year old can grow to as much as 8”. This created a situation where other fish would migrate from waters that were ‘infested’ by the carp. There has been an effort going on since the 1950’s to undertake large-scale removals of the carp – especially from game fish waters. It was very difficult because of the reproductive abilities of the carp, and the fact that the fish was able to thrive in the most unlikely water sources. Carp in the UK The UK had a similar, but slightly different problem. During the 1950’s, very few British anglers were able to fish the carp from the waters. They are a very tricky and patient fish, and the anglers in the UK were beginning to get frustrated. With an inability to fish the carp from the waters, the species was able to continue to expand exponentially throughout its users. This led to the development of several new lures and baits over the next 20 years. By the 1970’s there were hundreds of successful new baits and carp fishing took the country by storm. Carp today The Unites States went back to the original reason the carp were brought to the country, in order to try and control them. They were a low cost, and good renewable food source that could continually be harvested. This has proved to be quite effective, along with the explosion of carp fishing among sportsmen. Cleaning up the dirty and polluted waters where the fish have been known to thrive has also been a priority for many lakes and streams across the United States, and there has been a tremendous amount of success in doing so. The carp has a long history – dating back 4,000 years ago. It is one of the most sought after fish in Asia, and now one of the most fished in the United States and the UK. We are going to give you a little more insight into this fish in the next chapters. It will provide you with the information you need to scoop the catch of the day up in your net the next time you go out to fish. -Back- The Carp So what exactly is the appeal of this oft-grotesque, moustached master of our domestic waters? One of the most often heard reasons for fishing this creature is the actual sport of it. This powerful fish makes you fight for every inch when you try to reel it in. It is also a fish that has many interesting qualities that make it one of the most prized fish by both fish connoisseurs and by anglers alike. The different types of Carp There are literally dozens of types of carp, right from the grass carp to the fan-tail carp, but many are ornamental, and the others are more of your common carp. These can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers and are the main targets of the angler. The average carp, no matter the species, typically grows to up to 48” in length and around 25 to 30 pounds in weight, although there are some that reach over well over 75 pounds. There are a few groups that are quite separate from the Oriental (Asian), European or common carp. These would include the Koi and any of the other ornamental carp. Some of the more common species of carp that you are going to find in your local river or lake are: • Grass carp • Silver carp • Bighead carp • Common carp These species are the ones you are going to be fishing for, so those are the ones we will talk about in this book. The Grass Carp As you can probably imagine, the Grass Carp got its name due to the affinity it has for munching on the underwater vegetation. It is native to Asia and Europe, and was brought to the United States and to the UK because it was believed the fish would help control weed growth in many of the waterways. It has a particularly scaly body unlike many other carp, which have patches of scales on their body in a predetermined pattern. The scales are what separate this variety of carp from all of the others. The grass carp has a small mouth and eyes that are set lower on the snout than other car. The body is longer and more slender than some of its counterparts. The scaling on the body is a darker golden brown color, with a very defined diamond pattern (as seen below). In some areas where the grass carp was brought in for vegetation control, it has overtaken the habitats of some of the native fish who swam in those waters. The problem was that the grass carp would eat at least its weight in weeds everyday – effectively destroying the natural habitat and food supply for many other fish and waterfowl. Today, stocking of this species of the carp for weed control is illegal. Silver Carp The silver carp was brought into the United States back in 1973 as a means of controlling phytoplankton in local lagoons and to be a food source. The silver carp had no problem controlling the phytoplankton, seeing as how it can eat two to three times its weight every day. But, this posed a problem to the ecological balance of the lagoons. The carp competed with the native fish and mussels for valuable food, destroying many of the natural habitats of these creatures. It escaped from captivity and proliferated the Mississippi Basin where it now makes its home. You can identify the silver carp because of its tight, shimmering silver scales, and the seemingly colorless appearance it has. The eyes are low on the face, and the mouth is fairly small in comparison with other fish. It is a wonder, considering how much it can eat. Now, they are one of an angler’s prized catches – especially because of the amazing size they can reach in such a short time. They have made a good meal, but you want to be careful where you are fishing them from, because they enjoy the confines of sewage lagoons. Bighead Carp The Big head carp is another problem fish because it also competes with the smaller game fish for food. This dark green and white carp was introduced into the Mississippi River when the captive ponds were washed out in the 1970’s. They have been appearing in open waters in 19 states since the early 1980’s. The problem with the big head carp is that it doesn’t have a stomach, so it basically filters algae and plankton through its body, stripping the food of it’s nutrients. This makes it difficult for other organisms in the habitat to find good food sources. The big head is naturally one of the biggest carps in the open waters. It is not uncommon to find a big head carp at a length of over three feet and weighing over 55 lbs. Common Carp This carp is also known as the European carp, and has quite a different appearance than the others. It is a greenish yellow on the top half with a yellowish-white underside. One of the most recognizable features of the common carp is the barbels, or whiskers that the carp have. They are not quite like those of a catfish, but they are definitely recognizable. This is one of the smaller carp, growing between 12 and 24 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds, but like the other species, with an adequate food source, they can live long and prosper – so to speak – and they can grow to over 75 pounds. Like most of the other carp species, they were brought in as a food source because of the carp’s natural ability to grow quickly and steadily. Brought in to North America in the late 1800’s the initial stock of common carp was thought to be so valuable that they fenced and guarded. Today, the common carp are considered a nuisance in most areas – doing the same as all of the other carp and destroying the natural habitat of local game fish by eating the vegetation, and by competing with several of the species for food. It is one of the most widely distributed. Koi We include this kind of carp because it is quite a beautiful fish. Not really what you are going to be fishing for, but still it is a member of the carp family. The Koi are the brightly multicolored carp that you will often find in ponds and other decorative gardens. They are often mistaken for oversized goldfish, but they are not. They are their own species of carp, harvested more for their beauty than their food source or their ability to consume large quantities of food. There are dozens of different types of koi, usually differentiated by their color or their markings. Their markings are black, gold, yellow, red, green, you name it, you can find a fish for that color. Their patterns vary from the intricate to simple dual tone, but the vibrancy of the colors is no different. The Koi can grow between 24 and 36 inches. Their size is dependent on the size of the pool they are kept in, food course, and the filtration of the water. If you decide to have Koi in your backyard pond, you can expect them to grow as much as 2 to 4 inches each year. There are other carp varieties out there and you will likely come across them in your travels if you spend enough time out on the water. Here are a few more of the varieties and what you might see for an appearance. • Leather carp – No scales. • Mirror carp – This carp has a few large scales patterned over the entire body. • Liner carp – It was given this name because it has a small number of scales like the mirror carp, but they are in a continuous lateral line along the sides of the body. • French carp – A golden color and generally wider along the spine and a large stomach area. • Italian carp – Silver in color with a long and slender head. -Back- Where are Carp found? Geographically, you can find carp almost anywhere in the world, as they have made their way into most countries on the globe. They are able to survive in water conditions that many other fish would never dream of, so it is possible to find carp in many different place – from sloughs to lakes and rivers. As a rule, they do prefer warmer waters, thus lending themselves to a shallow water existence for the most part. In the winter, when the warmer water is at the bottom of the lake, pond, or river, they tend to stay in the deeper areas. They also like to live in areas where aquatic vegetation is in abundance, both for shelter from predators, and because it provides a huge supply of food when they rifle through the reeds and roots at the lake bottom. Remember: Carp are not native to North America. They were imported as a food source and to help clean up many of the lakes and ponds overcome by algae and other aquatic plants. Many people still consider this species of fish a nuisance rather than a typical game fish. During the summer months carp will also be found near the line of temperature difference in the water. This is called the thermocline. The thermocline is determined by the depth of the water and the different layers of temperature and oxygen and organic material. During the summer, the differences in the water temperature can be greater and the carp, who are often found at the bottom of a lake or river to feed, need to come up to the warmer level of water because of an increased amount of available oxygen. In the winter, the thermocline becomes almost inconsequential as the layers of water are more equal. -Back- What do Carp eat? One might be inclined to say anything, and that is often the case. But, given a choice the carp would likely be found on the bottom of a lake bed or riverbed and drudging through the reeds and weeds to sifting through for food. Also common in their diet is phytoplankton, and zooplankton and they are also known to eat: • Algae • Worms • Crayfish • Snails • Insects • Mussels • Dead plants • Rotifers Carp will often swim along the bottom of a lakebed, disrupting the surface, and like a vacuum, they will suck up everything in their path and then spit out what they don’t want. But, many in the aquatic world would consider carp to be one of the water kingdom’s scavengers. Some species will survive in sewage, others in chemically-deteriorated waters. They are hardy enough to survive on whatever type of food they are given – actually they rarely just survive, they thrive on most food sources. Carp can be particularly picky about when they feed as well. They don’t often feed in temperatures below 60 degrees. This is why they don’t have particular success breeding in temperatures below this. They don’t want to feed and they don’t want to breed when the weather gets cold. That’s quite the opposite of humans, don’t you think? For the angler, if you are looking to try and land the record fish, you need to know what the carp in your area are eating. Chances are if they are in an area rich in mussels and other large carnivore prey, they are going to be bigger fish. This will often be the case in deeper waters where the likelihood of having this type of food source is greater. -Back- Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
Introduction You get up at the crack of dawn because it might take you all day to reel in your first 40-pound carp. You must have cast your rod hundreds of times over the past year and the best you can come up with is a pan-sized puny. Today, we are going to change all of that. Carp fishing is a hugely popular faction of the sport fishing world, with millions of people worldwide participating every year. It can be a year round sport where families and friends go out for entire days, weekends or weeks to bring in the big lunker lurking at the bottom of the lake. On these pages, I am going to provide you with as much information as I can to give you a rewarding experience fishing for carp. There are many facets to this fabulous sport fish to cover and in the following pages you are going to be taken on a crash course, so you can start fighting the big ones and bring the trophy to the shore. Here’s what you are going to find on these pages: • History of carp fishing • What is a carp? How many kinds are there? • The equipment you are going to need to start • Where the carp are going to bite • Bringing in the big one • Building your own carp pond • The best carp fishing spots in the world • And more! I could never claim to include everything about carp fishing on these pages, but I am going to give you as much information as we can, so you are armed to catch as many carp as you can. You have chosen a sport that requires patience, guile and the smarts to outsmart the fish at the bottom – but is it ever fun! I hope this guide provides you with as much valuable information as possible, and you have tremendous success reeling in the big catch! Happy Angling! -Back- The History of Carp Fishing Carp has been one of the most prized fish in Asia for over 4,000 years – symbolizing strength and courage for the people who consumed it as a food source. It has been a popular fish in Europe as well for over 2,000 years, and early immigrants in the United States could not understand why there were no carp in North America. It wasn’t until some bright businessmen decided that they could make a fortune bringing native-European carp into the country in the late 1800’s, before it actually made it to North America. It was brought over to consume as a food source, but it eventually proliferated their waters. Still, 90 per cent of the world’s 11 million ton production is still in China. The monks spread carp around Europe during the 17th and 18th century by monks. They were impressed with the fish’s ability to grow to very large sizes, and therefore it was a great source of regular food for them. Also, they were tended to in small ponds so they did not need large areas to cultivate the fish. Carp in the United States and the UK While the carp were rapidly becoming one of the most popular sport fish in the UK, the late 1800’s saw the introduction of the carp into American waters. The American public wanted more carp available and the United States had endured years of declining fish populations. Because the carp has no particular affinity for types of water or water conditions, they adapted and quickly thrived in the rivers of the United States. At one point, the United States government started intensive cultivation of the carp and the fish flourished. But, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. While there was an abundance of the carp, different areas of the angling world and also public-interest groups felt the carp was becoming a problem. The anglers felt that the carp had choked out the other exciting game fish like the trout and grayling and some freshwater salmon. Interesting Fact: Biologists doing tests on the effect of pollutants on carp populations tested 1600 chemicals on controlled groups of fish and found that only 135 of them killed all of the fish. Carp are one of the most pollutantresistant fish, and it has helped them build populations in many streams and rivers. The reason why this was happening was because the carp frequently searches for food on the bottom of a river or lake. The carp suck in the mud and vegetation and spits out the parts that do not provide any nutrients. This creates very murky water and it doesn’t allow other fish to be able to see their food sources. Consequently, the other fish do not survive. The carp also have a tendency to crowd out other fish. They can lay up to 2 million eggs at a time and fish that are only one year old can grow to as much as 8”. This created a situation where other fish would migrate from waters that were ‘infested’ by the carp. There has been an effort going on since the 1950’s to undertake large-scale removals of the carp – especially from game fish waters. It was very difficult because of the reproductive abilities of the carp, and the fact that the fish was able to thrive in the most unlikely water sources. Carp in the UK The UK had a similar, but slightly different problem. During the 1950’s, very few British anglers were able to fish the carp from the waters. They are a very tricky and patient fish, and the anglers in the UK were beginning to get frustrated. With an inability to fish the carp from the waters, the species was able to continue to expand exponentially throughout its users. This led to the development of several new lures and baits over the next 20 years. By the 1970’s there were hundreds of successful new baits and carp fishing took the country by storm. Carp today The Unites States went back to the original reason the carp were brought to the country, in order to try and control them. They were a low cost, and good renewable food source that could continually be harvested. This has proved to be quite effective, along with the explosion of carp fishing among sportsmen. Cleaning up the dirty and polluted waters where the fish have been known to thrive has also been a priority for many lakes and streams across the United States, and there has been a tremendous amount of success in doing so. The carp has a long history – dating back 4,000 years ago. It is one of the most sought after fish in Asia, and now one of the most fished in the United States and the UK. We are going to give you a little more insight into this fish in the next chapters. It will provide you with the information you need to scoop the catch of the day up in your net the next time you go out to fish. -Back- The Carp So what exactly is the appeal of this oft-grotesque, moustached master of our domestic waters? One of the most often heard reasons for fishing this creature is the actual sport of it. This powerful fish makes you fight for every inch when you try to reel it in. It is also a fish that has many interesting qualities that make it one of the most prized fish by both fish connoisseurs and by anglers alike. The different types of Carp There are literally dozens of types of carp, right from the grass carp to the fan-tail carp, but many are ornamental, and the others are more of your common carp. These can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers and are the main targets of the angler. The average carp, no matter the species, typically grows to up to 48” in length and around 25 to 30 pounds in weight, although there are some that reach over well over 75 pounds. There are a few groups that are quite separate from the Oriental (Asian), European or common carp. These would include the Koi and any of the other ornamental carp. Some of the more common species of carp that you are going to find in your local river or lake are: • Grass carp • Silver carp • Bighead carp • Common carp These species are the ones you are going to be fishing for, so those are the ones we will talk about in this book. The Grass Carp As you can probably imagine, the Grass Carp got its name due to the affinity it has for munching on the underwater vegetation. It is native to Asia and Europe, and was brought to the United States and to the UK because it was believed the fish would help control weed growth in many of the waterways. It has a particularly scaly body unlike many other carp, which have patches of scales on their body in a predetermined pattern. The scales are what separate this variety of carp from all of the others. The grass carp has a small mouth and eyes that are set lower on the snout than other car. The body is longer and more slender than some of its counterparts. The scaling on the body is a darker golden brown color, with a very defined diamond pattern (as seen below). In some areas where the grass carp was brought in for vegetation control, it has overtaken the habitats of some of the native fish who swam in those waters. The problem was that the grass carp would eat at least its weight in weeds everyday – effectively destroying the natural habitat and food supply for many other fish and waterfowl. Today, stocking of this species of the carp for weed control is illegal. Silver Carp The silver carp was brought into the United States back in 1973 as a means of controlling phytoplankton in local lagoons and to be a food source. The silver carp had no problem controlling the phytoplankton, seeing as how it can eat two to three times its weight every day. But, this posed a problem to the ecological balance of the lagoons. The carp competed with the native fish and mussels for valuable food, destroying many of the natural habitats of these creatures. It escaped from captivity and proliferated the Mississippi Basin where it now makes its home. You can identify the silver carp because of its tight, shimmering silver scales, and the seemingly colorless appearance it has. The eyes are low on the face, and the mouth is fairly small in comparison with other fish. It is a wonder, considering how much it can eat. Now, they are one of an angler’s prized catches – especially because of the amazing size they can reach in such a short time. They have made a good meal, but you want to be careful where you are fishing them from, because they enjoy the confines of sewage lagoons. Bighead Carp The Big head carp is another problem fish because it also competes with the smaller game fish for food. This dark green and white carp was introduced into the Mississippi River when the captive ponds were washed out in the 1970’s. They have been appearing in open waters in 19 states since the early 1980’s. The problem with the big head carp is that it doesn’t have a stomach, so it basically filters algae and plankton through its body, stripping the food of it’s nutrients. This makes it difficult for other organisms in the habitat to find good food sources. The big head is naturally one of the biggest carps in the open waters. It is not uncommon to find a big head carp at a length of over three feet and weighing over 55 lbs. Common Carp This carp is also known as the European carp, and has quite a different appearance than the others. It is a greenish yellow on the top half with a yellowish-white underside. One of the most recognizable features of the common carp is the barbels, or whiskers that the carp have. They are not quite like those of a catfish, but they are definitely recognizable. This is one of the smaller carp, growing between 12 and 24 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds, but like the other species, with an adequate food source, they can live long and prosper – so to speak – and they can grow to over 75 pounds. Like most of the other carp species, they were brought in as a food source because of the carp’s natural ability to grow quickly and steadily. Brought in to North America in the late 1800’s the initial stock of common carp was thought to be so valuable that they fenced and guarded. Today, the common carp are considered a nuisance in most areas – doing the same as all of the other carp and destroying the natural habitat of local game fish by eating the vegetation, and by competing with several of the species for food. It is one of the most widely distributed. Koi We include this kind of carp because it is quite a beautiful fish. Not really what you are going to be fishing for, but still it is a member of the carp family. The Koi are the brightly multicolored carp that you will often find in ponds and other decorative gardens. They are often mistaken for oversized goldfish, but they are not. They are their own species of carp, harvested more for their beauty than their food source or their ability to consume large quantities of food. There are dozens of different types of koi, usually differentiated by their color or their markings. Their markings are black, gold, yellow, red, green, you name it, you can find a fish for that color. Their patterns vary from the intricate to simple dual tone, but the vibrancy of the colors is no different. The Koi can grow between 24 and 36 inches. Their size is dependent on the size of the pool they are kept in, food course, and the filtration of the water. If you decide to have Koi in your backyard pond, you can expect them to grow as much as 2 to 4 inches each year. There are other carp varieties out there and you will likely come across them in your travels if you spend enough time out on the water. Here are a few more of the varieties and what you might see for an appearance. • Leather carp – No scales. • Mirror carp – This carp has a few large scales patterned over the entire body. • Liner carp – It was given this name because it has a small number of scales like the mirror carp, but they are in a continuous lateral line along the sides of the body. • French carp – A golden color and generally wider along the spine and a large stomach area. • Italian carp – Silver in color with a long and slender head. -Back- Where are Carp found? Geographically, you can find carp almost anywhere in the world, as they have made their way into most countries on the globe. They are able to survive in water conditions that many other fish would never dream of, so it is possible to find carp in many different place – from sloughs to lakes and rivers. As a rule, they do prefer warmer waters, thus lending themselves to a shallow water existence for the most part. In the winter, when the warmer water is at the bottom of the lake, pond, or river, they tend to stay in the deeper areas. They also like to live in areas where aquatic vegetation is in abundance, both for shelter from predators, and because it provides a huge supply of food when they rifle through the reeds and roots at the lake bottom. Remember: Carp are not native to North America. They were imported as a food source and to help clean up many of the lakes and ponds overcome by algae and other aquatic plants. Many people still consider this species of fish a nuisance rather than a typical game fish. During the summer months carp will also be found near the line of temperature difference in the water. This is called the thermocline. The thermocline is determined by the depth of the water and the different layers of temperature and oxygen and organic material. During the summer, the differences in the water temperature can be greater and the carp, who are often found at the bottom of a lake or river to feed, need to come up to the warmer level of water because of an increased amount of available oxygen. In the winter, the thermocline becomes almost inconsequential as the layers of water are more equal. -Back- What do Carp eat? One might be inclined to say anything, and that is often the case. But, given a choice the carp would likely be found on the bottom of a lake bed or riverbed and drudging through the reeds and weeds to sifting through for food. Also common in their diet is phytoplankton, and zooplankton and they are also known to eat: • Algae • Worms • Crayfish • Snails • Insects • Mussels • Dead plants • Rotifers Carp will often swim along the bottom of a lakebed, disrupting the surface, and like a vacuum, they will suck up everything in their path and then spit out what they don’t want. But, many in the aquatic world would consider carp to be one of the water kingdom’s scavengers. Some species will survive in sewage, others in chemically-deteriorated waters. They are hardy enough to survive on whatever type of food they are given – actually they rarely just survive, they thrive on most food sources. Carp can be particularly picky about when they feed as well. They don’t often feed in temperatures below 60 degrees. This is why they don’t have particular success breeding in temperatures below this. They don’t want to feed and they don’t want to breed when the weather gets cold. That’s quite the opposite of humans, don’t you think? For the angler, if you are looking to try and land the record fish, you need to know what the carp in your area are eating. Chances are if they are in an area rich in mussels and other large carnivore prey, they are going to be bigger fish. This will often be the case in deeper waters where the likelihood of having this type of food source is greater. -Back- Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
You get up at the crack of dawn because it might take you all day to reel in your first 40-pound carp. You must have cast your rod hundreds of times over the past year and the best you can come up with is a pan-sized puny. Today, we are going to change all of that. Carp fishing is a hugely popular faction of the sport fishing world, with millions of people worldwide participating every year. It can be a year round sport where families and friends go out for entire days, weekends or weeks to bring in the big lunker lurking at the bottom of the lake. On these pages, I am going to provide you with as much information as I can to give you a rewarding experience fishing for carp. There are many facets to this fabulous sport fish to cover and in the following pages you are going to be taken on a crash course, so you can start fighting the big ones and bring the trophy to the shore. Here’s what you are going to find on these pages: • History of carp fishing • What is a carp? How many kinds are there? • The equipment you are going to need to start • Where the carp are going to bite • Bringing in the big one • Building your own carp pond • The best carp fishing spots in the world • And more! I could never claim to include everything about carp fishing on these pages, but I am going to give you as much information as we can, so you are armed to catch as many carp as you can. You have chosen a sport that requires patience, guile and the smarts to outsmart the fish at the bottom – but is it ever fun! I hope this guide provides you with as much valuable information as possible, and you have tremendous success reeling in the big catch! Happy Angling!
-Back-
The History of Carp Fishing Carp has been one of the most prized fish in Asia for over 4,000 years – symbolizing strength and courage for the people who consumed it as a food source. It has been a popular fish in Europe as well for over 2,000 years, and early immigrants in the United States could not understand why there were no carp in North America. It wasn’t until some bright businessmen decided that they could make a fortune bringing native-European carp into the country in the late 1800’s, before it actually made it to North America. It was brought over to consume as a food source, but it eventually proliferated their waters. Still, 90 per cent of the world’s 11 million ton production is still in China. The monks spread carp around Europe during the 17th and 18th century by monks. They were impressed with the fish’s ability to grow to very large sizes, and therefore it was a great source of regular food for them. Also, they were tended to in small ponds so they did not need large areas to cultivate the fish. Carp in the United States and the UK While the carp were rapidly becoming one of the most popular sport fish in the UK, the late 1800’s saw the introduction of the carp into American waters. The American public wanted more carp available and the United States had endured years of declining fish populations. Because the carp has no particular affinity for types of water or water conditions, they adapted and quickly thrived in the rivers of the United States. At one point, the United States government started intensive cultivation of the carp and the fish flourished. But, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. While there was an abundance of the carp, different areas of the angling world and also public-interest groups felt the carp was becoming a problem. The anglers felt that the carp had choked out the other exciting game fish like the trout and grayling and some freshwater salmon. Interesting Fact: Biologists doing tests on the effect of pollutants on carp populations tested 1600 chemicals on controlled groups of fish and found that only 135 of them killed all of the fish. Carp are one of the most pollutantresistant fish, and it has helped them build populations in many streams and rivers. The reason why this was happening was because the carp frequently searches for food on the bottom of a river or lake. The carp suck in the mud and vegetation and spits out the parts that do not provide any nutrients. This creates very murky water and it doesn’t allow other fish to be able to see their food sources. Consequently, the other fish do not survive. The carp also have a tendency to crowd out other fish. They can lay up to 2 million eggs at a time and fish that are only one year old can grow to as much as 8”. This created a situation where other fish would migrate from waters that were ‘infested’ by the carp. There has been an effort going on since the 1950’s to undertake large-scale removals of the carp – especially from game fish waters. It was very difficult because of the reproductive abilities of the carp, and the fact that the fish was able to thrive in the most unlikely water sources. Carp in the UK The UK had a similar, but slightly different problem. During the 1950’s, very few British anglers were able to fish the carp from the waters. They are a very tricky and patient fish, and the anglers in the UK were beginning to get frustrated. With an inability to fish the carp from the waters, the species was able to continue to expand exponentially throughout its users. This led to the development of several new lures and baits over the next 20 years. By the 1970’s there were hundreds of successful new baits and carp fishing took the country by storm. Carp today The Unites States went back to the original reason the carp were brought to the country, in order to try and control them. They were a low cost, and good renewable food source that could continually be harvested. This has proved to be quite effective, along with the explosion of carp fishing among sportsmen. Cleaning up the dirty and polluted waters where the fish have been known to thrive has also been a priority for many lakes and streams across the United States, and there has been a tremendous amount of success in doing so. The carp has a long history – dating back 4,000 years ago. It is one of the most sought after fish in Asia, and now one of the most fished in the United States and the UK. We are going to give you a little more insight into this fish in the next chapters. It will provide you with the information you need to scoop the catch of the day up in your net the next time you go out to fish. -Back- The Carp So what exactly is the appeal of this oft-grotesque, moustached master of our domestic waters? One of the most often heard reasons for fishing this creature is the actual sport of it. This powerful fish makes you fight for every inch when you try to reel it in. It is also a fish that has many interesting qualities that make it one of the most prized fish by both fish connoisseurs and by anglers alike. The different types of Carp There are literally dozens of types of carp, right from the grass carp to the fan-tail carp, but many are ornamental, and the others are more of your common carp. These can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers and are the main targets of the angler. The average carp, no matter the species, typically grows to up to 48” in length and around 25 to 30 pounds in weight, although there are some that reach over well over 75 pounds. There are a few groups that are quite separate from the Oriental (Asian), European or common carp. These would include the Koi and any of the other ornamental carp. Some of the more common species of carp that you are going to find in your local river or lake are: • Grass carp • Silver carp • Bighead carp • Common carp These species are the ones you are going to be fishing for, so those are the ones we will talk about in this book. The Grass Carp As you can probably imagine, the Grass Carp got its name due to the affinity it has for munching on the underwater vegetation. It is native to Asia and Europe, and was brought to the United States and to the UK because it was believed the fish would help control weed growth in many of the waterways. It has a particularly scaly body unlike many other carp, which have patches of scales on their body in a predetermined pattern. The scales are what separate this variety of carp from all of the others. The grass carp has a small mouth and eyes that are set lower on the snout than other car. The body is longer and more slender than some of its counterparts. The scaling on the body is a darker golden brown color, with a very defined diamond pattern (as seen below). In some areas where the grass carp was brought in for vegetation control, it has overtaken the habitats of some of the native fish who swam in those waters. The problem was that the grass carp would eat at least its weight in weeds everyday – effectively destroying the natural habitat and food supply for many other fish and waterfowl. Today, stocking of this species of the carp for weed control is illegal. Silver Carp The silver carp was brought into the United States back in 1973 as a means of controlling phytoplankton in local lagoons and to be a food source. The silver carp had no problem controlling the phytoplankton, seeing as how it can eat two to three times its weight every day. But, this posed a problem to the ecological balance of the lagoons. The carp competed with the native fish and mussels for valuable food, destroying many of the natural habitats of these creatures. It escaped from captivity and proliferated the Mississippi Basin where it now makes its home. You can identify the silver carp because of its tight, shimmering silver scales, and the seemingly colorless appearance it has. The eyes are low on the face, and the mouth is fairly small in comparison with other fish. It is a wonder, considering how much it can eat. Now, they are one of an angler’s prized catches – especially because of the amazing size they can reach in such a short time. They have made a good meal, but you want to be careful where you are fishing them from, because they enjoy the confines of sewage lagoons. Bighead Carp The Big head carp is another problem fish because it also competes with the smaller game fish for food. This dark green and white carp was introduced into the Mississippi River when the captive ponds were washed out in the 1970’s. They have been appearing in open waters in 19 states since the early 1980’s. The problem with the big head carp is that it doesn’t have a stomach, so it basically filters algae and plankton through its body, stripping the food of it’s nutrients. This makes it difficult for other organisms in the habitat to find good food sources. The big head is naturally one of the biggest carps in the open waters. It is not uncommon to find a big head carp at a length of over three feet and weighing over 55 lbs. Common Carp This carp is also known as the European carp, and has quite a different appearance than the others. It is a greenish yellow on the top half with a yellowish-white underside. One of the most recognizable features of the common carp is the barbels, or whiskers that the carp have. They are not quite like those of a catfish, but they are definitely recognizable. This is one of the smaller carp, growing between 12 and 24 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds, but like the other species, with an adequate food source, they can live long and prosper – so to speak – and they can grow to over 75 pounds. Like most of the other carp species, they were brought in as a food source because of the carp’s natural ability to grow quickly and steadily. Brought in to North America in the late 1800’s the initial stock of common carp was thought to be so valuable that they fenced and guarded. Today, the common carp are considered a nuisance in most areas – doing the same as all of the other carp and destroying the natural habitat of local game fish by eating the vegetation, and by competing with several of the species for food. It is one of the most widely distributed. Koi We include this kind of carp because it is quite a beautiful fish. Not really what you are going to be fishing for, but still it is a member of the carp family. The Koi are the brightly multicolored carp that you will often find in ponds and other decorative gardens. They are often mistaken for oversized goldfish, but they are not. They are their own species of carp, harvested more for their beauty than their food source or their ability to consume large quantities of food. There are dozens of different types of koi, usually differentiated by their color or their markings. Their markings are black, gold, yellow, red, green, you name it, you can find a fish for that color. Their patterns vary from the intricate to simple dual tone, but the vibrancy of the colors is no different. The Koi can grow between 24 and 36 inches. Their size is dependent on the size of the pool they are kept in, food course, and the filtration of the water. If you decide to have Koi in your backyard pond, you can expect them to grow as much as 2 to 4 inches each year. There are other carp varieties out there and you will likely come across them in your travels if you spend enough time out on the water. Here are a few more of the varieties and what you might see for an appearance. • Leather carp – No scales. • Mirror carp – This carp has a few large scales patterned over the entire body. • Liner carp – It was given this name because it has a small number of scales like the mirror carp, but they are in a continuous lateral line along the sides of the body. • French carp – A golden color and generally wider along the spine and a large stomach area. • Italian carp – Silver in color with a long and slender head. -Back- Where are Carp found? Geographically, you can find carp almost anywhere in the world, as they have made their way into most countries on the globe. They are able to survive in water conditions that many other fish would never dream of, so it is possible to find carp in many different place – from sloughs to lakes and rivers. As a rule, they do prefer warmer waters, thus lending themselves to a shallow water existence for the most part. In the winter, when the warmer water is at the bottom of the lake, pond, or river, they tend to stay in the deeper areas. They also like to live in areas where aquatic vegetation is in abundance, both for shelter from predators, and because it provides a huge supply of food when they rifle through the reeds and roots at the lake bottom. Remember: Carp are not native to North America. They were imported as a food source and to help clean up many of the lakes and ponds overcome by algae and other aquatic plants. Many people still consider this species of fish a nuisance rather than a typical game fish. During the summer months carp will also be found near the line of temperature difference in the water. This is called the thermocline. The thermocline is determined by the depth of the water and the different layers of temperature and oxygen and organic material. During the summer, the differences in the water temperature can be greater and the carp, who are often found at the bottom of a lake or river to feed, need to come up to the warmer level of water because of an increased amount of available oxygen. In the winter, the thermocline becomes almost inconsequential as the layers of water are more equal. -Back- What do Carp eat? One might be inclined to say anything, and that is often the case. But, given a choice the carp would likely be found on the bottom of a lake bed or riverbed and drudging through the reeds and weeds to sifting through for food. Also common in their diet is phytoplankton, and zooplankton and they are also known to eat: • Algae • Worms • Crayfish • Snails • Insects • Mussels • Dead plants • Rotifers Carp will often swim along the bottom of a lakebed, disrupting the surface, and like a vacuum, they will suck up everything in their path and then spit out what they don’t want. But, many in the aquatic world would consider carp to be one of the water kingdom’s scavengers. Some species will survive in sewage, others in chemically-deteriorated waters. They are hardy enough to survive on whatever type of food they are given – actually they rarely just survive, they thrive on most food sources. Carp can be particularly picky about when they feed as well. They don’t often feed in temperatures below 60 degrees. This is why they don’t have particular success breeding in temperatures below this. They don’t want to feed and they don’t want to breed when the weather gets cold. That’s quite the opposite of humans, don’t you think? For the angler, if you are looking to try and land the record fish, you need to know what the carp in your area are eating. Chances are if they are in an area rich in mussels and other large carnivore prey, they are going to be bigger fish. This will often be the case in deeper waters where the likelihood of having this type of food source is greater. -Back- Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
The Carp So what exactly is the appeal of this oft-grotesque, moustached master of our domestic waters? One of the most often heard reasons for fishing this creature is the actual sport of it. This powerful fish makes you fight for every inch when you try to reel it in. It is also a fish that has many interesting qualities that make it one of the most prized fish by both fish connoisseurs and by anglers alike. The different types of Carp There are literally dozens of types of carp, right from the grass carp to the fan-tail carp, but many are ornamental, and the others are more of your common carp. These can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers and are the main targets of the angler. The average carp, no matter the species, typically grows to up to 48” in length and around 25 to 30 pounds in weight, although there are some that reach over well over 75 pounds. There are a few groups that are quite separate from the Oriental (Asian), European or common carp. These would include the Koi and any of the other ornamental carp. Some of the more common species of carp that you are going to find in your local river or lake are: • Grass carp • Silver carp • Bighead carp • Common carp These species are the ones you are going to be fishing for, so those are the ones we will talk about in this book. The Grass Carp As you can probably imagine, the Grass Carp got its name due to the affinity it has for munching on the underwater vegetation. It is native to Asia and Europe, and was brought to the United States and to the UK because it was believed the fish would help control weed growth in many of the waterways. It has a particularly scaly body unlike many other carp, which have patches of scales on their body in a predetermined pattern. The scales are what separate this variety of carp from all of the others. The grass carp has a small mouth and eyes that are set lower on the snout than other car. The body is longer and more slender than some of its counterparts. The scaling on the body is a darker golden brown color, with a very defined diamond pattern (as seen below). In some areas where the grass carp was brought in for vegetation control, it has overtaken the habitats of some of the native fish who swam in those waters. The problem was that the grass carp would eat at least its weight in weeds everyday – effectively destroying the natural habitat and food supply for many other fish and waterfowl. Today, stocking of this species of the carp for weed control is illegal. Silver Carp The silver carp was brought into the United States back in 1973 as a means of controlling phytoplankton in local lagoons and to be a food source. The silver carp had no problem controlling the phytoplankton, seeing as how it can eat two to three times its weight every day. But, this posed a problem to the ecological balance of the lagoons. The carp competed with the native fish and mussels for valuable food, destroying many of the natural habitats of these creatures. It escaped from captivity and proliferated the Mississippi Basin where it now makes its home. You can identify the silver carp because of its tight, shimmering silver scales, and the seemingly colorless appearance it has. The eyes are low on the face, and the mouth is fairly small in comparison with other fish. It is a wonder, considering how much it can eat. Now, they are one of an angler’s prized catches – especially because of the amazing size they can reach in such a short time. They have made a good meal, but you want to be careful where you are fishing them from, because they enjoy the confines of sewage lagoons. Bighead Carp The Big head carp is another problem fish because it also competes with the smaller game fish for food. This dark green and white carp was introduced into the Mississippi River when the captive ponds were washed out in the 1970’s. They have been appearing in open waters in 19 states since the early 1980’s. The problem with the big head carp is that it doesn’t have a stomach, so it basically filters algae and plankton through its body, stripping the food of it’s nutrients. This makes it difficult for other organisms in the habitat to find good food sources. The big head is naturally one of the biggest carps in the open waters. It is not uncommon to find a big head carp at a length of over three feet and weighing over 55 lbs. Common Carp This carp is also known as the European carp, and has quite a different appearance than the others. It is a greenish yellow on the top half with a yellowish-white underside. One of the most recognizable features of the common carp is the barbels, or whiskers that the carp have. They are not quite like those of a catfish, but they are definitely recognizable. This is one of the smaller carp, growing between 12 and 24 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds, but like the other species, with an adequate food source, they can live long and prosper – so to speak – and they can grow to over 75 pounds. Like most of the other carp species, they were brought in as a food source because of the carp’s natural ability to grow quickly and steadily. Brought in to North America in the late 1800’s the initial stock of common carp was thought to be so valuable that they fenced and guarded. Today, the common carp are considered a nuisance in most areas – doing the same as all of the other carp and destroying the natural habitat of local game fish by eating the vegetation, and by competing with several of the species for food. It is one of the most widely distributed. Koi We include this kind of carp because it is quite a beautiful fish. Not really what you are going to be fishing for, but still it is a member of the carp family. The Koi are the brightly multicolored carp that you will often find in ponds and other decorative gardens. They are often mistaken for oversized goldfish, but they are not. They are their own species of carp, harvested more for their beauty than their food source or their ability to consume large quantities of food. There are dozens of different types of koi, usually differentiated by their color or their markings. Their markings are black, gold, yellow, red, green, you name it, you can find a fish for that color. Their patterns vary from the intricate to simple dual tone, but the vibrancy of the colors is no different. The Koi can grow between 24 and 36 inches. Their size is dependent on the size of the pool they are kept in, food course, and the filtration of the water. If you decide to have Koi in your backyard pond, you can expect them to grow as much as 2 to 4 inches each year. There are other carp varieties out there and you will likely come across them in your travels if you spend enough time out on the water. Here are a few more of the varieties and what you might see for an appearance. • Leather carp – No scales. • Mirror carp – This carp has a few large scales patterned over the entire body. • Liner carp – It was given this name because it has a small number of scales like the mirror carp, but they are in a continuous lateral line along the sides of the body. • French carp – A golden color and generally wider along the spine and a large stomach area. • Italian carp – Silver in color with a long and slender head. -Back- Where are Carp found? Geographically, you can find carp almost anywhere in the world, as they have made their way into most countries on the globe. They are able to survive in water conditions that many other fish would never dream of, so it is possible to find carp in many different place – from sloughs to lakes and rivers. As a rule, they do prefer warmer waters, thus lending themselves to a shallow water existence for the most part. In the winter, when the warmer water is at the bottom of the lake, pond, or river, they tend to stay in the deeper areas. They also like to live in areas where aquatic vegetation is in abundance, both for shelter from predators, and because it provides a huge supply of food when they rifle through the reeds and roots at the lake bottom. Remember: Carp are not native to North America. They were imported as a food source and to help clean up many of the lakes and ponds overcome by algae and other aquatic plants. Many people still consider this species of fish a nuisance rather than a typical game fish. During the summer months carp will also be found near the line of temperature difference in the water. This is called the thermocline. The thermocline is determined by the depth of the water and the different layers of temperature and oxygen and organic material. During the summer, the differences in the water temperature can be greater and the carp, who are often found at the bottom of a lake or river to feed, need to come up to the warmer level of water because of an increased amount of available oxygen. In the winter, the thermocline becomes almost inconsequential as the layers of water are more equal. -Back- What do Carp eat? One might be inclined to say anything, and that is often the case. But, given a choice the carp would likely be found on the bottom of a lake bed or riverbed and drudging through the reeds and weeds to sifting through for food. Also common in their diet is phytoplankton, and zooplankton and they are also known to eat: • Algae • Worms • Crayfish • Snails • Insects • Mussels • Dead plants • Rotifers Carp will often swim along the bottom of a lakebed, disrupting the surface, and like a vacuum, they will suck up everything in their path and then spit out what they don’t want. But, many in the aquatic world would consider carp to be one of the water kingdom’s scavengers. Some species will survive in sewage, others in chemically-deteriorated waters. They are hardy enough to survive on whatever type of food they are given – actually they rarely just survive, they thrive on most food sources. Carp can be particularly picky about when they feed as well. They don’t often feed in temperatures below 60 degrees. This is why they don’t have particular success breeding in temperatures below this. They don’t want to feed and they don’t want to breed when the weather gets cold. That’s quite the opposite of humans, don’t you think? For the angler, if you are looking to try and land the record fish, you need to know what the carp in your area are eating. Chances are if they are in an area rich in mussels and other large carnivore prey, they are going to be bigger fish. This will often be the case in deeper waters where the likelihood of having this type of food source is greater. -Back- Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
In some areas where the grass carp was brought in for vegetation control, it has overtaken the habitats of some of the native fish who swam in those waters. The problem was that the grass carp would eat at least its weight in weeds everyday – effectively destroying the natural habitat and food supply for many other fish and waterfowl. Today, stocking of this species of the carp for weed control is illegal. Silver Carp The silver carp was brought into the United States back in 1973 as a means of controlling phytoplankton in local lagoons and to be a food source. The silver carp had no problem controlling the phytoplankton, seeing as how it can eat two to three times its weight every day. But, this posed a problem to the ecological balance of the lagoons. The carp competed with the native fish and mussels for valuable food, destroying many of the natural habitats of these creatures. It escaped from captivity and proliferated the Mississippi Basin where it now makes its home. You can identify the silver carp because of its tight, shimmering silver scales, and the seemingly colorless appearance it has. The eyes are low on the face, and the mouth is fairly small in comparison with other fish. It is a wonder, considering how much it can eat. Now, they are one of an angler’s prized catches – especially because of the amazing size they can reach in such a short time. They have made a good meal, but you want to be careful where you are fishing them from, because they enjoy the confines of sewage lagoons. Bighead Carp The Big head carp is another problem fish because it also competes with the smaller game fish for food. This dark green and white carp was introduced into the Mississippi River when the captive ponds were washed out in the 1970’s. They have been appearing in open waters in 19 states since the early 1980’s. The problem with the big head carp is that it doesn’t have a stomach, so it basically filters algae and plankton through its body, stripping the food of it’s nutrients. This makes it difficult for other organisms in the habitat to find good food sources. The big head is naturally one of the biggest carps in the open waters. It is not uncommon to find a big head carp at a length of over three feet and weighing over 55 lbs. Common Carp This carp is also known as the European carp, and has quite a different appearance than the others. It is a greenish yellow on the top half with a yellowish-white underside. One of the most recognizable features of the common carp is the barbels, or whiskers that the carp have. They are not quite like those of a catfish, but they are definitely recognizable. This is one of the smaller carp, growing between 12 and 24 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds, but like the other species, with an adequate food source, they can live long and prosper – so to speak – and they can grow to over 75 pounds. Like most of the other carp species, they were brought in as a food source because of the carp’s natural ability to grow quickly and steadily. Brought in to North America in the late 1800’s the initial stock of common carp was thought to be so valuable that they fenced and guarded. Today, the common carp are considered a nuisance in most areas – doing the same as all of the other carp and destroying the natural habitat of local game fish by eating the vegetation, and by competing with several of the species for food. It is one of the most widely distributed. Koi We include this kind of carp because it is quite a beautiful fish. Not really what you are going to be fishing for, but still it is a member of the carp family.
The Koi are the brightly multicolored carp that you will often find in ponds and other decorative gardens. They are often mistaken for oversized goldfish, but they are not. They are their own species of carp, harvested more for their beauty than their food source or their ability to consume large quantities of food. There are dozens of different types of koi, usually differentiated by their color or their markings. Their markings are black, gold, yellow, red, green, you name it, you can find a fish for that color. Their patterns vary from the intricate to simple dual tone, but the vibrancy of the colors is no different. The Koi can grow between 24 and 36 inches. Their size is dependent on the size of the pool they are kept in, food course, and the filtration of the water. If you decide to have Koi in your backyard pond, you can expect them to grow as much as 2 to 4 inches each year. There are other carp varieties out there and you will likely come across them in your travels if you spend enough time out on the water. Here are a few more of the varieties and what you might see for an appearance. • Leather carp – No scales. • Mirror carp – This carp has a few large scales patterned over the entire body. • Liner carp – It was given this name because it has a small number of scales like the mirror carp, but they are in a continuous lateral line along the sides of the body. • French carp – A golden color and generally wider along the spine and a large stomach area. • Italian carp – Silver in color with a long and slender head.
Where are Carp found? Geographically, you can find carp almost anywhere in the world, as they have made their way into most countries on the globe. They are able to survive in water conditions that many other fish would never dream of, so it is possible to find carp in many different place – from sloughs to lakes and rivers. As a rule, they do prefer warmer waters, thus lending themselves to a shallow water existence for the most part. In the winter, when the warmer water is at the bottom of the lake, pond, or river, they tend to stay in the deeper areas. They also like to live in areas where aquatic vegetation is in abundance, both for shelter from predators, and because it provides a huge supply of food when they rifle through the reeds and roots at the lake bottom. Remember: Carp are not native to North America. They were imported as a food source and to help clean up many of the lakes and ponds overcome by algae and other aquatic plants. Many people still consider this species of fish a nuisance rather than a typical game fish. During the summer months carp will also be found near the line of temperature difference in the water. This is called the thermocline. The thermocline is determined by the depth of the water and the different layers of temperature and oxygen and organic material. During the summer, the differences in the water temperature can be greater and the carp, who are often found at the bottom of a lake or river to feed, need to come up to the warmer level of water because of an increased amount of available oxygen. In the winter, the thermocline becomes almost inconsequential as the layers of water are more equal. -Back- What do Carp eat? One might be inclined to say anything, and that is often the case. But, given a choice the carp would likely be found on the bottom of a lake bed or riverbed and drudging through the reeds and weeds to sifting through for food. Also common in their diet is phytoplankton, and zooplankton and they are also known to eat: • Algae • Worms • Crayfish • Snails • Insects • Mussels • Dead plants • Rotifers Carp will often swim along the bottom of a lakebed, disrupting the surface, and like a vacuum, they will suck up everything in their path and then spit out what they don’t want. But, many in the aquatic world would consider carp to be one of the water kingdom’s scavengers. Some species will survive in sewage, others in chemically-deteriorated waters. They are hardy enough to survive on whatever type of food they are given – actually they rarely just survive, they thrive on most food sources. Carp can be particularly picky about when they feed as well. They don’t often feed in temperatures below 60 degrees. This is why they don’t have particular success breeding in temperatures below this. They don’t want to feed and they don’t want to breed when the weather gets cold. That’s quite the opposite of humans, don’t you think? For the angler, if you are looking to try and land the record fish, you need to know what the carp in your area are eating. Chances are if they are in an area rich in mussels and other large carnivore prey, they are going to be bigger fish. This will often be the case in deeper waters where the likelihood of having this type of food source is greater. -Back- Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
What do Carp eat? One might be inclined to say anything, and that is often the case. But, given a choice the carp would likely be found on the bottom of a lake bed or riverbed and drudging through the reeds and weeds to sifting through for food. Also common in their diet is phytoplankton, and zooplankton and they are also known to eat: • Algae • Worms • Crayfish • Snails • Insects • Mussels • Dead plants • Rotifers Carp will often swim along the bottom of a lakebed, disrupting the surface, and like a vacuum, they will suck up everything in their path and then spit out what they don’t want. But, many in the aquatic world would consider carp to be one of the water kingdom’s scavengers. Some species will survive in sewage, others in chemically-deteriorated waters. They are hardy enough to survive on whatever type of food they are given – actually they rarely just survive, they thrive on most food sources. Carp can be particularly picky about when they feed as well. They don’t often feed in temperatures below 60 degrees. This is why they don’t have particular success breeding in temperatures below this. They don’t want to feed and they don’t want to breed when the weather gets cold. That’s quite the opposite of humans, don’t you think? For the angler, if you are looking to try and land the record fish, you need to know what the carp in your area are eating. Chances are if they are in an area rich in mussels and other large carnivore prey, they are going to be bigger fish. This will often be the case in deeper waters where the likelihood of having this type of food source is greater. -Back- Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
Carp Breeding No matter which way you slice it, carp are voracious breeders. Females can carry between 500,000 and 2 million eggs, with the higher number being when the female carp ages. They can actually carry more eggs as they age, making them more potent as they get older. If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay. -Back- The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
If water temperatures are generally colder – around the 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit area, the carp do not tend to breed with the same fervor as they do if the temperature of the water is around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water is warm the carp will spawn at a tremendous rate. In Canada, the carp needs deeper rivers and lakes in order to spawn, because of the annual winter freeze. It can be responsible for killing many of the carp because they are typically close to the surface. The freezing can cause havoc with local carp populations. The carp are famous for being able to breed at unbelievable speeds and to grow very quickly. The young eat as much as the adults do, and they take up a lot of the resources of other fish. Typically carp will release their eggs into a weed bed or among cat tails in water that reaches a temperature of at least 65 degrees. They will lay eggs in the spring, but the cool springtime temperatures force the carp closer to the surface to spawn – the water is usually around 2 to 3 feet in depth. The average female carp usually spawn from the age of three or four on to 15 years old, meaning several million eggs can be released by the female during this time. Carp young grow at the same rate in which they eat. They can grow to upwards of 2 to 3 pounds within the first two years. This makes it very difficult for predatory fish to potentially control their numbers. Many species of carp also have a serrated dorsal fin, and that can keep many predators at bay.
The plain facts about the Carp Here’s a few things about the carp that are good to know as you learn what to look for in order to catch this fish. As you will learn later on these pages, the carp is a crafty and fickly opponent, and gaining knowledge about the fish is essential to fishing success. The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain. Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish. No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage. In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists. The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs. OK, now that you know about the carp you are probably itching to get to know how to fish it, right? In the next chapter, we are going to give you an idea of everything you are going to need to set out on your carp fishing adventure. Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
The carp has very few natural enemies. One of them is man. Others would be the bear, the otter, the alligator and awfully large pike or catfish. They are fairly high on the aquatic food chain.
Carp can survive on low oxygen concentrations in water. They can also survive for longer than most fish while they are out of water. They don’t need the same oxygen concentration as other fish.
No other fish breeds like the carp. They are one of the most proficient fish species in the animal kingdom in giving birth to young. Interestingly they are also one of the most capable fish at having their young grow past the fry (young minnow) stage.
In areas where the conditions are not ideal for other game fish, carp will tend to become overpopulated. Many fish lovers consider the carp to be one of nature’s best survivalists.
The current world record catch for a carp is 82 pounds. The average for carp is around 40 lbs. In areas where they grow carp for food, the typical weight is around 10 to 15 lbs.
Top of Page Back to Beginners Guide | Next Chapter - Carp Fishing Equipment
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