I can recall many occasions that I have gone fishing with the intent of catching nothing more than carp. Sure they taste like rotten mud and smell about the same, but they are excellent fighters and always make a slow day of fishing seem worthwhile.
Although carp are relatively easy to catch, there are always ways to improve your technique.
The rod, reel and line you will need can vary depending on your location. This is because carp in different river systems and impoundments across different locations can vary greatly in size depending on food availability, water depth, current etc. Generally, a 5kg to 10kg weight allowance will be suitable.
Because carp are bottom feeders, the most suitable rig to use would be a very low one. I usually have a sinker at the end of my line with a swivel sitting about 30cm above it. I would then tie the hook to 15cm of line and fasten that onto the swivel. You can also use a running sinker stopped by a swivel with 30cm of line hanging from the bottom to tie a hook onto. These rigs may need to vary depending on your fishing location, so it is best to experiment a bit and find out what is best for you.
Although carp seem to eat just about anything, you cant really go wrong with good old fashioned worms. I have heard of carp biting on yabbies, bread and red meat, but I have tried these baits time and time again with no luck. I usually prefer to use European night crawlers, but any worm does the trick.
You can catch carp any time of day, but just like most species of fish, dawn and dusk always seem to bring in good numbers. The moon phase seems have a large impact on catch rates, I know that on certain days I have had nonstop action, but in the same spot the next day I have went home without a single catch, so I would recommend taking note of moon phases on the days that you get a good catch. Weather conditions dont seem to have much of an impact when it comes to catching carp (although others would argue this point), I have caught carp in all weather conditions, rain hail or shine.
Carp will often nibble but most of the time they seem to just swoop in from nowhere and take the bait before you know what hit you. Because they can do this with great force, it is a good idea to make sure that your rod is properly supported, or else you will end up without a rod.
Reel in fast and hard, carp tend to swim sideways or even dart under fallen logs to tangle the line, so keep the pressure on.
Enjoy fishing for carp!
