Carp fishing is a fun and interesting hobby. The most common method is angling, which in its most basic definition just means capturing fish by using a hook. This is what most people think of when they imagine ‘fishing’ – they picture someone standing beside a river or pond, or coasting in a boat, holding a fishing pole.
Carp are freshwater fish, though in rivers they can sometimes be found as far downstream as the point where the water is half salt. They used to be considered ‘trash fish’ since they will bottom feed. However, in spite of this conception they have always been a good food fish, and in some cultures, certain carp are a delicacy.
Regardless if you are fishing for your dinner or just catch-and-release for sport, they like the same kinds of baits. Fishing for carp with worms, corn kernels, or bread dough is effective, so it is not necessary to spend a fortune on expensive, complicated lures or flies. With this said, different baits will get different results, and if you want to catch trophy sized fish, it may be worth looking into some of the prepackaged carp bait and bait accessories that are available. Boilies, giant maize or flavored corn, and scent additives are among the most popular of these.
Simple gear works well, too, though anyone who intends to do a lot of fishing should not try to get off as cheap as possible. A lot of times, you get what you pay for. While a standard rod and reel from a department store will work, customized carp rods have been around for a long time and are worth investigating. Don’t forget your floats and strong (usually 10 pound test or more) fishing line, and especially have some heavy line (18 pound test or higher) if you are fishing in an area with lots of weeds or obstacles. This is a big part of the challenge in carp angling on a river, and you don’t want a broken line when you finally get a big one.
