subject: Fishing Tips - How To Catch That Jumbo Carp [print this page] In the UK there is a new fishing sport that is has rapidly grown in popularity over the past ten years. Fishing for carp allows anglers to take part in a sport that allows the angler to bring in large fish that may weigh up to eighty pounds each. Even beginners have been known to land a modest fifty pound carp. Lakes are stocked and the fish are fed so that they quickly reach these large sizes. Angling for carp can use several different techniques to catch the large fish. Anglers must be patient and will need to have some excellent equipment due to the weight of these fish.
Since carp are noted as fish that are shy, they are even more difficult to catch than some more aggressive fish. Even anglers who are very experienced may find that carp are a challenge to catch. The fish dwell at the bottoms of lakes and eat almost anything they can find in their home waters. Like humans who eat without restrictions on diet, carp grow to be quite large. Just by eating the scum on the bottom of the lake, a carp may grow to be the biggest fish in the neighborhood. Although they eat almost anything, carp do have some favorite foods that can be used in order to draw them out of the deep holes at the bottom of the lake.
Since these fish do not tend to maintain a territory and seem to live peacefully with most other fish that they do not choose for dinner, conventional spinners or lures are not useful when carp fishing. They just move right by and keep looking for a good smelling meal. Thus the bait you choose when fishing for carp can make the difference between failure and success. Live bait sometimes work, but generally is not smelly enough to entice the carp. To solve this dilemma, anglers often use boilies. Made from fishmeal and paste, this bait has a smell that humans find disgusting but the carp finds delightful.
In busy ponds, with the correct bait, you should have a fish on the line in no time at all. The problem is that it takes longer for Mr. shy carp to grab the hook. Smaller fish often cannot fit the large hook into their mouths, but the carp has no problem. Generally you will feel a strong tug on the line suddenly meaning that the big guy has grabbed hold. For this size fish, you will want a hair rigged line. While small fish can be manhandled into the boat easily, the larger ones can take a long time to bring into the boat, possibly up to an hour. Carp fishing can provide a great deal of fun for new and experienced fishermen.
