Nutrition and Food Web Archive

Carp Fishing

I have always loved 'catch and release' fishing as a past-time using lures for mostly bass; however, since being introduced to carp fishing I have become obsessed. If you don't know already, carp are common in most rivers which feed year round. Carp tend to be larger in the south, though the average 15 pounder up here in the Charles River is big enough for me. Let me just tell you, invest in a $3.00 rod holder because I have lost two poles for not having them strapped down.

There are many fishing techniques to carp fishing and not one seems to be better than the other: switching it up from heavy weights to different baits will ensure a unique trip each time. One thing I enjoy most about carp fishing is creating my own recipes and seeing which ones are the most effective. Before I start, below are a few pieces of equipment I find essential (at least from my experience).

Equipment Essentials:

Two or three rods capable of 20 lb line
Two to three rod holders or some strong trees for wedging
#6 or #7 Octopus Hooks (careful very sharp)
Various weights (types and sizes)
Backup oatmeal and flour in case homemade bait is too soft
Pliers
Camera

Now to the recipes. Most of my recipes have a strong foundation of cornmeal (mostly 2 parts cornmeal to 1 part flour). You can try different ratios and different flours. The good thing is you can create a few different baits and try them on different rods at one trip.

Recipe Essentials:

Yellow or white corn meal
White, oat, and graham flour
Granulated and brown sugar
Instant coffee
Vanilla extract
Hemp protein powder
Strawberry or cherry jello
Mash potatoes
Fresh pizza dough
Fresh bread
Oatmeal
Cheese, chicken
Cornflakes

I prefer ‘pick-off’ types of baits versus bollies, but you can definitely make bollies out of any of these. Recipes starting here:

Strawberry or Cherry Doughball

Ingredients

1 pint of water

2 cups corn meal

1 cup flour

¼ cup hemp protein powder (optional)

¼ cup oatmeal (optional)

1 package strawberry or cherry jello

2 T sugar

1 T vanilla extract

Method

Mix cornmeal, flour and other optional ingredients together thoroughly in separate bowl. Heat water to a boil then stir in sugar and vanilla. Continue stirring adding the jello until all is dissolved. Turn the heat down slightly and add a little of the dry ingredients stirring continuously. Add a little more until you see little syrupy eruptions occurring. Continue stirring adding until it gets hard to mix. Remove from heat adding any remaining cornmeal/flour mix. Mash and mix well. At this point ensure that you can make a solid enough ball that will mold nicely on the hook; otherwise, it may need more dry ingredients to firm up. Roll in foil and put in fridge until its fishing time. Break off as needed.

Mash Potato Bait

Ingredients

Enough water to just cover potatoes

2-3 Medium potatoes, diced with skin on

1 cup granulated brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 cup corn meal

½ cup flour

1-2 slices of bread

1-2 T instant coffee

1 T vanilla extract

Method

Boil potatoes with skin on until soft. Most of the water should be absorbed leaving just enough to soak into the other ingredients. Add bread and mash up with potatoes. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved, then coffee and vanilla. Once a big mess is mashed up, add the corn meal/flour mix slowly stirring constantly. Add more corn meal/flour if too soft. Turn heat down to let it continue cooking but avoiding it from burning. Remove from heat and knead until stiff and firm enough to mold. Dust around in corn meal, wrap in foil and place in fridge.

Cream Corn Carp Bait

Ingredients

1 pint water

2 cups corn meal

½ cup flour

½ cup rolled oats

1 T vanilla

½ to 2/3 can creamed corn

1 T instant coffee

Method

Mix corn meal, flour, and oats together in separate bowl. Boil water adding vanilla and coffee. Once dissolved add the creamed corn. Turn heat down letting it simmer into a sticky mess. Add the dry ingredients slowly stirring constantly. Keep heat very low to let all coagulate together as you continue stirring. Remove from heat, knead with oats and roll into foil. Place in fridge.

Turtle-Getting Bait

I caught about 5 very large turtles using salt-pork and red cased hotdogs this past summer.

Well this should get anyone easily started into making their own carp bait. Sure you can just pick up a tub of rolled oats and can of corn, but that too me is not much fun. There have been many a times being out there with the ‘pro’ carp anglers who ask me what I am fishing with as I pull them in one after another.

Although carp may be a delicacy in certain countries like Russia; I would strictly discourage consumption of this species. Carp are large bottom feeders full of environmental contaminants such as PCBs, mercury, lead, and others. Carp often have messed up internal and reproductive organs related to environmental contaminants as well. Just be wary the next time you go out for lunch to have the ‘white fish of the day’. Carp is most definitely served so be sure to ask.