fishing lakes for carp

[hulk]

I used to do a lot of river fishing for carp, but I like to try fishing for them in some of the lakes around town, so I'd be really starting from scratch, so if anyone could answer a couple question that would be very helpful,

1st. I would more that likely be fishing from shore, can you legally chum the water? can I throw handfuls of corn out in the lake?

2nd. do you want a plain sandy bottom or do you need to fish the weeds? and if, how do you fish weeds?

3rd. is there a perferred time Morning,afternoon, or even night?

Thanks, J.

[JBMasterAngler]

I see you live in wyoming, so the obvious place to shorefish would be the north or south pools of the sunrise river. LOADED with carp!!! And that will be a situation where you'll for the most part be fishing in the weeds. Unfortunately I don't have any tips for you, but at least you have a starting point now

[tjbassmaster]

1. I usually just throw 2 or 3 handfuls of corn. Into the area I am casting. I have not had any problems while doing this so I think it is legal. I also have never found anything saying it isn't legal.

2. I have not seen any preference between the 2. When I am fishing I just simply look for carp either cruising or surfacing and fish in that area. If it happens to be in the weeds I just use the same rig I would if it not weedy.(Which is just a plain hook with 5 to 6 pieces of corn on it) I just simply keep it as still as possible. The line will settle and it shouldn't get hooked on any weeds until it is moved. I also don't think the carp really care if there are weeds on your line.

3. I have caught them at all times of the day. I have never fished them at night however. I have found if you are fishing in the summer they will move under docks, fallen trees, and into any other shaded areas. This is definitly true on sunny days

[goblueM]

one tip is on clear lakes at night, take a powerful light and go out to shine them. it'll let you know what they are up to

i found out about a killer spot for some HOG carp in the metro by accident, was coming off the lake and dropped my keys right on shore - turned on the headlamp and there was a pack of feeding carp right up shallow

[Comit 2]

Quote:

1st. I would more that likely be fishing from shore, can you legally chum the water? can I throw handfuls of corn out in the lake?

By definition chumming is throwing fish parts into the water. You can not do that in Mn. Some dog foods have fish parts and can not be used. You can bait an area for Carp with corn (no fish parts). There is a law against littering so don’t get carried away with your baiting.

On page 4 of the first link you will find a few links back to this fourm that deal with "Chumming" baiting.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1942766/1

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...SO_#Post1958330

The two links are to the South Central fourm from last summer. You should find some good info there.

[HuskerBen]

1- The only thing I've seen in the regs about chumming involves fish parts, so I think it's legal to chuck some corn. But don't take my word for it. I have been known to toss out a few handfuls of "pre-bait." If it turns out that it's not legal, look into method feeders. They have a similar effect.

2- I prefer a sandy bottom area adjacent to weed growth. I've found carp all over, in and out of the weeds, so I don't think it matters as much as with other fish species. They like to feed shallow, so wear good sunglasses and watch for them. Sometimes, on a sunny day, you'll see whole schools of carp sitting just below the surface or cruising the shoreline. Keep your eyes peeled, be stealthy, and you'll find them.

3- I catch carp from sunrise to sundown, and some after. They will bite willingly all day long. That's one thing that I love about carp... they let you sleep in.

[Comit 2]

I find that the best carp fishing is after the spawn. July-August. The Dog days are the Carp days. If they are jumping they are feeding.

The books "Carp on a fly" and "Fishing for Buffalo" (Written in Minnesota)should give you some insite on Carp behavior.

[Comit 2]

This is a post from Blue Kayak

I received the following e-mail from a DNR employee:

“We use a combination of statutes to determine that chumming is illegal: Minnesota Rule 609.68 Unlawful deposit of garbage, litter, or like, MS 97C.325 (A1) Prohibited methods of taking fish and MS 97A.025 Ownership of Wild Animals. There is not a specific rule that states that one can not chum.”

I tried to find MN Rule 609.68, but it does not exist. I believe the DNR meant to cite MN Statute 609.68 which is shown below along with MN Rule 6105.0210 which repeats the statute and gives the penalties for violating the statute. MN Statute 97A.025 Ownership of Wild Animals seems to have no relevance; I don’t know why it was cited.

At first glance the DNR response seems to imply that chumming is illegal in Minnesota. However, if you check the referenced statutes I think Tom B was exactly right when he said, “It's not a problem unless we use so much that it either rots on the bank or causes an odor problem in the water.” I also think Dennis’s method of suspending rotting fish in a bag and then retrieving the bag is also legal. Likewise, I don’t think there is a violation with Tyler’s iced corn. But, I’m not a lawyer. Here are the statutes. Maybe someone with legal training has another opinion.

MN Statute: 97C.325 Prohibited methods of taking fish.

(a) Except as specifically authorized, a person may not

take fish with:

(1) explosives, chemicals, drugs, poisons, lime, medicated

bait, fish berries, or other similar substances;

(2) substances or devices that kill, stun, or affect the

nervous system of fish;

(3) nets, traps, trot lines, or snares; or

(4) spring devices that impale, hook, or capture fish.

( If a person possesses a substance or device listed in

paragraph (a) on waters, shores, or islands, it is presumptive

evidence that the person is in violation of this section.

© The commissioner may, by rule, allow the use of a

nonmotorized device with a recoil mechanism to take fish through

the ice.

MN Statute: 609.68 Unlawful deposit of garbage, litter, or like.

Whoever unlawfully deposits garbage, rubbish, cigarette

filters, debris from fireworks, offal, or the body of a dead

animal, or other litter in or upon any public highway, public

waters or the ice thereon, shoreland areas adjacent to rivers or

streams as defined by section 103F.205, public lands, or,

without the consent of the owner, private lands or water or ice

thereon, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

HIST: 1963 c 753 art 1 s 609.68; 1971 c 23 s 68; 1988 c 685 s

36; 1990 c 391 art 8 s 56; 2003 c 28 art 1 s 19; 1Sp2003 c 2 art

8 s 12

6105.0210 PUBLIC USE OF WATERS AND LANDS WITHIN WILD, SCENIC,

AND RECREATIONAL RIVER LAND USE DISTRICTS.

Subp. 2. Restrictions. Restrictions:

A. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 609.68,

whoever unlawfully deposits garbage, rubbish, offal, or the body

of a dead animal, or other litter in or upon any public highway,

public waters or the ice thereon, public lands, or without the

consent of the owner, private lands or water or ice thereon, may

be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to

payment of a fine of not more than $100.

MN Statute: 97A.025 Ownership of wild animals.

The ownership of wild animals of the state is in the state,

in its sovereign capacity for the benefit of all the people of

the state. A person may not acquire a property right in wild

animals, or destroy them, unless authorized under the game and

fish laws, sections 84.091 to 84.15, or sections 17.47 to 17.498.

HIST: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 4; 1991 c 309 s 13; 1996 c 410 s 58

_________________________

I received a more detailed post from the DNR this afternoon. Here is the post from the DNR.

===Start of DNR Post=========>

Thank you for your question about the legality of chumming in Minnesota. We have no law that specifically uses the term "chumming." Instead, we have a variety of laws that have application to this activity.

Based on Minnesota Statues 609.68 it is unlawful to deposit animal parts or the body of dead animals in a public water. So chumming with animal parts or whole bodies would be illegal.

Based on Minnesota Statutes 97C.325, it is illegal to take fish using chemicals, drugs, medicated baits, etc. Also under Minnesota Statutes 97C.341, it is illegal to use game fish, goldfish, or carp for bait. This would mean that any fish food, corn, or other similar substance with these items in it could not be used for chumming.

Based on Minnesota Statutes 97C.065 it is illegal to let any substance enter or be disposed of in state waters in quantities that injure wild animals. So what is a quantity of corn, fish food, or other similar substances that would be illegal? My answer is that it depends on the type of water body, current water quality, weather conditions, health of the fish, cumulative effects, etc. So, I can't tell you that a bucket of corn is ok, when under the right conditions it could cause a fish kill. Instead, it is an area of the law that we are considering clarifying as it relates to chumming.

<=====End of DNR Post============

I don't follow the logic in paragraph 3. I don't see how food products like corn or bread are equivalent to,"(1) explosives, chemicals, drugs, poisons, lime, medicated bait, fish berries, or other similar substances;" mentioned in Statute 97C.325. However, I suppose a conservation officer could consider these items to be litter.

_________________________

Jerry Floren

You will find it in the links above.

[goblueM]

"Also under Minnesota Statutes 97C.341, it is illegal to use game fish, goldfish, or carp for bait. This would mean that any fish food, corn, or other similar substance with these items in it could not be used for chumming."

....what? Corn with pieces of carp in it?? I'm a little confused...

sure seems like throwing some corn out there is ok

[LOTWSvirgin]

For some reason I have always had luck on Tee docks I "Chum" and fish the vertical My 6 year old daughter loves catching them

[HuskerBen]

Okay, I'm going to continue my practice of tossing out a handful or two of corn when I get ready to fish an area. I won't deposit a 50# bag in the water, as that may be pushing it. But a 10 oz bag of frozen Green Giant corn should be okay.

[Comit 2]

Quote:

....what? Corn with pieces of carp in it?? I'm a little confused...

If you look closer you will see that it say.

Quote:

Also under Minnesota Statutes 97C.341, it is illegal to use game fish, goldfish, or carp for bait. This would mean that any fish food, corn, or other similar substance with these items in it could not be used for chumming.

If the corn, fish food or similar substance contains Game fish, gold fish or carp it would not be legal. He did not say using corn to bait Carp is illegal. He said that would depend on the amount used.

If a truck full of corn tips over in a lake the driver can't say he was baiting Carp and not have to pay for the clean up.

[CarpKing921]

Happy Harvest from Aldis. You don't want to eat it so might as well chum with it.

[Comit 2]

Quote:

Happy Harvest from Aldis. You don't want to eat it so might as well chum with it.

It's my goto Carp bait.

[e1teen93]

have any of u fished the cr dam for carp lately? no luck for me, just some cats and sheephead, do u guys have any tips for me to catch more carp, instead of cats and sheephead?

[fishuhalik]

Try under the smaller dam. Tons of carp there. Don't be afraid to go out there after dark some time too. The carp cruise right under the surface, you can see 'em. Just drop a hook full of corn about 6 inches under a bobber and let it float around in the light or try sight-fishing, either works.

[e1teen93]

alright that sounds good, do u know what the best time of year is usually the best carp fishing? just curious. and do u usually fish like right below the dam? or downstream farther?

[CarpinMNRiver]

I usually use corn if I am only targeting carp. I don't catch any many sheepshead. I hate catching those hook swallowing bait stealers.

[e1teen93]

Alright thanx guys, ill be gettin out there soon, and hopefully be able to catch some carp, have any of u guys been out there lately?

[fishuhalik]

Haven't been out there for a while, but this is usually the best time to go. I fish right off the railing on the small dam. It's kinda tough to fish since you need 2 people, one needs to go down and unhook the fish, but it's pretty fun. Been too busy with watching kids and whatnot.

[e1teen93]

alright ill have to try that next time, ive never thought of having corn only 6 in. under a bobber, i usually just have it on the bottom.

[sanka]

I usually fish downstream about 100 yards from the small dam. Corn always works just fine.

[e1teen93]

so what kind of rig do u use when goin for carp w/ corn? just a sinker, swivel, and hook setup? And also have you been to the dam lately? any luck?

[mainbutter]

so what kind of rig do u use when goin for carp w/ corn? just a sinker, swivel, and hook setup? And also have you been to the dam lately? any luck?

My carp rig is usually braided line, uni-to-uni knot to tie on 12 or so inches of fluorocarbon of similar diameter (can't hurt), a SMALL (size 6 or 8) bait holding hook, and some split shot at least 6 inches up from the hook.

I cram on as many kernels of whole kernel sweet corn from the can as I am able to put on the hook. I usually cast about half as hard as I can, as hard casts can cause the corn to fall off the hook.

[e1teen93]

ya sounds good, any luck for carp at the dam lately?