Carp fishing in North Metro

[deue1096]

Im living in Blaine for the summer and was curious about some good places to catch some carp.

Thanks much

[bobbymalone]

I think there is a big river that flows through that area that might have some carp in it. It might also have a dam in the CR area and a ton of fishable shoreline. Wish I could remember the name...

[pushbutton]

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2081908/1

[pushbutton]

oops wrong link! go to the mississippi north thread and you will find info on the coon rapids dam....where is the edit/delete feature?

[e1teen93]

Hey have u guys fished the cr dam lately? ive tried there for carp, but no luck, just a few cats, and sheephead. ive used corn and worms right by the dam, is that my problem? ive heard some people catch em down stream, jw.

[Gillie]

I'm new here, but my husband and I fished in Coon Rapids yesterday. Loads of fun, plenty of bites, we caught 5 carp. I got one around 12 pounds (fought like heck!)we had a blast. Quiet day at the boat launch area. Even though we live in Stillwater, we've always had great luck in Coon Rapids. Peaceful, too! Last time I got one around 18-20 pounds. Now THAT was fun!

Hubby is from Oz...used to have marlin fishing business on the Great Barrier Reef ( I got to go once! What an experience that was) and his favorite fish here is Carp-they fight! They're biting there, so get there quick!

[e1teen93]

so u were fishin by the boat launch? and w/ what? ive tried there but never had any luck. What time was it when u were fishin? just wondering what time they were biting.. any help would be great.

[Gillie]

We got there around 12:30 p.m. went almost as far as we could (away from the actual launch area) but still some grassy front before the weeds. They were biting almost right away! We stayed until 6:30 p.m. That was a bit too long...they stopped biting around 5:45. Just used corn, threw a bit of bread chum occassionally, we tried bread dough but it wasn't working anywhere near as well as the corn. I'd add the pictures but haven't taken the time to figure out how to do it yet. Have them on my Facebook page... is it ok to add that?

[e1teen93]

no idea if ur allowed to, but sweet, im might be goin there today, ya so have u fished there a lot? and wow u said earlier u caught a carp from 18-20 lbs? thats a monster! so when u make ur rig, is it just a hook stuffed w/ corn, then a split shot sinker? or how do u do it?

[Gillie]

Carp fishing in Coon Rapids Wednesday.

[Gillie]

Will get back to you shortly!

[reinhard1]

gillie- thats where i carp fish also. i lost a good rod and reel off the dock at the landing. seems like i left my bail closed while i attended to my grandkids and i heard a noise and it was my rod and reel being draged down the dock into the drink by a carp i would guess. carp are fun and fight to the last minit. thanks for the picture. good luck.

[e1teen93]

sounds good guys, thats a sweet pic, nice carp, anyway what kind of rigs do u guys use when u fish for them there?

[Gillie]

About a 6-8 inch leader with a size 6-8 hook on one end and a swivel on the other. Then a running lead with a running float (we had a goose quill for the float) above it. This enables the bobber to float to the surface while the bait remains on the bottom. The main line is kept relatively tight to allow the bobber to stand. The drag on the reel is then set to just above free spool to allow the fish to run without the consequences that happened to our other unfortunate writer. ( How awful for you! Bet the grandkids laughed...!) When the bobber dips and starts to run, set the hook and start to tighten the drag. Other carp fishermen/women using electronic bite alarms, use a different rig, but I prefer to watch the bobber. Good luck and have fun!

[e1teen93]

may i ask what you mean by a running lead, and a running float? how did u use a goose quill as a float?

[Gillie]

Reinhard1, what a shame! We've all done something like that or similar before. For me, I "ferget" to do things! Having grandkids with is fun, but mine would cause more havoc and I'd "ferget" to set the drag properly! By the way, if there's more fishing than catching, watching people trying to launch their boats can be hilarious! We watched one guy not pay attention (who knows what happened!), he must have left his truck in neutral for some odd reason (brand new truck), he got out to unhitch the boat and the truck quickly backed into the water! Was so much fun to see, for us, not for him!

[reinhard1]

yes that landing drops quickly. unfortunatly for the truck driver. i use a lindy rig set up with the corn and a longer shank hook to make it easier to remove the hook. i might go there tommorow cause i need some for planting a apple tree. thank you for your post. good luck.

[e1teen93]

have any of u tried using a floating jig before? w/ the lindy rig setup?

[Gillie]

e1teen93...

A running lead is a running sinker. A running float - the goose quill. To use the quill - Nail varnish it and wind thin guage wire into a round eye (approx 1/8" diameter)with the two wire ends sticking up approx. 1/4" each. Fold either side onto the base of the quill and bind the eye on. The line passes through the eye above the sinker allowing the quill to float to the surface. Once the is tight, the quill will stand up vertically. You can nail varnish the quill a color to aid seeing it.

[reinhard1]

the floating jig would work in a river as well as in a lake. when in a river and there is moderate current the length of the snell should be increased but not in calm areas. carp for the most part are bottom feeders. good luck.

[e1teen93]

k sweet, i went out tonight, had one nice run, but no fish, caught a redtail sucker down below the smaller dam, and a tiny smallmouth by the boat launch, but thats it. the majority of the time, i fished by the boat launch w/ a regular hook packed w/ corn, then about 10 inches of line, then a swivel, then a running sinker. Any tips, i had no luck today. you guys goin anytime soon?

[Gillie]

We "might" be going next Tuesday afternoon. Forgot to use macro lens, hope you can see the quills!

[e1teen93]

k ya idk i had a run today, i wasnt watchin my rod, and when i turned around, all the line had been taken out of my spool, and my rod was bent practically in half, i ran over to it, set the drag, started reeling in, and i lost it... only luck all day, but i did catch a nice redtail sucker down by the smaller dam. on an average day, how many do u guys usually catch?

[CarpinMNRiver]

I catch a lot of carp and I use a very simple set up. I use a #6 octopuss circle hook or just a plain hook somewhere in that size with a egg sinker or enough split shots to get the bait to the bottom. I mainly use corn if I am specifically targeting carp(catch less sheepshead on the MN river that way) otherwise a crawler. If using corn I will throw a few handfuls into the area I am fishing then throw the bait in the area. Toss your line out and set your pole on a y stick or rod holder and watch the line. If they are in there you should catch some with a simple set up.

[e1teen93]

ya that sounds good, but i dont usually use split shots, because if u use them, the carp will feel the tension, and spit out the bait, have u used that setup at coon rapids dam? by the boat launch?