Ice fishing for carp

[11fish1]

Does anyone have any advice on locating carp under the ice? I wanna see if I can find some this winter.

[fishuhalik]

In my limited experience, I'd look real shallow & fish lakes with high concentrations of em. I've only got 4 & they were all outta the same hole one day in 4-5 fow if I remember right. They were little guys, 2-3lbs but I got em on a small jig & waxie looking for crappies. They hit like freight trains too!

[NoWiser]

I only have one experience with carp through this ice. I was fishing a lake in Wisconsin. I think I was in about 15 feet of water and kept seeing big marks on the Vexilar flash through right under the ice. I could not get them to hit. Finally I tied on the teeny tiniest jig I had with me with a single wiggler on it. Dropped it right below the ice and saw my spring bobber twitch. Set the hook and it took off!! I had no clue what it was. There was a trout stream running into the lake so in my mind I had a monster brown on the other end. After quite a long fight on 3 lb test I got it turned and saw the beautiful face of a carp coming up to me. It was about an 8 pound fish. I caught a few more before I moved on looking for panfish. If I remember right I was fishing about as close to the dam as I felt I could safely get on this particular lake.

Good luck, they put up a heck of a fight!

[JeremyCampbell]

Went out last yr around mid winter and seen over ten laying on top of the ice on the river and were in an area that was 10'-20'.All were in the same spot.Never caught one under the ice either.

[LPCrowRiverFisherman]

Look for current and you will find them in higher numbers. I have caught a few at the end of a channel with current. Also when spearing a small river the carp seem to stay in the main channel current, so to make your chances better look for areas with current and safe ice. Go as small as you can with your jigs and euro larvae would probably be best, but wax worms will work too. Don't get your hopes to high, most are just cruisers in the winter and won't even stop to look.

[Rick G]

I only have a very limited experience with carp or suckers in the winter. I have found them a few times while looking in the shallows for panfish. They school up tight and in fairly big numbers, they seem to prefer soft bottom areas from what I have seen. The only ones I have ever gotten through the ice have come off small jigs tipped with waxworks or other larvae.

Where is Carpmanjake when you need him? I am sure he wold have a better answer.

[11fish1]

Thanks for the tips guys, I think I'll give it a try later in the ice season, see what happens. I'll defiantly post some pics if I get lucky.

Has anyone notice if noise on the ice affects the carp? Like snowmobiles.

[JeremyCampbell]

Anyone catch any carp this winter? So far what I gather from this thread is small jig,eurolarva in shallow water.Is it better to put the rod down and just let the euro larva do the work or should there be some jigging involved to get the carp to come up? Would be great to find some and drop a camera down .