Newby on the carp scene...

[hockey_19pro]

Ok guys I've been looking at all the pictures of everybody with carp in open water already this season and I really want to try it. With that said, what do you guys use for bait? I've heard of using bone dust for chum or rotten meat, but what else is there (I'm kinda lacking in the rotten meat department right now). Other than that, I've got the big hooks and a heavy enough rod and some good spots to start fishing. Thanks for the help...

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I use 3/0 Team Catfish circle hooks for Carp and I have the best luck on sweet corn in a can (very, very cheap bait) or else night crawlers work well for me, at least in the river.

[fish with teeth]

i use oatmeal, make a good ball bury the hook throw it in the river and hang on for the fight.

[CarpKing921]

I use a #6 or #4 with sweet corn and medium action spinning combo 8lb test for lakes. Medium heavy Ugly stick for the River with 12lb. I don't think you would need to use rotten meat or bone dust sounds like voodoo. Just a can of corn and a good spot should be just fine. Search this forum and you will find all sorts of techniques and ideas. Good Luck

[HuskerBen]

I generally use the same setup as CarpKing. Smaller hooks, line as light as I can get away with, and only enough weight to hold bottom. Carp are very hook-shy.

This time of year, I use crawlers almost exclusively. But as the water warms up, I switch over to corn.

[CarpKing921]

I wont use crawlers until they show up in my yard. They get exspensive I think.

[Craigums]

Do you guys just gob the crawlers onto the hook or is there a differant method?

[benbosh]

i usually just use 1/2 or sometimes a whole nightcraweler and just weave it on there kinda. doesnt make a whole lot of difference

[CarpKing921]

If I have alot of them I'll go with a bigger hook and load them on. I mainly use them on the river because that increases my odds to hook just about anything that swims.

[Muddog]

The way I hook a crawler is so they stay on the hook. I know it sounds funny but......... that is all I'm thinking about when I'm putting one on the hook.

I too only fish Carp with crawlers on rivers. I don't remember ever catching a Carp in a lake with a crawler. Corn, crankbaits and swimbaits but not crawlers.