Bait Choices- Less Can be Better

 

Look closely at the bait in this carp's lip. It is one 
kernel of maize and a kernel of artificial, plastic
maize.  This has been a real hot ticket in the last
week for large and small carp.

The carp fishing has improved greatly here in RI in the last week.  The water temps have ticked upwards and the carp have gotten far more active.  I've been getting good numbers of large fish as well as smaller ones.  But, this warm water has also delivered the dreaded pests- turtles, horned pout and catfish.

In an attempt to avoid these pests, I have gone light on the bait. I am using no method since that bait ball really attracts these pests. I'm going with just a kernel of maize along with a white, plastic pop-up corn on the hair rig. Turtles and cats are not high on the plastic offerings but carp find that plastic corn fascinating and often hit it when paired with a kernel of the real stuff.

That approach has upped my catches of carp while decreasing my catches of pests.  It has accounted for small carp and big ones up into the twenties in the last week. In my experience, less has been better in the last week.

Large carp like this twenty pound common have been
hitting since the warm weather arrived. This one fell for
a combo bait of maize/ plastic corn.

Ups and Downs of April Carping

 

It was one lone carp yesterday in a number of
locations. April fishing, thus far, has been slow
and inconsistent.

April is one of the most inconsistent months of the year when it comes to carp fishing in RI. The fishing generally mirrors the weather which is all over the place. This is the first week in months that I am not skiing on a daily basis so I have spent a lot of time carp fishing. All I can say is some fish here and there with small, low water ponds producing the best.  Makes sense.  Smaller ponds heat up faster and the carp are generally more active in this warmer water.

Yesterday, a warm day, I had some interesting experiences in a number of locations. First stop was a big pond that had some depth.  I was fishing the drop off. After three hours of nothing, with not a hit, jump or bubble trail, I packed up and left.  Next stop was a shallow cove in a small pond.  I could actually see carp slowly swimming around the sunny areas, yet not feeding. I even saw some coming right out of the water in what looked like spawning. But, they were not hitting, and I got skunked once again.  Last stop before dark was a small, shallow pond.  I stuck it out until dark when suddenly the alarm sounded.  It was a mirror carp of about 7 lbs. and my only fish of the day.

My experiences yesterday highlight carp fishing in early April. In a word, inconsistent. But, take note.  A big warm-up is coming next week and that should bring more consistent carp action for the second half of the month. It will get better!