Carpin Southern Style

[hammercarp]

Hey Guys.

I want to introduce you to a method for catching carp that I think is superior in many respects to the classic European method with the 12ft rod, baitrunner reel with bite alarm. This technique has evolved over the last 50 to 70 years to it's present form. The rods and reels are commonly available across North America and the baits are made with inexpensive store bought items. The line and terminal tackle are all readily available here as well.

I use UglyStik rods either the 6ft or the 8 1/2 ft in MH action. The six footer I have is a one piece. I land carp over 30 lbs on these rods every year. They are fitted out with Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6000 reels loaded with either 12 or 17 lb Berkly Trilene XT mono. Any comparable rods and reels will do. If you are starting out in carping this is the way to go because you can also fish for channel cats, pike, musky ( not the real big girls though) and even cast off piers for chinooks with the same outfit.

The typical European outfit uses a Baitrunner reel which is considered an essential . The baitrunner reels were engineered to duplicate the features of a baitcaster reel ( which predate baitrunners by decades) in that baitcasters can be set on freespool. This feature is used on a baitcaster to cast with and also allows the fish to run with the bait and not pull your outfit into the drink. The baitcaster reels have a clicker or line-out alarm which sounds off when then fish takes off with your bait. With baitrunner reels you have to buy an electronic alarm which can cost anywhere from 30 to over 200 dollars. These alarms can also be frought with problems due to water getting in them and the clicker on a baitcaster does not need a battery which we all know can run down at the most inconvenient times.

 

The terminal tackle consists of; a #2/0 or #1/0 straight eye baitholder hook. Mustad and Eagle Claw hooks will do just fine. Owner also makes a deadly sharp hook in this style and it is my favourite, a large barrel swivel , a plastic or rubber bead and egg sinkers.

 

 

The bait is in two parts. The hook bait and the pack bait.

 

 

For a hook bait a puffed corn is used. Please note not Corn Pops. These are readily available at the Bulk Barn or a local " healthy food " type store. They cost $2.99 for a big bag, which should last all season.

 

 

You simply impale a piece with the hook. The puffs can have stuff added to them to increase their effectivness but this is not neccessary to start with.

 

 

Please see next post

Edited March 9, 2011 by hammercarp

[hammercarp]

Bread pack is made with plain white bread which can be bought for 1 to 2 bucks a loaf. You put the fresh bread in a food processor and chop it up fine. Then place the crumbs in a zip lock bag. Squeeze most of the air out of the bag. Don't compact the bread into a solid mass though. One or two loaves will do for the day. If you don't have a food processor you can just tear the bread into little chunks. This will work but makes packing it around the hook evenly a little more difficult. Keep the zip lock bag closed to prevent the bread from drying out. That's it, simplicity at its best. Your total bait cost for the day would be between a buck and a half to four and and half bucks.

 

This is the method for getting your bread pack around your baited hook. Use your hand to scoop up a bunch of pack bait . Hold your hand flat and using you other hand make a dent through the middle of the pile.

 

 

Place the baited hook into the dent.

 

 

Close your hand and squeeze repeatedly to pack the bait around the hook. Shift the pack around in you hand and squeeze repeatedly again. Repeat this until you have a nice evenly packed egg or ovoid shaped lump of bait. You are now ready to fish carp .

 

 

Please see next post

[hammercarp]

Cast it in to your chosen spot, point the rod tip at the bait, reel in the slack line and get ready to rumble.

 

This is the set up I use off of piers here in the Hamilton area. When I am sitting in the chair the reel is not in freespool , the carp cannot pull my rod in with this set up. If I leave the chair I click on the freespool button and engage the clicker. You do not need anything as complex as this but I like to be comfortable and have the rod at close hand.

 

 

With a little bit of skill and knowledge as an angler you will not just catch some carp with this method you will , as that say down south "haul". Have some A5 35 ready at home for your sore arms and back.

 

 

Oat pack has three ingredients , large flake steamed rolled oats, creamed corn and salt.

 

I buy my oats at the Bulk Barn , I put 5 scoops in a bag , this is about 2 1/2 lbs. You can also use Quaker Oats. To this you add one can of creamed corn and one heaping tablespoon of Kosher or pickling salt. Mix the three ingredients together and your oat pack will be ready to fish in less than 30 minutes. Keep this bait in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid. Unlike the bread pack this can not be prepared the night before but should be made on the bank.

Once again, not quick or instant oats. If you use these you will end up with a solid ball that will not break down or will fly apart when casting.

 

 

Good luck and tightlines for the upcomong season.

Edited March 9, 2011 by hammercarp

[Weeds]

Nice write up; thanks for that. Funny, I dusted off the Ugly Stik just last week and spooled it with 17 pound mono, egg sinker and Owner circle hook. I'm also looking forward to some spring carp'n. Cheers.

[vance]

Very interesting kinda makes me wish that there were carp in the places that I go.I am going to book mark this page for future reference.Thanks for sharing.

 

vance

[Marko]

And thats how you do it!!

Lots of great info in there Lorne. Hope to see you on a bank soon

[Roy]

Very good tutorial. Thank you for taking the time to post it.

[The Urban Fisherman]

Great tutorial for the carp newbies! Glad to see that carp angling is becoming more recognized..... I grew up in northern Ontario, fished all my life and had never heard of carp until moving to London! Can't wait for spring!

[aplumma]

well done... Thanks for the write up.

 

 

Art

[ah_long]

great write up

[cuzza]

Nice fish Love the use of the foam roller too - ingenious

 

That's it - I'm going to dust off my baitrunners and carp rods and head for Hamilton.

 

For those who only have spinning reels - you can mimic a baitrunner by turning down the drag or leav ethe bail arm open and use a bait clip (which can be made from the end of a popsicle stick and some electrical tape to hold it to the handle) and you don't need alarms, just use a bobbin - when I was younger in the UK I used a wine cork with a hair clip stuck in it that was tied to the front rod rest and weighted if it was windy.

[Beans]

Thanks for the heads up about this post Lorne...

 

Very interesting method using packbait...will have to give it a try this coming season

 

I have to pay the Bulk Barn a visit soon for some anise and koolade and will check out those corn puffs...

Edited March 10, 2011 by Beans

[bassjnkie]

Great write up Lorne, thanks. I have a paylake rod/reel setup I'm dying to try.

[hammercarp]

There is another thing I need to add. The curve in the hooklink/snell is there on purpose. It serves a function and contributes to the rigs effectiveness.

 

 

This technique for catching carp is a system and is most effective when used in it's entirety.

[bassjnkie]

Nice!! But there here to stay!! HA!

Edited March 10, 2011 by DanielM

[hammercarp]

If any one has any questions about this technique you cab ask here or visit me at the Niagara Outdoor show this weekend. I will be happy to help.

[bigugli]

Can't wait to join you for some soft water edumacatin

[hammercarp]

Nice fish Love the use of the foam roller too - ingenious

 

That's it - I'm going to dust off my baitrunners and carp rods and head for Hamilton.

 

For those who only have spinning reels - you can mimic a baitrunner by turning down the drag or leav ethe bail arm open and use a bait clip (which can be made from the end of a popsicle stick and some electrical tape to hold it to the handle) and you don't need alarms, just use a bobbin - when I was younger in the UK I used a wine cork with a hair clip stuck in it that was tied to the front rod rest and weighted if it was windy.

 

Thank you.

I would be more than happy to share some bank space with you and you would be most welcome to join our CAG anglers at one of our fish ins or events.

[cuzza]

Thank you.

I would be more than happy to share some bank space with you and you would be most welcome to join our CAG anglers at one of our fish ins or events.

 

Thanks, I'll take you up on that when (if?) the weather warms up a bit

[bassjnkie]

Lorne I have a question and hope it's ok to post it here.

 

Pack Bait breaks down nicely in warm water conditions which will leave the hook bait exposed rather quickly. How would cold water temps. affect the break down rate?

Edited March 11, 2011 by DanielM

[Billy Bob]

Question: what tastes better the fish or the bait...LOL

 

Nice report... :clapping:

[Beans]

If any one has any questions about this technique you cab ask here or visit me at the Niagara Outdoor show this weekend. I will be happy to help.

 

Ok Lorne I'll bite...why the curve in the hook link/snell?

 

Best I can figure is the corn puff floats and would keep the bait just off bottom like a pop-up boilie or make the pack bait sit up like an ice cream cone until it breaks down...

 

And...how does one tie it like that ?...

Edited March 12, 2011 by Beans

[hammercarp]

Good question Beans.

What happens is that when the pack breaks down, the hook buoyed up by the puff, pops up out of the pile of bait. The rig will be sitting there in a C shape partially buried in the pack bait pile. When the carp sucks it up the curved hooklink/snell will temporarily straighten out, then spring back. This will cause the hook to position itself around the carps lips. It will also make it more difficult for the carp to eject the baited hook. Better than 9 times out of 10 the carp will be hooked with the hook rapped right around the bottom lip. It does not matter how the carp approaches the baited hook it will result in the same hook up. Once you set the hook there is no escape. I lose very few fish on this rig.

I hope this explains it.

One of the reasons I held off posting on this technique for catching carp was that I did not have a small aquarium or container with a flat clear side to take a video or pictures of what happens as the packbait breaks. I will do so when I have the right equipment.

[Beans]

Good question Beans.

What happens is that when the pack breaks down, the hook buoyed up by the puff, pops up out of the pile of bait. The rig will be sitting there in a C shape partially buried in the pack bait pile. When the carp sucks it up the curved hooklink/snell will temporarily straighten out, then spring back. This will cause the hook to position itself around the carps lips. It will also make it more difficult for the carp to eject the baited hook. Better than 9 times out of 10 the carp will be hooked with the hook rapped right around the bottom lip. It does not matter how the carp approaches the baited hook it will result in the same hook up. Once you set the hook there is no escape. I lose very few fish on this rig.

I hope this explains it.

One of the reasons I held off posting on this technique for catching carp was that I did not have a small aquarium or container with a flat clear side to take a video or pictures of what happens as the packbait breaks. I will do so when I have the right equipment.

 

Thanks Lorne...good stuff !

 

 

 

[hammercarp]

Lorne I have a question and hope it's ok to post it here.

 

Pack Bait breaks down nicely in warm water conditions which will leave the hook bait exposed rather quickly. How would cold water temps. affect the break down rate?

 

Good question Daniel

The cold water will result in a longer break time with packbaits but I don't think it will affect bread pack all that much.