Fishing for carp.

Im a virgin carp fisher, but im sick of catching small bullheads,and pan fish. i have made many trips to millacs and to canada. So i have caught bigger fish. I have a rod i beleive is suitable for carp fishing. But i dont know where to start, tryed asking locals, etc. but i dont know where to go, what kind of bait and tackle to use, what times, what season, and due to being land locked in fishing rivers. If anyone can answer any of these questions, it would be greatly appreciated. If any locals to the Faribault, MN/ rice county area have some spots that they are comfortable giving away, that would be nice. but if thats your secret, its all good.

thanks,north bound

Tackle?
Almost anything works, but a long rod and maybe 15-20# mono is a good start, maybe a 5500c Garcia or any med to med heavy reel, heck we caught them for years on a Garcia 300 spinning reel with 12# or so.

Lead weights in various sizes, and three way swivels work or just a large Lindy rig weight…don’t have to get to particular here to start out.

Your close to Cabala’s so try hitting them, you don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Buddy bought a longer Bass rod and reel combo there on sale and that’s what he uses.

You get up to Mpls stop at Moore’s bait, they have all kinds of stuff also.

I use whole kernel corn or Uncle Josh’s carp bait, both cheap.

Nothing to fancy on the tackle set up, enough weight to keep the bait in one spot and its nice if the carp can pull your bait out while the weight stays stationary, less liable to spook them.
But I’ve just tied a short leader on to the main line and attached the weight to it, then after you cast out, you can snug the main line up to see the bite.

Or leave a open bait and attach something onto your line like a piece of tin foil to see when your line starts to play out.

Where?
Not sure how many lakes got carp in them, but I bet you could chose any of the ones down where your at and find them.
They pull them out of the cannon river at the dam over by La Cannes boats I know.

Others prob have a better set up for ya, but this stuff is easy and cheap.

Al

Hello northbound,

Faribault is where I was born and raised and still make it down there quite frequently. If carp is what your after hear is a couple spots that are worth a try, above the kingmill dam or above the woolen mill dam, another spot that’s worth a try is cannon lake west of town just take co. road 60 a couple miles till there’s a road that vears off to the right follow that like a mile till you get to a bridge, any where around there is loaded with carp. Now for bait I recomend useing oatmeal the quick oats kind,just get a little bit wet and mold it around your hook, another good bait is plain ol sweet corn, you can always rely on nightcrawlers but you will get a lot of pesky bullheads and sheephead. I hope this helps out and good luck!
P.S. Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions about the area.

Take care!
Kevin

Used to go catch alot of carp on the Cannon when I went to Olaf. It is a little further than previous spots mentioned but never once caught a bullhead. We would go to the Arb at Carlton, park in the lot just north of the practice fields and walk in on the walking trail (also on the north side of parking lot). Just a little bit in you will walk up to a big turn, and infront of you is a nice sand point to fish off of. When flow was low we used to fish out of the park just above the downtown dam where 19 & 3 meet. Not much for real big ones, but an average couple hour afternoon sit would usually be any where from 15-50+ fish a person. Lots of Carp, Lots of suckers, occasional channel. Anything from half to 5lbs, great on medium rods with 8-12lb test. Half to Full Ounce slip sinker with a #6 octopus hook filled with with crawlers, corn, or bread.

Have some fun get a steel head rod like a 10 footer and try fishing with a lite fast rod and 10 pound fire line….

I use a 10 ft Steelhead rod with power pro. It is a blast. Heading to the ole Miss in the morning after getting my bait at Cub. I have caught carp below the dam in Morristown on the Cannon

Mwal

I used a medium light rod and a 1/32oz jig tip with a little crawler to land this guy last weekend! (I was fishing bluegills, but maybe it’ll work for you!)

My reccomendation is to google it. Those Europeans fish for carp like crazy and there is alot of info out there on tackle, dough bait recipes and techniques. I usually chum with corn and put a few kernals on a small hook with a small weight and toss it into the chum area. Hang on and make sure your rods are secure! I watched my favorite st.croix rod launch about six feet out of the boat and into the depths of the mississipi fishing for those buggars. Good luck they are Fun to catch! My record carp is 48.8lbs by the way.

yeah anywhere with a dam down there would work and there is no need for big tackle you would be surprised less an be more with carp fishing they have very good eyes and can see fishing line and wieghts on the bottom i used to fish them everyday at the elk river dam and would use my g loomis gl3 rod with 8 lb test lindy wieghted with a packed hard bread ball they love regular bread in my honest opinion i think them carp baits are garbage just my 2 cents

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I used a medium light rod and a 1/32oz jig tip with a little crawler to land this guy last weekend! (I was fishing bluegills, but maybe it’ll work for you!)

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Not a carp but an even cooler catch! A Bigmouth Buffalo!