Early season carp question

Hey everybody. I was just wondering where you would target carp this time of year. Both rivers and lakes, what would you be looking for?

Thanks!

I’ve been fishing lakes for carp, and have been finding them in shallower bays that are warmer than the rest of the lake. I generally pre-bait a few spots with corn, then fish for 15-20 minutes per spot unless I’m getting bites or seeing fish (or the tell-tale bubbles).

They are hungry and cruising right now. Best time (in my experience) is mid to late afternoon. I’ve been using corn and crawlers, with better luck on corn. Most of mine have been within the margins, in less than 4′ of water.

Good luck!

I think you meant to say you have a tendency to accidentally spill corn in the water when you are fishing.

That happened to me before too! Lousy cans!

Back in Northfield, buffalo carp came up Cannon River to just below the dam, where they were following just behind the spawning walleye in very shallow water. Not sure if it was legal then, but remember they were quite easy to snag when we were kids.
Buff steaks are still pretty popular on the east coast but we are targeting redhorse trophies on sunfish rigs…caught in the mouth and full of fight.

Large carp were pretty easy to find in breakwater areas along the floodwalls just after dark. Heavy jig, crawler and some rugged fabric line for twanging loose from the rox.

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I think you meant to say you have a tendency to accidentally spill corn in the water when you are fishing.

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I think that it the point he was trying to make.
DT

you might wanna check the laws before you take corn with you next time

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you might wanna check the laws before you take corn with you next time

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Which law? I have looked through the regs, trying to find the law that makes it illegal to toss in a handful of sweetcorn. I understand that using fish parts (chum) is illegal, and depositing harmful substances into the water is a no-no, but a handful of corn?

I’m not trying to be defensive or anything… I would just like to know.

not sure where it is in the regs. fish can not digest corn

i looked around and couldnt find anything on the dnr website. i was told that it was illegal to use corn…. maybe it changed or it was never true?

I think it was never true. My take: There is a line that says you can not deposit fish parts into the water. That, as anyone who’s ever watched Shark Week can tell you, is chumming. Throwing handfuls of corn is also a form of chumming, but without the fish parts. But, since people know that “chumming is illegal,” they figure you can’t use corn. Actually, I don’t think the word “chumming” appears anywhere in the regs. I think it’s kind of a knee-jerk reaction here in Minnesota to assume that something is illegal and err on the safe side.

One thing to be careful of is littering laws. A handful or two should be fine, but if you’re pre-baiting your area with a grain shovel, it could get you a ticket. I guess that’s one of those gray areas that is open to the CO’s interpretation.

Again, that is merely my take on the issue. Don’t quote me or hold me responsible for unwanted outcomes…

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not sure where it is in the regs. fish can not digest corn

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SO thats why we see dead carp on the shore all the time? They must be all stopped up with corn eh? Jeesh, last time I checked, I couldn’t digest corn either…………..

coletrain, are you also known as carpmanjake?

you may be right!

i would think if all the smaller species of fish ate corn wouldnt it basically plug them up and kill them?

no ive never heard of carpmanjake… my name is cole, thats how i came up with coletrain01. why you ask?

I dont think corn will kill fish, not any species of any size. That sounds like an old wives tale or something.

The carpmanjake question was just out of curiousity.