BLUE GILL AND GRASS CARP MAYHEM
Morocco_madness
Posts: 2,826 Captain
Had a plan lined up to put a few young guys on some Tarpon that fell through at the last second 
Rather than waste a promising morning of fishing we decided to hit some nearby ponds for a Big Carp. Little Joey had never caught one before so we made it happen. The boys got around 15 or so large Blue Gill(over a pound) and 4 big Grass Carp.
Rigging and baiting
For Blue Gill, we go about catching them a couple of ways. The simplest way is to tie on the smallest popping cork you can find and tie on a 10lb Flourocarbon leader. I was using #1 sized Owner Circle Hooks but actually prefer a #4. With the bigger Blue Gill You can easily get away with using a #1. The other method that i often use, especially when the turtles are harassing us, is a 20" leader with a single 1/4oz Split shot and same sized circle hook.
For the Carp, i find that they are often so spread out that it's best to chum them up first and let them feast on ripped up pieces of bread to build their trust. Ill walk the bank of the pond tossing out a few pieces of bread every couple of feet making sure to hit varying distances from the bank. It's important not to ball it up. We need the bread to float. Balling the bread will cause it to sink. The rig is a simple Flat Line with a light #1 Owner Mosquito Hook. No weight. Once baited, we want it to float natural. You will also want to use Mono leader for this since it floats unlike Flourocarbon. Once we start seeing a good number of fish blowing up, we will send out a large piece of the same bait. basically, a 1/4 of a slice of bread. The best way to get it on a hook is to ball up a small section of the 1/4 slice, and leave the rest of it fluffed so that it still floats. Put the hook through the balled up section and gently toss the bait out where the blow ups are taking place. Until you get used to the feel, you'll be accidentally throwing off your bait. If this happens, try it again, except be as gentle as possible while doing so. Takes a few tries to get it right. Once you get the bait out there, get low and away from the bank as Carp are insanely skittish and will spook very easily. When the Carp hits the bait, you'll know it. They blow up on it like it's their last meal. Give them 2 seconds to eat it and gently set the hook. You will have to fight them on a light drag since the Mosquito hooks are delicate and thin. You'll straighten the hook otherwise. Nothing like the pull of a 15-20 pound Carp on light tackle when you can't get out on the water. Been plagued with terrible luck lately and am back waiting on yet another boat repair this time it's fiberglass work since some kid decided to run a red light and tore up my truck/boat.
Good hunting guys and tight lines.
Rather than waste a promising morning of fishing we decided to hit some nearby ponds for a Big Carp. Little Joey had never caught one before so we made it happen. The boys got around 15 or so large Blue Gill(over a pound) and 4 big Grass Carp.Rigging and baiting
For Blue Gill, we go about catching them a couple of ways. The simplest way is to tie on the smallest popping cork you can find and tie on a 10lb Flourocarbon leader. I was using #1 sized Owner Circle Hooks but actually prefer a #4. With the bigger Blue Gill You can easily get away with using a #1. The other method that i often use, especially when the turtles are harassing us, is a 20" leader with a single 1/4oz Split shot and same sized circle hook.
For the Carp, i find that they are often so spread out that it's best to chum them up first and let them feast on ripped up pieces of bread to build their trust. Ill walk the bank of the pond tossing out a few pieces of bread every couple of feet making sure to hit varying distances from the bank. It's important not to ball it up. We need the bread to float. Balling the bread will cause it to sink. The rig is a simple Flat Line with a light #1 Owner Mosquito Hook. No weight. Once baited, we want it to float natural. You will also want to use Mono leader for this since it floats unlike Flourocarbon. Once we start seeing a good number of fish blowing up, we will send out a large piece of the same bait. basically, a 1/4 of a slice of bread. The best way to get it on a hook is to ball up a small section of the 1/4 slice, and leave the rest of it fluffed so that it still floats. Put the hook through the balled up section and gently toss the bait out where the blow ups are taking place. Until you get used to the feel, you'll be accidentally throwing off your bait. If this happens, try it again, except be as gentle as possible while doing so. Takes a few tries to get it right. Once you get the bait out there, get low and away from the bank as Carp are insanely skittish and will spook very easily. When the Carp hits the bait, you'll know it. They blow up on it like it's their last meal. Give them 2 seconds to eat it and gently set the hook. You will have to fight them on a light drag since the Mosquito hooks are delicate and thin. You'll straighten the hook otherwise. Nothing like the pull of a 15-20 pound Carp on light tackle when you can't get out on the water. Been plagued with terrible luck lately and am back waiting on yet another boat repair
this time it's fiberglass work since some kid decided to run a red light and tore up my truck/boat.Good hunting guys and tight lines.
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Replies
Looking at the tail in those grass carp I'm guessing they can move out pretty good. Cool post.
BTW , bummer about the boat.
Thanks Louie. Those Carp can get pretty crazy at times. They'll even jump.
Thanks man!
680k views 360 plus posts Deleted by a so called Mod over a little cleavage
member since Oct 1998 long before most of You
on Hot days... they will die.. they will swim off and die later (I have seen it)... I also use small hooks... but I use my bass rigs to
land them (1000 size reel) and I land them quick and fast... they jump at times.. but imo they really aren't Monster fighting fish
for their size.... just like gar...
Don't take my reply in> "Hating" on you... I just want "Others" to know that grass carp are highly protected by some folks in those
backyard ponds/lakes and the last thing you want is for one to end up floating and get your HOA in a up roar....
We had a whole lake close off to the kids around me and the only way to fish it, is if you know someone that lives on it :banghead
Again thanks for the great report and pictures :wink