Catching grass carp can be a real test for a novice fisherman. Cupid is a worthy opponent; it is impossible to just come to a pond to rinse your tackle and catch this wary fish. No, here you will have to demonstrate all the qualities and skills inherent in people who are truly in love with fishing.
You need observation to find the habitat of this fish; you need knowledge of the habits of cupid in order to select the appropriate tackle and bait; Care is required for reliable installation of equipment; patience and perseverance - to wait a long time for a bite, as well as attentiveness and quick reaction so as not to miss this bite. And carp fishing does not tolerate lazy people; it happens that for the sake of a good catch you have to regularly visit the fishing spot and hook your future prey.
So what is this grass carp and why is catching it so desirable for fishermen? Let's start with the fact that this fish came into our waters from the Far East and did not come by accident. In the 60s of the twentieth century, grass carp began to acclimatize in reservoirs of the European part of the USSR, in other European countries and even in the USA. All this is due to the extraordinary abilities of this fish.
Being a peaceful representative of the carp family, grass carp feeds on any plant food that is within its reach, thereby clearing water bodies of overgrowth. Moreover, he feeds very well, eating twice his weight per day. And it weighs a lot. Some cupids grow up to 120 cm, while weighing up to 32 kg. Already at the age of two, this fish weighs about 800 g. So for reservoirs of artificial origin, grass carp is the best natural cleanser.
Habitats of grass carp
As we have already said, grass carp are often bred in reservoirs of artificial origin, such as irrigation and main canals, cooling ponds of thermal power plants, various ponds and lakes that are privately owned or owned by fishing and hunting farms. In general, grass carp can live in any body of water in which the basic conditions for its existence are met - clean water and a sufficient amount of vegetation. Moreover, cupid gets along well with carp, since they have different feeding preferences.
Habitats and catches
Starting from a depth of 1 m and ending with depths of 4 m, you can hope for a successful bite of grass carp. Based on the fact that it is bred artificially, it can be found in irrigation canals, reservoirs near thermal power plants, as well as in ponds that require constant cleaning of aquatic vegetation. It can also be found in heavily overgrown lakes and ponds, where there is enough food for it. This fish feels safe near fallen trees, snags and other objects in the water.
Best time to catch grass carp
Fishing for grass carp begins in May and can last until the end of October. But the most optimal time for fishing is when this fish lacks natural food. That is, in the spring, when the plants just appear, and in the fall, when they are already dying off. In the summer, due to the abundance of food, it is quite difficult to catch this fish. Cupid can be caught throughout the day, but the best bite is observed in the morning, when the sun is just setting, and in the evening before sunset.
Looking for a place to catch grass carp
Based on their feeding habits, grass carp should be looked for in places with an abundance of aquatic vegetation. These are thickets of reeds, reeds, floating islands of greenery, as well as places where terrestrial vegetation hangs into the water. Thickets of hornwort and vallisneria are in particular demand among grass carp. This fish is very active and constantly moves around the reservoir during the day. Grass carp feeds in the coastal zone; its feeding sites can be detected by the abundance of floating excrement, which in appearance resembles the droppings of waterfowl.
In our case, when fishing for grass carp takes place in the autumn, it is worth mentioning another feature of this fish. Before wintering, the glands of grass carp begin to actively produce mucus, which completely envelops its body, which greatly simplifies the search for a place to catch this fish in the fall. Namely, in the autumn, carp can be easily detected by the long threads of this mucus floating to the surface of the reservoir.
Bait for catching carp on a float rod
As an example, we offer a fairly effective recipe that can be used for catching grass carp using a float rod. The recipe consists of easily accessible ingredients that can be purchased in any grocery section of modern supermarkets. This recipe can be used as a basis when creating your own, unique and catchy recipe, based on various combinations.
To prepare it you need to purchase:
- 2 packs of store-bought bait (preferably universal);
- 1 kg of wheat porridge;
- black bread – 1 piece;
- 1 glass of steamed cake;
- banana – 2 pcs;
- a handful of canned corn.
Cooking method
Wheat porridge is cooked and mixed with ready-made commercial bait. After this, a loaf of black bread is softened and a glass of flour is steamed and mixed with the main composition. Finally, two bananas and a handful of canned corn are added to the mixture, after which the bait is thoroughly mixed. Upon arrival at the pond, balls with a diameter of about 50 mm are molded from bait and thrown into the fishing point. In this case, approximately half of the mixture is used, and half is left to feed the fish during fishing, otherwise it will not be possible to keep the fish in one place.
This simple recipe does the job perfectly and attracts grass carp.
What to catch grass carp with
As for catching almost all carp, one of the main conditions for effective fishing for grass carp is the correct bait. You can use ready-made bait mixtures for both catching cupid and carp; such mixtures produce a cloud of turbidity that should interest this fish. To increase the volume, you can add boiled corn, corn, oatmeal, mixed feed, bunches of greens, and potatoes to this mixture. This gluttonous vegetarian will be happy with any plant component of the bait.
But, it should be remembered that one of the main tasks of feeding is to keep the fish at the fishing site for a long time. And so that grass carp, having eaten everything offered, does not go to look for another source of food, the volume of bait must be very large. At the same time, you don’t have to be afraid of overfeeding the cupid, so that he will then refuse the bait. In fact, it is almost impossible to saturate this fish. In addition, many experienced fishermen have noticed that grass carp is not deterred by the splash of bait thrown into the water during fishing; on the contrary, it is attracted. So, periodic supplementary feeding during fishing will only have a positive effect on the fishing result.
What to use to catch grass carp can go on for a long time. We already know that its diet includes higher plants and cupid is not particularly picky in their choice. There were even cases where hungry cupids plucked the roots of coastal trees, which is why the banks, along with these trees, crumbled directly into the reservoir. Therefore, when choosing a nozzle, you can act on the principle of what holds best on the hook. And here the palm belongs to corn; it was its grains that caught most of the representatives of this fish.
To catch carp, in addition to the classic bait on a hook, you can use a hair rig with boilies or the same corn attached to a hair. Unlike carp fishing, where the bait can have any type of buoyancy, when fishing for carp, the tackle is adjusted so that the bait is above the hook, without lifting it from the bottom. To do this, either floating boilies are used or, in addition to the nozzle, pieces of foam, tinted polystyrene foam, etc. are added to the hair to increase the buoyancy of the nozzle.
Tackle for catching grass carp
Tackle for catching grass carp can be either float or feeder. But such a monster as cupid is difficult to pull out of the water with an ordinary fly fishing rod. Therefore, when using float equipment, the fishing rod must be match type. In addition to the increased strength of such rods, they are equipped with reels, which is simply necessary when fishing for large and strong fish. And if it is not possible to install a reel with a baitrunner, and this would be an ideal option, then be sure to make sure that the clutch is reliable.
As a fishing line for catching grass carp, it is better to use monofilament because of its shock-absorbing properties. The diameter is 0.25-0.3 for the main one and for the leash at least 0.18-0.22 mm. A hook with a bend to the side, but not inward as for carp. Hook size from 10 (international classification). The same requirements for equipment apply to bottom fishing for grass carp.
Selection of tackle and accessories
For catching such powerful fish, ordinary and familiar gear is not suitable, since they cannot withstand the resistance of grass carp.
The main gear for catching grass carp are:
Plug
This is a long rod, reaching a length of about 13 meters, capable of withstanding the force of fishing for large specimens. The most important advantage of such a fishing rod is its durability. The gear used imitates a free-falling bait in the water column, which works very well to attract grass carp. The basis of a plug fishing rod is: rubber, length from 1.4 to 2.1 m, fishing line, diameter from 0.14 to 0.22 mm and a hook No. 10 attached to the fishing line.
Match fishing rod
A fishing rod of at least 4 m in length is selected. It is also possible to use shorter forms: it all depends on the fishing conditions, the main thing is that it is durable. As a rule, for catching grass carp, standard carp rods are selected, equipped with powerful reels for catching large specimens. The fishing line is selected with a thickness of about 0.4 mm, and a rigid cord is used as a leash.
Feeder
Feeder gear is used for catching grass carp in the spring, when there is still no green vegetation at the bottom of the reservoir. The length of the feeder can be within 4 meters and it is equipped with a reel of size 3500. A monofilament line with a diameter of 0.3 mm is installed on the feeder, as well as braided leashes, the length of which is selected experimentally. When catching this fish, it is very important that the bait is raised above the bottom level to 20 cm.
Fishing. Catching tackle for white carp.
Features of catching grass carp
The principle of catching grass carp in the fall is almost the same as when catching carp. The only differences are in biting and retrieving the fish. And the bite of cupid is always sudden and sharp. The grass carp immediately swallows the bait and this moment cannot be missed, otherwise it will immediately drag the tackle into the thickets. You need to hook quickly and sweepingly, but not very hard. The weak lip of this fish may not withstand the oncoming sharp jerk. Don’t force the fishing, try to wear out the fish little by little, but at the same time, keep the line taut all the time.
The jerks and somersaults of a large carp can be a real test, both for the tackle and for the skills and nerves of the fisherman. Until the fish is on the shore, you cannot be sure that you will be able to win this confrontation. Even if the cupid does not offer resistance immediately after hooking and being pulled to the shore, when it finds itself a couple of meters from the fisherman, it can suddenly go berserk and demonstrate all its enormous strength. It is worth noting that without using a landing net, it is almost impossible to pull out a large carp.
In conclusion, I would like to note the good gastronomic qualities of grass carp. This fish is much easier to cut than carp, because carp has fewer bones and they are easier to separate. The meat is tasty with a sweetish taste and contains many vitamins and microelements. There are many dishes made from grass carp, both for the regular menu and for dietary nutrition. So, all you have to do is catch this wonderful fish.
