The basis of the diet of grass carp is the vegetation of reservoirs. The fry of this fish can feed on bloodworms or other invertebrates, but as they grow, they quickly switch to eating plant foods. Due to their herbivory, grass carp began to be released into reservoirs overgrown with algae to clean such reservoirs. The second name of this fish is grass carp. It not only cleans water bodies of unnecessary vegetation, but also has tasty meat. Moreover, grass carp grows quickly, which makes it possible for its industrial breeding. Based on this, grass carp is a valuable species of fish intended for industrial cultivation.
Features of catching grass carp
Initially, this fish was very difficult to catch because of its nutritional base, which consisted of aquatic vegetation, but over time, grass carp began to feed on other types of food offered to it and it began to be caught using baits traditional for anglers. Active biting of carp can be observed in the morning and evening hours, but sometimes, for some reasons, it becomes active in broad daylight. Grass carp are frightened by unnecessary noise on the shore, so you should prepare quite seriously for its capture. If there is food in the reservoir, this fish is unlikely to pay attention to anglers’ baits.
Some fishermen resort to some tricks to lure grass carp:
- Throw bait in the immediate vicinity of the thickets.
- They independently clean part of the reservoir, making original windows.
- Fishing is carried out at night, when there is a minimum of noise, near a reservoir.
- They bait grass carp for several days before fishing.
The best times for fishing for grass carp are considered to be warm, cloudless days without wind.
Who is this White Cupid
Dear readers of the Fishing Blog, I am glad to welcome you to the page about White Amur. Let's talk today about where it lives, what to fish for, how to choose gear for catching Amur.
And before we start catching this handsome guy, let's get to know him better. White Cupid from the Karpov family. He began his triumphal march from the Amur River, East Asia and China. Where its taste properties were noticed, as well as good weight gain, well, in the sense of growing quickly.
This handsome guy reaches a weight of up to 40-45 kg. In the 60s of the last century, the Amur was acclimatized to European weather and food conditions, and since then this herbivorous fish has become much more numerous. Cupid feeds exclusively on grass, which is why its second name is Water Cow. It is also convenient to breed it together with carp since the food supply does not compete at all. The grasshopper lives exclusively in fresh water and loves flowing reservoirs, but it can also be found in closed lakes or canals. It is released into closed reservoirs to combat lush aquatic vegetation, because cupid eats two to three times its own weight in grass per day.
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.
Best bait
Initially, grass carp were caught on:
- cabbage leaf;
- green cucumber slices;
- dandelion leaves and stems;
- green pea or bean pods;
- various algae.
Such baits are still promising in our time, but the fish have become accustomed to new bodies of water and are not against trying baits such as:
- worm;
- bloodworm;
- crawling out;
- maggot.
At the same time, grass carp does not refuse peas, corn, wheat, etc. Given its varied preferences for different types of food, it is sometimes very difficult to choose an effective bait or bait. Therefore, when going fishing, it is better to take several types of baits with you and calculate the preference of grass carp, one by one sending them into the pond.
Some fishermen use tiger nuts to catch grass carp. This bait has a peculiar aroma that quickly spreads in the water and lures fish.
To prepare nuts, you need:
- Boil them in water for 1 hour.
- After finishing cooking. The nuts are infused in a bowl, wrapped in cloth.
- After cooling, an attractant is added to the mass to enhance the aroma.
- Ready-to-eat nuts are dried in the sun.
Baits of animal origin work well in stocked reservoirs, but traditional baits of plant origin are better used in reservoirs where there is little fish.
How to prepare a catchable bait for catching carp and grass carp?
The best baits and baits
Choosing a good fishing spot is only half the battle. It is necessary to choose the right bait, since prey is always moving in order to find food. To improve the outcome of the hunt, you will need to lure the fish. Food for prey must be kept in one place for a long time in order to attract the attention of grass carp.
Important! The more plant food you give the fish, the higher the likelihood of attracting several individuals to one place at once.
Grass carp is a herbivorous fish with a peculiar eating preference. Therefore, for bait you need to use fresh vegetables (cabbage, cucumber), reeds or filamentous algae. Cupid can also consume animal organisms in small quantities. Therefore, experienced fishermen periodically use worm bait. Small bait of animal origin attracts only small individuals.
If you want to catch a big fish, then use the following baits for fishing:
- Several worms obtained from manure.
- The soft part of white or black bread.
- Canned peas.
- Foam balls.
- Semolina or cabbage.
- Seaweed.
- Reed sprouts.
If you decide to use regular bait or bait (semolina, worms and corn), then there is a high probability of catching crucian carp. This fish prefers these types of food.
Find out also how to catch grass carp in the fall.
Feeding technique
Grass carp loves corn most of all, so it should be present in all types of bait.
To prepare bait mixtures, the same ingredients are used as for most carp:
- peas;
- Hercules;
- corn grains;
- sunflower cake.
For the most part, grass carp are attracted to the strong aroma of corn, which even the most cautious fish cannot resist. Grass carp eats a lot, so a sufficient amount of bait is required. As a rule, when catching this fish, they do not skimp on bait and pour up to 2 kg of corn into one place. You should not immediately feed the place, but try to catch the fish without bait first and only after a negative result, feed the place.
If you want to catch a large fish, then it is better to cast the tackle a little further than the feeding area, where larger specimens are circling. As a rule, the bite is always better at the fishing point, but smaller individuals are eaten.
So where to look for Cupid.
If fishing takes place in a closed reservoir, then you shouldn’t worry too much about choosing a place. Since the Amur enters closed reservoirs artificially, that is, the reservoir was stocked with fish. On such a reservoir, we choose a convenient place, feed it, and it’s done.
If you are fishing on a river, you should choose quiet, deep places where there is plenty of food for cupid. It feeds on young shoots of reeds, reeds, and algae. Cupid loves places where he feels safe. Usually, these are littered with flooded snag trees. In general, these are places where you wouldn’t even wish your enemy to fish. Well, everything is as usual, the larger the fish, the more difficult it is to find and catch.
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.
Habitats
Grass carp is a fairly southern fish; it loves warm waters, so in most of our country (and this is the middle zone) it can only be found in artificial reservoirs that were created by human hands. It was mentioned above that cupid is a plant-loving fish, so you need to catch it in areas covered with various algae.
To accurately determine the habitat of the prey, you do not need to have special vigilance, since due to the fact that this fish, as a rule, spends a very long time at the surface of the reservoir, then traces, that is, excrement also remains from the carp there, you only need a little more show attentiveness.
Seasonal bite of grass carp
From late spring to mid-autumn you can safely hunt for this fish.
in spring
During this period, grass carp are caught at moments of slow growth of aquatic vegetation, at water temperatures from +12 to +16C.
In summer
With the onset of real warmth, the bite of grass carp becomes more active, but it is not so easy to catch it, since there is enough natural food in the reservoirs. In the summer, it is very difficult to choose the right bait so that grass carp starts actively biting.
in autumn
This is the best period for hunting grass carp, as the fish senses the coming of winter and begins to stock up on nutrients. During this period, he bites on almost all baits offered to him. It is caught until the water cools down to +10C. In the autumn, the growth of aquatic vegetation stops and there is not enough natural food for it.
in winter
In winter, grass carp stops feeding altogether, staying in deep holes.
Catching grass carp. Action fishing.
Choosing a place to catch grass carp using float tackle
Having arrived at a reservoir where grass carp lives, you should find a suitable place for fishing. If you don’t do this and start fishing at random, then fishing will be a waste of time. No experienced angler will start fishing if he has not decided on a catchable place.
But first you need to know that the activity of grass carp, as well as its migration through the reservoir, is very dependent on weather conditions. Temperature changes have a great influence on the heating of water in the reservoir. The slightest drop in temperature causes this fish to go deeper. If the temperature rises, it can also be found in shallow water.
Any angler who arrives at a reservoir tries to take his favorite place where he recently caught grass carp. But it may happen that this time there will be no bite. Therefore, you will have to analyze the weather conditions and it is quite possible that you will have to leave your “home” place in search of grass carp. If the water temperature has increased, then it is better to look for it in shallow areas of the reservoir, and if the water has become colder, then you should look for holes or other depressions.
According to experienced fishermen, a difference in depth of about 50 cm seriously affects the bite of grass carp. If the weather is stable and the water temperature is at the same level, then you should look for grass carp:
- on the border of clear water and reed thickets;
- on the edges, as well as places of sudden changes in depth;
- in windows of clear water surrounded by aquatic vegetation;
- in areas where bushes are flooded;
- in bays where there are thickets of aquatic vegetation and reeds.
At the same time, it should be remembered that the right choice of place is not a guarantee of a good catch. Experienced fishermen know that there is nothing to do on a pond without bait. The fact is that grass carp is in constant motion to feed itself. For fishing to be effective, grass carp must be lured to one fishing point and kept there for as long as possible. As a rule, they don’t skimp on bait and the more, the better.
The presence of bait will allow you to gather several individuals at one point that are interested in the food item. If this fish finds such a place, then until it eats everything that lies there, it will not calm down and will not leave here. She will want to “vacuum” everything that lies at the bottom. Therefore, the amount of bait plays a serious role in terms of performance. Moreover, the bait will have to be constantly added so that grass carp cannot go far.
Therefore, the most promising place is the place where there is bait at the fishing point. If the feeding area does not give bites, then you need to move to a deeper or shallower section of the reservoir.
