Many people would scoff at the idea of deliberately targeting Carp when they go fishing, but they can be great fun to catch and it's not that difficult to do.

They are a noxious species here in South Australia which means that they can't be returned to the water alive.  They were introduced to Australia in the early 1900's, but spread right through major waterways from farm dams during major flooding.

Now they can be caught just about anywhere there is a relatively large amount of permanent fresh water.  They are hardy fish and prolific breeders.

Here in South Australia, the Murray River and it's backwaters are the best places to catch large Carp.  The backwaters in particular, seem to hold some big fish.  Late September through to mid October are good times to target these areas, as there seems to be a healthy population of large female fish. 

The warmer months are considered to be the best times to fish for Carp, although the lower Murray River, around the shores of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert, produces fish during the Winter in quite good numbers at times.

My favourite area is the backwaters and swamps around the Barmera, Cobdogla region, in the State's Riverland.  I fish here during September and October when the fish are spawning.  There is a lot of activity around the reed beds, with fish jumping out everywhere.  Although they are active at this time of year, when it comes to taking a bait, they seem to be far less aggressive than at other times.  Fishing with unweighted baits (if possible) is the answer and don't assume a small bite means a small fish.

Other areas where I have had no trouble catching a few Carp are Clayton Bay, Milang and Tolderol Game Reserve (all on the lower Murray/Lakes region) and Swan Reach, Morgan and Moorook.

Great Carp fishing country on the shores of Lake Alexandrina

The consistent catches of bigger fish have tended to come from the backwaters, although a big one does show up every now and then when fishing the main river.  Water depth is not crucial, and the backwaters are sometimes only knee deep.

A basic rod and reel setup is all that is needed.  Make sure the drag works though and use the lightest line you are comfortable with.  Make the trace heavier than the main line.  I use an 8 pound line with a 15 pound trace.  As mentioned above, best results are often gained without using a sinker, but sometimes a sinker is required.  A 14 gram, or half an ounce, sinker will be enough in most cases.  If it's very windy or there is a current running then a 28 gram sinker may be necessary.  (Current though will rarely be a problen in Carp territory). 

I use a size 4 hook.  The larger Carp have big mouths and could easily swallow much larger baits, but size 4 seems to work well.  Carp have a rubbery bottom lip, likewise the sides of their mouth, and if a hook gets in there it is quite difficult to get out.  I found if I used a smaller hook, then quite often the hook would pull out or I would fail to hook up properly at all.

For me, the number one bait for Carp is bread.  A ball of bread moulded onto the hook stays on very well and it is an effective bait.  Years ago, fishing off a small jetty at Clayton Bay, my brother and I were catching Carp one after the other.  It was late afternoon and an older gentleman came down to fish alongside us.  We continued to catch fish.  After about half an hour he asked us what we were using for bait.  I showed him the bread and he didn't believe us.  He was using worms and wasn't getting a nibble.  He had his rod lying on the planks of the jetty and was standing over it watching for bites.  I suggested he bait up with bread.  He scoffed, but did, and cast his line back in.  He had no sooner put the rod down when it shot forward off of the jetty and into the water.  My brother jumped in (it was only waist deep) and managed to retrieve his rod with fish still attached.  Clayton Bay was our stomping ground when we were kids and in the early 80's it was teeming with Carp.  Fish are still caught there today, but not in the same numbers.

Sweet corn is also a good bait, along with worms at times.  Don't be afraid to use berley either as Carp respond well to it. 

Catp are never going to be considered a top class sportfish, but some of the larger specimens, when hooked in shallow water are very reluctant to come closer and will give you a few worrying moments.  I think the South Australian Record for Carp is around 14 kilos.  My biggest to date is only 5 kilos and 75 cms long.  Interestingly, I have caught quite a few at this length and around this weight, and heaps smaller, but not one bigger.

A Carp of about 3 kilos from Lake Alexandrina, this one caught in July.

Once caught, they can't go back.  They make good yabby or crayfish bait though.

My technique(?) refined

I've continued my obessession with catching a carp that measures 1 metre in length.  However, I have recently been told that it may never happen and there is a good reason why.  Carp seem to increase in girth with little increase in length.  This has become apparent even to me recently with my latest two expeditions producing quite a few fish between 60 and 70 cms.  They weighed from 2.5 kgs up to 3.8 kgs (this was a 68 cm fish).  The last trip produced a noticably larger specimen.  It looked much bigger when I netted it.  It measured 71 cm (only 3 cm more than the 68 cm fish) but it weighed 5kg.  It seems when carp reach about 70cm, their weight increases rather than their length.  At least that seems to the case in the Riverland area of South Australia.  So if I did catch a metre long fish, the weight would be enormous.  Just have a look at some of the English carp fishing websites and you'll see what I mean.  They grow big over there.

This is a 5kg carp

Apart from all that, I don't intend to give up.  I have made a couple of changes to the way I fish for them and I have noticed a difference in the number and size of the fish caught.

I have changed to using number 8 size hooks instead of number 4's.  The 8's are quite a bit smaller, but hooking and holding rates seem to be OK.  The reason for the switch was inspired by the English fisherman who generally use even smaller hooks.  Carp can be a bit finicky, even in our murky Murray, but they will suck down a ball of bread on a number 8 hook without it touching the sides.  A lot of fish caught on the smaller hooks have had them lodged in the corner of their mouth, right in the soft, but tough, rubbery sides of the lip, where the hook is difficult to dislodge. 

The hair rig (see here http://www.carpkrazy.com/carp-rigs.html on how to tie it) works very well with the small hooks.  Basically the hook sits above the bait and when the carp vacuums the bait in, the hook goes with it and the point is left free to hook up.  I was a bit doubtful about this, but I tried it and am now....errr.....hooked.

I have also started to berley a bit more, and have put a little more thought as to what goes in it.  Previously I would throw in a few chook pellets soaked in tuna oil.  Now, I'll also add a few handfulls of crushed corn, breadcrumbs and honey.  Apparently carp like sweet things.  It seems to work, although they can take a while to hone in on it, but be patient.

The English fisherman go to extraordinary lengths to catch carp over there, out of necessity.  Some of the carp bait recipes are incredible.  The water is clearer and the fish a lot more fussy and it's all about presentation.  They are a well respected sportfish, and no wonder when you see the size of them.  We are lucky here (from a fishing perspective) to have an abundance of them, in murky water, all willing to eat bread and sweetcorn.