Carp Fishing Tips

The Best Carp Fishing Tips

Welcome to Apex Fishing Tips, this section of our website is devoted to carp fishing. On this web page you'll learn about three different species of carp and carp fishing. Our carp fishing information will help you catch bigger carp, more often. It doesn't matter if you're new to carp fishing, or been catching carp for years, our carp fishing tips will help you be more successful.

below you'll find 6 carp fishing tips, they will help you catch three different species of carp, specifically black carp, common carp and grass carp. Our carp fishing tips, and information will help both novice and expert anglers catch more carp. If you have some awesome carp fishing tips, please contact us and share them with us.

Along with 6 carp fishing tips we're going to educate you on the black carp, the common carp and the grass carp. You'll also learn about the current all-tackle world fishing record for these three species of carp. If you need additional information on how to catch carp, you can use the resources at the end of this web page. We've also provided some amazing carp fishing pictures from other anglers.



6 Carp Fishing Tips

  1. If you want to catch carp, then you'll need to start using the hair rig. Yes, there are many fishing rigs that you can use to catch a carp, but the hair rig is one of the best. There are several variations of the hair rig, but the concept is still the same. The hair rig allows you to present your bait to carp without it being on the hook. You can make your own hair rig with terminal in your tackle box or buy hair rig kits from local bait shops, outdoor retailers and online.
  2. Along with the hair rig, carp anglers will use the three-way rig, the drift rig (especially in rivers) and the snowman rig. Every year some new fishing rig for carp comes out and becomes all the craze. However, most of these are just variations of standard fishing rigs. We also recommend anglers don't rush out and buy the latest and greatest carp fishing rigs. Stick with what you know and what works. If you're just starting out with carp fishing the hair rig is the way to go.
  3. There are several different live and artificial baits that work great for catching carp. Ironically, the best bait for carp is sweet corn from a can. You'll also catch carp using earthworms, they're great because they can also land you some other bottom dwelling fish, like catfish or walleye. There are also countless carp baits and doughs you can buy prepackaged at your local bait shop or retail outdoor store. Still, any carp angler worth their salt will always recommend corn.
  4. You need to be patient and aware when fishing for carp. They're notorious for lightly striking bait before doing a full strike. You'll need to pay attention to your pole and be aware when this is happening. However, you need to be patient and wait for the carp to fully strike your bait, especially if you're using a hair rig. If you're not patient and try to set the hook to soon you'll miss your opportunity.
  5. Choosing the right hooks for carp fishing is almost as important as choosing the right rig and bait. Never buy cheap hooks, carps can weight a lot and cheap hooks can easily be snapped by an average size carp. They type of hook is also important, consider the shape of a carp's mouth and how they take bait. Use a circle or octopus hook, you'll find these two fishing hook styles the best for carp. Avoid using silver or red hooks, carp will see them and avoid your bait. Stick with circle or octopus hooks that have a black matte color.
  6. Many jurisdictions in the United States consider carp an invasive species. They do not allow the catch and release of carp, once you catch it you must keep it or throw it away. While this can be hard for anglers who practice catch and release, it helps protect the native fish species of that body of water. This also means you should never release a caught carp into any body of water, expect where it came from if allowed.


About Carp (Cyprinidae)

Common Carp (cyprinus carpio)

Carp is a common name for several freshwater fish species in the Cyprinid family. All species of carp are native to either Europe or Asia. They can be found in across North America but are considered an invasive species. While consider an invasive species, many anglers in North America love to target carp. Even some states' departments in the United States see carp as a gamefish.

The three most popular species of carp sought out by anglers in North America are the black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Carp are bottom feeders, so you'll want to use a fishing rig that puts your bait on or near the bottom. Many anglers swear by canned corn and dough balls for bait.



Carp Fishing Records

The below International Game Fish Association (IGFA) carp world fishing records are up to date as of 2019.



Carp Fishing Pictures

A black carp caught while fishing

A picture of a black carp (M. piceus) caught on a fishing trip.
(Credit: jason livesey / Flickr)

A common carp caught while fishing

A picture of a common carp (C. carpio) caught on a fishing trip.
(Credit: Terry Laws / Flickr)

A grass carp caught while fishing

A picture of a grass carp (C. idella) caught on a fishing trip.
(Credit: Heather / Flickr)



Carp Fishing Resources