Requirements for baits
When choosing bait, you should take into account the fact that this fish is a herbivore. Its mouth is positioned to collect plankton from the bottom. This distinguishes it from many other fish. The bait should be sinking and form a slight haze around itself.
Before fishing you need to use bait. Without it, it is unlikely that you will be able to attract the attention of this fish. In addition to the bait itself, a small foam ball is put on the hook so that it does not sink to the bottom, but stays above its surface. There are many ingredients that have a chance of catching silver carp, so it is advisable to have several types of them with you: canned corn, boiled peas, pieces of mushrooms, vegetables or berries. If it is bread, it should be soft and have a crust.
The best natural baits and lures for silver carp
This fish is excellently caught where the water is slightly cloudy. Therefore, the best baits will be those that are able to create a similar effect around themselves. Many fishermen use natural baits:
- Green peas - several pieces are placed on the hook, completely covering its sting.
- Canned corn – used in the same way as peas.
- Vegetable pieces - cut into small pieces. Cabbage leaves are good for this.
- Various porridges - mainly semolina and millet porridge.
- Bread should be soft, with an elastic crust. A hook is threaded through it twice.
- Young shoots of reeds - they can often be found near any body of water. The bait most often used is one that contains algae.
Ready-made baits for catching silver carp
Specialized stores often sell high-quality baits. One of them is ready-made technoplankton. It is a pressed food powder that easily dissolves in water and forms a slight cloudiness. It contains aromatic and flavoring substances. There are several different types of technoplankton: anise, honey, strawberries, bloodworms, blood, vanilla, raspberries. Looks like a small barrel. Suitable for fishing with a bottom fishing rod.
If you want to learn how to make technoplankton with your own hands, you can learn about it from our article.
In addition, silver carp are often caught using foam balls, which are placed on hooks of 2–3 pieces. Sometimes it is possible to catch it on an empty hook, having previously wrapped it in algae.
Lures for catching grass carp
The main bait when catching grass carp is bait of plant origin:
- corn;
- peas;
- seaweed;
- pieces of reeds;
- young willow leaves;
- pieces of young cucumber.
Special boilies are used from store-bought ones. In some reservoirs, catching this fish is very successful with:
- maggot;
- cherry;
- corn.
Many fishermen recommend using flavoring sprays (read more). The nozzle must be placed on the hook in such a way that the tip does not protrude and is not deeply hidden.
When fishing with bottom tackle, it is recommended to put a small piece of foam on the hook, this is necessary so that the hook does not lie on the bottom.
The following video describes an interesting bait of bread for grass carp, carp and crucian carp, made from potatoes.
How to choose bait depending on the season
The activity of fish always depends on the time of year. Therefore, the baits chosen for each pore are different.
In winter, you should catch silver carp when there is a thaw or after the first ice appears. Hooks are available in 4 sizes. The best baits for them are bloodworms and jigs. You can use scented baits and corn. Before fishing, you should feed the fish for at least two days. A small hole is made in the ice and plant bait is poured into it. Choose a fairly strong fishing rod with a thick fishing line. When fishing, the bait should be at the very bottom.
When spring comes, silver carp feeds on detritus (the top layer of silt). Unlike in winter, the nozzle is placed 10 cm from the bottom. The ideal bait at this time is polystyrene foam or small pieces of foam rubber. They have no smell, so they are not able to scare away fish.
The best time to hunt silver carp is summer. At this time there is a lot of natural organic food and he practically does not pay attention to artificial baits. The best time of day to catch him is morning. In summer, he chooses places where there is a lot of vegetation for his parking. You can use insects, cereals, technoplankton, pieces of vegetables and mushrooms as bait.
In autumn, its activity decreases significantly. Silver carp can be found at this time in those sections of rivers where the current is weak, especially in shallow water. There he looks for the remains of vegetation. It is good to catch bait from porridge and technoplankton tablets. For fishing, use a float rod, donka and feeder.
DIY bait recipes
It is not necessary to buy bait in the store; you can make it yourself from ingredients that can be found in every home. Various cereals and technoplankton prepared at home are popular.
To prepare the bait you will need:
- Millet – 3 kg.
- Makukha – 1 glass.
- Breadcrumbs 2 packs.
- Powdered milk – 150 gr.
You can add 250 grams of store-bought bait.
Millet is pre-divided into two parts of 2 and 1 kg. The first part should be boiled for about 15 minutes. You need to make sure that the mixture does not burn, but also avoid frequent stirring. Grind the smaller one. Leave the boiled porridge wrapped in a towel for 3 hours. Add the remaining products before fishing, mix thoroughly.
- 4 liter saucepan.
- Peas – 1 kg.
- Semolina – 2.5 kg.
- Honey – 1 tbsp. l.
Water is poured into the container and brought to a boil. Peas are poured into it, after which the gas on the burner is reduced to a minimum. Cook the porridge for approximately 4 hours. The porridge should be stirred periodically to prevent it from burning, otherwise you will have to cook it again. When the peas are ready, they should be passed through a colander. The strained broth is put back on the fire, and the peas are set aside for bait on other fish.
Pour semolina into the broth, stirring it with a spoon to avoid the appearance of lumps.
When the porridge is ready, it needs to be removed from the heat and kneaded until it stops sticking to your hands. After this, honey is added and everything is put in the refrigerator.
Technoplankton can be prepared in a similar way. There are several recipes for its preparation:
- Semolina – 500 gr.
- Corn flour – 500 gr.
- Breadcrumbs – 300 gr.
- Mamalyga – 300 gr.
- Sugar – 300 gr.
All products are mixed in a large container, and water (a small portion) with honey is added.
- Condensed milk – 1 can.
- Cake powder.
- Powdered milk.
Condensed milk is poured into a bowl and beaten with a mixer. Gradually milk and cake (half the portion) are poured in there.
You need to mix until you get a mass with the consistency of sour cream. After this, the mixture is placed in the refrigerator for 40 minutes. After removing the mass from the refrigerator, it is diluted with the rest of the milk powder and cake, adding a little water.
First stage.
- Dog food – 500 gr.
- Roasted crushed peanuts – 100 gr.
- Sweet paprika (powder) – 50 gr.
- Powdered sugar – 200 gr.
Mix all ingredients in the first bowl.
Stage two. Take another container and place the following ingredients in it:
- Boiled potatoes – 500 gr.
- Bananas – 1 kg.
- Egg yolk.
- Condensed milk – 50 mg.
Mash everything and mix with the first part to form a dough. This mass can be rolled into barrel shapes. Used as groundbait and also as bait.
Lure
Without bait, fishing for a giant will be doomed to failure from the start. Bait for silver carp is a mandatory element in the fishing technique. Groundbait can be quite easily prepared at home from widely available ingredients.
The basis of the bait for silver carp is millet, from which the porridge is cooked and seasoned with the elements necessary for the aroma. Finely ground breadcrumbs, dry milk and macadamia are added to the porridge after cooking. The thoroughly mixed mixture will be ready for use after complete cooling. For bait you will need to purchase 3 kg of millet, one glass of flour, a kilogram of breadcrumbs and 250 grams of powdered milk; if you wish, you can recharge your homemade bait with a store-bought universal bait composition with any fruit flavor.
Another simple and effective option is complementary feeding based on boiled and crushed peas, to which semolina is added, and the mixed mixture is charged with fresh natural honey. For the composition, use 2 kg of peas, 3 kg of semolina and about 100 grams of honey.
Important! The finished bait should have a plastic consistency that does not stick to your hands and creates a clearly visible cloud when dissolved in water.
Excess bait mixture is stored frozen in the refrigerator for no more than two weeks.
Blitz tips
- Silver carp is a shy fish. During fishing, complete silence and camouflage must be observed.
- The fishing line is chosen to be at least 0.25 mm.
- When fishing, it’s a good idea to have a hook with you. You have to be very careful when pulling out the fish, because it offers quite strong resistance.
- It often happens that the current interferes with successful fishing. The bait is carried away from the place where it was thrown. To avoid this, put on a sliding weight weighing about 100 grams. depending on the capabilities of the rod. When the weather is calm, you can remove the sliding weight from the rig, replacing it with a regular one. In this case, a large float is installed that can withstand up to 50 degrees. loads.
- Successful fishing is carried out the same way both with a donk and a float. The advantage of the latter is the possibility of fishing at different depths. Also, when floating, it is important to use two baits - heavy and light. The first creates cloudiness in the water, the second is used as an additional one.
Fishing gear
Grass carp can be caught from the shore and from the surface of the water using a boat. Depending on the type of fishing, float rods, donks, and feeder spinning rods are used.
Float rod
You can catch grass carp using a float rod both from the shore and from a boat. When choosing this fishing method, it is necessary to determine in what place the fish may be located; the casting range will be limited. In warm weather, groups and individuals like to feed on the border of reeds and clean water; when it gets colder, they go into the depths of the reservoir.
Float rod
White carp is a large and strong fish. The tackle must be durable. Select a rod with a wire reel for long and accurate casts. Large, clearly visible sliding type float. A leash with a diameter of at least 0.3 mm. It is not recommended to use braided line because it is inflexible and noticeable. Steel hooks, hardened, number 10-16 depending on the weight of the specimens.
Feeder spinning rod
The difference between a feeder spinning rod and a traditional one is its size and application. To catch carp, massive telescopic or plug rods are used. Length up to 5 meters. There must be a massive reel that allows you to make long casts and catch fish weighing up to 10 kg.
Using a spinning rod, you can cast up to 100 meters, choosing likely places where fish accumulate.
To do this, you need a sinker weighing up to 100 grams. They also use feeders - wire in the form of a spring, covered with bread, dough or a special porridge-like bait.
The main line on the reel should be strong; braided line can be used. Use several leashes with hooks of 10-16 numbers. After casting, the feeder tackle is installed on the shore on special stands. To signal a bite, special devices are used - rings, weights, bells, electrical devices that emit sound signals.
Donka
The most common and affordable gear. It is a fishing line with a weight tied at the end and several leashes equipped with hooks. You can cast the bottom by hand or use thin rubber to place the bait in places where fish accumulate.
Donka
Several bundles of thin rubber are tied to the end of the fishing line. The length at the greatest stretch should ensure that the bait is replaced and fish are removed from the hooks. A massive weight is tied to the other end of the rope, and the tackle is taken by boat to the fishing site.
After the bite, the fishing line with hooks is pulled out, the catch is removed, the bait is attached and the tackle is simply lowered into the water. The tension force of the rubber allows you to place the hooks in the same place. This is a convenient method of bottom fishing, which reduces tangling of gear and unsuccessful casts.