WK's Carp Guide For Beginners

[WalkersKiller]

Hi 

Thought I would share some of my knowledge about SA's carp and how to fish from them starting from scratch and what I have learned.

If you are new to Carp fishing I hope you will find this information helpful and welcome to the great sport of bank angling. The first thing you should know is the fish you are targeting! In SA we get the Common, Mirror (King), and Grass Carp although there are many variations of these species and other less common species. Other fish you should know about when starting off this type of fishing are Largescale Yellowfish, Mudfish and Barbel. There is always a good chance you can hook into these species on a day of carp fishing.

Carp have small mouths and therefore large hooks & baits are not needed when starting out. It is amazing what baits have been successful for Carp, Viennas, Marshmellows are amongst the stranger ones.

See links below for tackle and bait tips...


When getting to the water it is important to find a spot AND STICK TO IT. This type of fishing involves feeding an area to attract the Carp and get them eventually to feed on your baits. When casting it is important to cast as close to (If not in) the same area you first casted in. This is key to Carp fishing success.

Carp are most active during the nightime hours, early morning and late afternoon although you will get pulls throughout the day no matter how cold or hot it is.


Carp can be very picky and hard to catch on any given day and perseverance always pays off. The other pages will help you with any other further questions and tips...

Summer is a great time to target Carp and here are some baits that should treat you well during this season http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,6367.0.html

The trace you should get familiar with when starting out is the Rietvlei this is one of the best and most widely used traces in SA Carp fishing. Here is the link on how to tie it and how to fish it http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,4843.0.html

Some more in depth info that you should know http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,4495.0.html

Feel free to ask any questions on this thread!

Wk 

[Wynand13]

Hi WK

Great thread and I am sure this will go on as the hotter months are coming.

I would like to ad something if you dont mind. Carp more often than not feed very close to the bank and this should not be forgotten, a lot of times we tend to cast as deep as we can, where there is nothing to feed on for the carp, and they do not patrol those waters, I found this to be the case at a few dams, usually you can see carps feeding by bubbles coming up, this gives a good indication of where they are but scout the water first. However as mentioned once you have a spot that you are feeding stick to it, as it normally attract the fish.

And just something to mention, I have caught my top 3 PB carps all in winter.......

[WalkersKiller]

Very true Wynand thanks for adding!