In my avatar I have a carp I caught trolling a crankbait, it was hooked in it's mouth. The thing is I thought these things ate plants. I caught this on a medium action 7' Quantum Torsion spinning rod with 10# power pro line with a 10# Cabelas flourocarbon leader, on a Norman Fat Boy in Sunfish. The fight was long and fantastic, but I was disappointed when I was it was a carp, because the first thing I could see was it's deeply forked tail and I thought for sure it was a channel or blue. How rare is it for this type of carp to hit a crankbait? IDK if you'll be able to see this, but http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs331.ash1/28726_128267027200384_100000512617689_266194_2030783_n.jpg

I've never heard anything like this happening!   Are you sure...just kidding!  Do you have a picture of the lure you caught it on?

Rod, its not rare at all. I have landed commons on crankbaits, and green twist tail grubs whilst fishin' for sauger and walleye. nice catch though, don't be ashamed, carp is the new bass

Hi Eric, thanks for the feedback. Mostly what I was ashamed of, was I didn't know how to handle the fish. I tried weighing it on my scale and tore it's gill protector. Then I cut it up for bait. I've heard it's excellent bait. I didn't get a nibble and after a day ended up wasting the fish. Catfish and bass have tough areas that allow me to use my rapala 50# scale. If that hadn't torn out, I'd probably have thrown it back. I must say, I'd have been much happier if it had been a blue and especially a channel cat. As it was the fight was pretty fantastic. I'd been trolling off the dam and the fish headed to deeper water with nothing to hang me up, so I knew, if all my knots held, I'd get that fish in.

Fisherfanatic, I'd never heard of a carp hitting a crankbait either, that's why I asked. Here's a picture of a Norman Fat Boy Click Here

I caught mine of the sunfish color.

Posted By rodrigo on 29 Sep 2010 12:15 PM
Hi Eric, thanks for the feedback. Mostly what I was ashamed of, was I didn't know how to handle the fish. I tried weighing it on my scale and tore it's gill protector. Then I cut it up for bait. I've heard it's excellent bait. I didn't get a nibble and after a day ended up wasting the fish. Catfish and bass have tough areas that allow me to use my rapala 50# scale. If that hadn't torn out, I'd probably have thrown it back. I must say, I'd have been much happier if it had been a blue and especially a channel cat. As it was the fight was pretty fantastic. I'd been trolling off the dam and the fish headed to deeper water with nothing to hang me up, so I knew, if all my knots held, I'd get that fish in.

Fisherfanatic, I'd never heard of a carp hitting a crankbait either, that's why I asked. Here's a picture of a Norman Fat Boy Click Here

I caught mine of the sunfish color.

Most of the time When I am carping, I tend to use a laundry sack and run the hook of the scale threw the sack then weigh it that way. The other way I do now, is via a Weigh sling. this actually puts less stress on the fish, keeps it wet and does not take the fishes slime coat off. Just a some thoughts. I love catfishing more then carp and hear ya on the I wish it was a catfish LOL

Posted By rodrigo on 29 Sep 2010 12:15 PM
Hi Eric, thanks for the feedback. Mostly what I was ashamed of, was I didn't know how to handle the fish. I tried weighing it on my scale and tore it's gill protector. Then I cut it up for bait. I've heard it's excellent bait. I didn't get a nibble and after a day ended up wasting the fish. Catfish and bass have tough areas that allow me to use my rapala 50# scale. If that hadn't torn out, I'd probably have thrown it back. I must say, I'd have been much happier if it had been a blue and especially a channel cat. As it was the fight was pretty fantastic. I'd been trolling off the dam and the fish headed to deeper water with nothing to hang me up, so I knew, if all my knots held, I'd get that fish in.

Fisherfanatic, I'd never heard of a carp hitting a crankbait either, that's why I asked. Here's a picture of a Norman Fat Boy Click Here

I caught mine of the sunfish color.

I've had Common Carp hit Mister Twisters, but I've never heard of any asian carp hit an artificial lure.  Period! 

That is exactly why I asked this question. I took a buddy fishing and a common bit cut bait, which I'd never heard of either, but a crank bait??? So I'm glad Eric knew. As far as the laundry bag goes, stellar idea, but since this was the first carp I've ever caught on a crankbait, no matter where I've fished, I'm probably not packing one, but I now know, that when I get the fish back to the dock I will be able to weigh it, without hurting it. You guys have been great. I love this site for helping me with fishing mysteries.

Posted By rodrigo on 30 Sep 2010 10:15 AM
That is exactly why I asked this question. I took a buddy fishing and a common bit cut bait, which I'd never heard of either, but a crank bait??? So I'm glad Eric knew. As far as the laundry bag goes, stellar idea, but since this was the first carp I've ever caught on a crankbait, no matter where I've fished, I'm probably not packing one, but I now know, that when I get the fish back to the dock I will be able to weigh it, without hurting it. You guys have been great. I love this site for helping me with fishing mysteries.

Rod I have had carp hit chicken liver before. Course this was in the dead heat of the summer. See, Most folks think common carp are like grass carp, there not. they will not only hit dough baits, and so forth but they also eat other fish, soft shell crabs and other live baits ( night crawlers Etc.) see thats why folks like myself have taken an interest in teaching others about carp, since the early years of there bringing to our great country as a food source via our very own government, carp have had a bad rap. Will they harm an eco system, of course ALL NON Native species will bass included. I know these waters here in west virginia are native brook trout, once the introduction of bass, catfish, and other toothy critters there number have declined. think about it...... glad I could be of help.

Heres some informational links on the carp family:

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Fam...php?ID=122

Here's some information on Grass Carp:

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spe...Grass+Carp

Heres a link about the food items Grass Carp consume:

http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/...ies=idella

Here's some information on Common Carp:

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spe...ommon+Carp

Here's a link about the food items Common Carp consume:

http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=1643&genus=Cyprinus&species=carpio+carpio

Nice links, but its already been posted on the forum

In the small lake just down the road there have been several grassies caught on silver spoons and jigs in the cold water( late winter and early spring). During warmer weather nothing why only cold water i do not know.

Gary

I know a big pond where there are a huge population of grass carp what is the best thing to try to catch one on ???

I have yet to fish for grassies but I have asked the same questions. I hear that some people will put some bread around a hook and try to get them to take it off the top of the water. Also you can get a bag of maze "field corn" from a local tractor supply store. soak it for 24hrs then boil it for a half hour then let it just sit in a bucket with the water from boiling it and let it ferment you can add some sugar to speed up this process I am told they like the spoiled corn. You can also go to www.carpanglersgroup.com you can sign up as a free member to the forums but are limited to the topics you can see but there is a huge bit of info you can get from there on baits tips and tactics. Good luck with your fishing and be sure to post pics. If you sign on to the carp anglers group be sure to say idahocarpin sent you.

I have them in my pond but they are so subern andwount bite they only eat the alge on the top of the water! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!