Old guy wants to go carp fishing.

[Vinnie501]

Hello everyone,
I've been lurking around this forum for quite a while and noticed that a bunch people are willing to share/educate/assist a bunch of new/old anglers here on OFF.
That's the reason why I decided to sign up today. I'm interested in learning how to fish for carp.
A little info about myself: I'm an avid Trout/Salmon/Steelhead/Sturgeon angler with no boat (bank fishing only) and sometimes I catch a fish (except sturgeon, C&R only) My home waters are Henry Hagg Lake/Columbia River/Willamette River and sometimes I fish for surf perch at the coast.
Now I would like to ask some questions:

1: anyone willing to show me the ropes face to face? I live 3 miles from Bethany Pond, I guess that would be a good place to start? Willing to travel a reasonable distance.
2: Best time of the year to fish for them? Spring/summer/fall/winter?
3: Bait/setup?

I think I have all the gear, just not the knowledge of how to use it for carp fishing. I'm 63 yrs old, still very mobile and willing to learn from the "young guns"

I'll bring lunch, maybe my dog too, wife stays home, since she's not interested in fishing. :-(

Thanks for reading, please contact me if anyone wants to teach me how carp fishing is done. Thank you and tight lines,
Vinnie501

 

[bass]

There are definitely a fair number of carp in Bethany pond but I think the best carp fishing around is at Swan Island Harbor. There is a boat ramp there but the best fishing is along the shoreline to the left of the ramp (sort of parallel with it). The area is far from a nice place but the carp are plentiful and always seem to be hungry. When I fish there I just pick a spot and if I do not get bit in 10 minutes I move down 50 feet and try again. Often the first spot is a winner. If you see a bunch jumping try there.

For a setup I use a sliding sinker (egg type) about 1/4oz to a swivel and about an 18" leader to a #8 hook. I have never found the need to use anything other than canned corn. I cast out and the prop my rod up. I hang a smallest size round plastic bobber between two of the guides so that it hangs down and takes the slack out of the line. Make sure the bobber is turned such that the line slips through it freely. Note that not all plastic bobbers can be set up this way. Some clamp tight to the line no matter the rotation.

Best of luck.

 

[troutdude]

Welcome to OFF! Lets us know how you do.

 

[Vinnie501]

There are definitely a fair number of carp in Bethany pond but I think the best carp fishing around is at Swan Island Harbor. There is a boat ramp there but the best fishing is along the shoreline to the left of the ramp (sort of parallel with it). The area is far from a nice place but the carp are plentiful and always seem to be hungry. When I fish there I just pick a spot and if I do not get bit in 10 minutes I move down 50 feet and try again. Often the first spot is a winner. If you see a bunch jumping try there.

For a setup I use a sliding sinker (egg type) about 1/4oz to a swivel and about an 18" leader to a #8 hook. I have never found the need to use anything other than canned corn. I cast out and the prop my rod up. I hang a smallest size round plastic bobber between two of the guides so that it hangs down and takes the slack out of the line. Make sure the bobber is turned such that the line slips through it freely. Note that not all plastic bobbers can be set up this way. Some clamp tight to the line no matter the rotation.

Best of luck.

Thank you bass for your response. Just a simple carolina rig? Very cool. What kind of leader? #test? Also, I don't quite understand the "bobber between the guides" thing. How can a light plastic bobber take the slack out of the line? I think I'm going to swan island soon thanks again and tight lines!
Vinnie501

 

[Vinnie501]

Welcome to OFF! Lets us know how you do.

Thank you troutdude.

 

[Admin]

I don't quite understand the "bobber between the guides" thing. How can a light plastic bobber take the slack out of the line?

here is an example )

 

[Vinnie501]

here is an example )

Ahhh..now I get it thanks for the video and your reply. Very much appreciated.
Vinnie501

 

[troutdude]

Hey @Anatoliy I know where that spot is. I would not have thought that it was illegal there. Did Mr. Policeman issue a citation? Or did he let you OFF the hook? lol

BTW @Vinnie501 there are tons of carp about a quarter mile below the Fern Ridge Reservoir dam (also the Long Tom River). But I guess you'd better check the regs. ha ha ha

 

[Admin]

Hey @Anatoliy I know where that spot is. I would not have thought that it was illegal there. Did Mr. Policeman issue a citation? Or did he let you OFF the hook? lol

no fishing up & below any dam. 20 yards... or 200... I don't remember. and I was right next to one.
the sheriff was cool, he let me go. probably a local guy from Monroe, may be even a lurker here at OFF )

 

[troutdude]

Ah yes...I do believe that it is indeed 200 yards. But I wouldn't have considered that as a dam. Guess that I know better now--and glad that you didn't get soaked by the local constable.

 

[bass]

Where do you see the general rule for dams? I see that some dams have that rule like that but not that there is a general rule. The Long Tom River does not have any rule like that listed for it. The only exception would be if there were a weir in that spot that we can't see in the video. All weirs have a 200 foot rule.

 

[troutdude]

On page 17, of the Statewide General Regulations, I found this or unlawful activities.

18. Trespassing on a fishway, weir or fish trap, or angling within 200 feet above and 200 feet below a weir or the entrance/exit of a private or public fishway or fish trap.

However I would NOT consider that spillway (also referred to as a break dam in my neck of the woods), as part of that definition. Unless, perhaps, "fishway" and "spillway" or "break dam" are one and the same.

I had never heard the term "fishway" until just now. Seems fishy to me. Maybe even contestable in court. ODFW regs are about as clear as the Long Tom. lol

 

[bass]

I saw that rule and I agree with what you are saying. (That is why I said perhaps there is a weir there that we can't see). I think the proper name for that structure is a low head dam - which does not seem to be covered by any general rule.

 

[AlabamaCoe]

Hello everyone,
I've been lurking around this forum for quite a while and noticed that a bunch people are willing to share/educate/assist a bunch of new/old anglers here on OFF.
That's the reason why I decided to sign up today. I'm interested in learning how to fish for carp.
A little info about myself: I'm an avid Trout/Salmon/Steelhead/Sturgeon angler with no boat (bank fishing only) and sometimes I catch a fish (except sturgeon, C&R only) My home waters are Henry Hagg Lake/Columbia River/Willamette River and sometimes I fish for surf perch at the coast.
Now I would like to ask some questions:

1: anyone willing to show me the ropes face to face? I live 3 miles from Bethany Pond, I guess that would be a good place to start? Willing to travel a reasonable distance.
2: Best time of the year to fish for them? Spring/summer/fall/winter?
3: Bait/setup?

I think I have all the gear, just not the knowledge of how to use it for carp fishing. I'm 63 yrs old, still very mobile and willing to learn from the "young guns"

I'll bring lunch, maybe my dog too, wife stays home, since she's not interested in fishing. :-(

Thanks for reading, please contact me if anyone wants to teach me how carp fishing is done. Thank you and tight lines,
Vinnie501

I'm looking for someone to team up with myself Vinnie I've fished carp before and know how. Just have none to head out with

 

[troutdude]

@AlabamaCoe if you wish to tag a fellow member...just add the "at" symbol then type their username like this:

@Vinnie501

 

[Cedonulli]

Hello everyone,
I've been lurking around this forum for quite a while and noticed that a bunch people are willing to share/educate/assist a bunch of new/old anglers here on OFF.
That's the reason why I decided to sign up today. I'm interested in learning how to fish for carp.
A little info about myself: I'm an avid Trout/Salmon/Steelhead/Sturgeon angler with no boat (bank fishing only) and sometimes I catch a fish (except sturgeon, C&R only) My home waters are Henry Hagg Lake/Columbia River/Willamette River and sometimes I fish for surf perch at the coast.
Now I would like to ask some questions:

1: anyone willing to show me the ropes face to face? I live 3 miles from Bethany Pond, I guess that would be a good place to start? Willing to travel a reasonable distance.
2: Best time of the year to fish for them? Spring/summer/fall/winter?
3: Bait/setup?

I think I have all the gear, just not the knowledge of how to use it for carp fishing. I'm 63 yrs old, still very mobile and willing to learn from the "young guns"

I'll bring lunch, maybe my dog too, wife stays home, since she's not interested in fishing. :-(

Thanks for reading, please contact me if anyone wants to teach me how carp fishing is done. Thank you and tight lines,
Vinnie501

Im not a namby pamby but can't stand to even look at a carp. Yuck. That said, we used to use small marshmallows for them when I was much younger. We didn't want them---we planted them under azaleas and other flowering trees for fertilizer.. Long shank hook with an egg between two mallows. They were on those like starving dogs on fresh kill. God I hate those ugly things, sorry!

 

[nikita_pdx]

Carp fishing is fairly simple. You need to make sure you have a scent and visual attractant. Sweetcorn is Godly because it is bright yellow and has a scent that the carp like. Something people miss often is that carp have eyes as good as their nose! You can of course also make boilies or use worms.
With that said you must also use light clear line, preferbly 8-12lb flouro as leader in clear water or when fishing spooky fish. However in muddy water, smooth braid (x8) between 15-20lb is the way to go-they can barely feel the line, and it has a higher test strength.
Make sure your hooks are heavy gauge. Size 4-6 octopus hooks for bait to hook. Use specially designed hooks from the UK for hair rigs-I use Gamakatsu Specialist R hooks for hair rigs.
Leader length is up to you, I keep mine between 1-2 feet. When I use lighter weights or am casting short distances, I can get away with 10 inch leaders.
Sliding egg weight with bead and swivel-standard, and works.
If you can find a baitrunner reel, go for it. There are some cheap options in sporting good stores, but if you want something nicer, take a look at some Daiwa or Shimano UK carp reels.

I reccomend fishing Vancouver Lake for quantity or quality, and willamette river near Ross Island for quality over quantity. Sauvie Island Rivers and Lakes giver you options for both, but I ussually stay away from there-lots of snags, people, and sometimes closed gates or bad weather blocks certain water bodies.

Midspring to midsummer is good, then when it gets real hot the fishing dies down. However early-mid fall the fishing picks up big time as the carp start feeding for winter. At this time they are looking for full bellies and calories, so use meaty baits. I often use cubed beef on the Willy for the big guns. However spring and summer stick to fruity boilies, corn, and berries.

One word of advice, I have attempted fishing Bethany Lake many times and have failed due to an overwhelming amount of weeds. I would urge you to fish the bigger water bodies stated above. But who knows, maybe I had a "wrong time wrong place" type of deal. But anywho, there are lots of carp in there, and big ones at that.

For a rod, anything between 9-12 feet in a medium to heavy power should do-that is, if you aren't willing to spend money on a carp rod. if you are, St. Croix Avid Carp is a great series. Otherwise, your surf rods might just do the trick.

 

[Livingston13.5T]

Blue lake in Troutdale has some really nice sized carps. Try by the fishing/boating dock on both sides. Use canned corn kernel on a Carolina rig around summer time.