Posts filed under 'General Carp Fishing'
By Jerry Montgomery
More than 95 percent of the US population has no idea what the term “Jackpot Fishing” means. The small percentage of people that know about this exploding trend that started in South Carolina are quickly jumping in on this great money making fishing sport of catching carp.
What started out as an experiment with one small pond of about 3 acres has now spread to over 500 large and small ponds, ranging from as far south as Florida across to Texas and into Virginia.
What is Jackpot Fishing For Carp?
Almost everyone has heard of the fish called a carp. There are more than 20 species of carp with the most popular being the common carp, bullhead carp, and the grass carp. The grass carp grows the largest and can reach 60lbs in 5 years. With the amazing strength these fish have they are extremely fun to catch but not so desirable to eat.
Roughly 10 years ago the owners of a small pond in SC decided to try an experiment to see if they could actually get people to pay money to catch these fish. In return they offered a portion of the money back to the person that caught the biggest fish during the short tournament. The winnings ranged from 50 to 100 dollars during that time. It wasn’t long until other pond owners started catching on so they proceeded to buy carp and stock their ponds with 100’s of carp ranging from 5 to 50 lbs. This started competition between the pond owners and the amount of money given away to the winners grew rapidly.
Now here we are 10 years later and an explosion has happened. The amount of money it cost to enter these tournaments, the length of them and the enormous amount of money persons can win is extraordinary.
Let me give you an example:
One of my favorite jackpot fishing lakes was Lake Ann located in Lithonia GA. It was 2 ponds of approximately 10 acres total. The lake was filled with catfish and carp. The total amount of fish it held is unknown but at last count the total weight in fish exceeded 300 thousand pounds. Now that’s a huge amount of fish swimming around in a small body of water. The tournament season at lake Ann was from mid March up until November each year. There was a Tuesday night tournament and then tournaments from Fridays though Sundays and even longer on Holiday weekends.
Here’s how the money works:
Basically all carp tournaments are the same but different lake owners do different things during each contest. Lake Ann ran their tournaments as follows: The first carp tournament would begin on Friday evening at 6:00 pm and run for 12 hours: The average cost for you to fish would range (depending on the weekend) from 80 to 120 dollars for 3 polls. Is that a lot of money to spend on fishing for 12 hours? I will let you decide on that as you continue to read.
Once the tournament began the person that caught the largest fish for each hour would be rewarded $250.00. Of course the same person could win many times. Not only that but depending on how many people were involved depended on how large the Jackpots would become. At the end of the tournament there would also be 3 large pots given away for the 3 largest fish of the 12 hour tournament. 1st place could be several thousand with 3rd place receiving 7 or 800 dollars. Now with that being said lets look at the possibilities.
Lets say you have the best bait on the lake, you out catch your competion and you win just 10 out of those 12 hours. You have just won approximately $8,000.00 You read it right it says eight thousand dollars and that’s not all. The good news is when that tournament ends a brand new one starts right back up immediately and runs another 12 hours. This cycle continues until Sunday at 6pm or if its a holiday it will keep going through Monday.
If you enjoy fishing and live in the south I encourage you to give this a try. If you do by all means do not go out there thinking you can catch these fish with stuff that works in large lakes or rivers. These fish are accustom to fantastic tasting baits and they will not bite the same as those in the wild.
No one tells their secrets:
When you first start out I advise you don’t even get in the tournament, go to the jackpot lake on other days and experiment with different bait recipes until you find something that really catches the fish. Then and only then take your chance. The people that fish these ponds are for the most part experts at jackpot fishing and have some of the best recipes you could imagine. Some will catch a 100+ fish a night and do it all weekend long, so you have to be ready. They are not going to help you when it comes to baits because your their opponent along with 100’s of others so don’t even ask. When you find that perfect recipe you wont share it either.
Happy Fishing!
About the Author
Jerry Montgomery is an avid outdoorsman that fishes and hunts heavily. He has written many outdoor articles and is the owner of the article marketing site at http://www.articletycoon.com
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August 7th, 2008
“There are few things that can make my heart pound and my hands shake like the sight of a big carp cruising in shallow water. No other game fish here in the northwest offers such a unique fly-fishing experience, one requiring stealth, patience and pinpoint accuracy. Add in their size and abundance, and carp become almost the perfect fly rod game fish…” [read more from Carp Fly Fishing by Keith Meyers]
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June 25th, 2008
By: Pino Tedesco
Frustrating as it is, carp fishing is awesome. Carp are really good at sucking in and blowing out suspicious baits. It’s such an excitement to see the whole action in a fraction of a second as you hang on for dear life while the reel is trembling with a loud noise.
Carp happily devour on the surface as long as you keep the pellets, biscuits, chic peas, bread, and re-hydrated corn coming in, and these are inexpensive baits as well. Just attach them to the hooks, most preferably the bread.
Have the biscuits softened by dipping it in the water for about 2 minutes, then, place them in a sealed sandwich bag for about an hour. Since different brands have different textures, just experiment to know which is firm enough to cast. Another way to hook baits is super gluing the pellet into the shank.
Once they get into feeding, let them feel comfortable around the bait. This gives more opportunity for the fisherman since they begin to not feel picky. This tactic can be useful for zig rigs.
As soon as they’re feeding, cast the bait but make sure not to drop the bait directly onto the feeding carp. Cast away from the feeding area then slowly draw it in position. While the bait is till hanging, keep the food coming in so as to keep the carp from going away.
How to Set-Up?
1) Use a hair rig to increase your chance of catching. As carp taste food first, if they don’t like the taste, they won’t come near it.
2) You may also use a Spider Line, 50 lbs test, then use a leader material that fits the situation.
3) Thread the bait on the baiting needle and hook the hair loop. You may also use foam dipped in a flavor as this enhances the attractiveness of the bait.
4) Also make a baiting needle by just straightening a long shank hook. Slide the bait on the shank, then slide the bait from the needle onto the hair.
5) Using a float is also an advantage because it adds weight for further distancing and the location is easily identified.
6) Don’t forget the controller float rig. A leader can be used which is attached to the swivel to its mainline of at least 3 feet length with a 10lbs Drennan double strength. A low diameter mono will do just as long as it floats well enough for visibility.
As experts say, it is not the bait that catches the carp but the method in which the bait is introduced. Pre-bait everyday, in one spot for a few days. This makes the carp think that there is a regular source of food for them and by “word of mouth” there’ll soon be a school of fish around. Just be patient and it will all work.
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February 19th, 2008
By John Myre
Pete had been fishing with the new bass lure he had seen advertised on television. It was a good looking plug, and it cost a pretty penny.
When he met total resistance on his fifth cast, he was sure he had landed a trophy fish. A minute later, he knew he had snagged a log. He fought to free the expensive lure, but it wouldn’t budge.
For added leverage, he stood in his boat and yanked with all his strength. When the lure broke free, it rocketed from the water and he lost his balance. The plug lodged in his cheek as he toppled backward into the lake.
A doctor had to remove the treble hooks from his face. Knowing he had narrowly escaped being blinded and drowned, Pete called it a day and headed for the golf course, where there would be no talk of the one that got away.
Annually, over 60,000 fishing injuries require emergency room treatment. Eye injuries from fishing are the No. 1 sports-related eye injury.
Most fishing injuries are caused by fishing hooks, while most fatalities are the result of drowning. To fish safely:
In A Boat
* Always wear a Coast Guard approved lifejacket.
* Never overload your boat.
* Load the boat properly, keeping the heaviest items in the middle and bottom of the boat.
* Before taking out any boat, make sure it is equipped with an extra oar or paddle, a bailing can, an anchor and line, and if motorized, a full gas can.
* Change positions only on shore or in shallow water.
* In a storm, lie low in the boat. To avoid being tipped, point the bow of the boat into the waves.
* Exercise special caution around dams. The falling water creates a back current that can pull a small boat into its turbulence and cause it to capsize.
* At night, slow down and use running and marker lights.
* If the boat capsizes, stay with it until help arrives. Do not remove your clothing or boots. They will keep you afloat by holding air, and they will keep you warm.
* Avoid alcohol use.
In A Stream
* Never wade alone, and wear your lifejacket.
* Wear cleated or felt-soled waders or boots that will provide maximum traction on the slippery rocks underfoot.
* Unseen holes or drop-offs are a dangerous hazard. Test each step carefully in advance by taking a tentative shuffle. Better yet, use a wading staff to measure the depth of the water before each step.
In Any Event
* Carry a radio for weather information, and a cell phone for emergencies.
* Dress with the weather in mind, preferably in layers. Pack a wind-and waterproof outer shell.
* Wear properly fitted eye protection that covers the eye socket to guard against hooks and glare. Polycarbonate lenses are recommended for their strength and protective capabilities.
* Do not cast over a companion’s head. Always look around before making a cast.
* Carry sharp pliers and disinfectant in your first aid kit.
* When landing a fish, work from the rear of the boat. Use a net.
* Ease a fish out of the water. Yanking it into the boat can release the fish and create a dangerous sling shot effect.
* To remove the hook, wait until the fish is exhausted. Use a special gripping glove, and know the techniques for each species.
* Be especially careful dislodging lures and hooks from submerged branches or roots. Invest in a lure retriever to do the work.
* If you are snagged by your own hook, do not try to back it out. Instead, push it through the skin until the point and the barb are exposed.
Snip them off; also snip off the eyelet. Now pull the smooth hook through your skin following its natural arc. Cleanse the wound and apply disinfectant. Watch for infection.
* Look out for overhead electrical lines, especially around the dock and in an unfamiliar stretch of water.
* Carry your rod parallel to the ground whenever possible.
* Don’t fish from railroad trestles. You’re the one who may be caught.
[Article Source: http://www.thearticlesource.net]
John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles.
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October 1st, 2007
By Chris Braithwaite
An ancient way of survival turned hobby, fishing, is cherished by many for its relaxing, natural setup. But if you think fishing is all about throwing the line in the water and oozing down in your fold-up chair while getting a tan, think again. Sometimes fishing is hard work! Especially carp fishing. Read on and you’ll find out why?
You don’t have to be an extremely experienced fisherman to recognize this scenario: you prepare for a fruitful day of carp fishing, thinking you got the right bait, the right rod, the right line and so forth but several hours pass without any luck for you. When you look up just a few hundred meters away, some random guy using the same tools and same bait is pulling out big carps every now and then. How come he’s catching them regularly, while you end up empty handed at the end of the day? When you ask him about it, he just winks at you and through his smirk, he says “It’s all about luck, mate!” But you know it can’t be simply a matter of luck, it’s too plain obvious. Chances should be equal for both of you?
And here’s where most fisherman go wrong, thinking carp fishing is only about chance. What they don’t understand is that fish aren’t always equally spread out in a lake and they prefer certain areas and certain depths more than other. Actually, experienced fisherman agree that the biggest challenges of carp fishing are choosing the right bait and choosing the right fishing spot. We’ll discuss the bait part a bit later, but first let’s see how you set your position up so that you maximize your chances of landing the cast near some fat carps.
It’s well known that carps are fish that tend to stay deep, near the floor of the lake but how can we know what “deep” means without knowing the exact topography of the lake you’re fishing in? One direct, but rather blunt way is to ride off in a boat, using an extendable pole to check the exact depth of the area and try to cover several positions so that you get an approximate clue to what the lake’s topography is.
Of course, this carp fishing method has 2 major disadvantages. One would be that riding off in a motor boat in what you’ll find to be excellent fishing spots might scare the carps away, which means that you’ll have to wait a while before you can fish in that particular area. The other disadvantage is that the lake (or at least some areas) will simply be way too deep for an extendable pole to handle. But if you know for a fact that the lake is shallow enough to allow for some “floor poking” then it’s a relatively efficient method, especially that you’ll only have to do it once, write down the numbers, try to approximate the topography and then use the “blue prints” over and over again each time you fish there.
An alternative method of testing the depth of a lake that is becoming more and more popular amongst experienced carp fisherman is the so-called “plumbing rod”. This requires a spare rod armed with a 3 oz lead sinker with a free running barrel swivel attached. At the end of the line, tie a large bobber so that the lead is allowed to run freely on the line until it hits the float. Cast the rod and wind the line until the float has hit the lead on the bottom. Congratulations, you just found out the depth of that particular spot, now all you need to do is measure it. Slowly let out the line approximately one foot at a time until the float comes up. The number of feet the float rises from the bottom is directly proportional to the number of feet of line you let off the reel, so keep count of the line and you’ll have a pretty accurate measurement of that spot at the end.
Like I stated above, choosing the right bait is equally important to choosing the right spot when it comes to carp fishing (well this is generally important to all sorts of fishing types, but even more so to carp fishing). Let’s start off the subject by saying that as a general term, particle bait is the best type of bait you could use in carp fishing. This includes a wide array of baits such as beans, corn, peas, vegetables, nuts and even peanuts. The problem is that although generally effective, you can’t say that is the best for carp fishing. It depends on so many factors such as water type, depth, natural food sources of the fish in that particular lake (and we can go on an on), that it would be rather inaccurate to state such a thing. Personal experience will make a huge difference here so it’s best if you try them all for a while, or why not a combination of two or more particle beans on the same cast.
What happened to the poor, old, standard worm-in-the-hook you may ask? Well the problem with worms or any other wiggly meat baits is not that the carp won’t be attracted to it (by God, a worm must be the royalty of meals in every fishes’ menu) but that other, faster, more aggressive fish will see and grab it first. So it’s best if we use the above-mentioned particle baits which are not very tempting for other fish, but equally delicious for carps.
A popular technique used in carp fishing is pre-baiting. This means that once you have zeroed-in on the spot you’re about to fish in, you take a short on-boat trip to where you’ll figure the casts will land and spray the water with bait of all kinds in order to attract the carps (and inevitably other fish too). After the panic caused by your boat settles in, you can start casting. Don’t worry about the fish choosing the pre-bait before the one in your hook, since by the time you cast, there will be plenty of carps there banging their forks and knives to the table, waiting for food and your bait-filled hook sliding down to the bottom will surely grab their attention.
Now that you know how to choose your carp fishing spot and what to place in the hook, start exercising your arm muscles since there’s going to be a lot of hard work and pulling to be done, getting those fat carps to the tip of your rod. Oh and if you see a poor fellow fisherman sitting a few feet away from you, frustrated by the fact that he’s empty handed while you’re reeling in carps like there’s no tomorrow, just give him a wink and a smirk and say “It’s all about luck, mate!” Secrets are meant to be kept.
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August 25th, 2006
By: Travis Clemens
Frustrating as it is, carp fishing is awesome. Carp are really good at sucking in and blowing out suspicious baits. It’s such an excitement to see the whole action in a fraction of a second as you hang on for dear life while the reel is trembling with a loud noise. Carp happily devour on the surface as long as you keep the pellets, biscuits, chic peas, bread, and re-hydrated corn coming in, and these are inexpensive baits as well. Just attach them to the hooks, most preferably the bread. Have the biscuits softened by dipping it in the water for about 2 minutes, then, place them in a sealed sandwich bag for about an hour. Since different brands have different textures, just experiment to know which is firm enough to cast. Another way to hook baits is super gluing the pellet into the shank.
Once they get into feeding, let them feel comfortable around the bait. This gives more opportunity for the fisherman since they begin to not feel picky. This tactic can be useful for zig rigs.
As soon as they’re feeding, cast the bait but make sure not to drop the bait directly onto the feeding carp. Cast away from the feeding area then slowly draw it in position. While the bait is till hanging, keep the food coming in so as to keep the carp from going away.
How to Set-Up?
• Use a hair rig to increase your chance of catching. As carp taste food first, if they don’t like the taste, they won’t come near it.
• You may also use a Spider Line, 50 lbs test, then use a leader material that fits the situation.
• Thread the bait on the baiting needle and hook the hair loop. You may also use foam dipped in a flavor as this enhances the attractiveness of the bait.
• Also make a baiting needle by just straightening a long shank hook. Slide the bait on the shank, then slide the bait from the needle onto the hair.
• Using a float is also an advantage because it adds weight for further distancing and the location is easily identified.
• Don’t forget the controller float rig. A leader can be used which is attached to the swivel to its mainline of at least 3 feet length with a 10lbs Drennan double strength. A low diameter mono will do just as long as it floats well enough for visibility.
As experts say, it is not the bait that catches the carp but the method in which the bait is introduced. Pre-bait everyday, in one spot for a few days. This makes the carp think that there is a regular source of food for them and by “word of mouth” there’ll soon be a school of fish around. Just be patient and it will all work.
Travis Clemens is a life time fisherman and he knows the ins and outs of gettinem on the hook! You too can gettem on the hook with Travis as your guide! www.best-fishing-tips.com
Article Source: http://www.articlestreet.com/
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August 9th, 2006
