I’ll be the first to admit that carp are a big problem and we’d be better off without them…

I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone after trout, cod or Redfin on special trips, planned for weeks, with all the gear…and spent most of my time unhooking carp. 

I used to get frustrated…but that didn’t seem to help so I just accepted they were here…so I learned to live with them.

Later, when my sons got interested in fishing, carp took on a whole new meaning because they were the one catch I could almost guarantee…and some were big enough to create some real excitement with the boys…

….so I guess every cloud has a silver lining!

If you want to build your skills on some larger fish, do a good deed by removing pests from the waterways and have a bit of fun…then carp is an easy option.

I have fished, the Yarra river, in the suburbs, only minutes away from my house and caught carp up to 7 kilos…and very occasionally hooked some real surprises like Australian Perch, large Redfin, a nice cod and some real slimy eels!

My biggest carp was a 10kg caught on the Murray River and it took quite a bit to land…especially when it swam into the current and make the job a whole lot harder for me!

So why not hone your skills on carp if you want to fish close to home or target an easy catch that can test your gear…

…and I really mean “test your gear” because large carp, especially in warm weather can take off like an express train and you really have to manage them well to stay out of snags and not break line …or the occasional rod!

I have also lost rods (yes, more than one) when I have lost focus and left them unattended. The carp take the bait – hook, line and sinker….and my fishing rod!

Bait for carp is simple – almost anything edible will do but the preferred baits are worms, corn, bread, dough, maggots, and even spam (canned meat). I usually start with worms because they increase your chances of hooking other fish – but, amazingly, I have caught heaps of other fish on these other baits…so you just never know what can happen!

A medium weight rod,  5 kilo line, a spinning reel in the 3000 to 4000 range will take 3 to 6kg line, a size 8 to 6 hook  and sinker just big enough to hold the bottom in moving water ( or berley cage) will cover most fishing…

You can catch carp from 1kg to 7kg with this outfit if you play them properly…and the more big ones you hook into the better you’ll get at handling big fish!

To increase your chances of catching carp…or any fish there are a few tricks you can use:

• Tie a sinker to your line (before you add the hook and bait) and cast around to see what snags are in the water. Chose an area that is snag free – but next to some structure like rocks, overhanging trees or any are that would provide cover. You’ll have more chance of catching, and not snagging up, if you know what the bottom’s like.

• Cut up some bait, or use small pieces mixed with dirt (or moist bread crumbs) and throw this to the spot you are fishing….this is your “advertising”! You’re telling the fish that food is near – just like a McDonalds sign!!

• Use a berley cage and fill it  with moist bread crumbs every cast. This will bring carp close to your hook bait.

• If you are missing bites, increase the size of your sinker or add weight to your berley cage and change it from a running to fixed weight set up…the extra weight sometimes makes the fish hook itself.

• Take a number of different baits. If one doesn’t work try another…sometimes they are just waiting for the right item on the menu before they bite!

• Focus on the warm weather. Carp become more active when the weather warms up. I have caught them all year round but your chances improve as water temperatures rise…and they fight a lot harder!

• If you’re fishing a river, look for the slow or still water. Carp are lazy (a bit like me on a cold morning) and look for resting places that don’t take any work to hold their position.

So why not give carp a try? They can be a lot of fun especially if you make it a contest with your mates or kids…and besides, there’s bragging rights in catching the biggest fish…even if it is just a carp!