How to Fish for Carp With Night Crawlers

Carp may be the fighting fish an angler in the United States can hook into. Often exceeding 10 lbs. in weight and sometimes attaining much greater sizes, the carp is a strong opponent on the end of a fishing line, making people quickly forget that it is actually a member of the minnow family. While carp will eat mollusks, crustaceans, algae and other organic manner, a carp has a hard time resisting a juicy night crawler, as do many other fish.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step 1

Rig your line with a number four hook and at least three large split shots. Carp are bottom feeders and will go around almost like underwater vacuum cleaners, sucking up a meal which they chew with the teeth that are actually in their throats. You want to keep your bait on the river bottom when carp are around and try to fish where the bottom is sandy or covered with gravel.

Step 2

Hook your night crawler over and over so it cannot wriggle off. The worm can be balled up and still attract the attention of a carp. Cast downstream when you are wading in a river. Look for deep holes where shallow waters empty in, bringing a carp a wide variety of food. Once you have cast out, let your night crawler sit on the bottom for up to 2 minutes before retrieving it and casting out again.

Step 3

Pay attention to any slight movement of the line. Carp are capable of picking up a night crawler and taking off, but many times they will simply take the crawler into its mouth. Even the slightest tug should alert you to a possible carp and you should jerk the rod tip back to set the hook just in case a carp is biting.

Step 4

Keep your rod tip up once you feel a carp on the line. A hooked carp will not be mistaken for any other fish. It will either head for deep water or try to make it to any underwater structure. The carp is incredibly strong, especially when first hooked. The only chance to catch it is to tire it out. Make sure your rod tip is up so you can try to control the fish and stop it from getting to a structure where it can then tangle the line.

Step 5

Display a great deal of patience as the carp makes one run after another. It can take as long as 20 to 30 minutes to land a 10 lb. plus carp. The fish will eventually tire and then it can be netted or beached on the shore. Remember that the sight of the net will make the carp try to bolt once again; getting a net underneath it and then scooping it up is your best option if you can do so.

Article Written By John Lindell

John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications. A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years.

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