Carp fishing has become extremely popular in the United States as well as in other parts of the world. You may have noticed all the social media groups that have sprung up devoted to the sport of carp fishing.
Social media audiences often refer to carp as “suburban salmon” as they are plentiful and put up a tremendous fight when you hook them.
Even carp smaller than 10 pounds can test the limits of your fishing tackle. If you want to be a more successful carp angler, you need specialized carp bait and tackle.
Big Carp Tackle
Big Carp Tackle is one of the best stores in the United States for all your carp fishing bait and tackle. They are located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and have the largest selection of carp angling tackle in the United States.
While their website, big carp tackle.com, is a bit dated in terms of its look and feel. They do provide great service, fast shipping, and an awesome selection of competitively priced carp fishing gear and baits.
They definitely have a huge selection of carp bait to choose from with their website showing 580 products in this category. Add to that 1164 end tackle products and they certainly have all your bait and big carp tackle needs covered.
They offer a loyalty scheme where you earn 1 point for every $1 spent on purchases. Once enough reward points are accrued the store will automatically apply the discount upon checkout.
So if you are looking to stock up on carp fishing gear then Big Carp Tackle has all your needs covered.
Big Carp FAQs
Where To Find Big Carp?
Carp are abundant and can be found in rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes throughout the lower 48 states. Although considered to be freshwater fish, carp are very adaptable. They can also be found in brackish waters near the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in both the United States and Canada. Carp are not typically found in swift water where salmon and trout live but in just about any body of water that supports catfish, bluegill, and bass.
Big Carp Habitat
Like many other species of fish, big carp also like to hang out around vegetation and structure that provides a covering. They normally swim together in small schools of about two to five. Anglers from all over the United States head to carp waters on a regular basis to experience the thrill of catching a monster carp.
Lakes Known for Big Carp
While carp can be found in a multitude of water bodies, several lakes are known for their big monster carp. These include Lake Perry in Missouri and Pelahatchie Lake in Mississippi where record sizes have been caught. Lake Pepin in Minnesota has also produced some very large carp.
How Big Do Carp get?
Although carp can grow extremely large, average sizes range from about five inches to 24 inches. With a maximum weight between six pounds and 30 pounds. Bighead carp and Indian carp can grow to as large as 70 inches and weigh well over 100 pounds. Factors that contribute to size and weight include the exact species of carp as well as their habitat.
What Do Big Carp Eat?
Carp are omnivorous, meaning that they not only feed on plants but also on animal matter. In infancy, they might consume algae and micro-sized animals. As they mature, they are more likely to eat a steady diet of snails, worms, insects, crustaceans, fish eggs, mollusks, and seeds.
What Do Big Carp Taste Like?
If you ask five people what carp taste like, you’re likely to get five different answers. Some people like the taste of carp while others don’t. You may have heard that carp has a muddy flavor, but that could depend on the quality of the water in the carp’s habitat as well as its food sources.
People in Asia, Australia, and Central Europe eat a lot of carp. One of the more common ways to cook carp is to fry it. Eating carp is healthy because it is an abundant source of protein, potassium, and vitamin B12. Cooked right, carp lovers will tell you that carp has a light, delicate non-fishy taste.
How To Catch Big Carp?
Catching big carp is a load of fun. Look for big carp in murky backwaters or along shorelines. Early in the morning, you can find them enjoying a nice breakfast of insects along riverbanks. Use big carp tackle such as sweet corn to try and entice a bite. Also, look for carp in areas where people have been feeding ducks as the carp may be enjoying the leftovers.
The Right Big Carp Bait
Next, you will need the right bait. While you can buy carp bait in many tackle stores, like Big Carp Tackle, you will probably have just as much success with bread, sweet corn, or earthworms. You can also mix your favorite breakfast cereal with syrup to make dough balls.
Boilies
More elaborate and time-consuming baits include boilies. Which are made from soya flour, semolina, bird food, milk protein, and fishmeal. After combining the ingredients, add some eggs as a binding agent and boil them. That’s where boilies get their name. Boilies are firm and will last longer in water, making them ideal for multi-day fishing trips.
Bait Color
Younger carp are more attracted to bright colors than older carp. They are also more likely to encounter your bait simply because they move faster and cover more territory than older carp. If you want to catch larger carp, though, you should use bait with a more subdued color and move it more slowly. This is one reason that boilies make such good carp bait.
The Right Time of the Year
You can catch carp any time of the year. But if you really want to go after big monster carp, the best time to do so is in the fall. This is because the waters are beginning to cool down and the big carp are eating more in preparation for winter. This results in carp that are not only hungry but also sluggish, making them more catchable.
For a more in-depth article on how to catch carp check out our other post: How to Catch Carp: A Guide For Beginners
What Hooks To Use for Carp?
The best type of hook to use for carp is a circle hook because it fits better in the carp’s mouth and your bait won’t slide off as easily. Use a 2/0 hook for small carp and a 6/0 or 7/0 hook for big carp. So make sure you have some of these hooks in your big carp tackle box.
What Is A Carp Rig?
To be really successful in catching big carp, you need big carp tackle specially designed to sink to the bottom of the water and orient the hook in such a way that it is likely to pierce the lower lip of the carp. There is some expertise required in learning to tie carp rigs, which are also referred to as hair rigs. You can make these rigs yourself or buy them from stores such as Big Carp Tackle.
