Common carp is a large freshwater fish that belongs to the cyprinid family, but differs from its closest relative by higher mobility and strength. The technique of hunting for such prey requires a lot of skill from the fisherman, knowledge of the many subtleties and the right equipment. Below we will talk about what equipment is needed to catch carp, how to choose it or make it with your own hands, and what other tricks you can use to return home with the desired catch.

How to choose tackle for catching carp

The criteria that fishing tackle designed for hunting carp should meet will become much clearer if you know the lifestyle and habits of this fish. Common carp is sometimes called wild carp, and deservedly.

Not being a predator, this inhabitant of fresh water reservoirs, however, has virtually no natural enemies. However, we are talking only about adult individuals reaching large sizes (3-4 kg of weight by 2-3 years of life) precisely because of their ability to fight for life.

Did you know? The maximum sizes of carp that have ever been officially recorded were 1 m in length and 35 kg in weight.

In an active search for food and a constant race for survival, the wild carp gains the necessary experience and becomes a very strong rival - both in the literal and figurative sense of the word. You can catch such a fish either by a fluke, which a good angler will not count on, or as a result of a serious and thorough preparation.

In any case, such a prey is definitely not for those who plan to sit in a pleasant company on the river bank, lazily watching a float thrown into the water or a stumbler left “for luck”.

Caught on a hook, a bold carp will not give up without a fight and, trying to break free, it can easily break even a very strong leash with a powerful throw, and if this fails, take the hunter away, then moving away for considerable distances, then trying to hide under snags or other underwater shelter, not allowing himself to be pulled to the surface.

In order to overcome active resistance and keep the prey in the process of long and tiring fishing, the equipment for catching wild carp should meet the following requirements:

• reliability;
• rigidity;
• strength;
• fast build;
• hypersensitivity.

In addition, to lure fish and improve bite, it is better to stock up with good bait, with special activators, including various additives based on pheromones.

Important! When fishing for carp, careful selection and repeated preliminary testing requires literally every element of equipment. There are no trifles here.

Types of equipment that are used in fishing on carp

The main arsenal used in hunting for carp is the classic cyprinid donka (feeder, eraser, cudgel, nipple, or ordinary thrower), a fishing rod, baits and feeding troughs. A set of gear largely depends on the method of fishing, type of pond, season, and other factors.

Donna

The main characteristic feature of bottom gear is the lack of a fishing rod. This option is considered optimal when fishing from a boat. As a nozzle, worms, corn or dense (unpaired) sunflower cake are usually used.

The simplest version of donka is the “grandfather's” appetizer, consisting of a reel with fishing line, a sinker and a hook.

A more complex design of the bottom tackle is the so-called "club", designed for casting over long distances. This type of gear is considered less catchy than the classic feeder, but due to its low cost and accessibility (it can be assembled on the simplest spinning rod made in China) it is widely used.

A very good effect when fishing for carp is provided by the equipment of the bottom tackle with a special rubber shock absorber, designed to “extinguish” the first jerk of the fish caught on the hook and thereby gradually “accustom” the prey to the thought of an imminent defeat. This type of equipment is known among fishers as a rubber band.

Feeder

The undisputed leader among all kinds of snap-ins for fishing carp is considered a feeder version of donkey. It is he who provides the most successful result in the fight against a strong opponent.

Important! The main difference between a feeder and an ordinary donka is a special bite signaling device, the so-called “quivertype”.

From a design point of view, the feeder intended for hunting wild carp is:

• a rod with a length of 3 to 4 m (test load - 100 g), equipped with a special tip and rings attached to it;
• a powerful inertialess reel with a spool volume from 3500 to 4000 and the obligatory presence of a friction brake (better than two) and a byte runner (a special device that disables the friction and releases the fish at a critical moment to prevent it from breaking);
• strong monolithic fishing line with a diameter of 0.3–0.4 mm (for a leash - 0.2–0.3 mm) and a length of at least 150–200 m, which will allow for long-range casting;
• a heavy feeder, which simultaneously serves as a load, weighing up to 120 g for fishing with a strong current and 40-60 g for lakes or other areas with stagnant water;
• short and sturdy hook with springy pry and sting with notches.

The most popular rigs in ponds and lakes are also the paternoster and the anti-spinning tube.

Hairy

A special type of installation for catching carp is a device in which the bait is attached not to the hook itself, but to a leash located in close proximity to it. Fishermen call such a leash hair, and the equipment itself is hairy. A tricky device that makes a wild carp grab the bait without any interference, “relax”, draw it into his mouth and only then inevitably get hooked, the British came up with more than a hundred years ago.

Did you know? According to one version, the name of the cyprinid family comes from the ancient Greek "xυπρινος" applied to the fish that lives in the Nile, very similar to carp, reaching a weight of 60 kg and a length of 170 cm.

The main advantage of a hair snap over a traditional one is that when using it there is no danger to frighten off prey, which can consider or "try out" the point of the hook already at the stage of the first bite and after that completely lose interest in the bait.

In addition, the nozzle can be fixed on a leash very firmly, as a result, it will never fly off at the time of casting.

Such a device is easy to manufacture and does not injure the mouth of the fish, which means it is perfect for sports fishing enthusiasts. Among the problems that arise when using a tackle, its ability to cling to the slightest interference at the bottom is called, because, unlike the usual design, in this case, the hook is completely exposed in the water.

Video: 3 ways to make a hook with a hair snap

Float

Float tackle is used less often when hunting for carp, than bottom or feeder, however, this method of fishing has admirers. The main criterion for the selection of equipment in this case should be maskingbecause the wild carp is a cunning, smart and careful fish. So, the fishing line for the float rod, if possible, is selected in dark color so that it can be mistaken for a twig, blade of grass or twig sliding on the water.

Important! When buying fishing rods for catching carp, you should give preference to the product, marked "cyprinus". It assumes that the model meets the necessary reliability criteria.

The rod should be distinguished by increased strength, but at the same time softness and increased flexibility (the so-called parabolic or slow formation). It is this criterion that will allow the tackle to withstand powerful jerks of fish weighing 10 kg and not break off. The optimal length is 5–7 m.

As for the weight, load and other characteristics of the float tackle, they are selected individually, depending on the preferences of the fisherman, the estimated casting distance and other criteria. As a rule, carp is caught from a boat or from a shore hanging over an underwater cliff or backwater (on the shallow water, wild carps also sometimes come in search of food). The ideal option is a territory with stagnant water or a small current.

Did you know? Carp, with all its industrial value, is one of the hundred most dangerous species of living things in terms of invasiveness (ability to spread quickly) in the world. For example, in the Australian Murray River, this fish today accounts for 4/5 of all the inhabitants of the reservoir.

Spinning

Sometimes jig-spinning is also used to catch carp, or just jig - a special technique for hunting large fish in the bottom layers of water using bait, the center of gravity of which is moved to the front. Edible bait can act as a nozzle, but more often an imitation of feed is used for these purposes - various rubber or silicone wobblers, vibro-tails, twisters, slugs, rippers, or vibration-proof baits that are suitable in design.

You need to understand that predators are traditionally good at jigging. Common carp is not one of those. Hunting for live fish for this river inhabitant is not a characteristic activity, and this kind of bait of wild carp can be of interest only if it seems to him an easy prey.

Therefore, nozzles must be selected and used in such a way that they provide a sluggish and passive game, but at the same time attract attention. This effect can be achieved by slow, protracted and very smooth postings, and not by sharp and aggressive jerks, to which pike or zander respond well.

Spinning carp fishing can be successful only if the fisherman is lucky enough to find a large flock of young and not very experienced wild carps or abandon the bait so that it is directly in front of the nose of the hunting object.

When using spinning, it is better to give preference to braided types of fishing line, they will allow for a more effective cutting.

How to make do-it-yourself tackle

Good and high-quality carp tackle is expensive, but you can do it with your own hands. This option, in addition to saving money, has other important advantages: in the process, the fisherman begins to better understand the principle of the future design, can select the option that is suitable for the given fishing conditions with maximum accuracy, and also provide himself with an exciting lesson, from the point of view of hunting, the period of the deaf land.

Finally, it is believed among professionals that to catch rigs made with your own hands is much more prestigious and more pleasant than doing the same with branded equipment, but purchased in a ready-made form.

Did you know? The largest river fish in the world is the beluga - the closest relative of the sturgeon. This giant has been living for more than 100 years and, according to a recorded record, can reach 7.5 m in length and weigh more than one and a half tons.

Fishing rod

For the manufacture of float fishing rods on the carp, it is important to choose the right detail for every piece of gear.

Optimum requirements are as follows:

1. Incorrect equipment - no bite to lift; 2. Right; 3. The right equipment for sinking bait; 4. Wrong.

Collect a fishing rod for hunting carp should be according to the classical scheme:

• attach a reel with fishing line to the rod (you need to knit the line to the reel with a special fishing knot or a self-tightening loop, otherwise the leash will slip and untie at the most crucial moment);
• equip the fishing rod with a float by passing it through the rings and using a special rubber cambric;
• to fix a sinker or a garland of sinkers on a fishing line, placing them as the weight decreases (float loading);
• to connect with the main fishing line of postings using the "eight" node;
• equip the tackle with a hook by threading the end of the wiring through its ear from the inside, forming a loop of five turns, leading the end of the main fishing line into this loop and tightening the knot (this method of attachment is called “loop into a loop”).

When assembling a fishing rod, you must adhere to the standard rule: the longer the cast, the heavier the float should be, and the higher its antenna.

Video: How to assemble a fishing rod

How to make a carp on a carp

Making snacks is a simple task.

Important! One of the important accessories that you need to stock up when fishing for carp, are special fingertips or thick silicone gloves that prevent cuts on the hands at the time of exhausting fishing.

Here, when choosing components, you should be guided by the same rules as for collecting float tackle, although there are nuances:

• fishing line It should be monophilic, not braided, length about 50 m, color - dark;
• leash - from 25 to 40 cm in length and diameter up to 0.4 mm;
• coil - preferably high-quality, although in this case, the characteristic of the part is not as important as when using float gear;
• sinker - It is selected based on the presence and strength of the current: 40–80 g is enough for quiet water, 80–100 g for flowing water;
• hook - cyprinid, small, strong.

Cheekbone

Makushatnik, or "Chinese" - a special tackle for lazy fishermen. It is a dense briquette of sunflower oil cake (Makukha), in which several hooks are recessed. Such tackle is delivered directly to the bottom, to the place where the carp is supposed to inhabit, and, spreading a strong aroma, actively attracts fish. In the process of pecking the bait, the prey inevitably falls on the hook, and the fisherman only needs to complete the cut in time.

For the manufacture of catwalk, you must have:

• flat sinker;
• leash with hooks;
• fishing line;
• fixture for fastening - cambric;
• limiter;
• briquette with a rib about 4-6 cm;
• bread crumb or clay for masking.

Assembly must be done according to this scheme:

1. Pass the line through the ears of the sinker.
2. Secure the cambric with a fishing loop.
3. On the opposite side of the cambric, set a limiter (any bead can be used in this quality).
4. Snap hooks to clasp.
5. Pass a fishing line through a leash with hooks and hide them in a briquette of flies.
6. Coat the holes in which the hooks are hidden with soaked bread crumb or clay.

Match fishing rod

Match fishing rod - a kind of float tackle designed for long casts. Such a device is assembled according to the instructions described above, with the peculiarity that the rod should be of maximum length, which will provide the desired range.

Did you know? Some freshwater fish are able to "taste" the taste of food by barely touching it with gills or even fin.

Additional requirements to consider when manufacturing tooling:

In the manufacture of a match fishing rod, it is imperative to stock up on a few additional reels, this will allow you to choose a fishing line of suitable diameter by trial and error. This caveat is also important for the reason that during long casts the fisherman has to deal with the need to pull the fish along a long trajectory, as a result the risk of catching on an underwater obstacle increases sharply.

Did you know? Pisces are considered primitive creatures, but this is not so. For example, it was noticed that a chub, a bream and a common carp, once having seen a brother soaring to the surface and forever disappearing, forever acquire a protective reflex before being hooked and, faced with a similar situation again, immediately leave a dangerous place.

Spring

"Spring" is a tackle similar in design to a cattle jumper. The main part is represented by a spiral feeder. For its manufacture, it is enough to purchase a wire with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 mm and wind it on any thick rod, and then carefully remove it. As a material, any option is suitable - copper, brass, steel.

When the device is ready, the pliers need to change its shape from cylindrical to barrel-shaped, expanding the middle part. Then, wiring with hooks is attached to the feeder and the resulting structure is mounted with the prepared fishing line in a stationary or sliding way. In another embodiment, the wiring is tied directly to the fishing line.

Arriving at the place, the fisherman fills the feeder with bait, trying to disguise the hooks as much as possible, and then throws the tackle into the water, waiting for a bite.

Features of carp fishing

Experienced anglers know well that the best time to catch carp is summer. At this time of the year, the fish shows maximum activity. Moreover, due to the willingness of the wild carp in search of prey to explore different parts of the reservoir and overcome long distances, you can hunt it anywhere - from a boat and from the shore, in depth and in shallow water, in calm water and in areas with a strong current. For each of these methods, however, you need to use your tackle and your tricks.

From the shore

Fishing from the shore of such a large fish as common carp involves long casting, therefore match rod is most suitable for these purposes. An alternative is various kinds of deliveries. Although, as already mentioned, the use of “lazy” gear to catch carp is ineffective, but in this case, sometimes you can increase the likelihood of luck due to the number of snacks, which some anglers use.

Did you know? The most expensive and at the same time dangerous fish in the world is puffer. Its poison is more than a thousand times more dangerous than potassium cyanide, which does not stop the Japanese alone from eating up to 10 thousand tons of a delicacy that has previously undergone professional processing.

Wild carp loves to hunt in warm running water at great depths, picking up various crustaceans and other animal and vegetable feed in the silt thickness. The more potential production will be at the bottom, the sooner the jamb will be nearby and delay for some time. Therefore, the site of future fishing should be in advance, not less than a week to begin to actively feed.

In addition, common carp love to eat up the larvae of insects deposited on plants directly at the surface. It follows that the best place for luring fish will be the coastal zone, overgrown with reeds or water lilies with a depth where the water depth, however, reaches 2-3 m.

A tree fallen into the water is also a good criterion for arranging an "ambush."

From the boat

For fishing from a boat, various kinds of donks are traditionally used. It is important to carefully fix the boat with an anchor or attach it to a snag sticking out of the water so that the movements of light and shadow do not frighten the careful fish. Rods, if there are several, should be placed on opposite sides of the boat, excluding the possibility of tangling at the time of casting or fishing.

Important! Regardless of the place of fishing, when hunting for carp, you should observe perfect silence and avoid unnecessary movements and splashes of water. Any little thing can be an alarm for a smart carp and reduce all efforts of a fisherman to zero.

Casting from a boat can be done for a short distance (20–30 m is enough) or even vertically down. Fish should not be hooked immediately, but, having waited until a careful twitch is replaced by a strong attack. When fishing for prey, it is important not to let it go under the snags, therefore it is advisable to know the bottom topography like the back of your hand.

Fishing by carp with an onboard fishing rod in deep places.

The success of the fight against a strong carp is also largely dependent on the patience of the fisherman: you need to exhaust the fish as much as possible, make them spend as much energy as possible, while slowly and steadily bringing it to the side of the boat.

Another typical mistake of newcomers is when they see the head of a large prey appearing in the immediate vicinity of the boat, try to grab it with a landing net. Seeing the net and realizing that the end is near, the common carp can easily gather the remaining forces and break free. Therefore, the landing net must be lowered into the water in advance and discreetly led to the fish from the head, allowing the prey to swim into the net.

In still water

For fishing in quiet water, “springs” and cattails are best suited.

Of the more delicate types of equipment, experts recommend using:

• plugs with rubber shock absorber;
• fly (Bologna) fishing rod;
• match fishing rod;
• feeder.

During

Traditionally, in the view of most fishermen, a strong current involves the use of a heavier sinker and fishing line of increased diameter. In general, this is true, but still not absolute. When fishing in running water, it’s much more important to use a fishing rod that can withstand severe overloads.

Installation of a boat on the course.

Therefore, if, on average, a rod with a test load of 100 g is suitable for a wild carp, for a large current this figure can be increased to 140. But a too heavy load can become an unnecessary anchor, which will help the carp rather than the angler in the fishing process, and this must not be allowed in the fight against a strong opponent.

Another feature of catching on the course is the ban on long casts. The large distance between the fisherman and the fish is necessary, first of all, in order not to frighten off the prey. The noise of running water smooths out this problem, but the increased distance at the time of survival, like a large load, will play against the hunter.

Important! River carp are much stronger than lake carp, respectively, for their capture from the fisherman requires much more patience and skills.

The capture of wild carp is a treasured goal for any self-respecting angler, and sometimes it takes years to spend it, spend hundreds of hours waiting for a bite and survive dozens of disappointments from a trophy that broke at the last moment. On the way to victory, the quality of the tackle, of course, is of great importance, but much more depends on the ability to properly use the available equipment. It is proved: in experienced hands, even the most “oak” fishing rod does more good than the catching branded tackle that an amateur came to.