That's a world-class carp!

[Hamilton Reef]

That's a world-class carp!
Hardy fighting fish a great catch here

Americans who fish for bass, walleyes and other more-prestigious species might wonder why anyone would deliberately target carp, and even more why they'd load up with all kinds of specialized European tackle to do so.

The answer is simple -- while vastly underappreciated in America, the common carp is one of the hardest-fighting fish in fresh water, grows to large sizes, is found almost everywhere and in many waters teems in seemingly countless numbers.

Tim Court of Okemos, a transplanted Englishman, said it's common to catch more fish in a day in America than a good angler might get in several years in Great Britain, where a relatively small number of fish have been highly educated by 1,000 years of angling pressure.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/SPORTS10/805220413/1058

In this country, the key to carp success most often is making up simple but effective baits and learning to tie a hair rig, directions for which can be found on sites like www.michigancarp.com, www.carpanglersgroup.com and www.americancarpsociety.com.

[susanlakeboys]

i need to show off my carp, biggest fish i've ever caught. hook and line
http://fishermensguild.com/main/img_1203881957_14953_1211516781_mod_576_432.jpg

[zfishin]

I'd love to catch any fish that big :)
is it still swimming or in your garden? :D

[Carpman]

Yep that was my guys up there fishing up there.

Michigan is allso getting press in UK carp magazines too, look for carp fishing on Michigan out of doors, its all set up and they are just waiting on me for a date to film and do a interview for Mi out of doors mag.
Field and stream will allso be in Michigan to cover carp fishing this Aug.

[Hamilton Reef]

Carpman, Just keep having fun and don't take any lip from any elitist fishers.

[Cap'n Cat]

A fish is a fish is a fish.

Congrats.........

:coolgleam

[salmon_slayer06]

I prefer carp fishing over any other freshwater fish. Steelhead fishing off the beach is my second most favorite. Post up your big carp pics lets see what you guys got so far this year.......

heres my biggest to date....

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/salmon_slayer06/STP80931.jpg

It was surely a master angler but I was so happy I landed it, I forgot to get measurements and didn't have a scale on hand. I didn't want to kill the fish, so I let it go and it swam off. This fish could have been anyones guess on how heavy it was. I can't say how heavy or how long as it would be just a fishermans tale to some. But for sure it was over 20 pounds and was probably safe to say at least 30 inches in length. 6 pound test line on specialized carp gear.

[DiptheNet]

Thats a pig salmonslayer,, whats with all the fish sandwich lettuce on her belly!!!:)

[StumpJumper]

So, how to fish for carp in a lake?

[Carpman]

Looking at the size of the head etc, ill put the fish at a high 20 or low 30lb....ill guess and say 27lb :)
Nice looking fish and im glad to see it went back, most of the guys who fish for carp (out of my group) dont even bother anymore with the master angler stuff, most dont like the info about how and where they were caught because of meat eaters and my bow fishing buddies ;)

Heres afew of mine.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/photo-1985.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/Websecretswimpart23-09.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/IMG_1843MediumSmall.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/IMG_1641MediumSmall.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/IMG_1059Small.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/IMG_1047Small.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/IMG_1002Small.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/mr_fitzz/img%20links%20to%20sites/grandriver01Small.jpg

[salmon_slayer06]

wow, you know they're big if you can fit a tennis ball in its mouth. Nice...

[aquaticsanonymous]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/SagRiv34lbs_11-04-07_Small_.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/5-17-08_006_Small_.jpg

[stickem]

yup..:D.. them would look nice with an arrow threw them.....;)
the only good carp is a dead carp in the garden!!!!:D:D