Carp are large, freshwater, omnivorous fish that are native to Asia. They are yellow-green and brown in color and typically prefer to live in mud-bottomed ponds, lakes and rivers. Carp can live for as long as 50 years, and grow up to 50 pounds. Carp fishing rigs are many, and vary depending on your location and the fishing conditions. Observing a handful of carp fishing rig secrets will bring you closer to landing a trophy carp.
Match It to the Bottom
Carp are far more likely to strike if they can't see your rig, according to the website Carp-Fishing-Tactics. Using synthetic hairs and colors that are darker enable you to dance the rig along the lake bottom without the carp noticing it doesn't belong.
Fake Weed Rig
Disguising your rig to look like a harmless weed is an effective tactic for catching carp. Since carp are omnivores, they will often eat plants. Search your local bait shop for a suitable fake weed, then tie your fishing line to a swivel at the bottom of the weed. The line gets threaded through small clips on the stem of the weed. The end result is a plastic bead on top, then the fake weed, then your swivel and finally the hook.
Test the Hook
Taking the time to piece together a rig, only to add a dull hook at the end is counterproductive to what you are trying to accomplish. Before you tie the hook on the line, test it to make sure it is sharp enough to penetrate the carp's lip. Test the effectiveness of the hook by holding the shank between your thumb and forefinger. Rest the hook on the top of your other thumbnail, and on an angle, gently drag it across the nail. If it slides across without catching, it isn't sharp enough to catch carp.
Add the Right Bait
Determining the type of bait to add to your rig is important to your success. A carp's favorite bait is a boilie, which is a mixture of a pre-made powdered base that typically contains fishmeal, eggs, flavorings and color that is formed into a ball and boiled. You can buy boilies at bait shops, or make your own. Boilie recipes can include ground cereal, bird food, sweetened drink powders, food coloring and fish flavorings. If you plan to fish for carp for just a short session, adding a boilie that is colorful and strong-scented to your rig will attract the carp's attention for faster strikes. If you plan to fish for a longer time, boilies containing flavors that appeal to the carp are best, since carp are greedy eaters and will continue to hit bait they like, even if they sense danger.
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