Spring carp

cwcarper · 03-06-2012, 06:06 PM

Anyone been out after carp yet this year? Still planning my first trip, but with the weather we're having it won't be long until they're on the feed. Anyone have any trips planned to chase after some big prespawn fish? I'm hoping to fish East Harbor up on Lake Erie in April, along with a couple other places closer to home that are best fished early in the year. Just curious...and hoping to see more posts in the carp section

JSykes3 · 03-06-2012, 06:24 PM

A guy caught a 31 incher out of the tusk on February 29th.
Not sure what he used but it was a biggin.
There's a pic at the Pipe Rack here in Ohio.

CoolWater · 03-06-2012, 07:10 PM

I got one while steelheading a few weeks ago, incidental catch. Likely will target them once the Steel and Walleye Run are over.

JSykes3 · 03-07-2012, 07:04 AM

Here's the pic of that carp the guy caught.

TimJC · 03-07-2012, 09:42 AM

I've got a trip to Dale Hollow planned for the last week of April (the same weekend as Dick's Sandusky Bay Fish-In), but the fear is that it will be close to the spawn. However, with the warm weather there is a chance they will spawn early this year, and I'll be chasing hungry post spawn fish.

CW,
Are you going to Dick's Fish-In?

cwcarper · 03-07-2012, 10:55 AM

I'm thinking about it - depends on my schedule. Might make a few days out of it and hit both Sandusky Bay and East Harbor while I'm up there. I've never fished Sandusky Bay so not sure what to expect, but I know I've always liked East Harbor. So, if I've only got time to do one I might only do East Harbor. Would be nice to get out and fish with Dick and others planning on attending Sandusky Bay, though.

CoolWater · 03-07-2012, 08:39 PM

Vermilion was a bit high and muddy today... gave up on the steel and caught an average carp in about 20 minutes of soaking a nightcrawler.

Photo of it on my blog.

My 3 Steelhead outings of 2012 have yielded 2 carp and 1 steelhead... I think I'm just gonna say I'm going carp fishing and might get an incidental Steelhead.

cwcarper · 03-11-2012, 07:48 PM

Well, I finally made it out and fished one of the local ponds today. Caught nothing and didn't see a single fish the 3+ hours I was there. Still a bit early, but shouldn't be long until the carp are on the feed.

salmon king · 03-11-2012, 10:52 PM

At what temp do carp feed?? Was wondering when I could use these mini Wheats

oarfish · 03-12-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmon king

At what temp do carp feed?? Was wondering when I could use these mini Wheats

They will feed at 50+ degrees but some will at lower temps although scarcely and have to be spoon fed.
Peek feeding is around 70-76 degrees of water. Best chance is in the hot summer, early or late in the day.

SeanStone · 03-12-2012, 09:18 PM

Our most productive time is in early to mid April through May.

cwcarper · 03-13-2012, 04:21 PM

You can catch them year round with some luck - but the magic temperature seems to be around 50F. Best chances for a big fish are normally now until spawn in May/June, then again in the fall.

carpslayer · 03-25-2012, 10:56 AM

is the east harbor in rocky river ohio

TimJC · 03-25-2012, 11:17 AM

East Harbor State Park is further west and is between Sandusky and Port Clinton. If the weather has been as unseasonably warm as it has in the Cincinnati area, the fish should start stacking up in the harbor in the next two weeks.

JSykes3 · 03-25-2012, 01:55 PM

Guys getting any lately? Here in Akron these one guys have been setting up everyday at this one spot. I hear their bite alarms going off every time I'm leaving.

SeanStone · 03-25-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSykes3

Guys getting any lately? Here in Akron these one guys have been setting up everyday at this one spot. I hear their bite alarms going off every time I'm leaving.

They have probably baited the area and hope that the fish will start feeding there. I do this sometimes as well. This weekend I went out to do some catfishing and at about dark we started to see the carp getting active....rolling, jumping etc. So I took a rather large can of corn and dumped it in an area that I could fish from the bank. The next day I went out and re-baited the area and found a few fish. I'll post pics in a few.

cwcarper · 03-25-2012, 10:51 PM

I haven't had a chance to get out, but know the fish have definitely turned on around here based on reports from others.

zachxbass · 03-25-2012, 11:07 PM

Friday night they were biting at one of the local ponds. I had about 4-5 misses (I forget. Read my other post) and landed one that was about 7lbs. I may try for some tomorrow. If I do I'll let ya know how I do.

Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

SeanStone · 03-25-2012, 11:31 PM

Got to test out my new sling. Lol.

As always the picture doesn't do it justice. One of the downfalls to being 6' and 260lbs. Fish weighed 14lbs. and 15oz, a new pb for me......still very far off of the 30 plus pound pbs of my friend and little brother. I hope I get the chance to at least break 25 this year.

I also caught a 4lb 9oz carp, and my buddy caught a 9lb 15oz carp. Not too bad for our first carp outing. I also tried fishing boilies, but they went untouched. Hard to compete with corn, but I'll keep trying since I bought a ton of them this winter.

LoneWolfNoPack · 03-26-2012, 09:19 AM

Sean, is that Rocky? Looks familiar. I sent you a Pm earlier but I don't think it went though. If you didn't get the Pm, let me know and I will try again. Nice carp by the way.

I went out yesterday to a new spot and had steady action with almost every cast. Everything under 10lbs, but still a blast. Wasn't getting many fish at first, but after some tackle modifications we started hammering them. Always having to adapt.