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Posts: 3926
| I have easy access to a gazillion carp. Most are too big, but a few are in the 12-14" range. Anybody ever use carp as opposed to suckers on a live bait rig? Pros and cons? Thanks. |
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| Ranger,
Can't give you any wisdom since I have never tried it, but I think it would work, especially on lakes where carp are in the lake with muskie and where they are eating them. Interested to hear the results.
AirMuskie |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | The only problem you could have is with your local authorities. I'd make sure that there isn't a regulation about it. Otherwise it may be a good possiblity. The tough scales would make the hookset more effective as it would probably slide out of the muskies grip better. Carp are way more hardy then suckers as well. Give it a try and let us know how it worked. |
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Posts: 1046
| Use the 8"-10" size instead, alot easier to fish and they are not as hardy as one would think. They will work if you can get that size! Can you get me some?????????????????????????? Good luck! |
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| Should work with any type of rough fish, so give it a try! |
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Posts: 502
Location: Lincoln UK | Carp do make a great livebait as they are very hardy indeed, most other choices for livebait will give up the ghost long before carp will. Biggest problem is keeping control of them.To use one in the size you are talking about in a static set-up will require an awful lot of weight to keep it there, as a free rover on a float set up you will find that it tows you gear everywhere except where you want it to be. I think a big downsize is likely to be your best chance, even a 6" bait will cause you a lot of grief. |
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Posts: 199
Location: Anchorage | I've seen skis chasing them up to probably 25" on the Croix; they should work, but I'd be hesitant unless they're already in the system. Tough to see 'em spread any more. Good Luck.
Elwood Brehmer |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I would use a smaller one. I think the only way you could use one is fish with it from the water you got it from. Transporting them for bait on another lake I bet would be a big no-no. |
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| This may sound crazy but I have never seen a carp that is smaller than say 5lbs ! I'm not kidding I was starting to think that the darn carp eggs started at 3lbs apeice ?? If you could can you take a picture of those little devils ? I'd love to see a small one . The main reason I think I don't see them is becouse all the muskies eat them all !
THE FERD |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Let the pic do the the talking on this carp of over 24"....
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Kevin,
Very likely that carp is torn apart from turtles, and not a musky "eating" a huge chunk from it.
The carp died, and turtles took over, not a musky attack. |
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Posts: 7119
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I'm with Mr. Jones on that one....Muskies dont rip and tear their food, they grab and swallow it. If a muskie does clamp on to something that it cant shove down its yap, they seem to leave their prey with a nasty looking bite mark, but not necessarily a chunk taken out. |
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| One night about three years ago, my wife and I were in the midst of one of our best big fish flurries ever, when we heard something splashing. Here a very large musky had a carp in the 7-10 lb range in its mouth swimming around on the surface. As we approached, it dropped the fish and fled, leaving a trail of scales and blood where it once had been. We caught some monsters that day, and the wife lost two very large ones in addition. The next day was nearly as good, then it was over. We'll never forget it. That said, i would prefer the smaller carp to use as bait, but SHAMU will eat the larger ones you describe. I have seen very tiny ones, and then larger ones, but also very rarely see the 'bait' sized carp. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | The picture aint the best but it looked like one large bite mark rather then multiple small ones, this from a guy who has had large snapping turtles in aquariums for many years. Now the 5 lbs sucker I found dead the day before had what appeared to be many small bite marks rather then just the one large this fish had. If a Musky didn't do that I would very suprised. |
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Posts: 1294
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | I'm here to disagree with our esteemed moderator. Muskies definetely chomp! On several occassions I've come across suckers, still alive, wallowing on the surface with large chunks out of them. In one instance, while slowly motoring down a steep breaking shoreline, I came across 3 such suckers within a 50 yard stretch. Now, even though I can be a little slow on the draw at times, this was enough to make me fish this area. Long story short, 3 muskies boated within a half hour. I think at times, they go on a feeding spree, where they will slash and chomp whatever is available. Maybe more of a killing spree, than an eating spree. Was the carp chomped by a ski? Hard to tell from the pic. and the rotted condition of the carcass, but they definetly don't always swallow what they bite. |
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