CatsandCarp.com - Page 2 of 5 - #1 site for whiskers and scales

Super Easy Beginner Catfish Rig

May 19, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

For a beginner it can be really intimidating picking the proper rig to go cat fishing. There are hundreds of different rigs and styles out there. So I am going to walk you through a rig that works all over the world and is the most versatile and simple of any cat fish rig I know: The basic fish finder rig.

Classic fish finder rig. A super easy beginner catfish rig.

This rig is a super easy beginner catfish rig. What makes this so simple is that it can be fished just about anywhere, it only requires three pieces of tackle to make and the whole thing is tied with only three knots.

The basic fish finder rig is comprised of a sliding lead (“sinker”), a swivel, some leader and then the hook.

Why is this such a great rig for beginners?

Fish finder rig with an inline flat lead

The fish finder rig is great because it is simple, it doesn’t require any expensive parts, its sensitive and it doesn’t spook fish. This rig is sensitive because every little movement of the hook sends vibrations straight back to the rod without the lead interfering. If the lead did not slide, the vibrations would be dampened by the lead.

The fish finder rig doesn’t spook fish as easily because the fish don’t feel any resistance when they pick up the bait. Because the lead slides along the main line, the fisherman can control how much resistance the fish feels. If the fisherman fish’s with the main line tight, the fish feels tension right away and the hook pulls into the fish’s mouth sooner. If the fisherman fishes with slack line the fish can swim away with the bait before it begins to feel anything. This allows the fisherman to adjust the tension in the line depending on whether the fish are bold or spooky when they bite.

How do you fish the fish finder rig?

This rig belongs on the bottom. You use it when the fish are feeding on the bottom. Most of the time cat fish are feeding at or near the bottom. You cast this rig out where the catfish are and let it settle to the bottom. Once on the bottom you reel the line in slowly until you feel tension when the lead hits the swivel. Most of the time I fish this rig with my line tight enough that there is a very slight bend in the tip of my rod. If the fish are grabbing the bait very cautiously and not immediately running away with the bait, then I switch to putting about 12-18inches of slack into the line.

Choosing the sinker.

Inline flat lead: great for rivers.

There are two ways to make a sinker or lead slide along the line. First option: you use an inline lead. An inline lead is basically a big lead bead. You feed the line through the hole in the center of the lead and you are done. Second option: you use a slide with a clasp on it and you clip the lead to the slide.

Slip clips are essential for fish finder rigs.

Using an inline lead is my favorite way to go but it has its limitations and its benefits. An inline lead is less likely to get tangled in the line and it requires one less piece of hardware. However, using a slider allows you to easy change leads. If you are fishing in a river you may need different amounts of lead depending on where in the current you are fishing. More current, more lead. Less current, less lead. If you have a slider you can adjust your lead to match the current instead of cutting your line and retying each time.

When choosing the size of your lead, you definitely want enough lead to cast far enough and enough weight to keep from being dragged away in the current or wind. But once you have got enough lead to do those things you also want enough lead to set the hook. The lead is what helps the hook dig into the fish’s mouth before you grab the rod. I prefer at least 2 ounces of lead when fishing for catfish with a fish finder rig, but 3/4 oz will do in a pinch if you are using sharp smaller hooks.

The shape of the leader depends on whether you are more concerned with casting distance or preventing your lead from rolling around. Flat leads tend not to be as affected by current. Round leads tend to cast further. So pick your shape based on what you are trying to achieve/prevent.

The swivel.

Korda helicopter sleeve helps protect your swivels

The swivel’s main purpose it to stop the lead from sliding all the way up to the hook. Generally you want there to be about 6-18inches of line in between the hook and the lead. However, you don’t always need a swivel. When fishing in current, you can put the lead above the hook without a swivel. After the lead settles to the bottom you can let out 12 inches of line and the current will sweep the hook downstream away from the lead. So the swivel is really only necessary when you are not fishing in significant current.

When I do fish with a swivel I like to have something rubber or plastic in between the swivel and the lead. Without a stopper or bumper inbetween the swivel and the lead, sometimes the swivel will partially jam into the inline lead or the slider and prevent the lead/slider from sliding. A bead or rubber sleeve can prevent this.

Korda micro swivels

I attach the lines to either end of the swivel using a Palomar knot. I also like to use a helicopter sleeve to protect and camouflage my swivels. The swivel you choose should be as strong as your leader or better. If the swivels don’t tell you their strength on the package, I generally use a #8 swivel for my beginner cat fishing rigs.

If you want to get fancy you can get put a fancy little swivel clip on the leader end of the swivel so that you can switch out leaders and hooks easily. This is nice for switching rigs quickly.

The Leader.

You want an abrasive resistance leader. I love braided lines and highly recommend the Spiderwire Stealth. The leader should be slightly weaker than your mainline so if you break off it breaks off bellow the swivel and you get your lead back. The leader should be about 6-18″ long.

The Hook.

Gamagatsu Circle Hook

Circle hooks are far and away the best choice for beginner catfish rigs. Circle hooks work by only digging into the catfish’s mouth as the hook is being pulled out of the catfish’s mouth. This means that catfish rarely swallow circle hooks. You’ll find that almost all of the cat fish will be hooked in the corner of the mouth or in the lips. If you choose to use a J hook the fish may swallow the hook and get it stuck in their throat or gut. Circle hooks are so much easier on the fish and easier to get out. You do NOT set the hook when using a circle hook. You simply wait until the fish has hooked itself, then begin reeling.

I generally use a 4/0 Gamagatsu circle hook for most beginner catfish rigs, but if I am going for trophy cat fish I will upgrade to a bigger hook (up to 10/0).

I generally attach the hook to the leader using the improved clinch knot.

Virginia Cat fishing

May 16, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

135 lb Virginia blue catfish that was caught and released in Kerr Reservoir

Virginia is one of the best cat fishing locations in the United States. It is absolutely amazing. The largest blue catfish (143 lb) in the world has come out of Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake) on the North Carolina/Virginia border. The James River is one of the best blue catfish rivers in the world with 60 lb catfish being common. Fishing guides like Chris Eberwien who fish the James River every day give a 30 lb catfish money back guarantee to their clients that is how confident they are in their ability to catch large cat fish.

The tidal Potomac is quickly becoming an amazing blue catfish fishery as the catfish grown with the rebounding gizzard shad and herring populations.

The middle James River, Smith Mountain Lake, the Rappahanock and the Occoquan Reservoir are great location for flathead catfish. And channel catfish can be found everywhere.

Virginia Blue Catfish:

Big blue catfish are in all of the big tidal rivers of Virginia and Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake). The tidal rivers and Chesapeake bay are home to commercial blue catfish fishing that provide the US with catfish fillet and live blue catfish that are used to stock watersheds across the US.

Anywhere in Virginia where you find large schools of shad or herring you will find trophy blue catfish. These large 2-3 pound shad are the perfect bite size for 50+ lb blue catfish.

In Virginia the ultimate trophy blue catfish bait is cut shad. On the James river 10 to 12 oz leads on a slider with 10/0 circle hooks and 1/3 a 3 lb shad is the ideal giant blue cat bait.

Cut shad works everywhere but it can be hard to get in many places, including the Potomac river where harvesting tidal shad and herring is not permitted. Cut blue gill, clams, halibut pellets, chicken liver and even worms work well.

Hi-low rigs are very popular for bank fishing for blue catfish across Virginia and in the large tidal rivers.

Virginia Channel Catfish:

A typical Virginia channel catfish

Channel Catfish are found through out Virginia and 4-5 lb channel cats are common. The state record channel catfish came out of the Rappahannock River at 31 lbs 8 ozs. Channel catfish are feisty and the action can be super hot. Cut bait fish, crab flavored boilies, halibut pellets, chicken liver, worms, punch bait, stink bait and works really well with channel catfish.

Channel catfish in Virginia tend to be along the shore lines and emergent weed beds in the summer time and in the deeper channels in the winter.

My favorite rig for catching channel catfish in Virginia is a fish finder rig with a 4/0 Gamagatsu circle hook and a 2″x2″ piece of cut bluegill or shad.

Virginia Flathead Catfish:

Virginia does not have the largest flatheads in the states but it still has some great flathead rivers and lakes. Smith Mountain lake and the Middle James river are well known for their flat heads. The New River is also pretty decent. The State record flathead came out of Occoquan reservoir at 66 lbs. 4 oz. The Occoquan reservoir has a small population of flatheads but they are very big.

The best rigs for catching flathead catfish in Virginia is using live bait on a fish finder rig or under a bobber. Flatheads lover live bait and it can be hard to catch them on dead bait sometimes. You can also catch flatheads on lures.

So remember, Virginia cat fishing is some of the best in the US, so if you live in the Virginia area and you have not gotten out and caught some catfish don’t put it off any longer.

In Virginia cat fishing for flathead catfish can produce massive bruiser like this 53 lber

Super Cheap Carp Fishing Particle Bait

May 14, 2014 / lukenichols / 1 Comment

Why Use Particle Baits for Carp Fishing?

Particle bait like this will keep carp feeding in a single area for a long time.

Carp fishing bait can be expensive. I can go through 15-20 lbs of bait on a heavy day of fishing. And I go carp fishing about three times a week, so you can do the math. Considering that I am a massive tackle tart I would rather spend my money on shiny gadgets than spend it on something that I am going to throw into the water.

Between my aversion to spending money on bait and the fact that importing boilies to the United States is expensive, I am a big fan of making my own carp baits. Far-and-away my favorite carp baits to make and the cheapest baits to make are particle baits.

Carp fishing particle baits are mixtures of seeds, grains, pellets, ground up boilies or animal feed.You throw several handfuls of particle bait into the area where you are fishing and then put several larger particles on you hook as a hook-bait.

The idea behind particle baits is that the small little particles of bait take more time to eat. The carp have to take more time grazing in your fishing spot while they try to gather up all the food and fill their bellies. This means that the carp come into your fishing spot and stay there longer sucking up the freebie particle bait until you can catch them all.

The larger grains are often more attractant and desirable to carp but the smaller grains take more time to eat and don’t fill the carp up to fast. A combination of large and small grains is often best. The larger grains get eaten first and help produce quick bites, then the carp stay trying to suck up the small stuff.

A Super Cheap Carp Fishing Particle Bait

Pigeon feed is a great cheap particle bait base for carp.

My favorite particle bait consists of pidgeon feed, white millet, hemp seed, barely or whole oats, and feed corn. A 40 lb bag of pigeon feed costs about $14. A 20 lb bag of white millet is about $15. Feed Corn is about $12 for a 50 lb bag. 50 lb bags of barely and whole oats can be bought for under $20. And all of these can be bought at local feed stores. Hemp seed in about $.50 a pound and can be bought from some US based online carp fishing supply shops.

All of these various particle feeds are purchased by their dry weight. So a 50lb bag of feed corn makes about 200 lbs of wet bait. So for about $100 I can buy enough bait to make hundreds of pounds of carp fishing bait. Enough to last me 1-2 years of heavy carp fishing.

How to Prepare Particle Bait for Carp Fishing

Dry grains and seed and feed are all prepared the same way. You soak them in water and then boil them until they are fully expanded and soft. Typically I soak my particle baits for 8-12 hours. Various grains take more or less time to cook. Corn takes several hours in my 3 gallon kettle. Smaller seeds like hemp seed and white millet take only 30 minutes. I tend to cook all my grains together except for the corn, which I cook separate and then combined afterwards.

Here is a great video on how to make a super cheap and very effective particle bait for carp.

Preserving Particle Baits.

Ok, once you have made you particle bait and it is all boilied it will mold and rot if you leave it out for more than about 5 days (depending on temperature). However, if you put it in the refrigerator is will last months. Bags of particle bait can be frozen and will last for a very long time.

How to Chum with Particle Baits.

Spod dumping particle bait

My favorite method for chumming with particle baits is a spod or spomb. Mixing small grains with large grains will help your particle bait fall out of the spod easily. Spoding just corn or just any one grain can often result in about 1/4 of the spod being full when you reel it in. Sling shots (catapults), throwing sticks, bait boats, pack baits or margin poles are all awesome methods for chumming as well.

However, you decide to chum, the key is to chum the right amount into your spot and then keep the food coming. Carp fishing is like hosting a party, if your run out of food, everyone goes home. You don’t want to over feed the carp or drown your hook bait in freebies but you never ever want the carp to eat everything or they will leave.

I tend to put out 10 to 15 spod fulls of bait out and then replenish with about 3-5 spod fulls after each fish. Here is a video of the results of an effective particle bait spodding campaign

Catching Barbel Catfish in South Africa

May 4, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

Under the African Sky: Catching Barbel in South Africa

Cat fishing in South Africa has never been as popular as it should. Most fresh water guys want to catch bass and carp, these 2 species represent about 90% of the fresh water angling done with only a couple of us die-hards specializing in catfish. But for me, these amazing fish have turned from an interest to a hobby to an absolute obsession and my passion in life. My whole world revolves around the next catting trip. I just need to know what’s swimming in the water in front of me.

Vundu and Sharp Tooth Catfish (Barbel catfish)

Another beautiful South African barbel catfish

Here in Southern Africa we have 2 main species of catfish, the African Sharp tooth Catfish (referred to as a barbel) and the Vundu . The Vundu , unfortunately for me, is not found in South Africa. Both these fish will easily reach and get over the 80lb mark, with specimens of both being caught over 100lbs. In my opinion we have not seen the really big fish come out yet. I believe that fish up to 200lbs are swimming around our waters waiting for me to find them.

The small barbel are easy to catch and generally hold in a large shoal, I can remember one outing when I caught seven fish in under an hour, the bait didn’t even reach the bottom before the shoal was on it. Shoal fish are generally around 8lb in size. When I find a shoal, and I’m after bigger fish, I pull my baits out the water and move to a new spot. Large barbel are generally solitary animals, and being like a grumpy old man, dislike any form of disturbance and will leave an area to get away from the noisy youngsters in the shoal.

Finding the Best Locations for Catching Barbel Catfish in South Africa

Barbel, like most catfish, hunt more actively at night than during the day. This lends itself into the way most of us fish for them. Bank angling is the most widely used angling method, so we camp over a night or two with baits in the water. This can be hit and miss, especially when trying to land decent fish. Also the novice angler can get horribly frustrated with many blanks experienced flogging the water with no fish on the bank.

The normal procedure is to paddle big bait out as far as you can and drop it. However, this can be a waste of time if you do not put your bait in the right spot. Fish are moving around so one needs to understand how and why they are moving and what structure they are using to move along.

Big open catfish waters of South Africa

I will usually fish 3 rods, 2 with medium sized bait and one with either a large live bass or carp or a big cut bait. The medium sized baits I will place, one shallow one further out and one in the deep water. While placing the bait I will use a portable fish finder on my canoe to find structure and cover I know fish will use.

Any ledge or drop off is worth a very good look, and if I find a good slopping drop off, I know fish will be holding on it all night. My job is to find what depth on the drop off they are feeding on. Once you find the cats you will have a good evening. It is not uncommon to catch 7 to 10 fish a night, but most often it is 2 or 3.

Because we are fishing a very big expanse of water, we need to find the paths these fish are using to get from feeding spot to feeding spot. Or we need to find anywhere that bait fish like to hold. I place bait about 50m away from a spot like this and one close. That way I can try get the fish before he moves into the feeding zone and not disturb the rest of the fish feeding there.

Best Barbel Catfish Bait / Best Sharp Tooth Catfish Bait

Robert Hellig with a South African sharp tooth catfish

As far as bait goes I am a natural bait man. These catfish can be extremely fussy at times and downright greedy at others. Summer the fish have eaten well in spring and slow down on the feeding slightly, now they eat what they want not was is there. So type of bait and presentation become extremely important.

I mainly use cut bait, as it is easy for me to catch fish when they are biting and freeze them. I am a firm believer of using fish from the same lake or dam I am fishing. This is because they are the species the fish know and are used to eating. You wouldn’t lure a vegetarian into your house by offering them a steak, so why offer the catfish something it does not know. Especially big fish, small fish will take anything.

I usually take a bass, carp or tilapia and cut them in half. Than hair rig the lips to the hook. I always fish a sliding sinker rig, this way the fish feels little resistance when it takes the bait and I refuse to use anything other than a circle hook. I use the same rig for my live bait. Live bait can be a deadly bait and most of my bigger fish all come out on live bait.

Frogs are another fantastic bait and I often use them when fishing from my boat. These can be rigged live or as a dead bait and are deadly, the cats can’t seem to leave them along for long and feed on them greedily.

One bait that may be unusual is dead day old chickens. These are often very easy to get hold of, not for the weak stomach however. I usually skin them and remove heads wings and feet. The reason these are deadly is down to what a fish looks for in a scent trail: protein protein protein.

Robert with a sharp tooth catfish at Nagel dam

One of my favorite things to do is find an overhanging tree with birds nesting in it, when the chicks hatch the catfish wait under the tree for the unlucky birds to fall in the water. If you cast a weightless dead day old under that tree you best hold on as it will be attacked with the utmost power and its game on.

I hope you guys find something interesting in this article and look forward to sharing more of fishing for cats under an African sky.

This article was written by Robert Hellig. Robert lives in South Africa and is an avid cat fisherman. Robert Hellig also works with Catfish Africa, an organization dedicated to promoting the sport of catfish angling in South Africa.

Trophy Small Mouth Buffalo & Carp in Lake Fork Texas

May 1, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

Lake Fork is without a doubt one of the premier destinations for a host of species in the United States. The usual suspects come to mind; Largemouth Bass, Black and White Crappie, Channel and Flathead Catfish, White Bass, and others. What people don’t know is that Lake Fork is also one of the best destinations in the United States for massive Smallmouth Buffalo, Mirror Carp, and Common Carp.

Small mouth buffalo guide Austin Anderson is putting clients on 50+lb small mouth buffalo in Lake Fork Texas.

Fork is somewhat unconventional when you compare it to the waters generally thought of as carp waters in Europe and other parts of the world where they are revered as prized specimens. It stretches a massive 27,000 acres across the piney woods of East Texas. Fork is loaded with natural cover, huge expanses of flooded timber and other structure. It’s literally a paradise for fisherman of any kind.

So what makes Fork so special? Lake Fork has huge fish, simple as that. The nutrient rich waters are loaded with food and the large amounts of predator species help keep the numbers of carp and buffalo in check so they have the capacity to grow very large quite easily. Fork regularly produces carp over the 30lb mark and frequently produces buffalo in the 50lb and up range. The largest Buffalo and Common Carp captured are an unbelievable 68lb 7oz and 40lb 4oz respectively.

Lake Fork Carp Fishing Guide Austin Anderson is catching massive wild common carp.

Lake Fork is also home to the now world famous Texas 44 Lake Fork Carp and Buffalo Challenge, hosted by Wild Carp Companies (www.wildcarpcompanies.com) and CarpPro magazine (www.carppro.net). In the past three years, the competition has brought world fame onto the lake, with anglers coming from all over the US and even as far as Hungary, Romania, Italy, South Africa, Canada, and the United Kingdom to fish in the competition. The Lake Fork Sportsman Association and the tournament is having a huge affect in promoting and introducing carp fishing to the area around Lake Fork.

Lake Fork isn’t easy, however. The water is loaded with snags and the fish are extremely strong. You have to be prepared to put in hundreds of pounds of bait in order to keep the fish in your swim and the trips can be grueling sometimes due to the sheer numbers of fish that can possibly be banked on a session. Fork really is paradise for the big fish angler.

I have been personally fishing Lake Fork for coming up on three years for carp and buffalo. I have put in a huge campaign over the past three years, logging as much time on the bank for Carp and Buffalo as basically anyone.

My massive campaign has paid off for me in the long run, with numerous breaks on my personal bests and, along with my partner Shane Hine, a win of the Big Four Carp division of the Texas 44 in 2013 and third place on big four buffalo in 2014.

Texas carp fishing guide Austin Anderson

Lake Fork Texas also holds some rare trophy mirrors as well as buffalo and common carp.

My achievements on the lake include a Smallmouth Buffalo of 63lb 3oz, my personal best; the IGFA junior world record Smallmouth Buffalo at 50lb 6oz; and most recently, a Common Carp of 36lb 10oz. I’ve also had some special fish, including a few of the extremely rare and notoriously elusive Israeli strain mirror carp that can be found in certain areas of Lake Fork.

Lake Fork is known as a world-class carp and buffalo fishery, and it is definitely worth the trip down to fish it. If you are interested on information on fishing the lake, I operate the only guide service in Texas specializing in carp and buffalo employing English and European tactics. I offer trips for short day sessions up to twelve hours, and also long weekend sessions lasting forty hours or longer. All gear, bait, food, and drinks are provided.

More information can be found at www.texascarpguide.com or through email at texascarpguide@gmail.com Also check us out on facebook, www.facebook.com/carpproguide

Fishing for Catfish in Flood Water

April 26, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

Fishing for Catfish in Flooded Rivers

Flooded rivers and lakes can really put a kink in your cat fishing. You have a favorite cat fishing hole and you finally feel like you are dialed-in and then it rains and the water levels rise and nothing works anymore. What do you do when your favorite fishing hole floods?

Fishing for catfish in flood waters can present some unique opportunities

Never worry, flooded water can mean fabulous fishing. Fish don’t stop eating when the water levels rise, they just change where they eat. If you can figure out how things have changed you can use these changes to your advantage.

Fishing For Catfish in Flooded Rivers:

When rivers flood, several of the river’s key characteristics are altered: The current increases, the visibility plummets, the temperature changes (usually falls) and the water levels change.

These changes can affect catfish directly or they can affect the catfish indirectly by affecting their food sources’ routines.

Flooding Affects the Current

Flooding affect the current of the river and current plays a major role in determining where catfish tend to congregate. Catfish love to hang out in slow current. Especially slow current that is in close proximity to fast current. Seems between fast and slow current, log jams, holes in the bottom, the shelter behind boulders, under cut banks are all good places to look for catfish.

When rivers flood the current changes and places that use to be sheltered become a torrent. If you fished a main channel during normal water levels, you’ll find that those catfish have moved to places that are more sheltered from the current when the flooding hits.

After flood waters retreat it can take a day or two for catfish to return. So it important to look for places that are not just sheltered at the time your are there but where sheltered during the peak of the flood as well. What looks fine the two days after a storm may have been a nightmare twelve hours ago and the catfish have not yet moved back in.

Flood sometimes permanently alter the features of a river and wipe out locations that use to be perfect for catfish. Any time there is a major floor reevaluate the river bottom, check to see whether that sunken log or subtle hole is still there.

Flooding Affects the Visibility

Visibility is another major issue. Poor visibility favors catfish. Baitfish typically rely on sight more than catfish do. In the murky water, a catfish has an advantage over its prey.

So when rivers flood and visibility plummets sight-base bait fish tend to be driven to areas where visibility is marginally better. After the flood waters crest, small streams and large sheltered lagoons tend to clear up first. In these areas, hungry bait fish will congregate and hungry catfish will follow.

Additionally, during floods bait fish tend to hunker down and not moved around as much. This means that catfish cannot rely on ambush as much so they tend to go prowling. The safety of murky water and the need to go find their food means that catfish tend to prowl like they traditionally do during the night time in the summer. Consequently, I find that night time tactics work better for catfish during the day time after a flood.

Flooding Affects the Water Temperature

Water temperature is also greatly affected by flooding. A big cold rain storm can dramatically reduce the water temperature. This reduction in water temperature can make mid-day cat fishing productivity increase in the middle of the summer when the water temperature is normally too high or it can shut down early spring or late fall fishing when the water temperature is already low.

In the winter time, a big rain storm from the south can actually have a dramatic warming effects and create some great fishing action. Keep a thermometer handy and look for places that are as close to the optimal temperature as possible after flood.

Flooding Affect the Water Levels

When water levels increase or decrease the bait fish and amphibians will be hiding in thick submerged vegetation like this and the catfish will be prowling along the edges.

Of course, water levels change during a flood. This has the most effect on fisherman who target catfish in the margins. Fishing for catfish under overhanging trees, undercut banks or along reed beds can be tremendously success. However, changes in water levels can kick the legs out from under these hot spots.

These cat fishing spots along the shore are catfish hot spots because they are close to where food sources congregate. Small bait fish and amphibians live in the dense shelter of the shore so that is where the catfish go.

When water levels rise dramatically, some of these locations are no longer are safe for bait fish and frogs. The high water allows predators and current into their shelter so the catfishes’ food retreats further inland.

When the rivers flood look for where the blue gill school have moved to and the catfish will be along the edges of that new margin. Don’t be afraid to fish among flooded trees and bushes.

How to Sharpen a Hook

April 20, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

Making sure your fishing hooks are razor sharp is absolutely essential. By the time you realize that you got a bite the fish the hook point has usually either driven home or been spat out. When fish a feeding cautiously (the way that most trophy fish do) you cannot rely on the fish to hook themselves with vigor. A sharp hook is essential.

Once a fisherman realizes that they absolutely need the sharpest hooks possible they start shelling out $1-$2 per hook on high end hooks. These same fisherman are probably also tying their own rigs. However, if you are spending that much money and time on each rig you are loathed to throw them away when they become dulled. So you either have to perpetually shell out money to replace expensive dull hooks with expensive sharp hooks or you have to learn how to sharpen a hook.

How Often Do You Need To Sharpen Hook?

An example of a #10 hook with a blunted tip.

An example how to sharpen a hook: finished product

I don’t mean to sound cheeky, but….You only have to sharpen your hooks when they are dull. High quality hooks will stay sharp for a very long time if they never contact something hard. I have high-end carp hooks that have landed dozens of fish and are still razor sharp, the same hooks can hit their points on a rock or dig their tips into the mouth plate of a catfish and they become dulled minutes out of the box.

So the question is not “How often should I sharpen my hooks”, the question is “How can I tell if I need to sharpen my hooks?” through experience you can generally gauge sharpness by pricking the palm of your hand with the point of a hook but I find a jeweler’s eye much more helpful.

You can buy a $10 30x jeweler’s eye offline without much fuss. The are small and fit in your tackle box. With the aid of the jeweler’s eye you can visually inspect the point of small hooks (sizes #10 and smaller). If the point has been bent or dulled you can see it and then you can again inspect it after sharpening to see if you did the job right. Visual inspection is the surest way to inspect a hook’s sharpness.

A fine wet stone and 1000, 2000, & 3000 grit wet/dry sandpaper works great.

What Is The Best Hook Sharpener?

The hook sharpeners they sell in tackle shops are generally not fine enough for anyone who is this concerned about hook sharpness. They work ok on very large hooks where a needle point is not as necessary, but are not great for small hooks.

Here are the tools I recommend:

A cheapo fly tying vice
A 30x jeweler’s eye
A fine grit wet stone
1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper
2000 grit wet dry sandpaper
3000 grit wet dry sandpaper (or a strap of tooling leather)
A pair of needle nose pliers.

Use a 30x jeweler’s eye to inspect your hooks and your work

How to Sharpen a Hook?

Start by finding out what is wrong with the point and planing what metal to shave away. Typically this involves altering the angle of the hook point and creating a finer point than what was originally provided by the manufacture.

Hold the hook in the needle nose pliers and lay the part of the hook between the point and the bend flat on the wet stone. Grind the hook with small circle motions. Continuously tilt the hook so that you are grind the hook at different angles not just one. Use the jeweler’s eye to gauge your progress.

Use small circular motions when using the stone and the 1000/2000 grit paper.

Once you have shaved off the metal you wanted, polish the altered metal with the sand paper. Start with the 1000 grit using the same circular motions and tilting. Then repeat wit the 2000 grit paper.

Next, pull out the tooling leather or the 3000 grit paper. Instead of using the circular motions repeatedly draw the hook backwards across the paper, bend first. Tilt the hook as you do this. This should be actually focusing mostly on the point.

Check your progress with the jeweler’s eye and touch up and spots you missed with some sand paper while having the hook in the vice. Your good to go.

If you want to do this in the field, the pliers, the jeweler’s eye and the sand paper by themselves can get the job done in a pinch.

Check out our Youtube video demonstrating how to sharpen a fishing hook.

How to Introduce Kids to Fishing

March 30, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

Introducing kids to fishing is good for the sport and good for kids.

I was too young to remember my first fishing trip. My father, brother and grandfathers all taught me to fish. Fishing is a wonderful sport for bring children and parents closer together. My father passed on a lot of his morals and wisdom as we talked during those fishing trips.Getting kids interested in fishing is great for the sport and is a great parenting tool. So here are a some tips on how to introduce your kids to fishing.

Make having fun, not fishing, the point of your trip.

Don’t forget that the point of fishing is to have fun.

I am a hard-core fisherman. When I go fishing I have one purpose and one purpose only. I want fish! But when I take young kids fishing I have to remind myself that the point is not to put fish on the bank, it is to have fun. If I catch less fish but we have a great time then we have had a successful trip. Kids are much more likely to want to go fishing again if you don’t let catching fish interfere with the kids having fun. If the kids start chasing fireflies and throwing rocks in the water, just be glad they are having fun.

Get a rod holder and a bite alarm.

These electronic bite alarms tell you when you are getting action.

Lure fishing, or even fishing with bobbers can end in frustration if the child is too young to reliably cast or hold a rod still. The best thing you can do is get a rod holders and a bite alarm and take your kid cat fishing or carp fishing. Once you have set up your gear, you put the rods in the rod holder, attach the alarms and then you forget about your rods and pay attention to the kid. Catch frogs or throw a ball around and when the alarm goes off the child can run back to the rods and reel in the fish.

A bite alarm can be as cheap and easy as a fishing bell or you can buy a hi-tech bite alarm with wireless receiver to carry around as you play. As long as you can hear it when a fish bites, that is all that matters.

The main advantage of electronic bite alarms is their volume. Not only does this mean that the kids can hear the alarms from further away, they are also more exciting and they allow you to night fish. My absolute favorite fishing trip involve pitching a tent next to the rods and waking up to the sound of a massive fish setting off the alarms. In the eyes of a child this is the ultimate sleep over and a fabulous way to be introduce kids to fishing.

Pick a safe spot.

Constant supervision isn’t enough to keep real young kids out of trouble. Avoid places with swift current, wild animals, sharp rocks, ect. if you are constantly worried it will just make everyone unhappy. Even if the fishing isn’t as good, pick a safer spot where you can relax and the kids can run around without your having to hover and yell constantly.

Practice

If a kid fails too much they will get frustrated and hate fishing. A little practice can go a long way to helping a child have a successful fishing trip. Practicing casting and fighting a fish really helps.

To practice casting, my dad would tie a lead sinker on the end of the rod and have me cast at a bucket in the yard.

To practice fighting a fish, have the young angler hold the rod while you hold onto the lead and run back and forth the backyard mimicking a fishing. Use this to teach them to keep the rod tip up, to stop reeling when the fish takes drag and to reel in when the fish starts to tire or go near a snag.

If you don’t mind looking silly running back and forth across a lawn, this can be great fun and an excellent way to teach kids how to fish.

Bank fishing is often best.

This rule doesn’t apply to ever kid or every boat, but when most kids are in a boat you are constantly having to tell them to sit down, don’t rock the boat, don’t learn over into the water, watch what you are doing with the rod. If you have a bank where the kids can run around, everyone is much more likely to have a good time.

Have some activities prepared in case the fish are slow biting.

A baiting slingshot

When I take kids fishing and things are a bit slow, its amazing how much fun they can have playing with my other fishing gear. I keep a couple bait sling-shots in my tackle box for chumming and ever kid I know loves slinging bait into the lake. When that doesn’t work, building a fire and roasting marshmallows, catching frogs, throwing rocks, swimming, making a cane pole, or playing a game of catch can turn a slow day into a great one. Always have a “plan B” activity ready in case the fish aren’t biting.

Make sure they are comfortable.

It take a lot of fish to salvage a trip when young kids are cold, wet, tired hungry or sunburned. As an adult I can ice fish without gloves and I do alright, but when I was young I could never stay warm no matter how many layers I had on. Make sure the kids have proper gear, snacks, sunscreen, bug repellent or whatever the need to be comfortable and if the weather turns sour don’t be afraid to call it a day and go out for ice cream or burgers.

If you are going to be fishing for a while, bring a fishing bivy or a large tent to use as a base camp. If you pitch the ten near the bite alarms you can stay our of the sun or rain and stay comfortable and have fun despite less than perfect weather.

Try chumming.

Boiled freed corn (“Maze”)

Catching fish is key to loving fishing. If I am taking kids fishing to a spot that I go to frequently, I will often arrive a bit early or go the night before and chum the area. Sour wheat and corn are great chums for catfish or carp. Throwing a couple pounds of chum into your fishing hole before hand can really pull in the fish and make for fun and exciting action.

Bring a net even if you don’t need one.

If you have more than one kid coming along or if a kid is hesitant about wanting to reel in a large fish, netting the fish can be loads of fun. I have had more than one kid prefer netting the fish over reeling it in. Having one kid on the net and one kid on the rod gets more kids involved when the alarms go off.

Choose an appropriate rod length.

full sized carp or cat rods can be way too much for some kids

Small kids can have a lot of trouble reeling in a 10-20 lb carp or catfish. When the butt of the rod is half their size, this can make things hard. If you have a very enthusiastic young fisherman, I like to use my 12′ rods because the long rod makes the fight harder which they love. If I have a young fisherman who is unsure or less enthusiastic I bring my 6′-7′ rods so that it is less intimidating.

Consider getting a fighting belt.

If I am catching decent sized carp or cats, and a kid is overwhelmed or shys away from wanting to reel in the fish then a cheap saltwater fighting belt can really help making fighting the fish more enjoyable. A lot of small kids lose interest in reeling in the fish because having the butt of the rod dig into their crotch or hip hurts. Sometimes we adults forget how small they are. To a 60 lb kid a 20 lb carp feels like a 80lber would to me. A simple fighting belt can take the discomfort away and makes the kid feel like he is wrestling Moby Dick to shore.

Get a keep net or carp sack.

A 9' long keep net. The open end get anchored to the shore and the rest of the net extends into the water where the fish are stored.

A keep net is a great way to keep your catch alive before releasing them.

My dad had a hard time teaching me catch-and-release. As a young boy I would cry or throw a fit when he would put my fish back. Young kids want to show off their catch. A keep net or carp sack can be a good way to humanely keep the fish alive while you take pictures or get mom to come over and take a look. And it is a lot of fun to turn all the fish loose at the end of the day.

Having their own gear.

Some of us just love gear, and your kids can be the same. Having your own rod or tackle box can be a really big deal for a kid. Being able to take my tackle box fishing and catch my own fish with my own gear was a big deal when I was little. Just hold off on getting them any hooks until they are old enough to not leave them lying in the carpet.

When do Carp Spawn?

March 22, 2014 / lukenichols / 2 Comments

Why is it Important to Know When Carp Spawn?

It is important to know when do carp spawn because by the time you see eggs and carp thrashing about in the weeds, you have likely already missed half of the season’s best fishing. If you want to capitalize on the great fishing that occurs pre-spawn as well as during the spawn you need to be able to predict when carp spawn.

Carp begin spawning when the temperature, water levels and day light are just right.

Three Factors that Trigger Carp Spawn

If you try to find out when common carp spawn you will quickly discover conflicting information. Some people say March to June, some people say year round, some people say May to early July, and some Say August to October.

The problem is that they can all be right depending on the conditions. Common Carp spawning is triggered by three factors: water temperature, day light, and water level. The conditions, not the days of the calendar dictate the spawn. When all three conditions align in the spring the carp will spawn.

If after three months all three conditions are again favorable, the carp will spawn again in the fall. If all three conditions stay right all year round (as in some tropical areas) then the carp will spawn all year round.

In the southern United States there are typically distinct spring and fall spawns. In states that are on approximately the same latitude as the Mason-Dixon line (Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio and so on) the fall spawn may be present but involves only a smaller portion of the fish. In more northern states the fall spawn may not occur at all or just sporadically.

Common carp can also experience protracted spawning or even fractional spawning. This means that carp do not all breed at exactly the same time. The spawning process can be stretched out over a period of a month or more and sometimes spawning can be broken up with one group of carp breeding early and the other breeding a few weeks or even a month later. No one knows exactly why some spawns are more protracted or fractional than others, but the time (and length of time) that all the ideal spawning conditions coincide may explain this.

Optimal Water Temperature for Spawning

Optimal or peak spawning temperatures are between 18 C (64.4 F) and 23 C (73.4 F) [though some research suggests that the optimal range is actually 19 C (66.2F) to 23 C (73.4 F]. The optimal temperature range may differ slightly in different climates. However, spawning can occur in a range of 15 C (59 F ) to 25 C (77 F ). Spawning decreases dramatically at temperatures above 26 C (78.8)and spawning ceases completely at 28 C (82.4).

In addition to temperature, the day light hours need to be sufficiently long. There is not a lot of research on how much day light is necessary because in North America and Europe you rarely reach your required water temperature without sufficient day light.

Once the water temperature and daylight conditions align, the carp then wait for water levels to rise and sufficiently cover the vegetation that the carp lay their eggs on. Carp lay their eggs on emergent vegetation and they cannot lay their eggs unless there is sufficient water to cover their eggs and sufficient water to allow them to swim into the reed beds.

Consequently, most research papers that studied common carp spawns, noted that the spawns occurred immediately after an increase in water levels during optimal temperature conditions. Sometimes spawning only requires very small increases in water levels, less than 7 cm (2.8 inches) in one documented instance.

If you want to take advantage of the spawn and pre-span periods, wait until water temperatures reach 18 C (64.4 F) and start fishing the margins around emergent weed beds. The spawn will begin after the first rain storm or increase in water levels that cover the emergent vegetation along the shore. If you see only a few fish thrashing around in the weeds by the time water levels decrease, the spawn may continue after a second good storm so don’t give up if the fishing tapers off at first.

About three months after the spring pre-spawn, watch for water temperatures between 18 C (64.4 F) and 23 C (73.4 F) and then wait for increased water levels that cover the shoreline vegetation to signal the fall spawn.

Beginner Carp Fishing Rig

March 19, 2014 / lukenichols / Leave a comment

There are a lot of carp fishing rigs to choose from but the best beginner is a simple fish finder rig or inline lead type rig. The simple inline lead rigs are very sensitive, they are easy to tie and the require very little stuff to buy. I have caught a lot of carp on this “beginner” rig and I still use it a lot today.

My Favorite Beginner Carp Fishing Rig: The Fish Finder Rig

A simple fish finder rig with inline flat lead. This is a fabulous beginner carp rig.

An advanced fish finder rig with a Korda camouflaged inline lead and hair rig. This is fancy version of the same beginner carp rig.

A fish finder rig is simple an inline lead threaded onto the main line with a swivel tied at the end to stop the lead from coming off. A bead of rubber protective sleeve is put in between the swivel and the lead to keep the lead from getting stuck on the bead. Finally, a leader connects the swivel and the hook.

That’s it, fish finder rig is a such a great carp rig for beginners because it is so simple.

However, don’t let the facts that this is a beginner rig fool you. These beginner rigs are deadly.

Because the lead slides up and down the mainline, when a fish nibbles the bait a lot of that vibration is sent up the mainline without the lead interfering. This makes it much easy to tell when you are getting some action, even from very subtle carp.

These fact that the lead can slide is also good because it means that the fish is less likely to feel the weight of the lead when it initially picks up the bait. Very wary fish can mouth the bait a little bit without immediately feeling tension.

How to Take a Beginner Carp Rig to the Next Level:

Once you have mastered the simple fish finder rig, you can take this beginner carp rig to the next level by using camouflaged leads, swivels, hooks and sleeves.

Bit of corn on a hair rig with a piece of PVA foam nugget covering the hook point.

A hair rig is also a fabulous addition to any carp rig. Hair rigs are super easy to learn how to tie using the knotless-knot. Hair rigs take more effort to bait and tie, but it allows the fish to mouth the bait without feeling the hook point immediately.

Carp with their slow careful feeding habits and sensitive lips will often sense and spit out a hairless hook if they have ever been exposed to fisherman’s hooks before.

#1 site for whiskers and scales