Recently I've been floating for carp off the piers by my house. I live on lake Michigan, been floating corn with my steelhead setup on a centerpin and having a blast. The powerful runs on a 5.6 pound leader are amazing. Something you've gotta try. Also been trying to get one on a fly, which is proving rather difficult.

Carp are very powerful fighters, just extremely overpopulated in a lot of our lakes, to the point the effect the clarity of the water in some cases.

They are in some of the small natural lakes by me too. But the great lakes carp grow giant.

I have wanted to try this for a while now. Are you fishing on bottom or are you suspending your bait?

I was fishing one of my spots on the river this morning and got to watch about 3 relatively small male carp courting a very large female right along the shore.  It was pretty interesting to watch.  The female seemed more annoyed than interested in them. 

 

My pb carp was caught while fishing corn under a homemade straight waggler float.  I chummed the area with sweet corn, then had the float suspend the baited hook about 8-10 inches above bottom.  The float lifted very slightly when the carp took it in (a lift bite, as they say)...and I would have missed it if the float had been too large or buoyant.  Sensitive floats are a must for carp in my opinion.

Anyway I set the hook and ended up landing a 20 pound common carp that gave me the fight of a lifetime.  I'll never ever forget that battle as long as I live.

I have wanted to try this for a while now. Are you fishing on bottom or are you suspending your bait?

suspended about a foot off bottom.

suspended about a foot off bottom.

 

Do you have a preferred float style or brand?

There are so many specialized floats out there it gets confusing at times.

Do you have a preferred float style or brand?

There are so many specialized floats out there it gets confusing at times.

I've been fishing wish a long slender home made float, similar to a Drennon Crystal Avon. Has a long stem, keeps it standing better in wind. 6 or 8 gram floats usually work best, however if it's calm I would rather fish a 4g

I've been fishing wish a long slender home made float, similar to a Drennon Crystal Avon. Has a long stem, keeps it standing better in wind. 6 or 8 gram floats usually work best, however if it's calm I would rather fish a 4g

 

Home made floats are the best.   I have some float projects in the works.  Making them was once a wintertime hobby of mine.

I have a huge pack of "dust shot" and am trying to recalculate how much weight the floats I use require.

Fun hobby to make and use one's own terminal tackle

Home made floats are the best. I have some float projects in the works. Making them was once a wintertime hobby of mine.

I have a huge pack of "dust shot" and am trying to recalculate how much weight the floats I use require.

Fun hobby to make and use one's own terminal tackle

a buddy of mine actually makes them. I don't have the patience!