i was fishing a decent sized pond yesterday and i saw some big carp swimming through a smaller part of the pond almost like a stream. i try to snag them with a big x-rap but the carp never hooked up. im going back tommorow and im going to try to snag them again. what are some prepared baits that will catch them and what are some lures that i should use to snag them and how do i do it? :-?

if you want to just snag them,

just put on a bullet weight with a bare treble under it.

works every time.

cast over the top of them, reel in until tension, swing for the fences.

i dont do it myself anymore,

but as a child i resorted to this many of times.

A couple of quick questions:

Is it legal snagging season where you live? In Missouri we're not allowed to snag 'rough' fish until September. Not sure if this is regulated in Illinois.

Is the carp you are targeting a Silver, Bighead, Grass, or Common Carp?

If it's a grass carp it was probably stocked to control vegitation, and very likely sterile. Chances are whoever put it in the lake would like to keep it there. Grass carp are very long and lean, and have larger mouths than common carp. These fish won't normally take prepared baits.

If it's a common carp you can catch it on any number of baits. They'll eat corn, worms, dough balls, and more. We used to mix corn syrup with wheaties. You will have more success, and fun, fishing them on light line with little or no weight. Common Carp have mouths that are small and circular.

If it's a Silver or Bighead carp, it's an invasive species and needs to die. In fact, it's illegal to return these to the water alive in Missouri, and I believe Illinois (though you may need to read up). These fish are not difficult to snag. I use a 11/0 treble hook with a built in weight, and heavy gear. When I see a silver carp I'll cast just beyond it, reel up close and set the hook. They are so thick in the waters around here that you can sometimes snag 'em blind. They are good fighters and good eating, but cleaning them is tricky because of all the bones.

Good luck to you.

Here's a silver I got snagging a while back:

When I was in the Navy, I had a buddy who was always talking about grabbing for suckers. He was from Mansfield Missouri. I would say WTH are you talking about? he explained to me that they could( what I would call) foul hook these fish(grabbing). He said they had some kind of rig that has to do with a bottle opener and a treble hook. I was not familiar with suckers. Hell I still don't know what they are, some type of carp? We just do not do things like that where I am from. I guess you are wanting to do the same thing. It seems like it would be easy to get a big treble and weight and just sling it into a bunch of fish.

@bigtimfish:

Grabbing suckers by "foul-hooking" them is not the way to do it. Get yourself a 10-12 foot cane pole, about a 4/0 treble, tie a white rag on it, and put a 1 ounce egg sinker 10 inches up the line. Place the hook in the water upstream of the fish you're looking for, and let the hook drift under its mouth. When it disappears, set the hook! That is the proper way to grab suckers, a lot of fun too.

PS-You have to fish for them when they are up, around here it is when the dogwoods bloom.  Also, when fishing, if the school starts to leave, send a buddy out to the side to throw a rock and scare them back into the area.

Canned SWEET CORN! They go crazy for it, also try dough baits using cinnamon, sugar, or garlic.

Good lucks to you in catching the "BIG KAHUNA!"

ficus berries work for me. not sure if you have ficus trees where you are, but they love 'em down here.

if its in a pond, its probably there for a reason....if you cant catch it fairly, I would leave it alone

Easiest way to catch them is off of plain sandwich bread--so you don't have to mess with dough bait ingredients.   Use a very small treble hook, 6-8 and cover the hook entirely with bread.  Carp have small mouths and they will spit out the bread if they feel the metal.  You don't even need weight, but if you cannot cast far with the small bait, suggest using an small egg sinker connected to a barrel swivel.  Give yourself about a foot and a half leader, then allow a little slack in your line so the carp can pick up the bait.  Then sit and wait.  

A couple of quick questions:

Is it legal snagging season where you live? In Missouri we're not allowed to snag 'rough' fish until the first of September. Not sure if this is regulated in Illinois.

Is the carp you are targeting a Silver, Bighead, Grass, or Common Carp?

If it's a grass carp it was probably stocked to control vegitation, and very likely sterile. Chances are whoever put it in the lake would like to keep it there. Grass carp are very long and lean, and have larger mouths than common carp. These fish won't normally take prepared baits.

If it's a common carp you can catch it on any number of baits. They'll eat corn, worms, dough balls, and more. We used to mix corn syrup with wheaties. You will have more success, and fun, fishing them on light line with little or no weight. Common Carp have mouths that are small and circular.

If it's a Silver or Bighead carp, it's an invasive species and needs to die. In fact, it's illegal to return these to the water alive in Missouri, and I believe Illinois (though you may need to read up). These fish are not difficult to snag. I use a 11/0 treble hook with a built in weight, and heavy gear. When I see a silver carp I'll cast just beyond it, reel up close and set the hook. They are so thick in the waters around here that you can sometimes snag 'em blind. They are good fighters and good eating, but cleaning them is tricky because of all the bones.

Good luck to you.

Here's a silver I got snagging a while back:

you are allowed to snag fish? that's crazy!!! it's totally illegal to snag fish in california. at my local lake, anglers would get their butts kicked if they're caught snagging by the locals. snagging is a big problem during trout stocking season.

you are allowed to snag fish? that's crazy!!! it's totally illegal to snag fish in california. at my local lake, anglers would get their butts kicked if they're caught snagging by the locals. snagging is a big problem during trout stocking season.

Yep, but only certain species and only certain times of the year. Sport fish like trout and bass are a big NO. Asian carp, suckers, and paddlefish are the popular targets.

Here in midwest we are fighting a losing battle to Asian carp in our rivers and many of our lakes. They are plankton eaters that won't take bait, not even tiny dough balls. Bow fishing and snagging are about the only ways I know to target them.