The silver carp belongs to the freshwater Asian carp family. A long time ago, the Chinese and Siberian people used to cultivate them. Other countries imported them to use in aquaculture and water quality control. Back then, only a few water streams yielded silver carp. Later, they were introduced in other connected and waterways. They are now available in numerous rivers, lakes, ponds, and other water sources of at least 88 countries.
Their giant size and tasty flesh never fail to draw fishing-lovers’ attention. The experts already know about the basics. If you are a newbie in silver carp fishing, feel free to follow our guidelines:
Choose the Venue
All nearby fisheries may not contain silver carp. So you have to find a suitable river. Check these following things properly:
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Permission
You must get a license from the fishery owner. It won’t cost a lot of bucks but give you the right to catch carp fish legally.
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Precautions and rules
Almost all authorities set some rules and regulations for the visitors. They may fix a fishing time, fish number limit, and fish size limit. Some of them allow only a few carp fishing methods. Again, many people do not want to hurt the fish. Then, they set rules requesting everyone to release all or particular fish.
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Study on previous success and failure
Silver carp may not be available throughout all areas. Their existence will vary according to the fishery, seasonal change, and time of the day. A glimpse at the old records can make your job easier. Check for the ideal places, most beneficial bait, and other tips of your selected fishery.
Carry the right gear
Many fail to get a single fish even after having skills and knowledge. Besides, many lose their hook, break rods, and damage other items while catching silver carp. These happen when they do not use the right tools.
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Conventional rod fishing equipment
It is not a decent method for a filter feeder like silver carp. However, there is hope with a long and sturdy rod, matching reel, and invisible twisted line. Without a large hook, you cannot pull a heavyweight fish. Make sure to use a circular hook because it gives the carp less chance to escape. Large dough baits and flavored boilies can attract them.
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Effective archery fishing equipment
A specialized bow is the main component of the fishing arrangement. A beginner can try recurve bows since they are light, easy to use, and require less precision. Compound bows give better accuracy and more power, even if you are shooting from a distance. Pair your bow with either a bottle reel or spin cast reel. Never use traditional arrows for fishing. You can buy fiberglass, carbon, or composite arrows with sharp barbed tips. Blunt points hardly go through the fish.
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Gigging equipment
At first, you have to buy or borrow an ideal boat capable of running through shallow water. Most anglers prefer aluminum boats with flat bottoms. Bring sharp and strong gigs. They should be long enough to reach the shallow bottom. People apply these techniques during night hours. That’s why they carry bright flashlights. Be sure to buy a weatherproof light that can brighten up a long way.
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Net fishing equipment
It is not safe to cast a net to hunt silver carp from the deep water layers. They can hurt you at any time. If you still insist, take the required protection first. Wear scratch-proof clothes, hats and take eye protection. Your net should have a high load capacity.
Tracing Silver Carp
The silver carp will not be available everywhere. Therefore, you should know about the places having a high chance of bites.
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Preferred water type
It is a species that prefers roaming in 6-28 °C warm water. Flat and slow-flowing water streams are their top priority. They usually swim in the upper and middle water levels. They like to stay clean and avoid polluted water.
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Preferred spots
Silver carp like to stay in areas with abundant food supply. Their diet contains a significant proportion of phytoplankton and less zooplankton. They also consume many organisms, blue algae, green algae, and detritus. Don’t miss underwater structures and lodges.
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Jumping fish
What if you are on a boat and you don’t have any idea about their location? Don’t worry; they are about to appear themselves. They get scared of the ships and jump a few meters above the water. Often, they land in boats. It may seem impressive, but the passengers often get injured sometimes. So be careful during boat fishing.
Detecting a silver carp underwater
People who go for a specific fish hunting mission must recognize their target. However, it isn’t easy to differentiate between silver carp and several lookalikes. So, we should know all of their appearance details.
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Size and weight
A mature silver carp’s body is usually 24 to 40 inches long, but it can reach up to 55 inches. The main factor that makes the anglers interested is its heavyweight. One carp may weigh up to 100 lb or more. Such high growth can be a threat to other species.
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Body
They have a tight and flat body on both sides. Their big mouth does not contain any teeth. Small and downwards eyes sit under the mouth. Slightly curved upward jaws and scale less opercles are part of their large heads. Their anal and dorsal fins cover 13 to 15 and 8 rays, respectively. Although they look very similar to the bighead carp, they can be distinguished by one characteristic. Unlike the bigheads, their keel is sharp and extends from the anal fin to the pelvic fin base.
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Color
The juvenile silver carp have a nice silver body. As they become adults, it turns into a greenish color on the back, and the belly remains the same. Blackish-grey becomes the color of the rear segment. The sides are mainly silvery and reddish, sometimes. Some parts also have a golden layer.
Keep Practicing
You may not catch the silver carp in the first few trials. Don’t ever lose lope. These tips will increase your performance:
- Skip windy and rainy days
- Spring and summer days are best for carp fishing
- Learn carp behavior during different times of the day
- Always target a group of silver carp instead of only one, if possible.
- Stay hidden as much as possible.
- Don’t cause water disturbances while fishing from the shoreline.
- Seek help from the locals and follow their tips
- Try switching places
