Carp fishes are a common fish species found in freshwater sources. In the USA, previously, they were considered annoyances, stinky, not worthy of angling or eating. Considering it as a gamefish like they were revered in European countries and many Asian countries were too far fetched even to imagine. However, the time has taken a u-turn, and at present in the USA, these freshwater beasts are high in demand.
Availability
Carp fishes could be caught any month of the year. Though the seasons and weather conditions might increase or decrease angler’s struggle to catch carp fishes, these are pretty much easily available, very much within reach in the lakes, rivers, and ponds all around the United States.
Carp Fishing In Winter
This species, especially the common carps that are anglers’ most favorite, are mostly warm-water fish. At least many experienced fishing enthusiasts consider them to be that. So when the winter arrives, carp fishes seem pretty dormant, sluggish, feeding on the food source they were busy collecting all the year-round, especially throughout the Fall season.
It is not unusual that you might have thought there is no possible way to catch carp fish when the water is turning into solid ice. Then there is snowfall occurring everywhere. Walking through the high pile of snowfall and crossing the multiple feet towering snow could greatly decrease your enthusiasm for winter carp fishing.
But we also know many of you would take it as a challenge to see whether this all year round brute is actually the most difficult to catch during USA’s cold, shivering days. Let’s check out all the essential information we have to make your experience a bit easier and help you be prepared. All these are crucial and are in no particular order.
Location
Location plays a vital role in quick carp fishing in such a harsh condition. If you choose the wrong place for carp fishing in USA, sitting for hours during sunrise or sunset, in low light, with the best fishing rod and enticing bait, will do no good. In winter, the situation is far worse. The other seasons, like, summer and fall, carp fishes wander around freely; they enjoy the warm water. But in winter, they hardly move and turn torpid.
Firstly, the water is too cold to bear for the carp fishes. Secondly, the food is already available. So they are not necessarily compelled to move and lose energy. If you somehow find the location where the carp fishes are busy doing nothing, for instance, the shallow water, creeks, or any type of narrow space, you are surely going to get a fish hooked in your fishing rod.
Our Pick
Our recommendation for carp fishing in the USA will be the very popular Charles River. It is a great habitat for wildlife, different carp fish species, including common carp.
There is one thing that we understood very well. Thus, willing to highlight is that you will not get carp holding a fishing rod in an ice hole. It has to be open water, albeit cold, but not the ice.
Best Time For Winter Carp Fishing in the USA
As we said, these fierce brutes could be very sluggish the whole winter, especially when the river or lake water turned icy. That pretty much gives it out the best time for catching carp fishes in cold weather. The best time for winter carp fishing will be right before the water turns into ice due to low temperatures. The fishes still have proper water flow to roam around.
Maggots The Best Bait
Maggots always work for the carp fishes. They love it and can’t resist making way for you to catch them. Maggots are live creatures, not something plant-based or artificial, though even a fake maggot could work well in catching carps. That is the extent of their liking for maggots. The main reason is they wriggle. So the look of it is hard to repel for the rather intelligent carp fishes.
Boilies Not For Winter
What we do not like to use as bait to catch carp fishes in winter is boilies. I mean, you can use it if you want. There is no denying that there are ways to prepare boilies and turn it into the most enticing bait for the winter carp fishes. But for us, boilies are not to use in winter. The challenge this season throws in the form of sluggish carp fishes deserves the better baits.
Tiger Nuts
If collecting maggots or getting them is difficult for you, then try tiger nuts. We will again say nothing beats the wriggling creatures in attracting the dormant carp fishes. They will take the bait ignoring the icy cool water. However, getting the wriggling larvae might not be something that is easy always. So, tiger nuts are our next best bet for baiting the carp fishes in winter. Pamper the carps by offering them a full PVA bag of crushed tiger nuts and a whole nut hooked in the reel. Time to wait and see the carp fish coming out of its deep meditation period.
Fishing Rod And Other Essentials
A heavy-duty fishing rod, having a length of 8-12 feet and a spinning reel set on it, works the best to catch carp fishes in cold water. The fishing line will be the same length as the fishing rod, which is 8-12 feet. A number 8 hook is the last addition to the essentials, and you are ready to fish carps in any freshwater sources located in the USA. Not just the Charles River. There are plenty of others.
The cold we are emphasizing will be really cold, no doubt, after all, it’s the USA we are talking about. So have your warm clothes, gloves, head cap, and always be prepared for the worst temperature and weather condition possible.