The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Depends what else is in there, but if there isn't a lot of small stuff to pester you, carp like maggots as much as most other fish do. Where there are lots of small roach and perch, I usually try the biggest lobworms I can find (2 on a size 4, if necessary).

Try same tactics with a small cube of luncheon meat on a no. 10 or 12. You are less likely to be pestered by smaller species.

Dynamite, been used for years! Very effective, but no way of 'sorting' out the smaller fish. Sorry. Slowly sinking bread free lined, introduced just in the path of the fish... Can be deadly and really exciting, and you can pick your fish!- snails as well. Crush the shell a bit (poor things!). Nymphing with a gold head is something I fancy trying as well... Good ol dog biscuits. Free running 1/2 oz or smaller lead with a running float stopped well up the line. Fished with a tight line so the float cocks. Sometimes works wonders, sometimes not at all. A twig as a float fixed at each end to the line via a notch and with about two inches of hook lenth dangling off with 3 or 4 casters on arranged to look like an emerging grub. Don't laugh, I missed what would have been my largest redmire carp using this method (my own fault, stuck hard and pulled the bait straight out of its mouth with out it touching the sides). To keep the stick on for longer casts use a bit of pva tape at each end - you want the stick to come off, bit only on the strike. Also glueing a cricket (or similar) on would probably work.

How about free lining?

I know someone that catches carp using Dairylee cheese triangles and cheese slices; the plastic stuff. Mold a wadge around yer hook, dip in the water to cool and firm up, then cast!!! One can freeline or float fish with the stuff.

Smallscale wrote:What does freelining involve?
Cheese huh...
That's good, I'll try that.
I guess feelining is hook to mainline, with bait, chucked out, and hit it when the line runs out?
Sounds cool.

Yes pretty much, you wait for the line to go tight and strike... or there about anyway.

I've yet had success with it but I'm sure it should work to have a live cricket or grasshopper freelined.