How to Catch Grass Carp

Few fishermen have caught a white amur, commonly called grass carp. They are not found in all freshwater. They do not eat the same food as commonly caught freshwater fish, so they do not take the same bait. Even if they are hooked, they are extremely difficult to land with the same fishing gear that successfully bags panfish, bass, and most catfish.

The grass carp is a member of the minnow family. It was imported to the United States from Asia in 1963. Grass carp are stocked in farm ponds to control aquatic vegetation. Many states have made it illegal to import these fish because of their ravenous appetites. Some environmentalists are convinced that the fish can eat so many weeds that they can become a threat to wildlife habitat.

The grass carp is edible, said to be even tasty, but everyone that I know releases them. In Asia, guards stand watch on carp ponds 24-hours a day because they are valued as a delicacy and served in fine dining restaurants. Carp are submerged in water on restaurant premises, and each customer points at the fish he wants cooked and delivered to his table. The fish is removed from the water, and its head is bashed on concrete in front of the customer.

Two Varieties of Grass Carp

There are two varieties of grass carp, diploid white amur and the treploid white amur. Conditions are not present in farm ponds and lakes for the diploid white amur to reproduce; however, these fish often travel to rivers and large streams where they can reproduce and become a problem. White amur will instinctively seek flowing water, so pond owners usually screen spillways and streams to prevent escape.

The triploid white amur is a genetically altered fish incapable of reproduction. Many states that have outlawed the diploid will allow the stocking of triploids, with proper permitting.

The white amur can live for up to 10 years and reach a weight of 40 lbs. They start feeding each spring when the water temperature reaches 68 degrees. These fish can consume up to 5 times their body weight every day, most of it vegetation.

Big Hook with a Heavy Line

Grass carp are not very hard to catch, provided they are spotted first. They swirl the water when feeding, often coming partly out of the water. Carp bait can be purchased at tackle shops and even some mass merchandisers. I buy it at my local Walmart. Some fishermen catch white amur with vegetation on a treble hook. Others use kernels of corn.

Use a big hook and a heavy line because these fish are enormously powerful. I use a saltwater rig. Set the drag loose and leave the bail open. When the carp takes the bait, let him run for a few seconds and then set the hook. These are powerful fish, but they are not great fighters considering their size. Once they are hooked, they generally do not make big runs like a big bass would. Keep the line tight and reel in during the moments that the fish is not running.

It is usually a waste of time to fish for these fish with traditional game fish bait, but I have hooked several with worms and a cane pole while fishing for bluegills. The few times that this has happened, I was in a 14-foot aluminum boat. I have held on for as long as 45 minutes, while being pulled from one side of the pond to the other. It is impossible to get a large one in the boat with a cane pole and a bream hook. Either the hook is going to straighten, or the pole will break. I always end up with a straightened hook.

Bowfishing for grass carp is becoming more popular, but unless the fish are considered pests where you are fishing this is not a viable option. Carp can survive the trauma of being hooked, but arrows are going to be certain death. I personally would not feel good about killing one of these monster fish. I always release them.

Where to Catch Grass Carp

Unlike native freshwater fish, grass carp are not going to be found just anywhere. They are most often found in small, privately owned ponds, but they could show up in any body of freshwater. The best way to find grass carp is to gain access to as many privately owned lakes and ponds as you can. Not all pond owners are going to allow you to "mess with their pets," but others are going to let you catch and release.

In larger bodies of water, they will be more difficult to locate, but when you find them once, they probably will not be far away from that spot the next time you fish there.