Going to College Station for thanksgiving to see my cousin and his family. (They literally live like 1/2 mile away from TAMU campus) And my cousin and I are looking for places to fish. We were thinking of the Brazos River, Bryan Lake, Gibbons Creek Reservoir, or one of the various ponds like George Bush Library, Gabbords, etc. Anybody fished any one of these places and if so I would really appreciate tips and the such!

I have never caught any kind of rough fish (carp, gar, buffalo etc) I would love to know any information about any of those fish, what rigs to use, what baits they like (or don't) how to handle them, what to watch out for etc. Just anything you can throw at me I'd love to hear.

-Riot

Corn is always a good bait for small venues. Just get a few cans of Del Monte Sweetcorn- throw some in the water, and some on your hook. I like to thread a few kernels up the like above the hook.

If you go to a spot where people feed ducks, fish with bread wadded up on the hook(leave the point exposed). If you see fish hitting the floating bread, don't wad the bread as much- Let it float.

Good Luck!

Chad

Also, you should use small single hooks. These fish are strong, so you should use strong hooks.

Good luck!

and by small, I mean like number 6 (not 6-0)

Ok! Thank you guys for your help!

So single hooks are stronger than treble? Do you guys have a reliable brand you could reccomend me?

Usually don't use treble hooks when carp/buff fishing because if they get all 3 hooks and break off, then their mouth is tied shut. I use plain old eagle claw #6 baitholder hooks.

I was a slow convert to single hooks. Shoot- I used to use paylaker rigs with two treble hooks coming off of a triple swivel.

I switched for 3 reasons:
1- I was able to find stronger single hooks. I kept breaking/bending trebles.
2- I was starting to fish tournaments that only allowed single hooks.
3- The biggest reason I made the switch was because I started taking Catch & Release more seriously. I was catching and tagging fish at Joe Pool before a kids event and I saw that my treble hooks were tearing the fish up because all the points would get hooked in the fleshy part of the mouth. I started thinking- Man, I want the kid who catches this fish to appreciate it and see it in good condition. So I started thinking about all my catches and how I want every fish I catch to be in "Like New" condition for the next lucky angler.

So for pond fishing I use small hooks- 8s or 10s. 6s are good all purpose hooks, and if I'm targeting the big boys or tournament fishing, I usually use 4s or 2s.

For you, I would suggest looking at the TPWD website and look for Carp Records on water bodies around where you will be staying. Take my previous advice if you go to a pond. If you choose a lake or river, use size 4 or 6 hooks. I would suggest using dough bait if you don't want to start with Hair Rigs yet. Carp Anglers Group has a couple of articles that will help you- One is Catching Carp on gear you already have- That's in the beginning Carping Section; and the other is my doughbait post in the Bait Section. If I can get to a computer, I will get you the links. Also, There is a Getting Started thread pinned in this section that has helped alot of guys get going.

Again, Good Luck!

Chad

big gun mustad hooks

Jshaw and badchade thanks for the advice on the hooks.
And badchade that was super helpful information, I'm starting to get an understanding about this kind of fishing (I believe) and there is no better place to start then knowing the right equipment to use! Please post the links here if you have the time, if not, you have already done enough good sir!

Mustad Ultra Point hooks (size 4) are great and can be bought at Academy.

Ok fisherwood I'll be sure to check it out!

I like Chad also started out using trebles with dough bait. One other reason not to use them that he didn't mention is that you get a much more solid and deep hook penetration with a single hook than with a treble with all three hooks preventing each other from going deep.

I know this sounds like anti-treble propaganda but in my experience it's absolutely true. When using trebles I had a lot of issues with hook pulls, but once I made the switch my lost fish ratio went from like 20-30% down to maybe 5-10%. I can't tell you how many times I've seen hair rigs (single hook) completely bury themselves up to the eye in a carp's lip. You might think this would be bad for the fish but single hooks, even deeply buried ones, can be removed with almost no damage done if removed carefully. And they're definitely a heck of a lot easier than trying to remove a treble with 2 or 3 hooks stuck in.

Good luck!

You might learn a little more if you have the chance to get out with someone before Turkey Day weekend.We have no problem teaching anglers about carp fishing.So with that said,do you have time this weekend to learn a few things?

+1

i've always heard that was a no no...not trying to stir anything up or anything like that, ive always been told the double treble rig is a no no. Is it illegal or is it just frowned upon? Just curious.

By that, what do you mean? I may have time this weekend, but are there any places for carp in the dallas/richardson texas area?

In Texas it is legal, but frowned upon by many.

I also first learned to carp the non-euro way. Dough baits and trebles.
Even though I do think it can be effective, I believe the hair rig and use of method is better.

Yes yes yes. We do not have the largest fish, but we do have plenty of nice swims.

I think you can find carp in most of our ponds and all of lakes.

ok thanks, i never knew. I've met a few people years ago that were using it and told me not to say anything to anyone about it though.

I live by caampbell and coit road, any places not too far away that has carp?

Twin lakes has both carp and koi

White Rock Creek has Carp, Buffalo, and some other sucker species

Breckenridge has a good population of carp and a few koi

Ha, yes.
3 blocks from you. Twin lakes.


A twin lakes fish

I have fished the north lake at twin lakes for past few months and have seen no carp, are you sure they are in there? And which pond at breckenridge, there are 3 I believe... And white rock creek flows forever! Hahaha, any particular place that you know of that is a good fishing spot for carp? I have found several points of WRC that I'd like to try but just not seeing any information about it kind of made me hesitate.

Thank you guys for helping me out.

Fish the south pond at twin lakes. It sometimes takes a few trips to catch at smaller waters, and your numbers are going to be lower, but the reward can be great.

You might want to consider White Rock Lake.

Ok, I will have to give that a shot! I live so close I could probably do that corn chumming technique mentioned above too. And I guess we shall see if I can produce something. Can you still have a pretty good chance at carp this time of year?

I've fished WRC in a lot of different places. I'd check out the Keller Springs Dog Park, park there and walk down. once you get to the deeper water you have a pretty good shot.

I've seen a few koi and carp in both ponds at the twin lakes. It takes a few trips out there and some baiting over a spot to see them some days.

There's carp in all 3 of the ponds at Breck

Ok pondbass, I guess I just need to put sometime into these areas and see what I can get, hopefully I can get something at one of these places!!!

Ok pondbass, I guess I just need to put sometime into these areas and see what I can get, hopefully I can get something at one of these places!!!

Catching on Tackle You Already Own

Post Number 14... Almost 8 Years Ago...lol Dough Bait Recipes

TFF Beginners Info


Check out the tutorials in here (You can peaek at some of the more advanced stuff:
Carping Tutorials

Keep the questions coming- We'll figure it out.

Chad

I guess my only concern now is finding the fish. I'll get corn soon and I'll chum a bit on the south lake on twin lakes, we will see where that goes then. I have a zebco 33 with spiderwired 10lb test (just really got into fishing in june so I decided not to spend too much money at first) so hopefully that will work for now. If not then I'll need to wait till I get better tackle.

Early on we(my family) had quite a few 20#+ Buffs on Zebco 33s. They're great.

Ok than I am all set up! What size test line do you think I should rig on the 33? (I currently have spiderwire 10lb mono)

10# Is fine. Just make sure the drag is set kind of loose.

Don't prebait the fish with turkey; they'll fall asleep and you won't catch any.

Haha ok guys!

Sorry I'm a bit late on the draw on this one but I just hopped on the forum for the first time in months. It sounds like everyone educated you pretty well on techniques and equipment but I thought I'd give you some info on the places you were asking about.

I've fished Gibbons Creek below the spillway a couple of times. Nothing of size from my experience but I've caught quite a few carp and buffalo in the 3-5 pound range. They haven't released water in ages so the more "desirable" species (catfish, bass, etc) get fished out pretty fast but the carp and buffalo get left behind. Which is fine with me

Similar situation at Lake Bryan. Nothing of size from my experience but fun none the less. I've only caught carp but there are probably buffalo as well. Some of the deepest water you can reach from shore is under the bridge that crosses over where the two sides of the lake connect (google earth can explain it better than I can.)

George Bush Library supposedly has some very nice bass and really large sunfish but I've only ever fished it with lures quickly between classes. Only caught one bass of about 3 pounds. Just be sure to bend back the barbs on your hooks if you go, its a rule.

Gabbard Park is one of the parks thats stocked annually by the city with channel cats. You can realy tear them up with beef liver but don't expect to catch anything over a pound or two. I've heard central park is a better option for larger catfish.

Anyways, I hope this helps! Sorry I found this a little late.