I am wanting to try out carp fishing and I am hoping can find some ponds close to me that I could try it out. I am close to the Coit/Spring Creek intersection in Plano.

One place in particular is Big Pond park in Plano. When I was first getting back into fishing a few years ago I went down there to try out the bluegill and bass with my son. I saw some carp in there. But I think that they at least partially drained it last year so they could dredge it out. Does anyone know if there are carp in that pond?

I'm also hoping someone could point me to an article or a writeup on getting started. I have a few bait casters that I am hoping can pull double duty.

Thanks

Here's all you really need to get started carp fishing.

Some small hooks, I like #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circles. ( Carp have very small mouths! ) Some egg sinkers, probably 1/4 oz, and a tiny bb-size split shot, or a swivel.

Secure the egg sinker about 12-18" above your hook by clamping on the bb-size split shot, or using the swivel and tying on a leader.

Get a few cans of whole kernal sweet corn. It's probably the best beginning carp bait. It's sweet, and carp have a real sweet tooth, plus it's cheap and easy, and very effective.

Chum out a few handfuls into the area you're going to be fishing, and thread a few kernals onto your hook. Then fish just in the area you have chummed, or just a little ways beyond it.

Make sure your rods are very well secured, or if you are using a reel with a baitrunner or if your baitcasters have a "clicker" make sure you engage it!

Carp are very strong, and even small carp under 5lbs can yank a pole in the water in the blink of an eye.

Once you hook into a carp, keep a few things in mind, especially when using baitcasting gear.

Carp are VERY strong. They are one of the hardest fighting fish in freshwater, comparable to hybrids, stripers, and freshwater reds. XYZ recently caught his very first carp, a 20lb+ fish, and said it fought even harder then the 20lb+ Redfish that he's caught if that tells you anything.

In the 2006-2007 TPWD Regulations Manual, the article on pages 104-106 says that carp can easily strip off over 100 yards of drag in a single run, and I have personally had that happen, as have others on this forum!

Now, with baitcasting gear, you can TRY and crank them in a bit harder and faster...I say TRY, because carp have very soft mouths.

Very strong fish, with very soft mouths, means you need to finesse them. Too much force, and you'll simply rip the hook right out.

These are fish that fight as hard as hybrids, stripers, and reds, but have mouths that are very, very soft.

Now that's a challenge! When they run, let them run! Even though a carp can still strip a lot of drag from a baitcaster really fast, I'd lighten it more hten usual, just to help prevent hook pulls.

I catch most of my carp on 6lb test, and light spinning gear, and it's a brutal battle...I love every minute of it.

Anyway, hope that gets you started! Good luck, and looking forward to seeing your pictures!

Good Luck and I strongly suggest gettin' out and fishin' with people from the Carp Brigade.....learn from our mistakes and get a fast track on carpin'.

Yeah, we fish all the time lol and you'd be very, very welcome to join us on the bank sometime and see what we're doing.

Why don't you try and come out to the Texas Outdoor Expo this weekend, at Lewisville Lake?

Texas Fishing Forum will have a booth there, and a lot of us Carpers will be showing up to fish, and meet and greet people, and will be showing our gear, techniques, etc.

Thanks for the advice. I was actually planning on hitting Lewisville on Sunday for some hybrids/sandbass so I might drop by. Where is the Expo at on Lewisville?

At the park located on the SW side of the 35 bridge.

Highland Village

No problem BigPoppa, hope you get into some carp!

Lewisville is a good place to start carp fishing, if only because there are LOTS of carp in there. A good way to get used to catching them and fishing for them. Just don't expect any big fish, most of the carp are under 10lbs and the buffs, under 15lbs, so pretty small.

The Expo is at Copperas Branch Park, on the South Side of Lake Lewisville, just off I-35E, just south of the bridge. Exit Garden Ridge, I believe.

If you Google Texas Outdoor Expo you should find it, and there are ads for it on TFF you can click.

I will be there at least one day, don't know which yet, and might be there both.

Thanks again for all the info. I was planning on putting in at the East side of the lake but I might put in over there that way I can hit the expo after striking out with the hybrids.