Long-Range Tactics For Big Carp On Big Waters

The St. Lawrence River is one of the finest carp waters in North America. Those who know it gauge their success by numbers of fish over 30 pounds, and 40- to 50-pound fish can be expected. Still, the fishery goes unnoticed by most local anglers. Mark Jarvis is one exception.

“During May and June, overseas anglers compete for the best shoreline spots, largely outnumbering resident anglers,” he says. “My wife Julie and I run a tackle store in Long Sault, Ontario, called Carpins, where we cater largely to carp anglers. The business is popular with overseas anglers looking to replenish boilie supplies and stay in touch with the latest big-fish gossip. We’re also catching on with anglers in North America looking for specialty carp supplies.

“May and part of June are prime for most carp waters adjacent to the Great Lakes,” he says. “Big fish are drawn shallow by warmer water, bringing them within reach of shore anglers. The carp are hungry after having eaten little throughout winter.”

On the St. Lawrence, the Prespawn Period lasts into the second or third week of June. At that time, fish become preoccupied with spawning and show less interest in feeding. After spawning, the fish disperse, many of them moving out to deeper channel areas.

During summer on lakes Erie and Ontario, big fish wander in pods along the shorelines, while some smaller fish still inhabit back bays. The biggest carp apparently tolerate or even seek cooler, deeper water, exploiting different food sources than the smaller fish, such as the vast supply of zebra and quagga mussels.

“Getting at big fish on big waters can be a challenge for shore anglers during Prespawn and especially after fish largely leave the shallows,” Jarvis says. “Long-range tactics are required, beginning with a heavy-power and medium-action rod measuring 12 or 13 feet. The rod usually has a 3-pound test-curve and can deliver a 4-ounce lead 125 yards. (Test-curve is the weight it takes a rod tip to make a 90-degree arc toward the butt of the rod.) The higher the test-curve, the heavier the weight that can be cast.

“A large-capacity reel filled with 50-pound braid (protection against sharp mussels) is used. Typically, it has a freespool feature that allows fish to pull line off the reel while it’s in a rod stand. This prevents big carp from pulling the outfit into the water. Once fish are hooked, play them with a lightly set drag to prevent the hook from tearing out of their soft mouths.

“After making a long cast, reel the rig back towards you a bit,” Jarvis says. “This removes slack and ensures that the lead isn’t stuck in the mud. The heavy lead combined with braided line also transmits to the angler information about bottom type. You don’t want your bait in a weed clump, making it difficult for fish to find.”