Carp fishing is gaining momentum in North America, not only from casual anglers who are happy to catch anything that bites, but from hardcore trophy hunters gunning for 30-, 40-, even 50-pound fish. Fish at the lower end of that range are common in many waters, and some harbor much larger fish.

What's most compelling about big carp is the number of big fish available in good carp waters. Consider that an exceptional bass lake might hold 20 pounds of bass per acre, and a well-managed walleye lake might carry half that load of walleyes. But a good carp fishery is capable of sustaining 100 pounds of carp per acre. The total weight of carp often exceeds the combined total of all other gamefish species.

But that doesn't mean that carp are easy to catch. Small carp in murky water sometimes are easy, particularly in waters with fierce competition for food. Big carp, though, almost always are a challenge. The carp's acute senses of taste, vision, hearing, and feeling, combined with superior longevity makes them one of the wariest fish in freshwater--and one of the most challenging to catch.

SEASONAL PERSPECTIVES

The best time of year to catch big carp is during spring. Like many other fish species, carp move to warmer water during early spring. And just like other species, the biggest fish in the system usually are the first to move into shallow black-bottom bays in lakes, reservoirs, and river backwater areas. In northern waters, this migration sometimes begins before the ice leaves the main lake.

Unlike pike and bass, which might hold in one area in the back of shallow bays, carp are almost constantly on the move. They cruise through the shallows looking for immature insects, aquatic worms, and other invertebrates. It takes a big volume of such a diet to sustain a 40-pound fish. Carp continue to cruise during summer, but usually aren't as visible.

In fact, the best way to find carp during early spring is to cruise through shallow bays in a boat or walk along the shoreline. A pair of polarized sunglasses helps to spot fish moving just beneath the surface, occasionally tailing as they pluck edible bits from the bottom. Structural features like points and inside turns tend to concentrate the fish as they cruise the perimeter of the bay.

PRESENTATION POINTERS

Some anglers enjoy the challenge of sight fishing for individual fish, but chumming increases your odds for catching numbers of fish. Canned corn is a popular chum in many areas, though softened field corn is more effective and more economical. The trick is to disperse enough chum to get the fish's attention without satisfying their appetites.

Boat anglers often chum several locations, then fish each spot in turn. This is a good strategy for shore fishermen too, but mobility is more limited. Remember, though, that chumming is designed to make the fish pause as they move though the area, not to attract them from across the lake. Chumming is only effective when you're baiting an area that carp already are using.

Corn also is an effective hook bait, but so are nightcrawlers, leeches, and a variety of other natural and attractor baits. In fact, it probably would be easier to list all of the baits that haven't produced a carp than those that have. The best advice is to keep it simple. Homemade doughbaits might produce smaller fish, but big carp seem to prefer natural offerings, especially during the early season.