Carp for bait

[ledhead]

I'm looking for a way to catch carp for bait to use when fishing for catfish or white bass at Utah Lake. I know many of you use a bow. Since I don't have a bow and can't get close enough for some "oar fishing" is their a particular bait and presentation(soaking/surface) I can use to land me some carp?

[albinotrout]

Try using dough balls
[signature]

[ledhead]

Thanks, I will!

[FishMcFisherson]

I catch quite a few just by smashing a ball of bread onto a treble hook and casting it out without any weight. With just the weight of the bread, you can get it out far enough to catch carp. I leave my bail open and just watch my line, when the line starts stripping off, just pick up your rod, flip the bail and set the hook. Works pretty well, and is actually pretty entertaining.
[signature]

[SkunkedAgain]

Worms or night crawlers works pretty well for me this spring... On Cutler the setline is legal and if I put worms on half of the hooks I usually get almost that many carp with a four hour soak.... Not sure if Utah lake can use setlines, check the regs and it requires a $20 extra permit, but it's been keeping me in bait this spring, the carp really like the worms... Good luck... J
[signature]

[Springbuck]

Make or borrow a bow. The ancestors did it. You can too. I could teach you in 10 minutes and you could make one in 20 more. Or make a spear. Longer is more stable, but any old piece of thicker metal will make a barbed point, like an old gate hinge.

It's fun.

Otherwise, I bury a small hook in a crawler, no exposed points or even metal, and toss it weightless to them after sneaking up. Garden snails are good, too. Carp are spooky. They quit and run with little provocation. I leave my line limp and bail open and watch for one getting the worm deep in the mouth, and swimming off, before setting a hook.
[signature]

[ledhead]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll be trying any and all of them!

[Watershadow]

if you have a six or seven weight fly rod, they'll readily take nymphs under the surface or grasshoppers later on. agree with the other poster, actually a pretty spooky fish. I like to lead them just a little with maybe a small pheasant tail or hares ear and just let it sink in front of them, but like bonefishing, its easy to spook them off.
[signature]

[HD7000]

[quote albinotrout]Try using dough balls[/quote]

We used to go to Smiths grocery store and ask for raw French bread dough from the bakery. It works awesome and stays on the hook when casting. Then you can take the leftovers and fry it up for some homemade scones! yum
[signature]

[CoyoteSpinner]

Crescent roll dough in the tubes works well also.
The point about points is good. They have very sensitive mouths.
As much as many talk about "stupid carp" they are actually a very smart fish, and highly aloof. There's reasons they overpopulate. They are good at it!

Filet chunks are good, guts is great. And if you can find some minnowes, right on.
UL also has all them white bass, they make good bait too.