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I have been living out in California for the past 14 years and have, over this last year, found some excellent Carp fishing here. Being on the West Coast of the United States, we are lucky enough to have a mostly ideal climate all year through. As I sit and write this article on January 27th 2003, it is 78 degrees outside. The water temperature in my local lake at Malibu is 58 degrees - and remembers this is January.  | Barometric pressure is also of consequence and is fairly even throughout the year. The Climate is very 'Dry' as California is situated on the edge of the desert. This means that a temperature of 80 degrees is very comfortable to fish in, as the humidity level is virtually zero. Yes, we are very lucky - Not only is the weather great but the lakes ARE FULL of Carp! |
"There is Gold in them thar waters!"
The common Carp is the prevalent strain found here with only the very occasional rare mirror to be found. The commons do grow very large 50-60+ pounds and are incredible fighters. They are a wonderful Golden color and can easily be identified from their English counterparts through this one characteristic. I have never seen a dark brown or beautiful bronze colored common as we have in England and in my opinion the CA commons do fight harder than their English cousins. The main advantage to the Carp fishing here is that it is practically "Virgin" Territory. You see, as of now, the thought of spending hours at the bank and fishing for Carp is an alien thing to most American fisherman - you cannot imagine some of the responses when asked as to what species you are fishing for with such tackle...
"You're fishing for what?"
 | Much to our advantage. The fish are not pressured and are therefore not hard pressed to catch. The use of incredibly sophisticated rigs is not needed - you won't find many whithy pool rigs in use here! Just the standard stuff with combi and stiff links etc. I use Nash Fang hooks in size 4 or 6 and Kryston hooklengths, usually snakeskin or Mantis Gold. |
Bait wise, the fish are very confident feeders and in most waters across the States will instantly take to Particle baits such as Maize. Boilies are used by some of the fishermen out here, but do need to be introduced to water over a period of time; however they do also have a tendency of attracting the catfish. There seem to be 2 kinds of water here... either very large or very small. Not much in between as the sun tends to dry up anything that isn't either a large expanse fed by the Colorado River system or a spring fed 'pond'. The 'large' waters over here are exactly that - one of my 'locals' is 2,600 acres and so you would think that the locating of the fish would be quite a task. It's not as bad as you might think!! A little common sense in watercraft and the fact that the fish are not pressured helps immensely. An extensive pre-baiting campaign usually will consist of discreetly pouring in a bucket of well soaked and boiled maize and hemp and waiting a few hours!
It could take you months to 'lead out' a lake that is 2000 acres plus so access to a boat and 'fish finder' can be very useful when first approaching a new water to find where the contours and drop off's of the lake bed are. A map can be drawn and used for future reference. You have to be careful about pre-baiting or "chumming" as it is known over here, as it is 'Illegal' in most states and can be frowned upon by "Dirty Harry." An endearing term I use for most of the park rangers, as they will approach you in dark sunglasses with their hands on their guns! Once you get to know them they are great guys, but getting past the 'breaking of the ice' stage can be somewhat nerve racking.
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Most of the waters are State owned and therefore regulations must be adhered to - somewhat! I have found that the use of PVA bags a good remedy to 'get around' the state laws regarding 'loose feed'. A PVA placed in the margins with some pellet/hemp and maize will work wonders in the early hours of the morning. The feeding patterns of the Carp here in California are much the same as those in England with the pre-dawn hours being the most productive. However it does tend to vary as to whether it is a 'day' or 'night' water. Some, you will find it virtually impossible to catch during the day and others quite the opposite. Mostly however, because of the climate, it replicates the conditions of summer carping in England where the water temperatures can get quite warm throughout the day and therefore more action will be had during the dark hours. | Your tackle must be up to the job here as most of the lakes also have some very large catfish present. Size 6 or 4 hooks and strong abrasion resistant line along with some powerful rods. I recently found this out the hard way while awaiting new rods being made and sent over in England. I had only the use of 2lb test curve rods and hooked into what was either the new CA state carp record or one hell of a catfish that proceeded to render the tackle absolutely useless as it played out 'Knit one pearl one' with some ever obliging tree stumps. |  |
The wildlife in California is amazing and while fishing you will see and hear sounds that are quite alien to the 'European' ear. Mountain lions, coyotes, snakes and raccoons, to name a few that I have been able to distinguish. I was once ambushed by 5 raccoons at 3am in the morning...don't laugh it happened!
I heard a noise and turned to see 10 green eyes staring at me in the darkness. Having lost the 'Mexican standoff' with them I just sat as the ringleader casually walked up and dragged away my bag full of maize and breadcrumb while his counterparts just sat...and stared. Quite unnerving.
 | I believe there will be numerous 50lb+ Carp this year caught from CA waters. There are a dedicated few of us out here that fish on a regular basis. The potential here is huge and the conditions for fishing are near to perfect. If you want a good laugh use a PVA bag near to a Bass fisherman. You will gain instant 'He must be mad' glances from them as they cast and retrieve their lures for the 'elusive' "double figure Bass"... If only they knew... |
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