There was a good 'gill pond a couple of miles from my house and the owner asked me to try to catch some of the carp that got into the pond after a flood went through and went in to the pond. That didn't work so I had to resort to fishing by a bow. The owner used to go there quite often before the flood and was tearing the gills up. Bow fishing seems to be the only option right now. I have been reducing the turtle and carp populations tremendously. I just don't want the bluegills and the catfish that are in there to have stunted growth. Any suggestions on how to catch the carp with a rod & reel?
If you want a real challenge, catching carp with a fly rod is a blast! Here in Delaware when I'm not pursuing sunfish I'm after carp because the stream I frequent is quite clear so stealth and sight fishing are used, I generally use a black or brown stonefly pattern on the bottom, they will rise to surface flies as well. There are various books and tapes available as well, or just type fly fishing for carp online..
I am member of Carp Anglers Group and I won Chicago Fall Fish in tournament in 2007!
My best bait is cooked mazie with strawberry or crab flavor but there's many way to catch carp. I suggest simple way is buy lot of cheap can of corn and throw out 3 cans of corn in one area for a several days! Then chum and fish! Handful of corn throw out often and carp move in and you catch them like crazy! Don't throw lot of corn but handful of corn often to keep carp stay in busy! Easy to carch them! You might NOT catch all of them but probably as much as 80 percent or maybe little higher to removed carp from your pond! Use no. 4 hook and put 4 or 5 sweetcorn on and use little weight that you able to cast it out as far as only 50 feet away and watch the line move then set the hook! Have fun and your arm might be sore in the next day!