It's extremely unfortunate how incredibly hard it is to find carp related fishing products here in the US.. Apparently unlike everything else in existence, shopping online isn't the solution. Hardly anyone that produces any quality carp products ships to us here in Michigan.
I've found two websites that carry stock of top brands in the industry, and have made the bulk of my purchases through them. Although I'm super glad for these sites existence, for I honestly don't see how else I'd even begin to get my hands on products.. Its not exactly ideal to pay the rather steep increase in price.. Especially considering the underwhelming stock these sites seem to carry.. So the last couple years I've found myself just taking the hits, and ordering my boilies and other fishing necessities through them anyhow. What choice do I have?
I guess what I'm searching for by posting here is an answer.. Am I missing something when it comes to buying quality carp angling products while living in the US? I understand that Unfortunately the demand isn't all that great over here.. But the view on carp fishing is slowly but surely making a shift in the USA.. With YouTube and social media.. Americans are seeing what they've been missing out on when it comes to fishing carp.. And the misguided views on them being a "Trash fish" are thankfully changing! With that.. We need better ways to get our hands on proper bait & tackle!
Any guidance on this would be so greatly appreciated guys!
Thanks in advance!
I've found two websites that carry stock of top brands in the industry, and have made the bulk of my purchases through them. Although I'm super glad for these sites existence, for I honestly don't see how else I'd even begin to get my hands on products.. Its not exactly ideal to pay the rather steep increase in price.. Especially considering the underwhelming stock these sites seem to carry.. So the last couple years I've found myself just taking the hits, and ordering my boilies and other fishing necessities through them anyhow. What choice do I have?
I guess what I'm searching for by posting here is an answer.. Am I missing something when it comes to buying quality carp angling products while living in the US? I understand that Unfortunately the demand isn't all that great over here.. But the view on carp fishing is slowly but surely making a shift in the USA.. With YouTube and social media.. Americans are seeing what they've been missing out on when it comes to fishing carp.. And the misguided views on them being a "Trash fish" are thankfully changing! With that.. We need better ways to get our hands on proper bait & tackle!
Any guidance on this would be so greatly appreciated guys!
Thanks in advance!
In reply to Post #1
Hi and welcome..Americans are known for their pioneering caperbilities ,because you understand and realise the massive growth potential over in the US,why not try and become the US version of Danny Fairbrass,..
I can see its just literally waiting to explode carp wise,...baits being foremost on my mind set,the first few people over there,who do American shelf life's are going to be very well rewarded I bet...
Best of British luck..!
Hi and welcome..Americans are known for their pioneering caperbilities ,because you understand and realise the massive growth potential over in the US,why not try and become the US version of Danny Fairbrass,..
I can see its just literally waiting to explode carp wise,...baits being foremost on my mind set,the first few people over there,who do American shelf life's are going to be very well rewarded I bet...
Best of British luck..!
In reply to Post #1
Have you contacted the American Carp Society and asked them? I've ordered from Big Carp over there before I'm assuming you know of them.
My 1st thought is why 'complicate' your fishing by using boilies for Carp that aren't used to them?
That aside have you thought of making your own?
Have you contacted the American Carp Society and asked them? I've ordered from Big Carp over there before I'm assuming you know of them.
My 1st thought is why 'complicate' your fishing by using boilies for Carp that aren't used to them?
That aside have you thought of making your own?
In reply to Post #3
Good point vossy ,that's what I meant and should've said..
Why not make his own baits,semo ,soya ,maize meal,etc,etc I bet the Americans have access to a lot of the raw basic ingredients, and as you rightly say,lots of other bait options before biolies,maize for example..
My father toured the US,before he passed,and said untapped paradise for carp over there...wonder if they have other species similar to Europe and UK,I don't know,never really thought about til just now..
Just think about the tackle they could produce and innovations, American style..makes you think doesn't it,I'm intrigued by this to be honest..
Good point vossy ,that's what I meant and should've said..
Why not make his own baits,semo ,soya ,maize meal,etc,etc I bet the Americans have access to a lot of the raw basic ingredients, and as you rightly say,lots of other bait options before biolies,maize for example..
My father toured the US,before he passed,and said untapped paradise for carp over there...wonder if they have other species similar to Europe and UK,I don't know,never really thought about til just now..
Just think about the tackle they could produce and innovations, American style..makes you think doesn't it,I'm intrigued by this to be honest..
In reply to Post #3
Thanks for the responses guys! You are all so incredibly right. It's just waiting to become a huge thing over here. With companies like Nash and Korda having such a presence on YouTube these days.. Theres plenty of guys out there like me and my 11yr old son getting sucked into this. We're absolutely obsessed. Lol. And I'm just disgustingly jealous of all the amazing baits, and tackle, and luggage, and other quality merchandise you all have available to you for carp fishing! Haha. Not to mention all the venues! You all are spoiled rotten, and I'm certain it's taken for granted!!! Lololol.
I will 100% without a doubt be looking into making my own boilies and such. Never even considered it.. But in response to carp not being used to them.. From my experience it hasn't mattered a bit. I got my hands on some Nash instant actions in a couple flavors.. Broke some down.. left some whole.. Mixed them in a bucket with sweet corn, bread crumbs, and strawberry jello.. And some instant action spod syrup for that perfect texture I was looking for..
Brought that to some water the last two weekends in a row here in Michigan where I know for a fact the carp have never seen a boilie.. Chummed up the water around my line real decent.. had a 15ml strawberry crush on my hair rig.. Within 2hrs they were in the area bubbling up heavy. Moshing around down there loving them boilies they'd never once seen! My son and I caught at least 15 within the last two weekends down there. Haha.
Thanks for the responses guys! You are all so incredibly right. It's just waiting to become a huge thing over here. With companies like Nash and Korda having such a presence on YouTube these days.. Theres plenty of guys out there like me and my 11yr old son getting sucked into this. We're absolutely obsessed. Lol. And I'm just disgustingly jealous of all the amazing baits, and tackle, and luggage, and other quality merchandise you all have available to you for carp fishing! Haha. Not to mention all the venues! You all are spoiled rotten, and I'm certain it's taken for granted!!! Lololol.
I will 100% without a doubt be looking into making my own boilies and such. Never even considered it.. But in response to carp not being used to them.. From my experience it hasn't mattered a bit. I got my hands on some Nash instant actions in a couple flavors.. Broke some down.. left some whole.. Mixed them in a bucket with sweet corn, bread crumbs, and strawberry jello.. And some instant action spod syrup for that perfect texture I was looking for..
Brought that to some water the last two weekends in a row here in Michigan where I know for a fact the carp have never seen a boilie.. Chummed up the water around my line real decent.. had a 15ml strawberry crush on my hair rig.. Within 2hrs they were in the area bubbling up heavy. Moshing around down there loving them boilies they'd never once seen! My son and I caught at least 15 within the last two weekends down there. Haha.
In reply to Post #1
Hi, Have you checked out www.bigcarptackle.com ?
I now only need to buy from the UK online stores for special items. BCT stocks 90+% of what you will need.
Do check it out if you haven't yet.
Also assume you know www.carpanglersgroup.com and www.Americancarpsociety.com?
There are a lot more carp anglers spread around the US now....
Hi, Have you checked out www.bigcarptackle.com ?
I now only need to buy from the UK online stores for special items. BCT stocks 90+% of what you will need.
Do check it out if you haven't yet.
Also assume you know www.carpanglersgroup.com and www.Americancarpsociety.com?
There are a lot more carp anglers spread around the US now....
Hi, Have you checked out www.bigcarptackle.com ?
That's the 1 I meant below, I had great service from the chap there shipping to the U.K, oh the irony, buying some Solar Tackle from the US because it wasn't available here anymore!
Never even considered it.. But in response to carp not being used to them.. From my experience it hasn't mattered a bit.
As Wandle mentioned, I was reasoning why use boilies (which are also expensive to buy) for fish where maize/particles will work just as well. Naturally, if using them is part of your 'buzz' just ignore me
Again as W mentioned you can easily make a boilie using just semolina and soya, called 50/50 over here, add a packet/some Strawberry Milkshake powder, roll by hand, add to boiling water on a high heat, boil until they float and away you go. You could even 'culture' those boilies once airdried a bit by dipping the boilie in a liquid, rolling in the milkshake powder, allow to dry, repeat as many times as you like until you've built up a good coating.
I did some Carp fishing in Illinois, holiday park still waters, rivers like the Kankakee, wherever my uncle and grand dad would take me. Using their gear which was mostly spinning orientated the main bait for bottom dwellers seemed to be liver or other fish, blue gill etc. Oddly enough I did see a angler on the river with a full U.K type match set up, which seemed odd 25 odd years ago, but he was a good angler. I think it was the Kankakee where giant barges used to come through the locks, and I mean these things were huge. We were all fishing at the bottom of a bank and when the lock opened a few minutes later you'd have to scramble back up the bank as the water level rose and then dropped by about 2 feet
On that same trip there were a group of Hispanics fishing next to us targeting Carp with what looked like a tennis ball method feeder covered in hooks, they caught a nice Mirror too! I gave them my fish which were mostly Sheep Head iirc when I left. My uncle used what I can only describe as a chain with safety type pins to retain the fish.
Anyway, I'm rambling now
That's the 1 I meant below, I had great service from the chap there shipping to the U.K, oh the irony, buying some Solar Tackle from the US because it wasn't available here anymore!
Never even considered it.. But in response to carp not being used to them.. From my experience it hasn't mattered a bit.
As Wandle mentioned, I was reasoning why use boilies (which are also expensive to buy) for fish where maize/particles will work just as well. Naturally, if using them is part of your 'buzz' just ignore me
Again as W mentioned you can easily make a boilie using just semolina and soya, called 50/50 over here, add a packet/some Strawberry Milkshake powder, roll by hand, add to boiling water on a high heat, boil until they float and away you go. You could even 'culture' those boilies once airdried a bit by dipping the boilie in a liquid, rolling in the milkshake powder, allow to dry, repeat as many times as you like until you've built up a good coating.
I did some Carp fishing in Illinois, holiday park still waters, rivers like the Kankakee, wherever my uncle and grand dad would take me. Using their gear which was mostly spinning orientated the main bait for bottom dwellers seemed to be liver or other fish, blue gill etc. Oddly enough I did see a angler on the river with a full U.K type match set up, which seemed odd 25 odd years ago, but he was a good angler. I think it was the Kankakee where giant barges used to come through the locks, and I mean these things were huge. We were all fishing at the bottom of a bank and when the lock opened a few minutes later you'd have to scramble back up the bank as the water level rose and then dropped by about 2 feet
On that same trip there were a group of Hispanics fishing next to us targeting Carp with what looked like a tennis ball method feeder covered in hooks, they caught a nice Mirror too! I gave them my fish which were mostly Sheep Head iirc when I left. My uncle used what I can only describe as a chain with safety type pins to retain the fish.
Anyway, I'm rambling now
In reply to Post #7
I have indeed been using Bigcarptackle.com and it's absolutely amazing! I don't know what we'd do over here without it to be honest! Just about everything I've acquired for carp fishing so far has been through them. In all reality, I'm kind of being picky. Obviously I can get my hands on things.. It just isn't always exactly what I'm hoping to find. I'm talking like.. Flavors of boilies and such. LOL. That's being picky on my end. No doubt. However the other reason it's all a bit bothersome is the price hike. Which is something I should just learn to accept as well, given the distance product has to travel to get to me. I should just be thankful I'm living in the age I am, and I'm able to get my hands on these things at all!
I'm super excited on looking more into making my own boilies and things. So I do appreciate the inspiration there as well! Also thank you so much for the stories if fishing over here in the US! I enjoyed reading that! You weren't all that far from my home waters while you were here! I'm a lucky duck and live in Muskegon, Mi.. Right on the coast of Lake Michigan.. Some of the absolute greatest fishing of all kinds around me here.. And not a damn person fishing carp.. Lol.. Such a shame.. My son and I are going to have our hand in changing things around these parts though!! Definitely catching some eyes already with some of the monsters we've got on with!
Again, all of you, I do appreciate the help. I will be checking out the other sites I seen you all suggest! I see the words “I assume you've heard of”____ (insert carp website here).. And aside from Bigcarptackle.com..
Please..
Assume I know absolutely NOTHING. Lmao.
Then.. And only then will your assumption be safe.. Haha. Always fill me in. I'm rather new to everything carp, though, I am a very quick learner.. Especially when I become obsessed with something as I have carp fishing. It came along just at the proper time.. And now I'm never letting go.
I have indeed been using Bigcarptackle.com and it's absolutely amazing! I don't know what we'd do over here without it to be honest! Just about everything I've acquired for carp fishing so far has been through them. In all reality, I'm kind of being picky. Obviously I can get my hands on things.. It just isn't always exactly what I'm hoping to find. I'm talking like.. Flavors of boilies and such. LOL. That's being picky on my end. No doubt. However the other reason it's all a bit bothersome is the price hike. Which is something I should just learn to accept as well, given the distance product has to travel to get to me. I should just be thankful I'm living in the age I am, and I'm able to get my hands on these things at all!
I'm super excited on looking more into making my own boilies and things. So I do appreciate the inspiration there as well! Also thank you so much for the stories if fishing over here in the US! I enjoyed reading that! You weren't all that far from my home waters while you were here! I'm a lucky duck and live in Muskegon, Mi.. Right on the coast of Lake Michigan.. Some of the absolute greatest fishing of all kinds around me here.. And not a damn person fishing carp.. Lol.. Such a shame.. My son and I are going to have our hand in changing things around these parts though!! Definitely catching some eyes already with some of the monsters we've got on with!
Again, all of you, I do appreciate the help. I will be checking out the other sites I seen you all suggest! I see the words “I assume you've heard of”____ (insert carp website here).. And aside from Bigcarptackle.com..
Please..
Assume I know absolutely NOTHING. Lmao.
Then.. And only then will your assumption be safe.. Haha. Always fill me in. I'm rather new to everything carp, though, I am a very quick learner.. Especially when I become obsessed with something as I have carp fishing. It came along just at the proper time.. And now I'm never letting go.