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Anyone ever head out after ice off for Carp on the Nation? I saw the ice is going off the Castor and on the Nation at St. Albert. I am in the Nation Valley area (chesterville to st. albert) quite a bit and I am thinking about heading out one evening and getting a line wet. I have seen Carp climbing up the skirt at the Crysler Dam but I don't know where, or what is, the best technique to catch them. Any tips?

I really couldn't tell you, since I never went on the South yet, intend to give it a try this year.

By experience, catching carp is surprising sometimes. You may catch them simply with a line at the bottom with a lure and worm, or hook and worm, and also with a stink bait. Once they bite, the fun biggins. It's like hauling (or being hauled) a boulder. You sometimes just have to follow your line at the edge of the surface (due to brownish water) to where it's going towards. That's when you hope the edge of the river doesn't have to much obstructions or muddy clay shores.



By boat or canoe, well you might visit that part of the waterway that you always wondered what was up that way.

actualy the biggest and the most carp seen on the nation was down the dams at caselaman..just below the dam and a few km down under that big brideg9cant remember the name..there was so mutch there they were hiting my canoe. .

but below caselman bridge is a great spot and you can see them.

but watch out for spot where you cant fish on the nation..some area are none fishing for some periods..spawning areas...so no go there.


joco

chuck some corn out there and then put a few bits of corn on a hook an throw it out where you just chummed... pretty simple. hold on to your rod though!!!

chuck some corn out there and then put a few bits of corn on a hook an throw it out where you just chummed... pretty simple. hold on to your rod though!!!

I fly fish them with surface flies on a 9-wt.....it's wicked!!!!

I'm not sure about immediately after ice out but I know I have had great luck with carp in the spring.

I use corn, worms, Berkley carp bait, french fries, etc....I have a friend who swears by coloured marhmallows. All right on bottom, or close to it. If they are around, they will normally eat what you give them but chumming definently helps to get them going.

I know there are some great carp fishermen on this board who can teach you all about the finer techiniques for them like the hair rig and float fishing for them. Hopefully they will also let you know if they get them immediately after ice out. Cheers, good luck!

While I have not fished for carp yet (on the fly) I know of a few OFS members that do. Below the dam at Casselman has been mentioned as a good spot to sight fish for them in the shallows.

However, be warned that the rocks below the dam are slick as snot if you're wading.

I fish the river a lot between Casselman and St Albert. I've never fished for carp there but I ususlly see a few everytime out. Funny thing though, I always see them in exactly the same spot (year after year) which should make catching them a bit easier. Anyone got any tips for walleye techniques on the Nation? I know they're there as I've picked up a few over the years, but can't seem to find a consistent method to catch them.