The Ugly Sisters — Carp, Catfish & Gar

R. J. Doyle (left) with a channel catfish & Lea Lawrence with carp
photos courtesy Dave Richey

“The ugly sisters” is a derogatory term often used to describe three of Michigan’s homelier rough fish, but it isn’t exactly an accurate description of the carp, catfish and long-nose gar. These fish are found in many state waters, and although they may be uglier than a junkyard dog, they offer great possibilities for summer anglers.

Of the three, only the catfish has a strong following, small as it may be. The catfish, especially channel cats, are fun to catch and provide tasty eating when served up with side dishes of French fries and cole slaw, and perhaps some baked beans as another side dish. The others offer less than tasty table fare during summer months, although the carp can be good, when smoked over hardwood coals.

Channel cats favor clean water, and many inland lakes and the Great Lakes offer an untapped potential for rod-bending excitement. I’ve had countless fun days catching those be-whiskered fish off Oscoda’s piers on Lake Huron, and in scattered inland lakes.

Channel cats can be caught by still-fishing or trolling

June and July are the best months for channel catfish, and the ones I’ve taken inhaled night crawlers rolled along the river bottom in the same manner that steelhead anglers use. The strike is light, but steady and the resulting fight will elevate an angler’s opinion of catfish. These catfish often hit lures trolled for walleyes.

Carp – now there’s a fish anglers can have fun with. They grow to huge sizes, are found in most shallow Great Lakes bays and inland lakes, and they bite readily if you fish with light tackle. They are sensitive to any resistance from a heavy sinker dragging along bottom, and the folks that consistently score use four- or six- pound mono, little or no weight and a small baited hook.

Every carp fisherman has his favorite bait, but mine include immature ovaries from tiny bluegills; night crawlers, or a dough ball made of oatmeal, molasses and one egg. Enough dough balls can be made from six ounces each of flour and molasses to last a fisherman all summer.

The bait must be fished right on bottom, and be sure the drag is loose until after the carp swims 20 or 30 feet with the bait.

Set the hook after this short run, and be prepared for a lengthy battle with plenty of splashing water. My brother once hooked a 25-pound carp on six-pound line, and he fought the fish for 75 minutes before it was landed.

Run the line through a one-eighth-ounce egg sinker, and tie in a small barrel swivel. Tie on a No, 8 or 10 bronze hook. Loosen the drag, cast the bait out and run a loop of line partway under a rubber-band on the rod handle.  Keep the reel bait open so the fish can take out line without resistance.

A big carp on light line can wear out a fisherman

Keep the line tight, and if a carp picks up the bait, the lightest tug on the line will pull the line out from under the rubber band. Let the fish take 20-30 feet of line, turn the spinning reel handle to allow the pick-up bait to close and the fish to swim off without tension on the line.

Set the hook by taking up slack line, but keep the drag fairly loose.

Some anglers wade the rocky shoals of Grand Traverse Bay with a fly rod, and cast small dark nymph patterns just ahead and to one side of cruising carp. If the fish takes the fly, be prepared for 40-60 minutes of chasing a big fish through shallow water before it can be landed on an 9-foot tapered leader with a four-pound tippet.

These fish aren’t hooked often but can  produce a good fight

Long-nose gar, or garpike as they are often called are present in many inland lakes. I used to catch them on small shiners while fishing for crappies and perch in small lakes, and I’ve taken a number while trolling cowbells and minnows for trout in inland lakes.

Casting and retrieving a 9-inch plastic worm also works at times. These fish are hard to hook, and anglers should be careful with the saw-tooth teeth when trying to unhook them. Long-nose pliers work best.

The carp, catfish and gar-pike are disgustingly sorry looking, but they are plentiful in state waters and can add spice to a weekend fishing trip.

Good looking they aren’t but good fishing they offer, and any angler that scraps with one of these ugly beauties can count on a memorable fight.