About Michigan Carp
Michigan Carp is a catch-and-release carp fishing project built around a simple idea: big carp come from doing the basics right—safe rigs, solid watercraft, and decisions that match the conditions. This site is about building a reliable system you can repeat on real Michigan waters, not chasing gimmicks.
I’m originally from the UK, and I’ve been based in Northern Michigan for around 20+ years. Between the two, I’ve got over 50+ years of carp fishing under my belt, and that mix matters. UK carp angling taught me structure—rig safety, baiting consistency, and how to fish methodically. Michigan’s big, wild lakes taught me patience, mobility, and the value of keeping things simple when the water’s vast and the fish are always on the move.
I’ve landed carp into the 40lb+ bracket, but what keeps me obsessed isn’t just size—it’s solving the puzzle of big water: knowing where the fish are likely to be, timing sessions around the best conditions, and adjusting when the lake changes overnight. Bait is a big part of that. I roll and test my own mixes because I want to know exactly what’s going in, how it behaves in the water, and how to build confidence in a baited spot over time. When you understand your bait and you fish it in the right place, at the right time, you give yourself the best chance of meeting the better fish that live in these lakes.
What you’ll find here
To keep things easy to follow, Michigan Carp is organised into a few clear sections:
- Start Here – the quickest path to a working big-lake system
- Sessions – real trips, real results, and what I learned (including what didn’t)
- Tactics – big-lake location, prebaiting plans, and session decision-making
- Bait Shed – particles, tiger nuts, prep methods, and attractor liquids
- Boilie School – boilie basics: base mixes, binders, rolling, cooking, and storage
- Gear – snag-safe setups, fish care essentials, and kit that actually matters
The Michigan Carp approach
It’s easy to get lost in tackle and trends, so I keep things grounded. The aim is always to:
- Prioritise fish safety (snag-safe systems and sensible leaders)
- Use bait that fits the season and your water
- Build prebaiting plans you can actually maintain
- Keep rigs simple and effective
- Learn something on every session and improve over time
- Take notes and keep them, you will learn a lot looking back
Catch & release matters
Carp are powerful fish, and they deserve proper handling. If you buy one thing “proper,” make it your fish-care kit: a decent unhooking mat, a carp-friendly landing net, and the basic unhooking tools. You can start on a reasonable budget, but the goal stays the same—carp should go back in better shape than they arrived.
If you’re new
If you’re just getting started, head to Start Here and work through the guides in order. You’ll get the foundations first—finding carp, prebaiting, simple rigs, and bait basics—then you can move into the more advanced big-lake tactics and boilie work when you’re ready.
If you want to get in touch, use the Contact page. I’m always up for hearing from other anglers—especially anyone learning the big northern waters.