Howdy! Welcome to my review of the best carp lures.
The carp is an interesting species. It doesn’t put up much of a fight, and some people even keep them as pets. But that’s exactly why anglers like to target them. Not only can you find carp easily, but you can also snag some pretty big ones without much trouble too.
Here are the 5 best lures to use to catch carp.
Our Top 5 Picks
- Acme Kastmaster (Best Overall)
- Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow (Best Runner-Up)
- Berkley Gulp! Alive! Corn (Best Scent)
- Uncle Josh Carp Bait (Best Berkley Alternative)
- Doc’s Carp Getter Bait (Best Uncle Josh Alternative)
The 5 Best Carp Lures
With other fishes, you might have to be more careful with your choice of lures. But given the lack of difficulty in catching carp since carp feed on just about anything, you can simply choose the carp lure that you like most based on visual appeal.
Best Overall
1. Acme Kastmaster
Let’s get the ball rolling with the most versatile lure on this planet – the Acme Kastmaster. You’ll see this lure repeated quite often in our other compilations of best lures for other species too because it can be used to catch just about anything. You can take it trout fishing, bass fishing, musky fishing, you name it.
This simple-looking lure works like magic regardless of what species you’re targeting. You might find that the other carp-specific lures may work better for carp, but I decided a lure that can work on any fish is still better than one that will only work on carp.
Best Runner-Up
2. Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow
Next on the list, the Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow will also work on basically any fish. It’s also extremely popular among anglers for its visual appeal.
Not only does it give off flash, the bright colour scheme ensures that fishes will see it without fail. Do note however that this lure was designed to be fished near the surface. This is why it’s second behind the Acme Kastmaster which can be fished at any depth.
Best Scent
3. Berkley Gulp! Alive! Corn
A well-known name in the fishing world, Berkley lures are a staple in many anglers’ tackle boxes because of the amazing scents they release. As such, it’s no surprise that among artificial corn baits, the Berkley Gulp! Alive! Corn is the best carp bait.
You won’t be able to tell this fake corn apart from canned corn because of how it looks and smells like real corn. Combine that with the exceptional scent dispersion that allows you to reach fishes that are farther away and you’ve got one of the best carp baits on the market.
Best Berkley Alternative
4. Uncle Josh Carp Bait
If you find that the previous lure isn’t working on a particular day, it’s a good idea to switch up your lures. The Uncle Josh Carp Bait was created with carp in mind, so everything from the appearance to the smell is geared towards getting carp to bite. While it doesn’t work 100% of the time, it’s a pretty good carp bait with a high success rate.
Best Uncle John Alternative
5. Doc’s Carp Getter Bait
Another great bait specially made for carp fishing, the Doc’s Carp Getter Bait is a great alternative if you find that you’ve tried every lure but to no avail. Each brand has its own way of appealing to carp, so if the Uncle Josh Carp Bait isn’t working, the Doc’s Carp Getter Bait might be just what you need.
My Verdict
While carp will eat almost anything they can find, it definitely helps to have the right carp bait that can get them to bite faster. Sure you can use natural bait or even live bait, but I guarantee you that these baits are better for large carp and will get them to bite more quickly.
Once again, among the best baits for carp, I find the Acme Kastmaster to be the best overall as it allows you to go after not just carp, but any fish that you like.
Regardless of whatever lure you choose, I hope you have a great time carp angling!
