Fishing With Corn For Carp, Bluegill and Other Fish (Plus Tips For Using It!)
Known primarily for its popularity at summer time cookouts, corn has many other uses. For instance, you can make a fine bourbon with it, or even a vodka. However, is fishing with corn a good idea, and does it really catch fish?
Primarily known for its excellent use as carp bait, corn can be an excellent addition to any tackle box. Corn works well on stocked trout, panfish, and can even catch bass.
Even thought it’s not well known as bait that serious anglers use, corn can definitely be extremely useful for newer fisherman. Or if you want to take kids fishing and don’t want to fuss with live bait, or stinky cut bait, corn is an awesome alternative bait.
Even experienced anglers will use corn when they’re using a cane pole. You can check out this article about cane pole fishing that I put together if that sounds like something you’d like to give a try!
Whole kernel canned corn is preferred as it can be found at just about any country store or grocery store, but even bait companies are coming on board. They’ve now created a whole kernel corn that is larger and sturdier and will hold onto a hook longer when submerged underwater.
Why Do Fish Really Like Corn?
The short answer is, yes. There are many different species of fish that can be caught on corn. This is especially true for stocked fish.
Corn Kernels Resemble Food Pellets
The theory is that many stocked fish eat corn kernel sized pellets before they’re released into lakes and rivers. Some believe that the stocked fish recognize the round corn kernels as the food pellets that were their primary food source while at the fish hatchery.
Corn Resembles Fish Eggs
However, it could also be that it resembles an egg of some sort that many fish, primarily trout, will actively seek out to feed on.
Fish Are Attracted To The Color Of Corn
It could also be that the fish are keyed in that particular color that day, and anything resembling chartreuse or yellow will help you catch fish. So yes, you can absolutely go fishing with corn.
Which Types of Fish Like Corn
Just about any fish will hit on corn. It might not be as successful as using live, cut bait, or lures, but loading a hook full of kernels is bound to catch you something during your trip.
In my experience, corn works excellent as bait with bluegill, trout and especially carp.
Corn is primarily known as carp bait, and for good reason. Carp absolutely love it, and it’s a perfect bait to throw if you’re new to carp fishing or fishing in general.
However, you’ll find that bream, perch, bass, and small catfish will also come up and eat it.
Does Canned Corn Work Best
This all depends on your cost to lost bait ratio is. Whole kernel canned work can work wonders, but because of how soft it is you could end up losing your bait all day long.
With that said, however, the price for a can of whole kernel corn is incredible inexpensive. You could easily fish all day and unless you were really catching a lot of fish you would not even be close to running out. As a matter of fact, you can even pick up a can of corn for your next fishing trip on Amazon.
Alternatives To Canned Corn
Feed Corn
Other than that, you could use feed corn. This is a harder kernel that you will need to soften the night before by boiling it and letting it soak. If you have copious amount of feed corn handy then there is no need to buy the can as you can easily and readily use that instead.
Corn Flavored Power Bait
You can also buy corn flavored power bait. If you’ve never used Power Bait, it’s a lot like the play doh we used to play with as kids, and comes in bright yellow. This is softer and more pliable allowing it easily stick to your hook.
Do You Need to Flavor Your Corn First
Why Flavored Corn Works
You don’t need to flavor your corn, but sometimes it can help when the fish are being stingy and slow to bite. To flavor your corn, all you have to do is dip your corn into any sort of liquid stink bait that you find at your local Walmart or tackle shop. Just doing this alone can make the difference between having a great day fishing and just a mediocre day.
If you do decide that you want to try flavoring your corn before using it, I recommend giving Pautzke Bait Fire Cure a try. I use this bait cure on everything from shrimp to salmon eggs to corn. Simply soak the corn in it over night and you’re good to go!
Pautzke Bait Fire Cure
Flavored Dough Baits (Power Bait)
The Power Bait that I mentioned earlier also comes in different flavors. If you don’t feel like messing with dipping corn into liquid then the dough will be the perfect option. Pick out a few different flavors and see which one is working best that day.
Some fishermen will let their corn soak in garlic and oil over night, while some even soak it in their leftover Gulp bait juice.
How to Rig and Fish Corn
Hair Rig For Carp And Catfish
The hair rig is one of the more popular set ups for fishing with corn and works best when using corn favored dough. Although a hook with multiple kernels of corn will work also.
This rig is where your bait is hung from a section of leader off the bend of the hook. Since the bait is slightly separated from the actual hook it allows the fish to come up and mouth the corn to ensure its safe to eat. Once it’s determined its safe it will suck up the bait as well as the hook.
You can also select a hook that matches the size of the fish your attempting to catch. Then thread 4-6 kernels onto the hook, or however many you need to completely cover the hook. Unlike the hair rig, once the bait has been taken the hook has been inhaled.
This kind of fishing rig works best with whole kernel corn. You can set this rig directly underneath a bobber. Once the bobber is pulled under the surface or begins to move, you can set the hook.
You can also attach a weight to this rig and allow it to sit on the bottom of the lake. This will work well for catching bottom dwellers such as carp and catfish.
Fishing With Corn For Bluegill And Trout
When targeting trout and bluegill with corn, you’ll want to set up your fishing rig just a little bit different than you would for carp and catfish.
To target bluegill with corn, you’r simply going to use a small egg size hook or similar, and attach 1 or 2 kernels of corn to it. This baited hook can either hang down about 24 inches below a bobber, or you can attach a very small split shot weight with your fishing pliers about 18 inches above the hook.
If not using a bobber, you only want to add enough weight to be able to cast it out to where the fish are. The weight should be light enough still that the corn will slowly fall through the water column attracting fish as it goes down.
Is Fishing with Corn Illegal
Most states will allow you to fish with corn when using it as bait. However, there are a number of states that strictly prohibit using corn as chum to attract fish. This is why it’s always important to double check the county and state laws to ensure you’re breaking any laws.
If it is in fact illegal, then it is not worth getting a fine or losing your fishing license just because you wanted to fish with corn. There are plenty of other legal baits out there you can use that won’t result in you getting in trouble.
Final Thoughts
Fishing with Corn can be an extremely fun and cheap way to wet a line. Whether your attempting to catch bass, bream, catfish, perch, or carp, you’re almost guaranteed to catch at least something when out on the water.
One last trick you can use with corn fishing is to chum the water beforehand. Take a handful of your whole kernel corn and throw it out where you plan on fishing. This will attract other fish to the area who will now more than likely take what is on your hook.
