2020 Q3 NACA

north american

CARP ANGLER

2020 Q3

IN THIS ISSUE:

L AT E S T C A G N E W S & TOURNAMENTS INCLUDING:

F E AT U R E A RT I C L E S : CARP BASICS CT WINNER PARTICLES DALE HOLLOW

CT RIVER & ST LAWRENCE I N V I TAT I O N A L

www.joincag.com

EDITOR IN-CHIEF ADDRESS Dean Brookes

As we all hunker down for the winter we have all had to adapt to life and fishing while the under the cloud of COVID 19. For the most part, I have seen many anglers enjoying the outdoors with many people suddenly re-discovering our passion for the sport. Fishing and being outdoors not only offers a break from modern technology, but also helps with your daily dose of vitamin D; at least that’s the excuse I tell my wife!

In this online edition we spotlight a couple of Fall Tournaments, which considering the many restrictions in place were both great successes. Well done to all of the organizers and anglers who took part. We also have several articles from CAG members and we hope you enjoy them all.

We also look forward to reporting on the CAG Big 4 Fall competition and Discovery month in the next edition along with some valuable winter tips.

As always we rely on our members contributions and I want to thank everyone; both past and present who has contributed to this magazine over the years.

Without your input the magazine would cease to exist.

Hope you all enjoy this edition and as always, if anyone would like to contribute; please send any communications or materials to naca@carpanglersgroup.com

Dean Brookes

Letter from CAG president

levied a devasny. Covid-19 has not only ma so for ar ye lt ficu dif rily ina This has been an extraord . Our thoughts are with to severe economic hardship led o als s ha t bu h alt he tating toll on people’s ve been on are thankful to those who ha we d an ic em nd pa the by cted those who have been impa and protect us. the frontlines to care, serve e uncertainty e or cancel some events. Th on stp po to s ion cis de gh tou For CAG it has resulted in t run the Junior Tournags meant that we could no rin the ga l cia so d an ns tio over local Covid restric mber of cases in of the rapidly increasing nu t ligh in , ed cid de o als ve ha ment and CCC this year. We hing Folly. to cancel the 2021 First Fis try, un co the of rts pa ny ma s has not been all socially distanced group sm in or ls ua ivid ind as Our ability to get out and fish ly wonto post pictures of some tru ing nu nti co ks fol e se to g is encouragin especially impacted and it derful catches.

Group, behalf of the Carp Anglers on d, ten ex to like uld wo I y season As we approach the Holida Stay Well. ilies. Please Stay Safe and fam ur yo d an u yo to s he our best wis Tight Lines!

Iain Sorrell CAG President

C O N T E N T S Esscence of carping

PAGE 7 PAGE 12

The law of unintended consequences

PAGE 20

CAG MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 2020 WINNERS

PAGE 33

2020 Fishin’ Factory 3 CT Carp Open

PAGE 36

St Lawrence invitational PAGE 44

CT Open Carp Tournament 2020 Winner talks to NACA!

PAGE 51

Forgotten Baits - Particles PAGE 56

On the Puff PAGE 72

Fishing the enigma of Dale Hollow PAGE 79

A 1/4 page advert starts from as little as $45 and includes a live link to your webpage or become a Business Supporter and get a Full Page advert in each NACA plus a web banner link on the CAG Website and Forums for only $300 / year.

For more information email us to naca@carpanglersgroup.com

CAG members are invited to submit photographs that capture what is unique and exciting about carp fishing in North America.

Each month the winner will receive a special prize plus recognition for two runners up.

The Rules: The entrant must be a Full CAG Member & the owner of any copyright to the photograph.

An entrant may submit a maximum of TWO photos only in each month.

The photos do not have to be of someone hold-

The photograph must have been taken in the

ing a fish (this is NOT a Trophy fish competition)

submission month (final date for submissions is

but they should be recognizable as being related to

24 hours after the end of each month)

carp or buffalo fishing in North America and should reflect the capture of a special moment.

The ‘essence’ of carp fishing in North America might memorialize a remarkable scale pattern, someone’s first carp, a group of friends fishing together, a spectacular sunset, time of year or perhaps a dramatic background or landscape.

The judges will be fellow members who should

All fish photos must demonstrate appropriate carp care and catch & release Each submission must include the following details: 1.The type of device (e.g. camera or phone) used.

2. The date the photo was taken.

3. Location (nearest Town and State).

pay particular attention to the subject matter and

4. Your Name

composition and not just the photographic or edit-

5. Photo Title (e.g. Mirror Magic, Waiting for the

ing skills. In the event of a tie or any disputes the CAG BOD will be the final arbitrator.

Each month we’ll announce a winner and Award a prize or voucher (worth $100) with the winning

Bite etc) Entries should be submitted to the “CAG Essence of Carping Competition” under the appropriate “Month” below.

photo appearing in a forthcoming NACA maga-

Entrants agree that CAG may use or display a

zine as well as the CAG Forum Site and Facebook

submitted photo on the CAG website and Social

page. The top 3 will also receive CAG Medals.

Media resources.

North American Carp Angler

7

August Winner

1st Place – Dave Pickering

SEPTEMBER 2020 WinnerS

Joint 3rd Place – Norman Finke

Joint 3rd Place – Kosta Djordjevic

North American Carp Angler 9

2nd Place – Dan Swartout

1st Place – Ceasar Espinoza

North American Carp Angler 11

Catch & release angling for common carp in North America is now growing at an unprecedented rate!

More and more anglers are recognizing that not only do common carp grow big but also fight as hard as any freshwater species. Common carp should not be confused with many of the invasive Asian species such as big head or silver (jumping carp). Common carp were introduced by the US Government in the 1800’s to provide a sustainable food source for the growing population.

Angling for common carp is now a $ 5-7 billion industry across Great Britain and Europe and almost all the carp fishing tackle shown on many sites and video channels originates in Europe. While purpose made carp tackle is sometimes quite expensive and complex you can, if you are new to carping, begin with just a very few basics. You may even have enough tackle items already or easily find them at a local store to get you catching carp!

A typical common carp covered in scales.

Mirror carp have only a few but larger scales

A 7-10’ rod capable of casting 2-3oz (heavier if you are adding method or pack bait) plus a spinning or bait runner reel holding 150-200 yds of 15-20lb mono or 30-50lb braid is a great combination. We’ve included some suggestions for rod & reel combinations that you can find locally. If you can stretch your budget a little further there are also some very reasonable 10’ – 12’ entry level carp rods for less than $100.

The reaction of the carp when hooked on a hair A couple of grains of sweetcorn on size 8 or 6

rig results in a sudden and powerful run that, un-

hook fished under a bobber or on a sliding sinker

less the angler has loosened the drag or uses a

is often all it takes to catch a carp.

bait runner reel, can result in the rod being pulled

But a carp’s ability to spit out a baited hook can make setting the hook a real challenge! Overcoming this challenge led to an ingenious set up called the ‘hair rig’.

Here the bait is suspended on a short length of braid (known as a ‘hair’) instead of being placed on the hook. The carp confidently sucks

into the water!

When you pick up the rod with a carp that has been hooked on a hair rig and is running away from you there is no need to strike.

up the hair rigged bait and tries to spit it out when

Just tighten the drag or engage

it feels the hook, which by now is already inside

the bait runner and keep a tight line

its mouth. The action of ejecting the bait causes the hook to take hold and the carp is hooked!

to the fish.

North American Carp Angler13

Video not showing? Try manually by clicking this link: https://youtu.be/Bw-FhtPfWV8 There are now US & Canadian carp tackle companies that sell top quality European Carp hooks. You can also find some excellent hooks in local tackle stores. Here are some recommendations from fellow carp anglers that can be found online or in local stores:

A simple in-line sinker set up that can also be used with method wrapped A

carp

over

around the lead.

20lbs is typically considered a trophy sized fish and could easily be ten to fifteen years old.

Care in the handling of carp of any size will help protect them & ensure more reach trophy sizes.

The Carp Anglers Group strongly recommends that anyone fishing for carp practice catch and release (especially of trophy sized fish).

or rocks while being unhooked & photographed, a weigh sling or bag (such as a simple laundry tote with a couple of drain holes) to lift the fish for weighing.

We also suggest newcomers spend time study-

We recommend the use of an appropriate

ing proper handing techniques (do not lift or weigh

sized net to land fish, a protective mat or pad to

fish using the mouth or gills) when handling the

keep fish from laying or flopping around on dirt

fish.

North American Carp Angler

15

Flavors The choice of baits is extremely varied and

Carp anglers like to flavor their bait for added

almost all will, at some time, catch carp! We’ve

attraction. There are many commercially available

limited the range of choices in this section just

carp flavors plus a visit to your local supermarket

for simplicity.

will also provide plenty of choice.

Fruit flavored drink powders & jello are good op-

Particles: Canned Sweetcorn or Chick Peas,

tions especially in pineapple or strawberry. Savory

Field Corn (soaked 24 hours and boiled 40mins

spices including turmeric, chili oils & garlic work

to soften) and other seeds such as tiger nuts

well and don’t forget umami, yeast or amino based

(chufa) etc.

products which can also be very effective.

But don’t overdo it! A ‘Less is More’ approach

Boilies: Specially prepared dough balls made with nutritious ingredients, flavors and eggs. The term boilie originates from dropping the baits in

usually works best as too much flavor can actually repel or disorientate fish.

boiling water for 1-2 minutes to harden them.

Chum or Ground Baiting

There are now several US based boilie makers

The use of chum or ground bait to attract fish to

as well as European made imports available.

your hook bait is a highly effective tool in consistently catching carp. Just don’t put too much in as

Imitation baits: A carp’s inclination to pick up

you want them to be able to find you bait. Once

objects while feeding has led to a wide range of

again a little but often, especially after landing a

plastic imitations that look like grains of corn, ti-

fish, is a good routine.

ger nuts, boilies etc.

Warning: Chumming is illegal in several states so always check local regulations!

Puffs: Corn puffs can be flavored & treated

The use of chum squeezed in a ball around the

then mounted on a hook. A popular bait among

hook (pack) or around the lead / sinker (method) is

anglers using pack bait. Arrowhead Mills Corn

a very effective technique especially when fishing a

Puffs are among the most popular.

water for the first time.

You can find many recipes for Pack and Method using grits or oats. Feed Corn is an inexpensive chum and can be purchased at many outlets. It needs to be covered in water for 24 hours and then boiled for 40mins to soften before use.

A simple method recipe:

If you are us-

One can of creamed sweetcorn, One 54oz tub

ing a baited hook

of Regular oats (not instant or quick). Place the

then watching the

oats in a bucket and pour in the can of creamed

tip of your rod or

corn. Mix thoroughly for at least 2 minutes. The mix

float

will feel ‘tacky’ but should not stick to your hands.

prepared to strike

and

being

Let it sit for a couple more minutes. Take enough

is critical to setting

to mold fully around your lead / sinker. Firmly

the hook. A couple

squeeze in place using your hands until you have a

of taps on the rod

tight ball around of method around the lead.

tip followed by a

If you’ve got it right then this will withstand cast-

steady pull will in-

ing but breakdown quickly when it sits on the lake

dicate the carp has

or river bed.

taken your bait and

Top tips:

you should strike

Cover the method with a wet towel to stop it dry-

firmly before it spits out the bait. If you are fishing

ing out. If it is too dry and won’t hold together add

a float or bobber then you may see the float dip a

just a little water at a time until it molds nicely again.

couple of times before moving steadily away which

Some anglers like to add some salt and / or flavor

is the time to set the hook.

(add this to the creamed corn before mixing with the oats). While some anglers prefer to place the

If you are using a self-hooking hair-rig then a

bait & hook in the method ball so it does not tangle

couple of taps on the rod tip are usually followed

on the cast some prefer using a short hook length

by a screaming run with line being rapidly pulled

of 3-4” which also keeps the bait in the method pile.

off the clutch or the bait-runner. There is no need

A boilie wafter, imitation corn or couple grains of

to strike with the hair-rig just tighten down and the

field corn on the ‘hair’ are ideal bait choices when

fish will be on!

fishing method!

A rod rest or bank stick is a good way to ensure the rod tip is easily visible and clear of any bankside vegetation or obstructions.

There are plenty of indicators available that clip or hang on the line and with a little ingenuity you can even create your own. Inexpensive bite alarms, that sound when the line is being pulled, are a nice option and give you a rest from staring at the rod tip all day.

North American Carp Angler

17

After that first run you can steadily ‘pump’ the If you have never battled a carp, especially against a river current, then you are going to be amazed at the incredible power and endurance of these fish.

rod (lift the rod tip without winding then wind the reel as you lower the rod) to recover line and bring the fish towards you. The carp will likely make some more powerful runs against the reel clutch but you will gradually get the fish closer to you.

When the carp is closer or under the rod tip this can be an especially tricky time. A lot of fish can be lost when the carp surges under the rod tip and it is best to let the carp pull the rod tip downwards instead of trying to keep the rod tip high in the air.

A good sized net with a fish friendly mesh will make landing the fish much easier. Do not chase the fish with the net as you are more likely to spook it. Simply draw the fish toward you and over the net, then lift until the fish is safely in the mesh.

Unless you are going to weigh and photograph your fish then it often best to simply unhook and release it while still in the water.

Setting the reel clutch / drag properly is

critical.

We hope that this introduction helps you in

A good way is to have someone hold the end of

catching your first carp! In the next NACA maga-

the line (with NO hook attached!) and set the drag

zine we’ll give you some more advanced tips as

so that it pulls from the reel when the rod is bent

well as ideas on how and where to find key spots

over to about 90 degrees. This is usually around

to catch carp.

2-3 lbs of drag. Less drag is often better than too much as you can always hold your finger against

The carp fishing apprenticeship is a learning

the reel spool to apply more pressure as needed.

experience. Joining the Carp Anglers Group can help you learn from experienced anglers as well

The initial run after being hooked can be quite intimidating. If there is space to let the fish go against the drag provided it won’t run into any

as find local groups where you can join others on the bank and pick up key tips and tricks. www.joincag.com

snags. One of the biggest dangers is allowing the carp to ‘kite’ towards snags further down the bank.

If the carp is ‘kiting’ then change the angle or direction you are pulling the fish, or move further down the bank, if possible to land it - but don’t forget your net!

You can also find us on Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/groups/carpanglersgroup Thanks to Dave Ash and Tim Mathewson

for allowing us to use a couple of your photos.

The law of unintended consequences Around 2005, I traveled each summer for a few years to Waddington to help with the Saint Lawrence Junior Tournament. My two elder sons were of age to participate and reasonably eager to fish (how things changed since then!). One of them even finished in third position with a team award. This event quickly became close to my heart.

Around 2015, the junior event was masterfully

Back in those years, a father (Stelian [Adrian]

coordinated by the amazing Jo Ann Roberts (my

Bogdan) came to participate every year, fishing

hero!) and I started to go again every year to help

with one of his daughters. I must say I don’t re-

as a marshal. Also, as CAG treasurer, I was the one

member that day, but Stelian told me that I once

signing the checks for the happy winners.

went wading for Anisia and we got a precious fish out. I saw Stelian and Anisia several times over

When you’re a marshal on a section with a doz-

the years and we became friends.

en kids trying hard to catch a fish with a single rod,

We also fished the CCC 2017 side to side and

you really want to do everything you can to help

Stelian netted many fish for me as I got super

them and it is not unusual to see a marshal wade

lucky with the peg draw (leading me to win the

chest deep in water to try to get a fish out of thick

total-weight, my first CCC award after my section

weeds.

win back in… 2003, my very first CAG event!).

North American Carp Angler

21

Over the past few years, I started to do regular road trips, visiting and fishing multiple locations and states.

A certain big river in the Northeast really caught my attention and in 2017, the stars aligned and I caught 6 thirties (up to 38lb) in 5 days, securing a win at the CAG Big-4 Fall that year. I was quite impressed by my score of 134lb, a new record for me. Those fish were rather peculiar, a small mouth and a very thick body.

To put the rest of this story in perspective, let’s

To my utter amazement, it turned out that mul-

go back in time for a minute, back in 2009. During

tiple CAG members did succeed to improve on

the spring Big-4 event, Mario Kok hit an incredible

Mario’s score in the following decade:

home run in Mexico, with a total of exactly 150lb

•

Pawel Salamon, Dean Brookes and

(40-13, 37-8, 36-6, 35-5). We were all absolutely

Kody Clayton cracked the 150lb bar

stunned and I remember thinking something like

rier!

“there is no freaking way I will ever pull off some-

•

Jacob Ayotte broke the 160lb barrier!!

thing like that”…

•

Daniel Slaby broke the 170lb barrier!!!

Let’s fast-forward to 2019 now.

Stelian invited me again to come in the fall 2019,

Remember Stelian? It turned out that he likes to

I said ‘yes’ again, not expecting much from a mud-

fish another section of the river from where I got all

dy and apparently featureless spot. I was so com-

my 30s in 2017. I had actually spent a few days dur-

pletely wrong. In just one day, I landed four 30s (up

ing a previous road trip exploring this area (before

to 38lb) and vaulted in first place for the 2019 Fall

figuring out that he fishes around there!) and had

big-4 early on. It took me a while to find my jaw

expertly assessed that this was not inspiring (let’s

which fell on the floor several times in the process.

charitably say that my mind was a little clouded by

After several weeks of traveling around, I se-

my 2017 winning spot).

cured a win against the mighty Claytons (Sean and Kody) by just a few ounces, with a last-minute 36

When Stelian invited me to visit him in the fall 2018, I said ‘yes’ because you don’t say ‘no’ to a friend, but I wasn’t too convinced…

pounder from another big river. My big-4 total? A stellar 141lb.

This reminded me of my astonishment with

After a mosquito-laden miserable day fishing

Mario’s score, but my assessment remained the

-and blanking- in the mud, my hopes weren’t ex-

same, absolutely no freaking way I could ever do

actly lifted.

better than Mario…

North American Carp Angler

23

As of the time of writing, we are at the end of a

I tried to revisit some local spots close to home,

very dreary year in many respects, 2020. My spring

got a bit surprised at how things changed in a dec-

road trip (where I had planned to fish 5 new states)

ade, but overall I didn’t catch much besides a glori-

got canceled. My summer plan (Costa-Rica, baby!)

ous koi one night at 2am.

got canceled.

To say that I was VERY eagerly waiting for a month-long road trip in the fall would be the under-

I got bored to death for most of the year, pretty much stuck at home, spending many hours trying to get those freaking airlines to reimburse various trips we had planned for me, my wife and my children (yup, I got all our $$ back).

statement of the year.

Since I couldn’t fly anywhere, I had decided

I was very happy to spend a week fishing a

to revisit some of the Northeast places which im-

big tidal river with the young and promising Ryan

pressed me the most in past years, plus a couple

Munn. I had one interesting day where I caught a

of new places. I rented full apartments with Airbnb

lot of fish, one of them broke my line on a rock and

to play it safe with COVID and spent my days out-

was kind enough to bite again a bit later to return

doors (or driving in my car).

BOTH rigs. That was a first!

North American Carp Angler

25

In the following days, Ryan hit gold with multiple 30s, moving straight in first place for the fall Big-4 2020. Twice, I got a bit lazy, didn’t get out of bed early enough, then got an excited phone call from Ryan asking me to move my butt to come and take a picture of a 30+ he had landed…

The last day, we decided to fish another spot, we caught only one fish, another 30+ I netted for Ryan.

I started to crack jokes about “the tortoise and the hare”, but I was rolling my eyes a bit as this talented youngster was just totally crushing me…

I kept going with my trip, exploring various areas, not catching much, including at my 2017 wonder spot. The last step of my trip was deliberately scheduled at the end of October, hoping for bigger fish. I was going to join Stelian again and this time, I was totally ready to believe that we would catch big fish, back to where I did so well the year before.

Day 1, I landed three 30s, up to 37-8lb.

Day 2, I landed four 30s, bringing me to a Big-4 of 140-8lb, and allowing me to revive the “tortoise and the hare” jokes with Ryan (who had a very respectable 132lb score by then). Stelian also landed his new PB (a hefty 37-8lb fish) as heavy rain started to pour. Most of those thick fish had an incredibly small mouth, probably due to a diet of tiny mussels.

I was getting hopes of catching my first 40+ common (strangely enough, my only 40+ so far has been a big mirror, while I caught multiple 38 pounders and a 39 pounder and just couldn’t crack the 40lb barrier with commons).

Day 3 started very poorly. Steady rain overnight

Still, day 3 just seemed to elongate to a miser-

made a mess, it was quite tricky to avoid a hard fall

able wet blank. I finally got a run mid afternoon. I

on a steep and slippery muddy shore. Fortunately,

could feel it was a nice fish, which was confirmed

Stelian planned well and brought a big canopy un-

when I was about to net it.

der which we stayed sheltered for long hours as nothing was moving. He also brought a wooden

Which is exactly when my second rod started

crate, so that we could land fish without getting an-

to scream. I hastily netted what seemed to be yet

kle deep in the mud.

another 30 pounder and grabbed my second rod.

In the past couple of days, it was really quality more than quantity as we fished very long hours and bites were quite spaced out.

North American Carp Angler 27

I was a little annoyed at this second run, I wanted to weigh the first fish and see if it would improve my big-4 by a few ounces and help me beat my former record (141lb if you recall). So I did something I almost never do, I horsed the second fish, it got a bit stuck in some weeds while moving towards me, I got it out forcefully and quickly brought it close to shore.

By then, to avoid a snag, I was 20 yards from shore, somewhat elevated, Stelian had his net ready, I couldn’t really see the second fish and quite frankly, I didn’t care that much.

Stelian started to get real excited saying “it’s bigger than your first fish, way bigger”. I was tired, a tad skeptical and just asked him to net the fish.

He did and started to scream at me, look, look, it’s a giant. Still incredulous, I came closer, looked in the net and… er, this does seem a bit bigger than I thought... I grabbed the mesh of the net and anybody having caught big ones knows the feeling, the weight of the fish pulling on the mesh, which slices your fingers in turn, THIS feeling really tells you that you have something special.

My fingers complained like they never did before. I got the fish out of the water, on the mat close to the first fish, which suddenly looked much smaller in comparison. Stelian was jumping around excitedly, I was trying to stay calm and go through the moves, zero the scale, get the fish in the weigh bag (barely fitting in there!), grab the scale, lift the whole thing and… the arrow moved a tad past 50 pounds. No, wait, there is no freaking way. I did it again, we even took a picture of the scale and yes, indeed, it was 50-4lb.

To say that I was stunned is not even close, I

This picture turned out to be the one showcas-

could barely think. We took some pictures (in the

ing this gigantic fish the best. I released the beast,

rain and the mud with a steep shore, this wasn’t

quickly weighed the other one (30lb and change,

a recipe for a photography award) and fortunately

hence an 80lb brace!), released it and‌ had to sit

Stelian thought to ask me to kiss the fish, which I

down for a minute, all energy totally drained out of

did, on the landing mat.

me.

North American Carp Angler 25

This giant fish reminded me of the nice photo montage my wife assembled for Kody Clayton, which I gave him at the 2019 Junior tournament and my surprise when I figured out he caught a 50+ (bigger than mine, hmpf) and yet never caught a 40+. And I realized that I also did what should be known as “a Kody special”. I caught a bunch of 30 pounders, then skipped the 40+ step (for commons) and moved straight in the 50 pounder rarefied club.

And here we are, the loop is closed, illustrating the law of unintended consequences. I went to the junior tournament with my kids some 15 years ago; a few years later I helped a young girl named Anisia, wading in the water to go get a carp stuck in the weeds.

Stelian was grateful, we became friends. We fished the CCC together, I got lucky, then he had the incredible generosity of inviting me to a truly unique fishing spot and sticking with me in rain and mud. And I landed the fish of a lifetime, an incredible 50 pounder. Which brought my Big-4 score a little over 160lb, a whole 10 pounds over Mario’s incredible result from 2009. This 2020 year wasn’t all that bad, in truth…

PS. Once I regained some energy after landing the big one, Stelian and I started to give a few phone calls to share the news. Stelian called Anisia and said “Jerome got a fifty!”.

The slightly rebellious teenager dryly replied “so what, it’s just a fish”. And I burst laughing, releasing all the bottled up emotions of the day…

North American Carp Angler 31

CAG MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 2020 WINNERS 1

st

First Prize: Worth $280

Pieter Oberholzer Deeper Smart Pro + Castable Sonar plus accessories

Pieter Oberholzer with the Deeper Pro + system He won in the 2020 Cag Membership Drive.

2

3

nd

rd

Second Prize:

Third Prize:

Worth $200

Worth $100

John Pojman

Kien Vuist

A Carp Bait USA Session Pack

A selection of Carp Bait USA goodies

North American Carp Angler 33

4th, 5th & 6th Prizes - Gary Chapman - Michael Christensen, - David Kiah

RidgeMonkey VRH300 Rechargeable Headlamp worth $50

7, 8, 9 & 10 Prizes

- Stuart Roffe - Tyler Andrews - Craig Joe - Jonathan Stewart Carpology Magazine Digital Subscriptions Worth $25 each

North American Carp Angler 35

2020 Fishin’ Factory 3 CT Carp Open

By Kyle Carlson

The fishing tournament that almost didn’t happen.

A combination of other carp tournaments canceling and anglers having that tournament itch, resulted in everyone flocking to our unique venue in

The 2020 Fishin’ Factory 3 CT Carp Open odds

droves.

to take place were looking grim. The year of a

With 70 anglers and 40 teams representing 15

global pandemic, Covid - 19, threw us one chal-

states the field was deep. Covid-19 plans were

lenge after the next. I decided to roll the dice and

submitted to the state, town permissions granted,

let registration kick off in mid-July with the looming

CT DEEP approval in the pocket, the mighty, tidal,

thought that I may have to cancel it. To my surprise,

Connecticut River in perfect condition, and there

the tournament field filled up in just 2 1/2 days. We

was only one last thing to do! It was time to fish!

were all shocked to say the least.

The peg draw was as suspenseful as it could get! As always some teams were happy and some were not but this would make for the most interesting moving day on record. The FF3 CT Carp Open has a unique format that allows for teams that are unhappy with their drawn peg to move to a new peg 24 hours in. As you may guess, this has its pros and cons but it’s a proven strategical tactic. In 2018, Mike Hudak & Chris Gastringer moved to a new peg and won it and Ray Chagnon & Ray Strong moved and took 3rd.

North American Carp Angler 37

Thursday – Day 1.

Fishing began at 7am and for late October we were looking at sunny skies and temps hitting 90 degrees.

Not ideal fishing conditions. The first leaderboard fish (the tournament has a minimum weight of 22lb) didn’t come in until around noon and overall it was a slow day with the high pressure system making for a slow bite. A few other fish were being called in but the moving day option being on the horizon had lots of teams strategizing and wondering whether to stay or to move.

Friday Day 2 & Moving day!

7am hit on Friday and we had 4 teams that acted

John McGreevy & Bob Harnish moved from peg

quickly and moved. Joe Lutz & Chad Rinck moved

29 to peg 18 for the same reasons. These were the

from peg 30 to peg 33 to get out of the current and

only notable moves at the start of moving day but it

weeds that wreaks havoc on lines entering the wa-

was by far from over.

ter this time of year.

The last waves of moving day was wild to say the least. Catalin Serban moved out of peg 17 to the newly opened peg 31, Norbert Samok & Jason Edward’s moved out of their favorite peg 20 (which has placed in every tournament), to go to peg 17, while local angler, Bailey Hood, moved from peg 21 to the newly opened peg 39. So moving day had ended and everyone was positioned!

North American Carp Angler 39

The day got off to another slow start with a few leaderboard fish being called in. Ivelin Petrov & Kevin Miller took a commanding lead at peg 51 by putting up 2 low 30’s early. Marcin Targonski fishing solo at peg 40 stuck to his proven game plan and also put up a couple leaderboard fish. Christie Haney & BJ Thomas put up 4 leaderboard fish by days end Friday at peg 35 to set the tone.

Saturday Day 3 started with a bang! Marshals woke up with an influx of weighable fish. Marcin Targonski added to his total weight and so did Bailey Hood. Joe Lutz & Chad Rinck started to climb the board at their new peg 33. Sean Reed & Brian Savage at peg 11 stayed consistent and filled up their big four board. Overall a much more consistent day of weighing with many teams getting a 22+ pound fish to get on the board.

North American Carp Angler 41

Sunday The final day! Bailey Hood took an early lead weighing in a 28lb lump at peg 39. Joe Lutz & Chad Rinck filled up their board soon after.

Then Marcin Targonski called in with a couple of fish to weigh in that got him the lead with 5 hours left to go.

The final hours! Anglers were focused and grinding hard not yet knowing where they stood due to the enforced blackout period.

Some more teams put up a leaderboard fish.

Norbert Samok & Jason Edward’s called in a 20.4 lb mirror to take the big mirror lead by 4 ounces over Steve Clow. Peg 32 Pawel Wesolowski & Kamil Augustowski called in a fantail that tipped the scales at 27.2 lbs. And at noon the tournament was over!

The award ceremony kicked off a couple hours later at the Elks Club in Middletown with everyone wondering how they placed.

The final results are as followed:

Big Four 1st place Big Four 2nd place

Peg 33 Joe Lutz & Chad Rinck 112.09 lbs Prize: $6,000

11 Big Four Peg Sean Reed & Brian Savage lbs 4th place 104.03 Prize: $3,000

Big Mirror

Peg 17 Norbert Samok & Jason Edward’s 20.04 lbs Prize: $500

Peg 40 Marcin Targonski 113.00 lbs Prize: $10,000

Big Four 3rd place

Peg 39 Bailey Hood 111.00 lbs Prize: $4,000

Big Fish Big Fantail

Peg 40 Marcin Targonski 32.07 lbs Prize: $2,500

Peg 32 Pawel Wesolowski & Kamil Augustowski 27.02 lbs Prize: $100 Fishin’ Factory 3 Gift Card

This tournament would not have been possible without our dedicated marshals Matt Kelly, Pat Schunk, and Lee Hurn. Special thanks to Peter Aarrestad and the CT DEEP, Fishin’ Factory 3, Andrew Nichols & Alicia Kennedy, and to all of our sponsors that have been more than generous...

For more details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/313001709231412 THANK YOU! Hope to see everyone next year!!

North American Carp Angler 43

St Lawrence invitational

By Colin Peters

On July 23 news broke that the Ed French tournament had just been cancelled. Anglers all over the country were desperate for a tournament, so in a moment of madness I decided I would run a tournament here on the St Lawrence river. Had I run one before? No! So was I jumping in at the deep end? Yes!

My first job was to get a team together so quickly I enlisted Shawn Rafter for his fishing knowledge and his many useful contacts along with Jevonnah Foster as grand Marshall and IT genius.

I explained to them what I wanted and sent Shawn off to talk to the people that mater in Waddington... the Mayor and the power authority. Jevonnah was tasked with building a website and the

After a quick scan of the calendar September 17th to 20th was picked and

social media pages.

The format was going to be a Big 4 outcome with

with just 8 weeks to get a tournament

a minimum 20lb qualifying weight. All we needed

together from scratch there was no

now were some anglers to fish the tournament. We

pressure‌ LOL

decided to make it an invitational event so the next few days was spent sending out invites.

It was decided that we would have a maximum of 30 teams but with 35 pegs. I spent many hours talking with Shawn about the merits of certain pegs because we wanted a tournament where you could win from any peg. Our tournament was not going to be won or lost at the draw! All pegs we chose were fished and checked for snags. We even spent a week working at one peg just pulling weeds and snags out to make it fishable!

North American Carp Angler 45

I wanted our event to be different and tried to make everything go as smooth as possible including trying to be Covid aware at all times. We decided that the order for the draw would be done live online so with one push of the button the ‘draw order’ was decided two days in advance.

Another one of my pet hates are the raffle tickets sold at the awards ceremony so I decided that my weigh Marshall’s would sell raffle tickets to the teams while they were doing their rounds so that come the awards the raffle would just need to be drawn.

On the day of the draw it was a simple task of getting teams to get into line ready to draw.

Numbered discs were replaced with numbered balls as balls mix better.

I think the whole thing from start to finish took maybe 45 mins. I was so relieved once the peg draw had been done so I handed over control to my grand Marshall and could concentrate on doing some fishing.

The St Lawrence river had been dropping for a few weeks and water was disappearing at an alarming rate. The weather which had been mild decided that now would be a good time to send in a cold front and a

Day One: As with most tournaments it was a slow start with only a few fish

northerly wind but fortu-

being caught and the magic 20lb mark being elusive. The first team to show

nately the teams just got

were Frank and Francis Bateman, a local father and son team who put a cou-

on with it.

ple of high 20s on the board at Peg 31 Brandy Brook.

Shawn Rafters team on Peg 28 b were seeing some action and also got a fish on the board. I wasn’t going to put this peg in but Shawn was persistent so I told him if he made it fishable then I would put it in, so he did and then drew it. Teams were kept up to date as soon as fish were weighed and recorded on the scoreboard.

North American Carp Angler 47

Peg 3 at the lighthouse was performing and the Hitchcock boys were finding a few fish, this peg can be great when the wind blows into the bay but at other times you can struggle.

Peg 8 Barry Howard team Peg11 Bogdan and Mihai Peg12 Mark Reece and Tim Phillips

So the days and hours ticked by and not much was changing on the leaderboard with just the odd

Peg28b Shawn Jen and AustinÂ

20lb plus fish being caught. On Saturday things

Peg 31 Frank and Francis

really started to happen as teams started finding

Peg31a Tamas and Nubosi

bigger fish.

It looked like these were the only teams in contention as we headed to the Sunday morning results blackout. But once the tournament ended and we headed to prize ceremony, the outcome was soon to be revealed. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took part!

North American Carp Angler 49

Look out for details on a Spring 2021 Tournament: https://stlawrenceshowdown.weebly.com/ St Lawrence Invitational Winners:

In 2019 Marcin Targonski came second overall in the CT Open Carp Tournament.

This year he managed to go one better.

Here his story.

North American Carp Angler

51

In the first round of the peg draw Marcin drew

For hook baits Marcin fished a variety of op-

pegs 40 & 48. “I’ve always been drawn to this peg”

tions including imitation corn, tigers, corn but it

says Marcin, but no one did really good here be-

was a single 20mm Strawberry Crab boilie made

fore did they? But I went with my gut. I had a cou-

by Peter Wilinski that ended up catching the fish.

ple of other peg favorites but I needed to go there and find out.

His first run came at about 6pm. It felt like a good fish he says but it got stuck and he lost it.

Later that evening at about 9pm he had a 23.09

Marcin says he liked that this swim was very much on it’s own with a choice to fish in the deep water and current or closer to the bank in slack water. His only real concern was the rocks.

While the tournament started at 7am on Thursday work commitments meant Marcin did not get down to the swim until midday. After hauling his gear down the steep bank he then spent some time plumbing the depths, watching the water and especially the movement of the weeds coming down river. Marcin said this was important for him to think of a strategy for locating the fish and for chumming so his first cast was not until 3pm… 8 hours after everyone else had started!

Marcin chose to fish one rod in the deeper water with a 6oz in-line lead and another closer in in 8-10’ with a 4oz in-line. He fished method on each rod using boilie crumb, chicken scratch & grits flavored with banana maple. He also chummed the swim as dictated by the number of fish being caught with method ball mix but with ½ boilies, and corn added.

to get him onto the leaderboard but then after a couple more smaller carp and a catfish the swim went dead!

During the day on Friday Marcin didn’t get a run! But come Friday night he says fish were rolling everywhere although not many were over his hook baits. Then he started catching!

At around midnight he was woken by his alarm and was into good fish that tipped his scales at 32.11 (but lost 4oz in the sack so weighed 32.07 on marshals scales) Marcin is very happy! Another fish comes and it weighs 24.04 and around 3am he gets another run.

This fish feels much bigger. But the fish gets into a snag and won’t come out! Marcin has to run down the shore and climb up a tree in an effort to get it out.

Eventually the fish swims out of the snag and takes off down river. After several powerful runs and some tense moments he finally gets it into the net. It is another good fish at 30.09 and Marcin now has 4 fish on the leaderboard.

Saturday was the same as Friday with no fish

Luckily he did not suffer the problems with weed

being caught during the day. Marcin was getting

like some swims and in the end all his fish came on

nervous as he knew other people were posting fish.

the one rod fished in the shallower water.

The weather also changed with a significant drop in temperature overnight going down to 38F. A few

As the final tournament catch results were now

more fish came over night including a 21.00 and

a closely guarded secret until the awards ceremo-

a 21.15 that Marcin says he checks the weight of

ny Marcin knew he needed one more good sized

several times before finally letting it go!

fish to have a chance of being among the winners.

Among the challenges Marcin faced was the

At 9am he had a slow steady run that resulted in

need for checking & sharpening his hooks before

a 25.12 adding another 2lb plus to his big 4 overall

every cast! The hook points would often be bent

weight.

from bouncing over the rocks in the swim.

North American Carp Angler 53

The tournament ended at noon and with no

The tension was almost unbearable! 112lb

more fish Marcin packed up and headed to Mid-

9oz secured 2nd for Chad Rink and Joseph Lutz.

dletown for the awards ceremony still hoping that

Marcin could not believe it… He’d won the Big 4

he might have made it in to the top 3.

& $10,000 by just 7oz with a total weight of 113lb 0oz. Plus he’d won a further $2500 for the Big Fish

At the ceremony Marcin was very nervous as

award with his 32lb 7oz common.

the places were announced. 4th place went to Brian Savage & Sean Reed with 104lb 3oz.

Marcin knew he’d done better than that so was staying hopeful. 3rd went to Bailey Hood with 111lb 0oz so now it was down to who had 2nd place.

Congratulations Marcin on a very well deserved CT Tournament win!

Forgotten Baits - Particles

By Iain Sorrell

There seems to be a generally accepted notion that a well targeted boilie campaign will produce bigger fish than particles. The main argument being that boilies are favored for their nutritional value. This might be true for premium brands boilies but take a look at the nutritional value for some of the particles listed below and you might be surprised!

Particles have been responsible for some truly extraordinary catches over the years. While many came as a result of well executed baiting campaigns others simply arose from opportunistic moments during stalking or short sessions.

Cost Effective!

One of the key benefits of a particle campaign is the incredibly low cost compared to boilies!

A couple of 50lb bags of Feed Corn for example will cost you less than $25. Just compare that to $500 – $600 for a similar weight of boilies. That’s a truly massive difference!

A delivery of over 500lbs of particles. Hopefully enough to last me for a couple of seasons!

The Baiting Pyramid

Here in North America, unlike most European waters, the carp are almost entirely dependent on natural food sources. A particle bait will often produce an ‘instant’ result compared to a boilie as the carp are more likely to readily accept them as a natural food item. Even just a few handfuls of sweetcorn, tigers or chick-peas can soon have carp feeding vigorously – especially on a water that has seen little or no carp fishing. When considering a longer term baiting strategy the relatively low cost of particles allows much larger quantities to be used - but just not all at once… If it is used in combination with a baiting pyramid approach over several weeks then the chances of catching the bigger fish are greatly increased.

Learn more about the Baiting Pyramid: https://www.carpanglersgroup.com/forum/index. php?/files/file/164-the-baiting-pyramid/

A 40lb plus common that was caught on Peruvian corn over Feed Corn in the St Lawrence River.

North American Carp Angler 57

Warming up!

Once water temps rise above 55F there is no doubt in my mind that particles can really begin to work their magic!

Twenty five years ago, shortly after moving to the USA, I was fishing a popular swim on the CT River in MA. It was mid August and unbelievably hot, humid and overcast. Water temps were close to 80F! Normally I would only consider early morning sessions in such conditions but work and childcare arrangements determined otherwise.

So I’d arrived late morning around 11:30 am and intended fishing into the early evening. I set up with two 1.75 test curve rods (yes that’s ONE point Seven Five!) fishing 2-3 kernels of feed corn on a simple hair rig. I began by catapulting out a couple of pounds of feed corn and settled back hoping to pick up the typical 3 or 4 fish that might be expected from such a session.

By 1pm I’d had a couple of aborted takes and was quite disappointed that I’d not banked a fish as yet. I was certain there were fish in the swim so I catapulted out a couple more pouches of corn and before I’d been able to load a third one of the rods was away.

A mid teen common soon came to the net and as I released it the other rod registered a solid run and a screaming Delkim. This time it was a better fish of around 18lb. And so the action continued.

After every fish I would simply put out 1-2 catapults of corn – ‘a little but often’ as they say.

The fish kept coming and soon I could only fish one rod as the bait would barely settle before I got another run. At 6pm I packed up, rather earlier than planned, and only because I was completely exhausted!

In a little under 5 hours I’d had over 30 runs and landed 22 fish including 5 going over 20lb with the biggest going 26lb.

The start of an amazing session on the CT River – note I’m already reaching for the rod as the Monkey Climber is headed skywards!

Too Little or Too Much?

How much bait should you use really depends on where you are planning to fish and for how long. Rivers with a big head of carp like the St Lawrence or Senneca can clean out a swim in no time before they move on in search of other areas.

However dumping in 5-10 gallons of bait and then hoping to catch immediately is a very shortsighted approach. It is usually far more productive to start slowly and then build up the amount & frequency of feed as the fish demand. On ponds & lakes with smaller stocks of carp you can bait up with perhaps just a pint or two and keep fish coming back for more on a regular basis.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is the use of particles when fishing rivers. Small, light particles such as hemp seed or millet will sink very slowly and can soon end up a long, long way below the area you are fishing. The fish will most likely follow and you’ll be sat scratching your head as to why you are not catching! I avoid using mass bird seed mixes (such as pigeon feeds) in rivers for this reason as it can be very difficult to predict the

Near margin fishing on lakes is often overlooked by many angler’s especially those intent on demonstrating their casting prowess. Here in North America the abundance of unpressured waters means that carp will very likely cruise and feed along the shoreline.

Even if there is considerable bankside activity during the day they will often move in once things have quietened down after dark. If there are overhanging trees or dense bankside vegetation that limit access to the water then there is a good chance carp will feel comfortable patrolling and feeding in these areas.

While you can in some cases fish directly over the top of some vegetation such as reeds etc it is often best to put in some bait and make a cast from a nearby swim parallel to the bank.

A couple of pieces of imitation corn fished on a suitable rig with a supple braid hook link is very effective for such situations. Baiting up could not be simpler. A bucket of particles plus a baiting spoon or a catapult are all you need to quickly & easily spread bait in a few key spots along the margins.

outcome. It is also vitally important to determine the depth you are fishing and the flow rate.

Throw a few particles in and ‘time’ how long it takes them to sink a foot or two and then adjust accordingly when throwing the bait in upstream of where you are fishing so that it hits bottom around your hook baits.

If you ‘bind’ your particles into a method or pack mix you can be even more certain of them getting down to the bottom with less risk of them being swept downstream.

Imitation corn fished over particles in the margins fooled this big common on a highly pressured European venue.

North American Carp Angler 59

Precision is Key! A big difference when baiting particles versus boilies is in the spread of the bait. When fishing boilies it often pays to spread them out over a wider area to encourage the fish to move about in search of the next bait. A few boilies around the ‘sharp end’ are all that is then needed to help the carp home in on the hook bait.

But the opposite is true with particles, especially mass baits. Ideally you want to keep the baited area as tight as possible to encourage more competitive feeding. You can spread the bait out a little when prebaiting but once you have homed in on a more precise location it’s important to stick to your chosen spot.

This requires accurate work with a Spomb or catapult as well as precise casting with the baited rig to ensure you are continually ‘on-target’. If you spread particles out over a large area you’ll end up with the carp meandering around slowly picking up the potentially hundreds, if not thousands of baits. Ideally the more fish fight over the bait the more likely one will be to gulp down your baited hook!

If you can fish 2 or 3 rods then a narrow line of chum at 45 degrees to the bank to intercept cruising carp and is another very effective baiting pattern!

The Golden Rule…

It is much better to start slowly and then build up

“A little bit often” is a well known phrase for

as the swim develops. A half to a couple of pounds

baiting up while fishing and nothing is truer when

of particles (half as much for mass baits like hemp)

fishing particles. If you throw too many particles

should get them started.

into a swim at the beginning of a session then your

Another Spomb or couple of catapults after each

hook bait is going to be buried and it will be like

fish will keep the swim topped up and help the carp

finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.

keep their heads down.

Another trick that I’ve seen work remarkably well when carp seem to be intercepting the bait before it hits the bottom is to fill a spod or Spomb with gravel. The carp will respond to the noise of the Spomb hitting the surface but since there is nothing to ‘eat’ will be more likely to feed on the bottom and pick up your hook bait.

Another golden rule: “Once you’ve put bait in you can’t take it out”!

Particles, nutrition values and how to prepare them.

Sweetcorn

Still one of the best carp baits – Ever!

Straight out of the can a couple of grains on the hook over a few handfuls thrown in as chum are as instant a carp bait as can be found. One of my favorite ways to fish sweetcorn is to wander around a lake and throw or catapult in a few handfuls in a some likely looking spots.

I then return a little while later armed with a float rod or light ledger set up and look to see if any carp are feeding (look for bubbles or muddy clouds) in the pre-baited spots.

It’s a great way to stalk fish and sometimes produces some real beasts if you are stealthy.

A few drops of your favorite flavor or some Betalin sweetner can make sweetcorn even more attractive but there is no need to overdo it. A mix of sweetcorn and hemp seed is another deadly combination.

Sweetcorn:

- 14% Protein - 5.2% Fat - 81%Carbohydrate.

- Potassium, - Vitamin C - Iron - Magnesium

Float fishing just a couple of grains of sweetcorn on the hook have resulted in some cracking carp over the years.

North American Carp Angler 61

Feed Corn or Maize

Cheap, easily available and too often underrated. A 50lb bag usually costs less than $10-12 and when prepared & used correctly can produce some stunning results for a fraction of the cost of other baits.

I prefer to spend a few extra dollars on buying top quality feed corn as it will usually have bigger grains and been washed and separated from bits of husk, dust and other debris. Its bright yellow color really stands out and carp seem to become very preoccupied once they get on it. Almost any fruit flavor such as Pineapple or Strawberry will boost the attraction of feed corn. Cake and other spices (cinnamon, cloves etc) plus chilli, garlic and anise can all work well in moderation.

Feed Corn Preparation #1 Quick & Simple. Soak in water for 24 hours and then boil for 40 mins. I like to let the corn cool slowly after boiling as I like to see up to half of the corn kernels begin to split open. If you like you can add your choice of flavor or coloring or both at this time. Put aside some whole kernels for hook baits. #2 Germinated Corn. Place the corn in a shallow container and cover with water (check daily to ensure it does not dry out) and leave until it begins

ferment and create an attractive sweet ‘boozy’ or alcoholic aroma. The complex starches will be converted to various sugars & alcohols which carp find very attractive. Adding some molasses or sugar along with some yeast will help to accelerate the process. Make sure the lid is loose fitting as the process generates carbon dioxide that can build up considerable pressure! #4 Vomit Corn. As the name suggests this is not for the faint hearted! Follow the instructions in #1 and then fill 5 gallon buckets 4/5 full making sure it is covered with liquid. Now close the lid firmly and leave it in your garage or basement for a minimum of two weeks (I have some from last Fall ready to use this Spring!). Scrape off & throw away the nasty looking crust or sludge on the top and below it you should find a primeval soup. The bacterial digestion process will help create a wealth of sugars, amino acids and an aroma that will knock your socks off but seems to be remarkably attractive to carp.

You can also buy any number of commercially prepared corn baits which come in a wide variety of flavors & colors. These are usually too costly to use in any large quantity but do make excellent hook baits that will stand out nicely from the free samples.

to sprout. This can take 2-3 weeks depending on the ambient temperature. As the seeds germinate the stored starch in the grain is converted into maltose a natural sugar that carp love! The grains will

Feed corn:

- 10% Protein - 5% Fat - 74%Carbohydrate

still need boiling for 30-40 mins to soften them suf-

- Sodium

ficiently as hook bait.

- Potassium

#3 Fermented Corn. Follow the instructions in #1 and then leave for a few days in a warm place.

In the presence of yeasts corn will soon start to

- Vitamin B6 - Iron & Magnesium

Peruvian Corn

These quarter sized grains really stand out. They are prepared just like regular feed corn and make excellent hook baits. I usually make up several batches with different flavors and store them in vacuum bags in the freezer until needed.

You then have plenty of hook baits and can also add some to a bucket of regular feed corn for chumming. They are also available prepared like Hominy in cans which can be dyed in various colors so it really stands out.

Hominy

A much underrated bait but its brilliant white color really makes it stand out. It comes from a process of de-husking feed corn with a strong alkaline solution. I usually add it to a mix of sweetcorn & hempseed when float fishing and alternate it as a hook bait.

Cracked Corn

The key is not to overdo it with the free samples as carp will repeatedly ingest and vent out pieces of tiger nut – almost ad infinitum!

You only need a handful or two of chopped tigers to start with and a pound or so should last you for a weekend session! Use too many and you’ll end up with a big spread of chewed up tigers that detracts from the hook bait being picked up.

Preparation is simple but takes time if you want top quality results. Simply place a couple of pounds

Another very cost effective addition to your chum

of tiger nuts plus 1/4 pound of sugar in a bucket,

/ ground bait program. The small pieces of feed

cover with boiling water and then seal the bucket

corn create a mass of particles that will keep carp

and leave for 3-4 days. Transfer to a large pan &

occupied for hours. Preparation is simple. Carefully

boil rigorously for 30-40 mins making sure they

pour boiling water over the cracked corn until is well

don’t boil dry or burn.

covered and leave to soak for a couple of days. Add

Some folk will use them after this stage but I

it to feed corn chum mix but only if fishing a lake or

like to store them once again in a sealed bucket

cove on a river. In faster flowing water the cracked

for a few more days to allow some fermentation to

corn will quickly get washed down stream taking

develop. You can then use them or freeze for fu-

the fish with it!

ture use as needed. I rarely bother flavoring tigers

Tiger (chufa) Nuts

Another great bait that is often over or improperly used. You can buy bulk bags of ‘Chufa’ here in the USA or order some of the imported, large sized nuts (ideal for hook baits) available from the commercial bait companies. I’ve done very well on some waters with tigers but less so on others.

but some folk swear by soaking them in Red Bull, Coca Cola or even in cinnamon or clove spice. If you want them a little sweeter then try something like Betalin or Talin. A small drill allows them to be easily mounted on a hair rig and you can easily pop them up using a bigger drill and plugging the hole with foam or cork or create a balanced rig with an imitation and real tiger combo.

North American Carp Angler 63

Tiger nuts:

- 25% Protein - 25% Fat - 50% Carbohydrate - Potassium - Vitamin E & B6 - Iron & Magnesium

There is no need to color or flavor them. While they work very well simply soaked for a couple of days I prefer to get them sprouting as it really enhances the natural sugars and flavor.

Once the maples have been soaking for 24 hours I spread them out on a tarp in my garage.

You must, however, keep them lightly dampened with more water so they don’t dry out.

Chick Peas (Garbanzo)

A hugely popular bait in its day but too often overlooked. Available dried (soak for 24 hours and

After a couple of days they will begin to sprout at which point I use them straight away or bag them up and freeze till needed. Use them on their own or mixed in with other particles.

boil for 30 mins) or buy them precooked in a can.

They can be used with or without flavoring and can also be dyed a variety of colors. I like them for float fishing as a hook bait as they can be catapulted out a long way if needed. I usually drill them first before mounting on a hair to avoid them splitting.

Chick Peas:

- 19% Protein - 6.5% Fat - 64% Carbohydrate - Potassium - Vitamin B6 - Iron & Magnesium

Maple Peas

One of my personal favorites. They are not usu-

ally an instant bait but once carp are established on them the results can continue for several weeks with regular baiting.

Rod Hutchinson suggested they are best suited to fishing over silt or where there is prolific midwater weed and are especially effective in colored waters where carp rely more on smell than sight when feeding.

Maple Peas:

- 25% Protein - 1.5% Fat - 66% Carbohydrate - Sodium - Potassium - Calcium & Iron

Peanuts & other Nuts

Another under rated but highly effective bait.

Soya bean:

Carp have been caught on a variety of nuts includ-

- Potassium

ter which is why the distinctive aroma and oils in

- Calcium

peanuts make them very attractive especially when

- Vitamin C &B6

fished over silt or weed. corn while on others you can end up blanking! They can be used straight from the bag or blanched in boiling water overnight to release more of the oils and to stop them floating. Two or three half kernels can be drilled and then mounted on a hair rig.

I personally use an Enterprise Tackle pellet ‘cup’ mounted on a hair and trim the peanut so it sits well inside the cup with 1/8-1/4” protruding.

Peanuts:

- 26% Protein - 49% Fat - 16% Carbohydrate - Potassium - Calcium - Vitamin B6 - Iron & Magnesium

Aduki, Black Eye, Lima, Kidney, Soya bean etc.

All of the above beans have proven successful

carp baits over the years. They are rarely if ever used her in North America which might just be a good enough reason to give them a go!

Soak 1lb of beans overnight, boil gently for 30 mins and you should have plenty for a session or two. They often work very well without pre-baiting

- 20% Fat - 30% Carbohydrate

ing brazil, cashews & almonds. The oilier the bet-

On some waters it can be as deadly as sweet-

- 36% Protein

- Iron & Magnesium

Mass Baits

Tiny seeds which are usually too small to con-

ventionally mount on a hook or hair fall into the category of ‘mass’ baits. These include hemp, rice, millet, cracked corn, grits and various bird seed mixes.

Carp will often become totally preoccupied on such small baits rooting through weed, silt or soft mud in an effort to pick up every last morsel.

It is important to recognize the difference in this feeding pattern versus a carp searching out a boilie or natural ‘live’ bait (such as worm or crayfish) here and there. You should not over feed mass baits and ideally keep them focused in small tight areas rather than spread all over the place.

Most folk will fish a boilie or other larger particle on the ‘hook’ but even tiny seeds can be fished by super gluing them around a cork ball or you can use the Kryson ‘Bogey’ particle fixer.

or adding flavor but don’t let this stop you from experimenting or thinking outside the box.

North American Carp Angler 65

Hemp Seed

A fantastic bait that can produce spectacular results but can also leave anglers scratching their heads. Hemp seeds are incredibly nutritious.

They are a rich protein source and contain over 30% fat especially in two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). There have been many times I’ve seen carp rolling over a swim baited with hemp seed with barely a beep registered on the alarms, let alone a hook up! As a result I now only use hemp seed in much smaller quantities.

One great way to use hemp seed is when fishing boilies or imitation corn as a hook bait. Pack the hemp seed (you can also add in some sweetcorn) into a PVA mesh or bag so that the hook bait sits on top of a bed of hemp. The Hemp Seed available to buy in bulk in the USA has been irradiated to stop it from germinating so does not look quite as enticing as the commercial bait preparations you can buy from Europe.

Preparing hemp seed: Measure out one cup of

Hemp bean:

- 36% Protein - 46% Fat

hemp seed to four cups of water and boil for 30

- 6.6% Carbohydrate

minutes. You can add chilli or other flavors at this

- Potassium

stage and some folk also add a teaspoon or two of Bicarbonate of soda to the cooking process as it helps to darken the seeds and make the white core stand out more. You should start to see the seeds begin to split open at which point you want to turn off the heat. Drain off but keep the liquid (reduce it with further boiling to add back to the seeds later as it contains a lot of the oils and flavors) and then cover the seeds in cold water to stop them cooking any further.

Once cooled drain off the cold water and add back the reduced original liquid they were cooked in. I make up 5-10lb at a time and pack into half gallon zip locks and freeze until needed.

- Iron - Vitamin E - Magnesium

Pigeon Feeds

Available in a wide variety of seed mixes. The content vary depending on the brand but most include a mix of peas and seeds such as yellow corn, millet, Canadian peas, maple peas, wheat, oats, kafir, safflower seeds etc.

It has become a popular chum among carp anglers in North America as it provides plenty of small items to keep carp occupied.

Sunflower seeds

Since they float naturally they are an ideal surface bait for carp. An effective bait but unshelled seeds need to be boilied or hulled if you plan to fish them on the bottom. The shells absorb dyes and flavors extremely well so you can have fun experimenting.

Rice

Storage of Particles Dry, unprepared particles are magnet for mice and insects (moths & weevils) so are best stored in a cool, dry place and ideally in sealed containers such as 40 or 60lb Gamma Vitalle Vaults. Once prepared careful storage of particles is vital.

Anyone who fishes or follows the success of pack baits will know how effective rice can be.

Packbait anglers use instant rice mixed with tomato ketchup but regular rice lightly cooked will also do the trick as a mass bait. Flavor or color as you feel necessary.

Wheat, Barley, Millet, etc

Often under rated these seeds can produce some stunning results. Wheat & Barely are particularly effective when allowed to ferment in a bucket for a few days before stopping the process by boiling for 15-20 mins. You can then add them to other

They can go off very quickly so vacuum sealing and freezing in session sized packs or gallon ziplocks is ideal. Larger quantities can be stored, covered in liquid, in 5 gallon buckets with a tight fitting or Gamma seal lid.

Adding salt, sugar or citric acid can help preserve particles longer and reduce the risk of spoilage.

particles and fish in the same way as you would with hemp.

Naturals

I’ve added this category simply to highlight the range of particles that carp might find naturally in their local habitat. It might take some extra effort in collecting them but for the more adventurous angler looking to do something a little different it can be a very rewarding exercise. Overhanging trees or bushes will drop seeds, nuts or fruits into the water.

Carp are well known for eating cotton seed, acorns and mulberries when they are in season. I’ve also come across several waters here in New England that sit alongside farms that grow field corn. A few husks and grains have clearly ended up in the wa-

Session packs ready to freeze

ter where I’m sure the carp have taken advantage of this free food supply.

North American Carp Angler 63

Imitation Baits There are now several different brands of plastic imitation baits available but none in my opinion can match the quality and range

from

Enterprise

Tackle.

The choice includes Tigers, Lupins, Sweetcorn,

Maize,

Maples,

Hemp

Seed,

Peanuts

and so on, many in both buoyant or sinking options.

Some are also available pre-soaked in the more popular flavors from the leading European bait manufactures. These imitations can be fished very effectively in combination with the real thing or even fished just on their own over a bed of particles. The buoyant imitations allow critically balanced or popped up baits to be created as needed, plus the choice of colors (take a look at the new Enterprise ‘Washed Out’ range) allows you to either match the natural bait or use a bright or contrasting color to help the hook baits really stand out.

PVA Tricks One problem with particle baits is the water content they are infused with in preparation and storage.

If you want to present particles in a PVA bag or mesh stick then it’s vital to remove any excess liquid (save it for method or groundbait mixes).

One of the easiest ways is to place the particles in a sieve, to drain the liquid, then sprinkle them with plenty of salt. The particles can then be loaded into the PVA without it melting.

A solid twenty five pound common nailed in the bottom lip. Taken on a ‘shot-on-hook’ rig with imitation corn over a bed of particles.

Another excellent way is to drain off the liquid and then coat the particles with dry breadcrumbs (panko), oats or similar absorbent material to help dry them.

Once dried or salted they can also be mixed with a little oil such as hemp, peanut, sunflower or even the oil from a can of tuna or salmon if you want something a little different.

This will not only prevent the PVA melting too quickly but will also help dissipate the particle and oil aroma through the water column. If you prefer something other than using oils then mixing the particles with molasses, honey or condensed milk will also work brilliantly especially when the water temps are higher in the summer months.

Rig Choices for Particles One of my all-round favorites is Frank Warwick’s Long Shank rig.

Ideal for 3-5 kernels of feed corn on the hair when fished as a bottom bait or balanced with some pop-up imitation corn.

A size 4 or 6 long shank hook on a 5-7� hook length of coated braid (shorter if you are fishing method) is usually ideal.

The hair length can be adjusted to suit the size of bait and held along the shank with a piece of shrink tubing. Another piece of shrink tubing or commercial hair aligner ensures the hook turns over readily. A piece of tungsten putty, split shot etc can be placed on the hook length about 1� behind the hook, where the coating has been stripped, which will help orientate the hook point downwards to stick in the bottom lip.

North American Carp Angler 69

I’ve also been playing

around

with various alternatives the

to

traditional

blow-back rig for popped up particle baits.

The Shot-OnHook Rig uses a wide gape hook with a ‘ringed’ rig swivel positioned between

two

hook beads.

However it’s the tungsten rubber bead posi-

In this instance I’ve added two pieces of Enter-

tioned between the bend and the hook barb that

prise Tackle ‘washed out’ pop-up sweet corn by

catches out the carp. This rig is usually fished with

looping a piece of 12lb mono through the swivel

a PVA bag or mesh full of particles. When the carp

and pulling it through the corn. I then use a gas

sucks up the small bed of particles this rig flies up

lighter to melt the mono to create a ‘blob’ to keep

into its mouth. However once there it sinks like a

it in place. You can of course substitute the corn

stone with the hook point settling just behind the

for real or imitation tiger nuts etc. I usually fish this

lower lip making it very difficult for the carp to eject.

rig along the margins on a light 1-2oz running lead together with a PVA bag or mesh of hemp seed &

Components: PB KD Curve #8 hook (ideal for

sweetcorn.

sweetcorn sized baits but use a #6 or #4 for larger baits like Feed Corn) tied to 6 – 8″ of soft braid-

There are of course plenty of other rigs you can

ed hook link plus a Short Shank Hook Aligner. A

use and I would encourage everyone to experiment

Ringed #24 Bait Swivel is positioned between two

to see which ones work best.

hook beads and a ‘Shot-On-Hook’ tungsten rubber bead placed as shown in the picture. You can also

Anyway I hope I’ve encouraged you to give

use a split shot clamped around a short piece of

particles a try before reaching for another bag

braid over the hook bend.

of boilies on your next carp fishing campaign!

W W W. T H E C AT C H G A M E . C O M ©2020 Dovetail Games, a trading name of RailSimulator.com Ltd (“DTG”). “Dovetail Games” and “The Catch” are trademarks or registered trademarks of DTG. All rights reserved. All other copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Developed and published by DTG.

North American Carp Angler 71

On the Puff

By Matt Janiszewski

If you’ve overlooked fishing the ‘puff’ believing

When not fishing Matt (aka SaxMatt) is a saxo-

to be only a paylake or small fish technique then

phonist who regularly performs in New York, New

it’s time to think again! Matt Janiszewski has dem-

Jersey, and Connecticut. Jazz, rock, blues, funk,

onstrated time and time again a remarkable ability

this sax man does it all. As a woodwind specialist

to put some very big fish in the net with puff n’ pack

with over 10 years of experience Matt teaches pri-

both in NJ waters where he currently lives or on

vate lessons, ensembles, composition, and improvi-

frequent trips back to CT when visiting friends and

sation. Matt holds a BA in Music, BS in Education

family. Matt has an extraordinary tally of big fish

and a Master of Music in Jazz.

that includes a stunning 53.12 common.

One of the simplest and most effective yet over-

It is a style of fishing that was developed dec-

looked ways to catch wild carp is with the use of

ades ago at southern paylakes, where they tested

pack and puff. Any angler can go to their local

and fine tuned their bait and rigs at local tourna-

Walmart and buy everything they need to catch

ments. Over the years many tournaments have

carp on pack and puff including bait and gear for

been won and big wild fish have been caught using

under $100.

pack and puff.

North American Carp Angler 73

What kind of gear do you need for puff fishing?

For my rigs I use from size 2 to a 1/0 J hook or octopus hook, it’s extremely important to have sticky sharp hooks so check them before every cast.

I use 25-30lb floro or mono and a barrel swivel for my rigs and make them 2-4” in length, don’t tie the rigs much longer because the puffs will float. If you put 1 puff on a 1/0 hook it should pop up off the bottom for 20-30 minutes then sink on top of your pack bait, 2 puffs will make the rig float for hours.

You can use a variety of knots, just make sure your line is coming out through the eye of the hook towards the point of the hook, not the back of the hook.

A variety of different rods, reels, and line can be

Many anglers like using shorter 9-10’ rods and

used for puff fishing. I prefer 12’ carp rods that are

those will work too, a lot of paylakers use shorter

2.75-3.00 pound test curve with 50lb braided line

rods with conventional reels. I add a 3-4’ 30lb fluo-

and bait runner reels.

rocarbon shock leader to the end of my braid for abrasion resistance, stretch, and stealth.

I like the lighter rods with braid because I get

I recommend using no roll leads or inline grip-

less hook pulls, if you prefer using mono I suggest

per leads that are 4oz or more if you are fishing

at lest 15lb for line strength and because of the

heavy current. If you use leads lighter than 4oz the

stretch you can use heavier rods up to 3.5tc.

rig won’t work as well because it will be easier for the carp to eject the hook with less tension.

What is pack bait?

Pack bait is a mixture of simple ingredients that are designed to be packed around your lead and/ or puff. The mixture should be sticky enough so it doesn’t break apart while casting, but dry enough to break up within a few minutes once it’s on the bottom. The hardest thing to do when you first start using pack bait is getting the consistency right, so spend some time testing your pack in shallow water to see how fast it breaks up.

Here are three simple pack bait recipes. My go-to pack bait for most times of the year is oat pack. Just mix 1 large 42oz container of old fashioned oats, half a large can of quick oats, 2 cans of creamed corn and a dash of kosher salt. Another great pack bait especially in cold water is bread pack.

You can make bread pack by mixing panko or bread crumbs with creamed corn, but I prefer to use fresh white bread. To make pack using fresh bread just use your blender to grind the bread into a powder. Often liquified bread packs without adding anything to it, but if it doesn’t pack you can add small amounts of creamed corn until it packs.

The third type of pack bait I use is grits pack. To make grits pack mix 18oz instant grits, 9oz 5-minute grits, a can of creamed corn and a dash of kosher salt. Make sure you buy instant grits because if you try to use only 5-minute grits it will never pack. I usually don’t add any flavor to my pack bait but if you want to experiment with flavors try mixing a small amount into your creamed corn before you add it to the rest of the pack. A little flavor goes a long way, too much flavor or the wrong flavor can easily deter fish!

North American Carp Angler 75

Pack bait can be used around your lead, your puff, or both. When you’re ready to bait up put a handful of the mix into your palm, put the lead or puff rig on top and cover it with the same amount of pack that you put in your palm so the ball turns out even.

Work the pack into a ball that stays on well, after the ball is done you can wet your hands and pack it a few more times so the outside is stickier and the ball doesn’t come off on the cast.

All of these pack bait mixes will dry out eventually and stop packing, when that happens add more creamed corn little by little until you’re able to pack it again.

If you want to make the mix stickier you can add a small amount of water: this will cause the pack to break up slower or not at all so it’s good for using around your lead in current, but I wouldn’t put water in the pack you’re using it around the puff.

Adding more quick oats or bread to your pack bait will also help it bind better, dry old fashioned oats or 5-minute grits will help the pack break down. You can even mix different pack baits together to create different consistencies and particle sizes. Like I said earlier, check your bait to see the breakdown time.

What is a puff?

A puff is a piece of puffed corn cereal such as Arrowhead Mills puffed corn, Kix, or Pops. Just put a puff or 2 directly on your hook, dip into your favorite flavor and you’re ready to put pack bait on and cast out. I like the puffs that are stale because they stay on better, a good puff will squeak when you put the hook through it.

The puff should stand out from your pack bait, it should be the cherry on top of a sundae. You can pre-flavor puffs by adding a small amount of flavor and a handful of puffs to a container, shake them up then put them on a plate and microwave for 10 seconds. Pre-flavoring puffs can sometimes make them shrivel up so I usually just dip my puffs right before I cast instead. The puffs get soft in the water and almost always come off when you reel in, don’t be worried if your hook keeps coming back empty.

If the water is calm and you look closely you’ll see the puff float to the surface when you reel in.

I usually rebait around every 45 minutes depending on the conditions, but I’ve left puffs out for over 4 hours and still caught fish, the puffs stay on better than you’d think.

In general I’ll rebait more often in rivers and places with catfish, but it depends on the current and ac-

Now that you know the basics of pack and puff fishing it’s time to go out there and catch some fish.

It takes some practice to get the feel for making pack the right consistency, but if you keep at it you will be rewarded.

I fish a variety of other baits and euro style rigs but the simple pack and puff rigs almost always

tivity. Puffs will come off a hair rig easier than a 1/0

out produce everything else. Pack and puff is an

hook so I wouldn’t recommend using a hair rig, plus

underutilized style of carp fishing and would be a

putting puffs directly on the hook is a better looking

great tool to add to your arsenal, whether you are a

presentation.

novice or an expert.

North American Carp Angler 77

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• Most of all: Go fishing, Share with others, and have Fun. As a member you will also be adding your voice & support to help CAG continue its efforts to work with State & other organizations to increase the recognition for carp as a sport fish to benefit the angling community

Member Benefits Include: • Full CAG Forum Community Access

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*inc Printed Full Color Special Edition Membership is only $20 / Year (+ a one time $5 joining fee) which includes you, your spouse & any children under 18 living in the same household

www.joincag.com The Carp Anglers Group is a non-profit organisation

Fishing the enigma of Dale Hollow

By Andrew King

My Dale Hollow trip, hope you enjoy reading my story as much as I did making it North American Carp Angler 79

We all approach each fishing trip with excite-

My session started with some depth checking

ment, anticipation, hope, intimidation and a lot of

with a marker float and I noticed huge weed beds

other thoughts.

between 30-40 yds out from the bank. I had to en-

My latest 9 day session was to be the longest I have ever fished, and I was going alone, to a primi-

sure I baited and cast out just beyond those for any hope of bringing in a fish successfully.

tive location with, no showers or proper facilities.

The weather was looking good with no rain fore-

My wife thought I was mad. That is the attraction

cast for the coming week and temps in the high 60s

that Dale Hollow in Tennessee has to serious carp

to low 70s, perfect for fall fishing. I was the only

anglers, the thought of wild water carping on a

person camping at the site, just me and nature.

27,000 acre reservoir, known to have a high popu-

Once the rods were out I began the baiting re-

lation of never before caught mirror and common

gime, it was going to be a bucket early evening,

carp. The possibility of catching my new personal

and one in the morning after the usual bite time had

best far outweighs the discomforts I might have to

passed.

endure.

That is hard work, and by the end of the bucket

The day arrived, to say I was excited was an un-

I was ready for a cup of tea and some relaxation,

derstatement. My truck loaded, and Garmin desti-

but no, I have to set up my campfire. Collecting as

nation entered, off I set at 4am, my aim was to drive

much firewood as I could close to my campsite, I

through with as few stops as possible to maximize

started the fire going. By then it was dark and I was

my time there.

ready for a cup of tea.

The countryside approaching DH is stunning, and the first view of the reservoir over the Obey

As expected no fishing action occurred over-

Marina Bridge started my heart racing. I arrived af-

night, but the bad weather rolled in unexpectedly

ter a 9 hour drive from NC and a good breakfast.

as it does in that area. It rained so hard all night

The water level was extremely low due to the fall

and into the early morning I thought it was a mon-

level reduction that occurs each year.

soon. The wind was ripping across the site hitting my bivvy side on, I hunkered down and hoped I had

I began the arduous unloading process and set-

pegged it down sufficiently, as I honestly thought

ting up my bivvy and campsite. Do I really need

it was about to take off and leave me in the open

all this stuff? I think I had everything from battery

pouring rain.

charging station to wet weather gear. I know this is a location that is unforgiving for the unprepared,

The wind here is well known for being brutal and

that was not going to be me. I had read of peo-

will take a lot of prisoners if you are unprepared and

ple losing their tents, bivvies etc and getting rain

not a seasoned camper, don’t treat the weather at

soaked, I was packed as if I was going on an arctic

DH lightly! It can ruin your session and send you

expedition.

packing.

I knew that it would take at least a couple of days to get the fish interested in my bait and to stay in the area. The next day continued with the baiting and firewood collection, I saw no signs of any approaching fish, so expected another quiet day, allowing me to settle in to my new home and arrange my bivvy and get some PVA mesh bags prepared.

Here is a little tip, don’t prepare PVA bags and then store them in a zip lock plastic bag and leave them in the sun!!

When I checked them after a few hours the bags had a nice level of condensation built up in them, and my PVA bags had lots of holes where the moisture had melted the bags, lesson learned.

I settled in for the night, a nice hot meal inside me, I sat watching the stars, which always give me a lot of pleasure at these dark sites, the moon was almost full but rose quite late so I made the most of the dark sky before moonrise occurred.

I was expecting another run free night, but was pleasantly surprised when at 1am I was woken by the steady Delkim bleep I love, it’s always fun

trying to gather yourself together after being suddenly woken from a deep sleep………….. Where are my shoes? Why can’t I get my arm into my sweatshirt? Where’s my headlamp……….

Stumble,

stumble…

…..I finally get myself out of the bivvy and hop down to the rod pod.

Strike 1, fish on, this is what I came here for. The thrill of fishing for me is the fact that you don’t know the size of the fish you have hooked into immediately.

This wasn’t a big one, but it was my first DH carp of the session, and a big moment for me. I landed a perfect 16lb common and went back to my sleeping bag a happy camper.

North American Carp Angler

81

I was woken again at 3am with a 13lb common,

During breakfast at 8am another 11lb common

then at 3.25am with a very strong run, which after

was landed (guaranteed if you want to get a run,

a 5 min struggle snapped me off in the weeds. I

start cooking). It seemed the fish had moved in as

thought that was it for the night (or morning as it

9.45am got me a small 11lb mirror, the first one of

then was) but another run at 4am landed a nice

the trip.

22lb common, tiger nuts seemed to be the bait of the day. I had to hit the sack again to get some sleep.

The day passed quietly and I had the pleasure

I was almost glad that no fish took the bait that

of meeting some guys from Indiana who were there

night as I was not relishing the thought of having

for 4 days of carpin’, it would be nice to share some

to step outside my bivvy in those conditions. In the

stories, and give, and receive help with the fish.

morning I peeked outside to survey if there was

Between 5pm – 10pm I landed another 7 fish, the

any damage to my campsite due to the very heavy

biggest a 22lb mirror. The session was gathering

winds. I noticed that my rod pod was laying on

momentum nicely.

its side and all 3 rods were on the ground, thank heavens I didn’t get a run, it would have probably

Nothing occurred overnight until 7am the next morning when I had a “Delkim Screamer”, I knew this was a heavy fish, a nice solid feel to it, not much fight just a heavy slow drag. I landed my new PB a 32lb common with a nice belly, “YES, get in the net!!!”

I shouted in my best impression of Danny Fairbrass. This is why I had travelled to DH, and this fish alone would have made my trip worthwhile.

taken my rod into the water eventually.

Another lesson learned, peg down your Rod Pod, I used 2 short lengths of guy rope and some tent pegs to secure the pod from being blown over if there were to be any more strong winds (think I will use this tactic for all future long sessions).

Another 13lb common during the morning, then 5 more fish up to midnight including a 20 & 22lb mir-

I then made the mistake of stopping the baiting

ror and 16, 18 & 26lb common making that one of

for 1 day only. In my mind I didn’t want to overfeed

my best fishing days ever.

the swim (stupidly as it turned out). The fish left

At 1am I hooked into another big fish and after a

the swim, that’s the only explanation I have. I only

short struggle it again snapped me off in the weed

had 3 fish for the next 2 days. After chatting with

bed, was I fishing too close to it or should I use the

several buddies they all told me, “keep the bait

“drop the lead” system, which I didn’t have with me.

going in”, I immediately started re- baiting heavily

That day I landed 4 more fish, 2 x14lb’ers a 25lb

again.

mirror and an 18 ½lb mirror.

Tuesday night turned into another rain event with the wind whipping as it did on Saturday, I sur-

By early Friday morning the fish were back on the feed, 3 more landed 12, 18 & 19lb mirrors.

vived again, kudos to my Trakker Tempest Brolly, it

The final day for fishing had arrived, it was Sat-

can take a lot of hammering from wind and rain and

urday the bites started at 1.50am with a 10 & 13lb

I stayed completely dry and comfortable through-

mirror. At 5am another big fish was hooked but af-

out my session. Also my Trakker Levelite bed and

ter a short battle came off due to a hook pull! Then

Duotex sleeping bag had me sleeping like a baby

between 11am and 1am the next day I landed an-

(when I was not occupied).

other 4 fish, 13, 2x14, and a 20lb mirror.

North American Carp Angler 83

The rods were pulled in for the last time at 1m on Sunday morning.

I wanted an early start home so got up at 5am to start taking down my campsite and loading the

This lake holds some stunning fish, but it’s not going to give them up very easily. You have to use all your cunning and stealth to lure them in and keep them there.

truck, this ended up taking nearly 2 hours, boy did

Each season will have its difficulties, for me it

I have a lot of gear to pack! I was on the road

was fishing with a large weed bed. Heavy relia-

home by 7am with a 9 hour drive ahead of me.

ble tackle is needed and will help you land one of these beauties.

What a trip that was, I enjoyed every minute of it. Had some great weather, and some bad. My

This is a lake that demands the best from you,

equipment held up well, no failures. Met some

and in return will provide you with its best fish, and

nice people who passed through the site while I

make you want to return time and time again.

was there.

North American Carp Angler 85