My FFF, (A PB Escapes me) Options

[Brid]

It seems that ‘once in a very blue moon’, Carp are wont to eat a few morsels – even in water below 50 degrees F!! My FFF this year wasn’t the most earth shattering experience – although, the amount of guns I heard being fired at 12pm on the 31st made it sound like a war zone!! I have to admit that – even though I was tucked up in my ‘house’, I actually ducked a few times!!
Arriving at the lake mid afternoon, the weather was overcast but pretty warm at 63 degrees F. The water surface temp was 48F – and the bottom was a tad over 46F - and as I’ve caught some pretty big fish in the lake at lower temps, I was understandably pretty happy. As there were showers forecasted, I decided to use my Chub EZ shelter –

And got most everything - barring the kitchen sink in there !!


I’m not saying I’m really superstitious – however, this couldn’t harm –


It took an age to get everything placed just ‘so so’ – bearing in mind I was going to be hauling ‘stinking monsters’ all night, and didn’t need to be tripping over the 10 buckets I had with me. I’m pretty picky in that respect – and --- just like a dog that can’t get comfortable and keeps shuffling its bedding around, it was dark before I was finally satisfied I had everything as well placed as it could be.
As things weren’t ‘officially’ happening until midnight, I wasn’t in any great rush to start fishing, and thought I might just go and latch into the new PB I had planned – and ‘shoot my bolt’ before FFF kick off!!
Right now, I was rather sad that my son had decided to go AWOL at the last moment as he and his mate were going off to a computer store sale, Ah well thinks I – I’ll just have to land the new PB myself – and sack it up until Jerry gets here!! Jerry is a professional photographer friend of mine who lives about a mile from the lake, and – for the last couple of years we have had an agreement regarding the photographing of stinking monsters. Although he doesn’t want waking up in the middle of the night to come and take snaps of monsters – if he’s local (during ‘social hours), he will drop everything to come and assist!! That’s a pretty cool deal – considering the fact that if I had to deal with it all on my own, I would no doubt be shaking so badly – I’d botch something up for sure!! Ah well – got to keep on dreaming!!
By the time 8pm arrived, I was getting a little ‘antsy’ about not fishing, so I casted one rod and – just around that time saw a couple of fish moving in my swim. The plot couldn’t have been more perfect, and I was brimming with confidence – (remember what I said about dreaming!!!!)
No more fish showed, so – just after midnight EST, I had a few quick calls to the other FFF’ers that had traded phone #’s, and found out I was sat in the lap of luxury – whilst the others had some pretty cold temps to deal with!! Ah well – that’s a cross I’ll just have to bear – as tough as it was!!
As midnight approached for me, I had all the ‘guns loaded’ and – as the shooting started, I fired a returning volley – and got both rods out – then sat back and toasted the New Year – with a big glass of Chardonnay – (dream on – it was a lukewarm bottle of Corona!!) A couple more calls to the others guys (one which I’m not quite sure about, as I was suddenly in on a Conference call – and, as I heard the broken words ‘California crap’ – the call cut off???) I can only assume I misheard the comment – however, there were no more communications from that quarter?
As the temps dropped below 50F, I fired up the trusty Coleman ceramic heater, and – just as the eyelids started drooping – both buzzers started wailing – very angrily!! As I stumbled out of the shelter I had no idea which rod to grab first – however, clicking on my headlight showed there was line ripping off my RH rod – whilst the LH spool was static – but the buzzer was going big style?? As I grabbed the rod and disengaged the baitrunner, the fish ripped a fair bit of line off the spool – but, was headed for snags – so I quickly palmed the spool – just praying the hook would hold. It did, and after a very dogged fight – where the fish three times made dives for the snags, I finally netted it (at the second attempt!!) It looked a little bigger in the net than once on the mat – however, I was pretty happy to ‘open my account’ with this nice 23lb 10oz specimen –

Time was 1.45am, and water temp was 45F –

Another of the fish - which was really solid - and 'broad in the beam'!!

Monsters aside, I really feel any 20+ fish here in N America is definitely a huge catch - and -- in my book is a 'Specimen' fish!!

The rest of the night dragged on very slowly – with multiple single beeps & quick 1” lifts – but nothing to strike at – barring a sudden drop back at about 4.30am – which amounted to nothing. I changed methods/baits and rigs multiple times over the close to 20 hours I was on the water – however, as the story title says “A PB Escaped me” – by virtue of the fact I was perfectly ready – however, the Carp didn’t get the ‘memo’ I (telepathically) sent it!! Ahhh – The best laid plans of mice and Carp fishers!!
There was rain forecasted for dawn – and the skies were pretty ‘angry’ – however, I got a couple of shots of the pretty weak attempt at a sunrise –


Well – this is my third FFF attempt – and I blanked on the other two – so, perhaps this years effort says something?
Any regrets? Only missing my son not being with me – and the ineptitude of my new PB not picking up on my ‘Come to Papa’ vibes!!
The FFF is definitely a huge challenge to us all, and that alone will keep me coming back!!
Thanks to everyone that ‘braved’ their own set of circumstances to make the effort and participate, to CAG for ‘fronting’ the ‘plot’ and for giving us the ‘platform’ to be able to do these events, to all the Sponsors – and --- of course, top honours go to Jerome for making this years event the best one to date.
Thanks all – in the shadow of a lot of folks not liking ‘Arnie’ for his dealings here in CA, I’m afraid I have to ‘borrow’ a rather well known phrase from him – ‘I’ll be back’!!
Tight Lines,
Brid.

[Zoomie]

Brid, fantastic story. We would have sold our.........um.........fishing gear for a bivvy like that.

Congrats on a really nice fish ! I was pumped up when we chatted and you shared your catch. Charlie and I were really pulling for you to bank a beast !

I have faith , sir. 2010 will be your year !

[hammercarp]

Brid. You beat the odds. Your horseshoe is upside down. It is supposed to be pointed up so that it holds your luck. Nice fish and a good looking spot.

[Brid]

Brid, fantastic story. We would have sold our.........um.........fishing gear for a bivvy like that.

Congrats on a really nice fish ! I was pumped up when we chatted and you shared your catch. Charlie and I were really pulling for you to bank a beast !

I have faith , sir. 2010 will be your year !

John -- It was great fun sharing today - as Carp fishing should be!! We aren't ever going to popularize our sport by being 'Secret Squirrels" , and -- in all honesty - what's mine is yours -- I won't hold out on those little facts that others think are their 'personal domain'.
However - that's just my thoughts!! It takes millions to make a World -- but only a few to screw things up!!
River Rick also made contact - from Ohio, and was pleased we communicated!! Hey -- it's the 21st Century, and - we are all supposed to be on a mission to popularize Carping -- before 'well wishing' Govt agencies go totally on overload and kill everything in sight that 'might' be Carp related. If we don't form a 'popular front' - those days might not be far off -- especially with the Great Lakes snafu.
Yeah - a nice fish -- BUT, it's Grandma is really ticking me off
Great to talk with yourself & Charlie today - and hopefully we 'sowed a few good seeds' by having some meaningful contact -- between strangers!!
Tight Lines,
Brid.
PS - That little shelter saved our lives in TX this year on the second day of the ATC when a 'wicked wind' blew in. Funny thing was that - we were on pretty hard ground - and couldn't peg it down, and -- the only way it wasn't blowing away was for my son Seamus (260lbs+) to stay in there most of the day!! Suited him -- as he could comfortably play computer games - and not have to keep 'leaving home' to help land fish

[Jerome]

Brid. You beat the odds. Your horseshoe is upside down. It is supposed to be pointed up so that it holds your luck. Nice fish and a good looking spot.

Nah, this was because of the blue moon. Phone said so. And Phone is all knowing.

Excellent write-up and pics, Brid. Thanks a lot for taking the time to do it. You might want to get some sleep now!

[hammercarp]

Oh Ya I forgot. A blue moon and an upside down horseshoe and he still caught. The man has some serious mojo working for him.

[Brid]

Brid. You beat the odds. Your horseshoe is upside down. It is supposed to be pointed up so that it holds your luck. Nice fish and a good looking spot.

Hammer -- I tried nail/staple guns and superglue - however, the horseshoe just wanted to hang there Ever tried fixing something like that to a structure that weighs about as much as two horseshoes?
Thanks for the nod -- and I'll look around for a carbon fibre horseshoe
Cheers,
Brid.

[Brid]

Jerome - only too pleased to be part of a great show!! As for the Mojo -- she's at home with a full belly - laughing at me!!
Maybe next time
Tight Lines,
Brid.

[hairwig]

Great FFF report Brid. Happy new year!

[chakram]

Congrats on your FFF catch. It sure wasn't lack of equipment that kept the grandma's away.

[Ol Captain]

Excellent as always!

[Charlie D]

WTG Brid

You might have missed the big one but the store sure is great. But don't worry some day I will explain how my fish grow in size with the story every year.

Glad the new year was successful for you.

This post has been edited by Charlie D: Jan 2 2010, 07:03 AM

[carpaddict82]

WTG Brid! Those are some fine New Year's specimens!

[Bud]

WTG Brid, looks you had some fun any way. Next year you'll get that PB.
The only difference is the PB might be bigger by then. (*_*). Good luck.
Bud

[SWMO]

Sounds like you had fun anyway Brid. I'm going to try it myself someday, but being a whip it will have to be better than 20 degrees below normal.