Ken
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Posts posted by Ken
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What is the bead you speak of?
I used a yellow crow bead (crafting bead), available in Wally's craft isle. There are three main types of beads: Seed beads, which are the tiny ones for work on a loom, pony beads, and the crow beads which are the largest. Just about the size of a large kernel of corn.
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Awhile back Savayman posted that elastic hair bands make a great keeper for taken down rods. I posted back that I use rubber bands and they work just fine. Recently I spotted a hair band in Wally's parking lot, and, remembering the post, picked it up, and tried it on a rod. Yup, they work better than rubber bands and now I have them on all my rods. The second kudo also goes to Savayman on the using of plastic beads as pick-ups when using pack. As of today I am a believer.
This spring has been somewhat of a disaster for me as far as fishing goes. Usually May turns into a very productive month, but blank has been the name of my game this May. Like the last thirteen sessions have been blanks. And it's not like I haven't been getting out. With this Covid thing going on (and on) I haven't been working, and if it wasn't raining, I was fishing. Taking up space on the bank is more like it. It was so frustrating that when my 'never fail' baits, swims, and rigs all dismally failed, I went through the CAG baits and methods sections to get new stuff to try. Same results!
This morning was a sunny beautiful one, and I wound up down on the Hudson for a change of pace. I've been concentrating on the shorelines of the Mohawk River because in a couple more weeks they will start being choked shut by water chestnuts. And those shorelines usually turn out a lot of nice carp right now. What is happening there this year is beyond me. Anyway, the first thing I noticed that was different today was I caught a fish. Then, shortly after that, I caught another one. Wow! This is fun again.
So my strawberry pack was working to perfection with the fish coming in pretty regularly, and I toyed with the idea of trying Savayman's recommendation of using a plastic bead as a pick-up. I was using two kernels of sweet corn, like I always do, and I really didn't want to interrupt 'my bite' with a plastic bead, but figured this would be the perfect time to see if it really worked, as the fish were there and cooperating. So, with reservations I switched to a hair with a yellow plastic crow bead. I'd give it a little while, then go back to the sweet corn. Well, the 'little while' turned into four minutes and I had an 18lb - 3oz carp coming in to the net. And I kept catching until I ran out of pack. The cats like the crow bead too. I am sold on the bead idea: It sure beats the time consuming rebaiting with corn all the time.
Oh yeah; one more thing. Earlier this year I bought a new Wychwood rod on here from buckeyeman, and outfitted it with a new Okuma baitrunner. Today was the first time I used the rod, and that was the rod I was catching on. Now I know that had nothing to do with finally breaking my nasty blanking streak, as I am not at all superstitious, but hey, you never know.............
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I saw the first sign of spawning (splashing & chasing) of carp today in a backwater of the Mohawk River in very shallow water. There were three or four groups of carp churning the water up pretty good. There were several big snappers moving around in there also. I haven't seen any surface activity by the carp out on the main river yet, including leaping or shouldering, which is unusual. The carp fishing is still slow to nonexistent, depending on the day, even though the water temp is in the mid to high 50's. At least the cats are starting to bite consistently, but I don't know if that's a blessing or not. We've got a forecast of possible snow for tonight and cold tomorrow, so tomorrow won't be a stellar day to be out fishing.
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On 4/28/2020 at 11:17 AM, (TN) Cannonball said:
I've never tossed out raw corn. Interesting. Where is the article?
The day I posted about boiling corn was a rainy, cold, do-nothing-day and I spent part of the afternoon going from one carp site/forum to another trying to learn something. Of course the site that had the article that inspired my post can't be relocated. But the following link is typical of several sites that warn of unboiled maize being potentially dangerous to carp. Also, if you google up "Preparing Tiger Nuts", you will some of those sites saying the same thing about tiger nuts.
https://alcoveanglingclub.forumotion.net/t12-do-it-yourself-maize
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I just read an interesting article from the U.K., about not boiling corn, and the effects it has on carp. In a nutshell, a carp does not have a stomach. All it's digestion takes place in the intestine, which is roughly twice the length of the fish. When you toss out unboiled maize, or any other particle that can swell when it gets wet, and it is eaten, you can "distress" the fish or kill it.
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Now that is what I'd call a great vacation!!
My question is, if they were fishing in Saddam Husseins" private lake, what were they doing in Iran? If I remember correctly, Hussein was dictator of Iraq and the two countries aren't exactly friendly.
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I am sorry to hear about Fran.
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I've always thought the same thing. The perch-bluegills-crappies that come through the ice seem to be 'better' than summer caught. Any scientific back-up for this? I dunno.
But it keeps you going back out, drilling holes, and trying to warm up stinging fingers.
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I don't see any way you are going to "carp proof" your feeders. If the bass can get to them, so can the carp.
So, why not make the best of a good situation? Fish for the carp! It won't take you long to realize the carp are more challenging than the bass and just as much, if not more fun than the bass. And if you have 35 pound carp frequenting the end of your dock, you have a good situation, keep it under your hat, and enjoy.
And welcome to CAG. You'll have to keep us posted on your "carp problem", lol.
And thanks for the carp attracting tip. I may try it; I've tried about everything else. Although around here I think I'm more apt to get a wad of snapping turtles and catfish.
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There! See?
That indicates there are still some enlightened people out there that realize the usefulness of those "old" cameras.
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"Retired photographer said he had some film cameras that he couldn't give away"
You could always give him my address.
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14 hours ago, Tyler0420 said:
Congrats ken. You need to update your camera lol. Beauty day to be out.
Actually, my son did upgrade me a few years and gave me a digital camera. On the plus side, I can see immediately if I like the picture I just took. On the down side, all of a sudden I had 300 plus pictures in the camera that took a little longer than forever and a day to click through to find the one I was looking for. Then quickly pass the camera to the waiting person to view the picture very fast, before the camera shut itself off in four seconds. And, I for one, find it annoying to look at other peoples pictures when the pictures are on their 'devices' being waved around in my face. Or sent via email where they get buried or deleted. I know you will now say I can have hard copies made. True, but that means waiting in line at the kiosk, fighting with the kiosk, then having to go back and pick up the copies anyway. So, I stick with the antique film where I can put my pics in an album and sit in an easy chair and look at them when I want to without having to 'go on line'. And I can give out copies to family and friends for refrigerator material. Now you all know I'm an old dog, and you know that old saying about old dogs and new tricks........................
Welcome to CAG John Castellese, and thanks for joining. <:///><
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It was a common. Egads, a mirror that size would still have me in a state of shock, mumbling, and drooling on myself.
Pictures you ask? Yes, of course I took pictures. Even took a couple selfies (I hope). But the trouble is, when I take pictures my camera still goes 'JJJJJJJJJJ' as the 35mm film winds. If any of my fellow anglers here would really like a copy, send me your snail mail address, and I'll get a copy out, post haste. As soon as I get the pictures back. As soon as the picture developing place opens back up. <:///><
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Today was a nice one here: Sunny, to 60 degrees, and calm. I went down to the river and set up a little before 3 PM. Nothing at all happened for over 2 hours, so before throwing in the towel again I tried something different. I rebaited with just corn on the hook and a split shot and cast out only 20 - 25 feet. As far as I could throw a handful of corn. In 10 minutes I had a couple nudges, then a take, and had one on. In spite of the cold water the fish was giving a good account of itself, taking a bit of line. When I started getting it back in, it broke the surface a couple times, waving its tail at me, and I said, "That's a nice fish". When I got it in to the net I said, "Wow, that's a big fish!". It started playing that maddening game where, every time I had it to the net it, it would take off again and strip 8 or 10 feet of line off the reel. Over and over. I was starting to get nervous.
I finally did net it and knew I had a dandy. When I first lifted it up on the scales, the scale quickly bounced to over 30 lb, and I thought " this is unreal". It was. But then the scale did settle down on 29lb - 1 oz, so after 6 blanks this year, and this being the first and only carp so far this year, I am more than happy with it. <:///><
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Another fine day for you. And you're fishing in shirtsleeves already. Impressive on both counts. It's another cloudy day here in the 40's and windy. We re getting there though--all the snow is gone except where the plows piled it up, the grass is trying to turn green, and the wife's daffodils are up. (But no flowers yet.)
That one carp has interesting markings. I've never seen one like that. Sort of a mulatto (I think I can still say that.)
I've been out a few times and only a couple cats have been hungry. Usually, in one more week they'll start hitting here in Covid-Central, USA.
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Mo,
You are unstoppable!!
At this point it is safe to say you are a carpaholic with a career problem. <:///><
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I am certainly 100% in favor of doing anything that will slow down the spread of corona, ....but don't go fishing?? I can't think of any activity that is more self isolating. You aren't even near your family members. I hope to get time out fishing in the next month, or however long. It may be the only activity I can do where I can have absolutely no contact with anyone, or, god forbid, endanger anyone else. Not to mention keeping some sanity & calm in the midst of all this.
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That's a great picture of intense anticipation Smiff. Green leaves, no wind, and obviously nice and warm! <:///><
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That is a fishing trip they'll remember forever. I'm glad they each caught a fish, and nice ones at that: It made for a happier ride home, lol.
Keep up the good work and keep the kids out there. 'One of the best things you can do for them! <:///><
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Nice fish, but, hey, that trout is totally unfair, lol,; you downstaters can fish all year and we have to wait for April 1st up here. That's a nice bluegill too. I did good a few times through the ice on bluegills, and think they easily equal trout on the table. But that trout does look delicious! <:///><
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Today was the first day in a while that the wind wasn't trying to blow your hat off, and it was sunny and up to 50 degrees to boot. I probably should have been fishing, but instead was walking the beagle along the locks on the Erie Canal in Waterford. There are 5 locks here, and they raise the canal 170 feet, the highest lift in that distance anywhere in the world (for you trivia hounds). The state drains the water between these locks every winter for maintenance, leaving pools of water (some like small ponds) here and there.
I was on the concrete in front of the gates of a lock and could look down 20 feet into one of these canal wide ponds that looked to be around 2 feet deep and crystal clear. There were three schools of carp, one with about 40 fish, and the other two with a couple dozen or so. They were all laying there motionless, obviously enjoying the sun without a thought of feeding. Every so often, one or two would move a few feet and stop, but for the most part they all were staying put. Interestingly, all the fish in all three schools were pointing in the same direction. None of the fish were big, probably all in the 5 to 10 pound range. A hundred feet closer to the gates there were 8 - 10 cats laying on the bottom doing the same thing-nothing.
I wasn't too excited about running the 9 miles back to the house for my fishing gear because whenever I've seen carp exhibiting this behavior in the past, they won't bite on anything, even later on when the water is warm. In the summer, the carp will bask in the sun in weed beds and under the edges of lily pads, as well as the shallows. Sometimes you will paddle up to a school of these sunning fish, which will all spook at once, erupting the surface in a shower of noisy, splashing swirls. When in shallow water they will sometimes give the canoe a good bump when they run into it.
So, while I haven't caught any yet this year, I got to see a bunch today! <:///><
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3 hours ago, Aaron Withers said:
Nice touch with the Corona virus! Kinda weird to add that but I guess it makes the logo unique and relevant.
That is a Corona boilie.
Be sure to use with hand sanitizer glug.
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This week started by changing the clocks.
Has a full moon.
And ends with Friday the 13th.
So don't forget to wash your hands.
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I'm onboard with this 100%.
In fact I have practiced social distancing in my fishing, to one degree or another, for years. It tends to help keep my favorite spots open, keeps trash out of my favorite spots, and now it will contribute to my health and well being.
Stay healthy my friends, and stop buying all the toilet paper.
A Hair Rig Video For New People
in Beginning Carping
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