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carppielooker

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Posts posted by carppielooker

    A Colorado Section Eh?

    in CO Meet, Greet & Questions

    Posted

    I was once a Carp addict from the UK (back in the mid-80's). My uncle taught me to fish on the River Trent back when i was but 9 yrs old - I spent my youth fishing ever since that first day. Sadly though, I turned away from this passion to more social pursuits in my late teens (go figure!). I moved out to the USA (Colorado Springs) back in 2001 for work and a decade later I am still here with my wife. Note: - though after a decade I have not lost that British accent ! Finally, after an almost 25 yr absence, I have decided to get back into fishing. here in Colorado. I now rue the day that I moved here to the US and dumped all my old tackle - back then it seemed pointless to actually pay for it all to be shipped here - especially given that I didn't fish anymore. DOH !!!! make that double DOH !!!My wife and I are just taking up camping (ironic, hit mid-40's and as a mid life crisis, got a tent, not a porsche!) I managed to get approved a "meager" budget for some basic fishing tackle, Walmart specials for the majority of the basics, entry level rods & reels from Sportsman's warehouse. Hey, if you're going to go camping, you got to be able to fish eh ? well, that was my excuse to my wife :)Back in late March'12 we took a our first camping trip down to Lake Hasty, near Lamar, CO. Most of my colleagues thought I was insane going camping in a tent here in Colorado in March, they were probably correct ! I had no clue what I would catch out on that lake, I had read that the lake held walleye, wiper, trout and other fish - I honestly have no clue what most of those fish were. I am used to carp, tench, bream, chub, perch, etc - the fish I caught back in my homeland, England.Knowing no other tactics but ledger I cast out with some spam on the hook and waited. No luck (back in the old days we used to catch many carp on luncheon meats, sweet corn, dough balls etc). I switched to the worms the tackle store had provided as "trout bait" and waited - I presumed a trout or other "sports" fish has got to eat - worms ... yummy perhaps ? Minutes later, the end of the rod twangs around and I reel in my first fish - a small carp, perhaps 2lbs in weight. I was most surprised, 6000 miles from my homeland and I catch a carp here in the USA! not what I was expecting. I cast out again, and again a while later, another carp, then another, and another, all small about 1-2 lbs. dang !Over the next few days I think I hauled a dozen or so carp from that lake all around the same size but not one "sports fish". The other anglers around me were catching their trout but hey, I was happy with my little carp. I was bemused though at the reactions I got from fellow "anglers" to my pleasure in catching the type of fish I had spent so many long hours fishing for as a youth. A few even told me, "bleh, that's a carp, we just toss them onto the bank or use them as bait for catfish!". I was sad and horrified at this response! One old gentleman even took "pity" on me at my lack of trout / "sportsfish" success and offerred up a few of his trout as a gift (btw, I do not even like to eat trout!).I do confess on my last evening at the lake to breaking out a few small spoons and casting out in a forlorn attempt at spin-casting (btw I suck at spin-casting I discovered). I managed to snag a batch of small walleye, my fellow anglers were now nodding approvingly at my success. I finally had to swallow my pride and broke down to ask one what it was I was even catching ! <a newb to those hard core sports fishermen I am for sure!>. As I happily returned all my fish carefully to the waters I did notice strange looks again from my peers at the shore at this "catch and release" policy.Upon our return from Lake Hasty I knew I had rekinlded my old passion for carp fishing again. I spent the next month visiting local sporting shops to inquire about carp tackle etc. Thus my month of frustration began, finding that 99% of the people I spoke to either knew nothing about carp fishing, did not supply or stock equipment designed for this type of fishing, or thought I was some crazed British lunatic. Terminology seemed to be a challenge, most knew not what ledger was as a fishing method. I switched my search online (should done it sooner given I have worked in IT for 25 yrs!). I found the CAG forums here and after being a lurker signed up as a member a few days ago.I am already assembling my shopping list of new "toys" to acquire from the vendors that frequent these forums, dedicated carp tackle, bait runner reels, rods, pods, bite alarms, mats, nets, the list goes ever on. Hopefully over this coming year I will be able to persuade my spouse to approve the acquisition of more dedicated tackle. <fingers crossed, this will be a hard task as she shares not this hobby!>.I have dragged a work colleague out with me to a local lake (Pikeview Reservoir) and started to help teach him to fish these past few weeks --- one can never have too many friends to go fishing with. I have seen some Koi swimming in those waters and now must know what else lies beneath the surface there.I am very surprised and pleased to see that here in the USA there is a swelling number of anglers who fish for carp and respect these beloved creatures and the passion that goes along with the sport of catching them. I have reached out to an old friend back in the UK who has been carp fishing for decades to start getting back up to speed on the new developments in the sport, tactics, bait, gear etc. It would certainly seem that after 25 yrs the carp angling sport has become way more commercialized than ever I remember it with specialized baits, rods, reels, etc.This coming weekend we are off camping again, this time down to Walsenburg, CO, Horseshoe and Martin reservoirs. I have no clue if there are any carp lurking out there in those still waters (or somewhat still minus the speedboats and water ski'ers). Armed with my basic equipment it matters not, my lines shall be cast out, my folding chair set out and my feet propped up as I wait to see that rod tip quiver. I shall be sure to post an update on my success or failures when we return. This time I have unpacked an old camera to take some pics as hey, what's a post without pictures! Though those waters I shall be facing may hold wiper, walleye, bass, pike, I shall be more than happy if a carp takes my worm, powerbait, or whatever else I can attach to my hook!If nothing else what the past month(s) have taught me is "Once a Carper, always a Carper". So, greetings to my fellow Colorado anglers with a passion for carp, however, or with whatever you may catch them - it matters not to me !Warm RegardsJohnColorado SpringsMy upcoming acquisition list so far includes, 2 x Daiwa Mad Dragon Rods, 2 x Daiwa 5500 BRI Plus Bait Runner Reels (or Shimano 12000 D's /drool), a Fox Stalker Pod (WTH, we used to use wooden sticks back in the old days! or a single bank stick to hold an alarm), 2 bite alarms, swingers, a carp net, mat & sling and most importantly, a much more comfortable chair - other suggestions appreciated for a Carp'a'holic returning to the hobby once more.

    Reading this brought smiles and tears to my eyes... Especially like the "Once a Carper, always a Carper" bit...

    Pond December 1

    in Pictures, Stories & Video

    Posted

    can you at least pretend to be cold?..maybe even wear a winter jacket for the pictures :lol:

    they're neat little fish! How big are the Mekong that you're catching?

    LOL I can pretend to be cold here... But the sweat that is pouring outta my face would have definitely give it away anyways lol...

    The Mekong catfish I caught are all small... Around 4-5lbs or so... Fun on UL setup...

    Pond December 1

    in Pictures, Stories & Video

    Posted

    Finally...... Someone to take my pic of me and the fish... Today's catches are a real mixed bag... Several barbs, a couple Mekong catfish, and a couple pesky fish... All caught on sweetcorn straight on the hook...^^)

    ps... Lost a whole lot of fish today... It's not hook pulls...

    post-180-0-07604700-1354363111_thumb.jpg

    The Pond 11/28

    in Pictures, Stories & Video

    Posted

    After seeing the today's forecast last night, I know it's time to call in sick... It is pretty perfect fishing weather sorta day... I left the house and headed to the pit first to see what's up... I spend 2 hours there not seeing big fish anywhere, I packed up and move...

    Move to the pond to see storm is rolling in slowly... Mixing up my rice bran, birdseeds, cracked corn, a few handfuls of sweetcorn... And moist with strong vanilla and butter flavor... Nice smelling bait!!! 1 kernal of Sweetcorn on the hook... Today the fish just seems like they discover that sweetcorn do taste good... I ended up landing3 and lost 3 at the edge of the river...

    See ya fishies on Saturday!!!

    post-180-0-62794500-1354113674_thumb.jpg

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