[The 2014 ATC----What's Different?]

Neil,

I'm always looking forward to the ATC and that's no different for '14. It's always great to see everyone.

Always appreciate the time and effort you put in Neil! I'll still give you a big hug when I see you.

[The 2014 ATC----What's Different?]

I've flown to France twice and Romania once and blanked, so Austin isn't far! Lol

I've even fished the ATC and blanked?

Never complained as I realize it's fishing in a competition. If I want to just catch fish I'd just plan a trip on my own terms would make the most sense?

But to have someone be on the lead after day one and then have a chance to be forced into a bad peg rather than having the same chance as anyone else makes no sense to me?

So here is my game plan now-

Get up and draw a peg Friday. If it's not a peg I'm confident in probably go back to bed as I m still in the game and actually increase my chances of winning if I do poorly. If I do go fishing I sack my fish and make the call at the end of the day to count them or not. Finishing middle or close to the top is worse than blanking going into day 2. If I do draw a top peg Friday and compete knowing I might as well sleep in on Saturday when I leave why not put in a few buckets of particles about 100yds away or as someone suggested in a PM some soap as I know my chances of being there day 2 is zero.

See how well intentioned rules have consequences? I haven't broken any rules I'm aware of? But it's also greatly changed my same strategy I've used the previous 11 times I fished the ATC. Keep myself with striking distance for day 2. The year we won it was catch all you can day one and try to catch a few day 2. Which may work with this format. But rather than luck of the draw that becomes a much more predictable outcome.

Year 1 we kept the same pegs both days. After that we made the change to re-draw after day 1 to give anglers a chance to catch day 2. That rule made sense.

The draw two pegs and pick was also a good move in tourneys Ive organized. Wish I'd done that from day 1. It seemed to be a good compromise.

[The 2014 ATC----What's Different?]

I guess that's the problem it doesn't make sense to me from a logical stand point as a competitor?

I think I'm better off to not fish on Friday and have a chance to win rather than fishing hard trying to finish at least within striking distance and hope for a good peg on Day 2.

It is a friendly competition agreed, but if we just want people to catch let's have a fishin rather than a tourney?

Also we need to discuss "fishing half way to another peg". Means you can cast a bait half way to the next peg not move half way to the next peg. Correct?

[The 2014 ATC----What's Different?]

I'm willing to try something new but can't say I'm crazy about the peg draw change. Way I see it is a team that fishes hard day 1 and is in the lead gets punished for doing well by forced to go last. We'll see how it shakes out post event. Maybe I'm not getting the entire plan as well?

[Book on modern carp fishing?]

The old NACAs are available on the members forum I thought? Willem?

We still give away old printed NACAs with orders at BCT to new customers when we can.

[Frank Warwick interview]

Do to the traffic some of you may be having trouble. I've contacted the server host and increased the traffic capability so hopefully it will resolve any issues your having in the next 24 hours.

Our bad we should have been better prepared!

[Carp of the Month - December]

Nice!

[37 lber from Hains Point on CC Moore's pop up]

That's a beast. You prefer the river side to the canal side? I'm planning on attending the DC fishin this spring to try and get my DC 30

[Single hookbaits no method]

I'm using Kryston Jackyl at the moment.

[Single hookbaits no method]

I've switched over to fishing PVA sticks the last couple of years. I can go smaller if range is more important. I'm always confident of a good rig presentation.

[37 lber from Hains Point on CC Moore's pop up]

I think back years ago when I did that I had read something in a carp mag how bigger fish liked pop ups over bait because it took less effort to eat it vs. bait on the bottom. It was also when Frank Warwick was talking about a single fluoro bait fished at range. So I was using those 2 theories to formulate my own approach. 4oz lead cast as far as I could. It helped Al St Cyr and I also do well at a ATC in what was considered a typical dead swim. So it has it's place. It's a tactic I've found to be working either very well or not at all. The bait I found to work the best (and Pineapple is my fav) was the old Dynamite white fluoro milk & Ice Cream.

[37 lber from Hains Point on CC Moore's pop up]

Nice write up Mike. I had the basic same set up I used with white pop ups in the early Towne Lake days. We didn't have a name for it back then but Pat Kerwin came up with name "Nothing special rig" after catching 3 or 4 thirties during a day session. Sometimes simple is better.

[2014 CCC Venue & Host Discussion]

Its been several years since I've fished it but, Fellows Lake we held the CAGI 10 years ago in Springfield, MO that should work. Lots of bank access and its a day only venue both numbers and quality fish were caught . Obviously you'd have Bass Pro and a few other close destinations including Branson MO. Not volunteering.... just throwing it out as an optional destination option for next year or down the road.

It's centrally located and you'd probably be safe moving the dates back to the end of October there as well.

[New to the CAG from Tyler, Texas]

Welcome to the CAG forum. Look forward to seeing your catch reports from East Texas.

[Got some Memorable pictures of the ATC ?]

Old School Year 1 ATC photos-

[New PB for common carp!]

Congrats.

[Carp of the Month - November]

Any Cyprinus Carpio can be entered. Common, mirror, koi, linear, leather, etc. good Luck everyone.

[Austin flood]

Will be interesting to see how that changes things for the ATC. Thanks for posting the link.

[Carp of the Month - October]

Here's 1 of several nice mirrors I had on my recent trip. This one went 26lbs 2 oz. Big Thank You to Dean Brookes for putting me on the fish.

Hope to write a short story about the trip sometime soon. Met up with fellow CAG'ers Val & Miguel completely unexpectedly for a great session. Just a reminder of some of the great folks I've met over the 20 years being associated with CAG.

[Retired but still an ambassador for the sport]

Well done.

[Carp of the Month - August]

Cool write up. Thanks for sharing Brian. Also congrats on achieving your goal.

[French carper on the West Coast]

Welcome. Just visited Washington myself. You are correct stating its a carp fishing paradise(pic attached) taken at sunrise.

I'll be back for a long stay in the fall of '15 I hope. I'll look forward to seeing your progress between now and then finding the big ones.

You're also correct on WA rules for carp fishing. By far the worst written(common sense and logic aren't present) and hardest to figure out of any state I've ever carp fished.

[67lb 6oz carp]

Just had my first look at Idaho(west side), Oregon and Washington. Washington included Moses Lake and the upper Columbia. Amazing place and the potential is mind blowing. Yes, known about the 67 at CJ Strike for a while now. Hope to get back up there in the fall of '14 or '15 for a month or so just to have a chance to get a grip of all the choices in the NW.

They rent house boats on many of the lakes you know Marcus.

[Carp of the Month - July]

Fantail from Las Vegas

[Carp of the Month - June Winner]

Congrats Craig.