[New Buff record]

they had that on the news,and i believe it was gutted

Gutted? That means that it's gonna be catfood or Curry. Probably would make a mean Thia stir fry.

Look at the bright side---a Big fish like that one, getting some media attention will hopefully get some anglers interested in fishing for Buffs.

Hopefully- those same anglers will find their way to this website, and find out that there's other anglers, and alternative views on fishing for Buffs.

On the other hand:

If ya have a problem with gutted buffs--search out fishing message boards from the areas where these big boys are caught--and POLITLY express your views on practicing catch and release on one of North Americas premire "Power Fish".

I won't call a Buff a Game Fish, simply because that term would lump it in with a bunch of freshwater fish that a decent Buff could swallow whole.

Spread the word--or not be heared.

[catfish question]

anyone want to venture a guess on these photos?

they look like channels to me,

How many diferent fish are we looking at?

On the first two pics, some of the distinguishing features are hidden, and in a photo, color is usually distorted.

SO:

1st 2 pics--I'd guess baby Blue.

Rest of them--Baby Blues.

Now you're ready to go catch Mamma Blue.

[ONE HAPPY CARPER]

Man what a great weekend at Town Lake...

Buster Seez

You guys just plain suck.

Not only do your fish happen to be "Super Sized", they're just plain purty too.

Dats what a monster carps supposed to look like.

Congrats guys. Very nice fish.

t

[Great day at a WWD!]

Way to go Kyle

[ACS poles]

The pragmatic side of me does have one question though. What is being done with all the butts from the lighter test curve blank and the tips from the heavier test curve blank?

I'll take a shot at this--I've seen it before in Surf Blanks.

Basicly--They've taken an "off the shelf" Euro Style--Parobolic Blank, changed the wrap schedule to add a bit more material and stiffness to the butt section in order to make it a bit more acceptable for the US Market.

Not really a big deal--It's a "slightly faster taper" Carp Rod.

Forget the test curve stuff and it will be easier to understand.

Thats all just a guess on my part--but it's not really anything out of the ordinary as far as manufacturing goes--just a different way to say stiffer butt.

EDIT--Sorry David--Your post hit while I was typing mine. Sounds like a pretty good rod to me.

[Best fighting carp?]

17 to about 25 lbs. seems to be the ultimate fighting weight for all of the fish that I've encountered.

The only "river" fish that I've caught were caught from a boat--and 99% of the fish would run upstream right at ya. By the time that they'd realized that they swam the wrong way, they had already burn't a lot of energy. Pretty much took a lot of the fight out of them.

I have caught a lot of smaller fish (<10lbs) in creeks, and they were pretty impressive--so I'd think that fish from moving water should be a bit stronger than still water fish--given equal fighting conditions.

[Carp Boats]

Brian:

Very nice rig. Hope that ya enjoy it.

I've had my share of boats---and JMHO---it's hard to beat a rig like that. --Perfect.

BTW--Just read the maiden voyage post. I didn't laugh--really.

Everyone who has ever owned a boat has their own stories just like yours--so don't feel bad. You'll learn all of the tricks in no time.

[Another "unknown" photo]

Why would anyone want to make a fake fish picture?

The answer--usually it's done simply as a joke--ment for only a few close friends to see. Pics can last a long time though, and years later, they tend to turn up as the real thing.

Alan's post on Carp history is a work of art. That one should be pinned or posterity.

To add a bit of Carp history from the South--my memory is only good from about 1962 on----

My family's (mom and dads) were totally different. Dads family were mill town folks. My Grand father was a fishing fool. From the late '40's on--He would make numerous 12 hour (one way) trips to the beach to fish for Red Drum--huge "saltwater carp". They came home with him to feed the family. He also spent a huge amount of time fishing for catfish in local waters--and they made it to the table also. My father swears that he has NEVER ate a carp--even in the 40's and the 50's, my Grandfather wouldn't put a carp on the table. He wouldn't even fish for them.

My Mothers family were country farmers. My Grandfather on Mom's side of the family was a Carp fishing fool--But--He was a Paylaker--starting in the mid 50's. In the 60's,he would drag me to the carp pond with him 4-5 nights a week. Back then, the local pond had some BIG carp in it. 50 plus pounders. I don't know where the paylake fish came from--but much larger fish were stocked in the 50's and 60's compaired to what's available today.

It may seem odd, but even though my Mother's family lived way back in the sticks--they wouldn't eat Carp either. They were considered as great sporting fish--but not fit as table fare.

I'm posting this only to point out two things:

(1) Carp were regarded in totaly different ways in different parts of the country even in the old days--

(2) JMHO--the average size of the fish may have been much larger years ago.

My hypotosis (sp)

Fishing pressure may in fact be GOOD for Carp. They are one of natures most perfect species, and when not managed, they MAY be so perfect as to overpopulate their habitat--in US waters.

Just a thought--based somewhat on history.

T

[Another "unknown" photo]

JMHO----

The Lady in the pic is 5'11", weights 140, and (size being considered) is at least a B cup--and more likely a C (gravity comes into play here).

THE FISH:

Based on a compairison to the lady--figuring in density and other voodo aspects--weights 107 lbs.

BUT--hold the press:

Fisherman learned how to fake a fish pic just as soon as they invented fish pics.

Check out the ladys hand. It's NOT grasping the rope--its behind it.

Also--the fish has no GUT. Simple fact of nature. The firmness and elasticity of fish flesh is NOT proportional between small fish and large fish. i.e.--hang a 20 lb. carp--and there will be some sagging of the belly/body cavity. Hang a 107 pounder--and that suckers gut will sag like jello.

SO--my 007 paylaker spy sense sez---The Woman is a high school teacher--and gym coach. The guy is a car salesman. and the fish is a respectful 35 lbs. (or less)

[Help attaching photos!!!]

Testing 123

Never could figure dis out either.

Test 2--old way.

Can't figure out the "File Attachment method

[The FFF...]

Unfortunatly

Busters got to do some chores to keep the "spouse" happy on NYD.

BUT--Buster Jr. is planning to fish a local lake. Fish will be weighted on certified scales, and I will be glad to fax a copy of the "offical" scoreboard for the day, and could even take a pic of any money that my "stunt double" might win.

Unless, of course, anyone is scared to fish against a 13 year old.

[Most fish caught?]

At a paylake, I've caught 20 to 30 in an 8 hour session several times. Thats not necessarly a good thing. Usually when you really get into the numbers, you arn't always getting quality fish. I'd much rather catch only 3-4 fish, if they were hawgs.

Best wild carping was 20 years ago when I was into trotlining for Cats. (CPR even then). We'd keep a section of flats baited up with corn, and anchor up and catch carp while soaking the Cat baits. It would get crazy. There would be so many carp that we'd use ultra-lite tackle and have a ball. Hopeing to try it again this Spring.

[Carp Care]

I've sometimes wondered about the rubber net baskets as maybe providing the best of both worlds, fewer tangles and fish friendly. I have never used a real rubber net though, so I don't know if the benefits are real or imagined.

OK, Never having seen what is refered to as a "soft net"--I had assumed that they were actually rubber. That's what I'm looking for. I always keep my nets--(1 on each side) in the water--wet--and in my screwed up way of thinking--the rubber ones would be less likely to "de-slime" the fish, and be less tangle prone--resulting in the fish being out of the water longer.

SO--Whats the difference in the Fox nets and the usual US fiber nets, if they arn't actually made of "rubber (soft plastic)

Now I'm really confused.

[Carp Care]

Paul

Along the line of Carp Care:

I noticed that you also carry replacement "soft' nets, for Fox landing nets. I think that they were listed as being "50" inches?? Can you explain what that measurment refers to? Also, are these nets threaded around the "hoop" like most other nets? Most paylakers use the old style nylon mesh nets because thats really the only thing available as a replacement that we know will fit. JMO, but I'd switch to a "soft" net in a heartbeat--and not just to protect the fish. The old "mesh" nets are notorius for tangling up with the terminal rig--and wasting valuable time while being untangled.

i.e.--I'm not about to replace my landing net "frames", but I'd love to find a "soft" mesh replacement that would thread over a hoop that was approxamatly 8 to 9 foot in circumferance.

Make any sense?

[packbait for new carpers]

Just a note on using rice:

There's been some good rice recipes posted already. However, in a pinch, you can make a perfectly good rice bait without heating the ingredients. (ie-while fishing). Just mix all the ingredients together, and cover with a tight lid. Usually takes an hour or two for the rice to absorb the liquid, but it will work fine. Heating is the prefered method--but if heating is not possible, you can still make a good bait.

[Thanks for the warning…]

I'm going Thursday AM to Lake Wylie

Hey Newt:

You ever fish any of the Yadkin Lakes? I used to do a lot of fishing for big cats, and have hooked several 50+ pound carp on trotlines---cut shad for bait--believe it or not.

I've only fished for "wild" carp a few times--at the upper end of High Rock Lake years ago. Nothing big--but hundreds of 5-15 lb fish.

Any experience or suggestions for carpin the Yadkin?