[Chemical Warfare...]

Ouch! Hope it improves soon.

Been there; it looked like I had solid sleeves of rash on both arms. Expect a month or two of recovery. Hope it doesn't itch too bad.

[The other side of the river...]

After Bigbird and Cool Dad left, I spread my rods out a bit and hoped to take advantage of a morning bite. I didn’t have to wait long…I caught a 7 and an 11 quickly. The morning light really highlights the gold

I dropped a line just on the edge of the spring and was rewarded with the big fish of the trip (20-14):

It was a fine fish, even though she was missing something:

This big-finned 13-12 followed:

The long night was taking its toll and despite the steady action I decided I would pack up at 11am and head home. At 10:52 I got another run. It was a good fight and I netted the fish. I leaned the net against a rod that was on two banksticks while I arranged the mat. While I was messing with the mat the rod with the net leaning against it took off. I hastily pulled the net off and stepped on the handle while I hooked up the other fish. I fought the second one and had to scoop it with the same net that already had a fish in it. I decided to weigh them together since they were a package deal (20-6):

As I was finishing with those fish my third rod took off. I grabbed it but missed the fish. It was now 11:05am and all my rods were out of the water. I suppose the fish were helping me pack up.

(Mike and Tim, you should have stuck around a little longer. I think we could have pulled some nice numbers. )

[The other side of the river…]

Bigbird, Cool Dad and I met up in Florida to chase some fall commons. The river level is still quite low, so our usual haunts were too shallow to fish. Since we have fished this river before, this isn’t a Discovery month entry per se, but it is the first time we’ve fished the other side of the river…

We met up a couple of hours before dark and headed to the west side of the river. After a bit of investigating we selected a swim that would accommodate all three of us. Access wasn’t bad for this part of the river (the climbing ropes weren’t necessary) but it still wasn’t exactly flat and level ground. There was a slight mad rush to gather equipment and get it down the hill. I was the first ready with a load, but I felt a bit sorry for my older and slower companions, and politely asked where they would like to fish. Bigbird declared he wanted to be on the left; so keep in mind he got where he wanted. :-P

Our home for the night:

There was an intriguing boil in the water in front of the left side. Bigbird dragged a lead through there a few times and only felt sandy bottom and hitchhiking mussels. A spring was our best guess.

A brilliant full moon lit up the river and made head lamps unnecessary for most tasks.

The current was mild and the water in front of us was quite deep. Take two steps into the water and you’d be over your head; take five and you could hide a crane in there. Part of the lock channel apparently.

I broke the ice with this scrappy 12-8.

Cool Dad entered the fray with this torpedo with a giant head at 18-8.

He followed with this crooked beast in short order (16-5). This one made him pay for the insult of a hook in the lip. He straddled the fish to unhook it and it responded with a strong flip of the tail. You can guess what happened:

I answered with this pretty 12-11:

The night got really chilly. Across the river a Native American powwow was taking place, and we spent the evening hours listening to drumming, chanting and music. Bigbird would add a few “war whoops” of his own, leaving Cool Dad and I to contemplate if it would hurt much to be beaten to death with peace pipes. Well, the tall one had to amuse himself somehow.

I’m not sure what Bigbird was doing wrong, perhaps it was the spot? Anyway, the lack of fish started getting to him. Here he is contemplating cannibalizing Cool Dad and stealing his spot (11-2):

I pulled even to Cool Dad with this long and lean 14-6:

The bites had been coming about 1 every hour or so. I lost two that felt very nice, one to a hook-pull and one to a 15 minute battle with a snag. Bigbird and Cool Dad had a few stuttering runs, but no hook-ups.

Just before dawn I managed to hang another one, a neat muddler that put up an awesome fight (15-3):

The sun was a welcome sight after the chilly night:

Bigbird and Cool Dad left about 8am, but that isn’t the end of the story…

[Hello from Spain]

Welcome to the forum. Look forward to the pictures.

[First Carp Catch]

Congrats! Some great colors on that fish...I love the ones with the buttery yellow on the fins.

[What did I get for my 25.00 ? Part 3 of 3]

Just wait until you really get experienced in this thing called carp fishing....then you'll have some fun.

Just one thing John, your 25 bucks in Mexico would get you a whole different kind of taco in Mexico.

[milestones...]

I realized I was fast approaching one of those odd forum milestones...about to click over to 2000 posts and collect my golden boilies. In reality it doesn't mean anything other than I can't seem to keep from blabbering on or have a compulsive need to give "attaboys" on story threads, but I still feel the need to mark the occasion. Nothing seemed more appropriate than fishing with my dad.

I hadn't seen my parents in months. These folks are so cool they drove 700 miles, one way, to help me prepare for a housewarming party. They worked like slaves and were still entertaining at the party. The following day I laid down the whip and let them rest. I even took the old man out for a short session chasing Alabama grassies. My father is the person who really awakened my interest in fishing (plunked a rod into my hand at two years of age) and he also encouraged me to join CAG about 8 years ago.

It was a short session, no special catches, just a spirited 18+...but I wouldn't trade trips like these for ten 40s at the St. Lawrence without my dad.

Thanks Dad (and Mom too!)

[Another Great Day]

Nice healthy fish. Congrats!

[October Carp...season is ending!]

Nice carp and gorgeous pictures.

[What is your opinion?]

Weird.

[WCB Boilies + 44 1/2 Hours + success!]

I wouldn't mind waiting three days to get some results like that! Congrats on the fine catches!

[Broken hook and a New PB]

Congrats on the PB. That is a great-looking fish.

[The fight...]

Where did you learn the military alphabet at, just curious!

Army brat. Also work for the Army right now.

Did that "whimpy little Predator" nail another monster !!!

Yes, I did catch that one on a Predator.

[what a belly!!!]

What a fatty! congrats.

[The fight...]

Very nice looking site to fish. Congrates on the grassy. But one question Rachel is were are the colors in the leaves on the trees? I thought leaves change colors now. LOL.

Heh, this far south it hasn't been cold enough to change anything. But we don't get the brilliant colors they get up north. Leaves generally just turn brown and fall off. Besides, a lot of those were pines anyway.

[Old School approach to Carping]

You've been posting some great stuff, JD. That was fun to watch.

[Finally got to go]

At least you got some bank time. Some great bird pics...I especially like that second to last one, great action shot.

[A Cold October Morning]

Nice ones! It may have been chilly, but you had some beautiful morning light for those pics.

[The fight...]

Thanks guys.

wow, what a beautiful lake...and the name is great too

It's true too. I spend more time setting up than actually waiting for the first bite.

Oh, and I was in Fort Payne, AL friday. Please ask your state government officials to spend a little money on the I-59 please.

I've just had my second windshield replaced this year from driving on the city's (!) streets. Alabama roads are not for the faint of heart or weak of glass.

Brid, that's the second time you've taken a shot in one of my grass carp reports. Don't care for the content of my reports? Then don't read them. I'm not going to waste space explaining to you again why grassies are more available than commons where I live. Perhaps you should follow your own directive and leave me alone.

My reports tend to be more about the story and the pictures than the fish themselves, which is why I post in this section. Mods, if you feel it's in the wrong place, please move it and I'll post in that place in the future.

[The fight...]

Thanks, y'all.

I'd say that's marriage material right there...

Already married and old enough to be my father.

Nice pictures. How do you deal with the grass growing in the pond?

Not much grass in there, at least where I fish. The grassies steal duck feed which seems to help keep them well-fed.

[Lake Cammack Fish-in]

Nice fish. Good event looks like.

[The fight...]

Too many chores and not enough fishing makes Rachel a dull girl. I went to Lake Echo Zulu (nicknamed such because the fish are E-Z) in search of grassies. Gorgeous fall evening...

Still warm but not humid...

Grassies swooshing out there...

The property owner walked down to chat. He brought cold beer and a bass rod. Just as he walked up a fish slammed the rod so hard it backlashed the baitrunner. The property owner makes a good action photographer. Gin clear water...enjoy the fight.

25+

Cold beer, good fight, nice fish, beautiful evening...that's the ticket.

[First of all,]

[ISSUE16]

Just had a quick skim, looks like some good stuff. Can't wait to give it a proper read.

[What It's All About]

Outstanding.