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Keith

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    Pegging Update from Austin Carp Angler

    in ATC 2014

    Posted

    Just wanted to give all the entrants a quick update on the pegging for this years event.

    All of the Austin Carp Angler crew have been working hard clearing swims in preparation for this years event.

    We have lost a few of the traditional swims due to construction and as of right now there are still three swims on our list that may or may not be available (depending on the city to finish working in the area).

    We have added two swims that have never before been used during the ATC (both are swims we have fished and caught from so there are definitely carp to be caught there) as well as bringing back a couple of swims that did produce reasonably well in previous ATC's.

    We are still working on a few more potential new swims that have never been used before and one that has but may not be fishable by a team of two without more hard work.

    I will say that all of the swims we have cleared and fished have produced numbers of carp so the lake is still pretty healthy even after the flooding at the end of October 2013.

    Once we get the pegs finalized we will release the peg map to Neil and Willem in case they want to post it here in advance of the event.

    Stay tuned for further updates as the date gets closer.

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

    in ATC 2014

    Posted

    So Brendan - explain to me how a Big 4 or 5 shows skill.

    If I catch 16 fish between average 17.5lb over the two days (280lb total) why should that have less merit than catching four fish at 23lb? Did I not show more skill by catching more fish from the swim.

    On a tournament that is just two 12 hour sessions I can't work the swim to get big fish into it (I can work the swim to catch the most from it though), maybe 36 hours straight I can get some bigger fish in my swim. So if there are no big fish in my two swims it becomes pure luck as to whether I get a big fish swim or not - zero skill level required. This is why 95% of all the world carp events are on total weight, yes they have big 4 awards but the champions are almost always total weight.

    The reasoning behind the proposed change is to try and ensure everyone catches fish and at least make people feel they have a chance on day two, theoretically the results should be very close. I know how I felt a few years ago getting two pegs that were both very low producing pegs two days in a row, on two of those occasion my partners did not even bother fishing the second day since they came to catch carp from Town Lake (as it was back then). I recall a couple of events where complete teams opted out of the second day because they had the same swim they had failed to catch in on the first day.

    Without doubt some will be upset however the draw or champions are decided.

    There are some options that might help

    1. Draw two and pick one (at least I can apply some watercraft to which of the two swims I pick, does give some advantage to locals who know the water).

    2. Draw one for both days (the way it was the first year- this was veto'ed as some thought it unfair that a good swim was occupied by the same anglers two days in a row).

    3. Stick with the previous format (and just blame luck if people don't catch).

    4. Switch to the proposed format (and I do understand other peoples arguments regarding guarenteeing a bad peg on day two by doing well on day one. Also give a second day advantage to the locals who know which pegs are good).

    5. Switch to Big 4 or 5 (you understand why I think this takes away any skill required to catch carp or big carp, the big carp here are not anywhere near as nomadic and thus there are certain swims where big carp do not get caught from, carp yes but not the big ones).

    A couple things of note are that some of the more well known swims are not being fished this year as they are unavailable for various reasons. Because of this we have had to open up some previously used swims and add in some swims that have never been used for the ATC.

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

    in ATC 2014

    Posted

    I for one am a big fan of the Big 4-5 tournaments. It is the only format that's fair in my opinion especially with a lake like the one in Austin.

    I realize that the idea of the ATC is about socializing and fun but still, everyone want's to have a chance to win it.

    I only fished the ATC one time and honestly it was kind of a disappointing experience for me since I managed to draw the tip of the peninsula and the actual peninsula the second day. It was nice for me and my partner to get 50+ grassers and only one 30+ carp but I was still disappointed. After day 1 I knew I had close to 0 chances to win anything but big fish.

    As for what Jerome suggested, well in my case and the rest of the K1 crew, we won't be able to stay and fish after the tournament since we have to drive to Lake Fork and prepare for that tourney

    I think it would be a great Idea to make the tournament big 4 or big 5. Create 2 sections , anglers that fish section 1 first day need to draw a peg in section 2 the next day. And draw for pegs every morning the same way, it doesn't matter who did well in the first day.

    That should summarize how I personally feel about this issue

    Istvan

    That is what the new draw system will cancel out, getting two bad swims in a row. And there is not one other world level tournament that uses big 4 or 5 as a method for deciding the winner - that is a USA format that helps people who want to level the playing field.

    FFF 2014 - Register Here!

    in FFF 2014

    Posted

    I would like to register for FFF 2014.

    Your name: Keith Thompson

    Your CAG forum name: Keith
    Your state or province of residence: Texas
    If it differs from your residence,
    the state or province of your FFF 2014 venue: Same as residence
    Junior (17 or under as of 1/1/14)?: No

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

    in ATC 2014

    Posted

    Here are my thoughts and some of the logic behind this.

    I live here and can comprehensively state every single swim being used for the ATC is capable of producing fish IF the team work it. There are no bad swims here just swims that take effort to catch fish from. If you make the effort you should be rewarded. We ended up mid field last year and would happily have worked our swim for a few more on the second day.

    Something needed to be done to help those people who had the bad luck to draw hard swims two days in a row. Why? Because those are the people who won't come back because they wanted a chance to compete - this gives them at least some chance. How do I know this? Because I listened to the people complaining after every ATC I have been to (this will be my ninth of thirteen I think).

    It takes angling skill to catch fish consistently regardless of you swim, any noddy can turn up and pull 200lb from some swims here. If this is a test of skill then prove you can catch them from the harder spots. I can think of several years when the winners had a great swim day one and scratched in day two, the reverse has not been generally true. So all this talk of staying in bed on day one is just BS - get out there, fish wherever you are lucky/unlucky enough to draw, as hard as you can and see if you can beat those guys who got the swim you wanted on day one.

    Luck should not have an influence over the outcome of an event. This draw at least takes the luck out of one of the days. Want to take it out completely make it a walk off draw both days or one walk off draw and keep the same peg, or one blind draw and keep the same peg both days. The ATC is the only two day event that has a draw for swims each day. You know why? Because people bitched after the first year that those in the going swims had the best if it two days in a row. The reality was that Richard and Tommy won that year because they fished hard both days. People don't fish hard both days when they get a hard swim both days due to luck.

    Final WCC of Austin Event for 2013

    in TX Fish-Ins & Social Events

    Posted

    A quick reminder to all that Sunday 8th December 2013 is the final event of the WCC of Austin monthly series.

    We will meet and draw for partners and swims at the I35 bridge. Draw time is 6:30 am, fishing from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

    Each angler will draw a chip from the bag. Chips are paired together and the nuymber of the chip will determine the order of the walk off. Pairs must decide on their pegged area together and decide where in the peg each would like to fish. Rock, Paper, Scissors in case of any issues at the swim. In the case of an odd number of anglers attending there will be one solo number in the bag (it will be the last number), the angler drawing this number will have to ensure that they fish near to one of the pairs to ensure that his or her fish are weighed/witnessed by another angler. There are plenty of locations that three anglers can be close enough that this can happen.

    Anywhere on Ladybird Lake is open to fish but be aware that lots of swims are currently overgrown so you may need to beat down some of the growth to fish some spots. The lake is currently fishing very well with multiple fish being caught on a daily basis.

    Come and join us and enjoy some end of year sport on Ladybird Lake.

    2013 CAG Big 4 - Rules & Info

    in 2013

    Posted

    I just asked that woman at the Georgia Department of Fish and Agricultural Practices if suckers and grass carps are the same as a common carp and she said all carps are common and that a carp is a carp and that a sucker is almost a carp. She has a badge and a picture of a man with a beard so she knows.

    Suckers and carp are not even in the same family of fishes. These fisheries people need to get some education on fish LOL

    Post 2013 ATC trash talk

    in ATC 2013

    Posted

    I one of those who has fished the ATC since its inception and have blanked both days as well as winning and being in the top five a couple of times.

    This year Kristi and I drew the dreaded "Dead Zone" on day one and immediately on arrival decide we were going to catch from it (the Dead Zone is now know as Thompson's :) ). Day two we fish the spot Brid and Kristine blanked in and caught fish too - including that 55lb buffalo mentioned earlier.

    Ladybird lake is no different than any other 380+ acre lake, catching fish here is all about location, location, location - if they are not there you cannot catch them, plain and simple, no amount of bait or rig will help. I don't use fancy rigs, just good quality hook (Korda or Nash), good quality hooklength material (Kryston or Korda), tied knotless knot fashion with on the hair, along basic oats or grits pack. I catch fish more times than not when I get to choose where I fish on the lake.

    As far as making changes to the draw see this post on the ATC 2014 http://www.facebook.com/groups/512447605460829/permalink/512481375457452/

    The Long Awaited 2013 Atc---Trash Thread

    in ATC 2013

    Posted

    There is another Brit fishing this years ATC one who has won the ATC, finished send once and only blanked on two of the 9 occasions he has fished it.

    One who won last years WCC tournament fishing, even though he fished only three of the eight events. All the fish he caught were on pack bait fished on the hook (pay lake style) but using plastics on a hair rather than a puff.

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