Savayman

2024 CCC RULES As a minimum there shall be prizes for the Biggest Carp, and Biggest 4 Carp (total weight of 4 biggest carp caught by angler). Additional Prizes for Total Overall Weight, Section Winners, First Fish, Smallest Fish and Biggest Mirror are also being planned. Carp King Belt Buckle awarded for the capture of the Biggest Carp North American Champion Trophy awarded to Biggest 4 Carp 1. The Peg Draw shall start no later than 7:00 am on Saturday morning (Anglers who are arriving early in the morning must register and have their scales checked before 6:30am), with Fishing from 8:00am to 4:00pm. The Award Ceremony will follow at the advertised time & place. Scale certification will also be available on Friday evening at the Meet & Greet. 2. All anglers must hold a valid NY fishing license. All anglers must have pre-registered and have pre-paid all entry fees before the draw. There is to be no fishing by anglers along the venue on the day PRIOR to the CCC date; any competitor found pre-baiting, plumbing, or fishing after this time and before the official start of the competition will be disqualified, and their entry fees forfeited. 3. This is a catch-and-release competition; no fish will be weighed unless it was caught fairly (hook must be within 2 inches of the fishes mouth), has been handled safely, and can be released alive. 4. Any angler found attempting to weigh in fish that are snagged, foul-hooked (hook is in a part of the fish’s body more than 2 inches from the mouth) or caught by any other unfair means will be disqualified from the competition. The Weigh Officials’ decision in all such cases shall be final. 5. Only Carp ( Common or Mirror ) can be weighed in and counted for any awards or prizes. All other fish (including Game Fish) do not count, and must be returned immediately to the water. Anyone attempting to retain a Game Fish will be disqualified from the competition. 6. If two anglers, as a result of travelling together or a requirement for extra assistance, need to fish adjacent pegs then they must notify the Draw Official no later than the evening BEFORE the peg draw. These anglers will be allowed to draw first. One of the two Anglers will draw a peg number and the next peg will be assigned to his partner. In the event the first angler picks an end peg the two pegs above or below will be assigned. This will ensure that there are always independent anglers either side of the Two anglers for the purposes of weighing as in Rule 18. Please note: The CCC is an Individual tournament and EACH angler MUST fish independently of any other. Each angler must fish and place all of their fishing equipment within a rod-length (12 feet) either side of their peg. Anglers can cast to any point up to halfway between their peg and the pegs on either side, or up to 15 yards from their peg in the case of end peg in the section. Any infringements in placing their fishing equipment more than 12 feet from their peg, or in attempted casting outside their peg area, will make the Angler concerned liable for disqualification from the competition. 7. Big Carp are hard-fighting fish; there may be a need for an angler to leave their peg location momentarily, to play a fish that is running parallel to the bank. Please be considerate of other anglers; try and avoid playing your fish in their pegged areas. Adjacent pegged anglers are encouraged to help an angler in difficulties with a big fish by removing their lines from the water while the fish is being played. Neighboring Anglers can help by netting fish or removing other rods for the Angler; no other assistance is allowed. 8. Anglers may leave their pegged area to answer a call of nature, etc. All lines must be reeled in before leaving. If the angler wishes to leave during the competition, they need to record their leaving time with the Anglers either side of them, and remove all their equipment from their pegged area. Anglers must be present at the end of the Awards Ceremony after competition closes to be eligible for any prizes and awards. 9. No boats, bait-boats or wading, use of floatation devices or swimming (except in an emergency!); fishing from the shoreline only. Exception – an angler can enter the water by authorization from a Weigh Offficial or Angler at the next peg, to free a fish caught in a snag, weed or otherwise in distress or possible danger. Please ensure that you receive a verbal authorization from the Angler at the next peg or Official present before you enter the water. 10. Only 2 RODS per angler may be used at any time, with 1 single hook per rod. Hooks can be no larger than a size 1, recommended hook patterns are barbless and micro-barbed (e.g. a standard Carp Hook), or have the barb squeezed down with pliers. Hooks larger than a size 1, multiple hooks, double or treble hooks and hooks with an oversized barb are not allowed. Weigh Officials have the right to inspect angler’s hooks, and can disallow fish caught on any other type of hook; Weigh Officials decision in all such cases will be final. The angler can use an additional rod for spodding, spombing, or controlling a marker float; no fishhooks can be attached to any part of the line on this rod. The angler can have additional rods pre-rigged at the peg; but they can only have a maximum of two baits in the water at any time. Any angler found breaking these rules or fishing or attempting to fish in an unsportsmanlike way will be disqualified from the competition. Any angler breaking the 2 rod & 1 hook per line competition rules will be disqualified from the competition. 11. Required for each angler: a well-padded unhooking mat, a carp-specific weigh sling, a set of scales & tripod/monopod for weighing the fish, and at least 1 mesh style/CAG approved & well ventilated carp sack or retention sling (for retaining fish in the water before weighing), and a soft, knotless mesh “fish friendly” landing net of the appropriate size. Anglers will not be allowed to count fish towards their total if they do not have a suitable mat and landing net. 12. Pre-Baiting will not be allowed. No breaking of the water is allowed before the start of the competition, except to plumb the depth, position a marker float, wet nets, unhooking mats and carp-sacks. Anglers are allowed to draw a small amount of water in a suitable bucket or pail, to wet and prepare ground bait (chum) before the start. 13. The competition will start promptly at the advertised time; fishing time will be signaled by one long blast on a car horn or by Weigh Officials. The fishing period will last a maximum of 8 hours with competition close announced by two long blasts on a car horn or Weigh Stewards. All fishing lines must be removed promptly at the end of the competition. Any angler playing a fish when the competition end is announced must call out and signal “Fish On”. The angler will have a maximum of 15 minutes to play the fish in and net it; timekeeping will be the responsibility of the Anglers at adjacent pegs 14. ALL Baits and Chum / Ground bait must be fish safe. Allowed baits include bread, corn (sweetcorn or boiled maize), particles, boilies, pellet and paste baits, etc. In addition, anglers can use natural baits such as worms, night crawlers, maggots, mealworms, wax worms, crickets and hellgrammites, etc. Artificial baits, attached to each hook/hair rig system (e.g. artificial corn, boilie, crayfish fly, etc.) can be used, but no spoons, plugs, jigs, or other metal lures can be used. The Weigh Officials have the right to inspect all baits, and disallow any bait they deem illegal, offensive or dangerous. 15. All standard, Carp-safe rigs are allowed; all rigs should include either a Safety Clip or allow the lead/sinker to slide over knots in the case of an Inline, Helicopter, or Method Feeder rig. Zig Fishing, Fly Fishing, Float Fishing or Pole Fishing Rigs must include a lower breaking strain leader/hook length/tippet, to avoid a Carp breaking off the whole rig. All rigs are liable to inspection by Weigh Officials; any unsafe rigs found must be changed immediately, or the Angler concerned will be disqualified from the competition. Weighing Officials decision in all such cases will be final. 16. Ground baiting (chumming) is allowed only after the advertised start time. Spods / Spombs, PVA bags, nets & string, catapults (fishing slingshots), throwing spoons, and feeders of all types are acceptable. Please bait intelligently and only within your peg area. 17. Scales Calibration Check - Any Angler wanting to use their scales to have their fish weighed by a neighboring Angler must present their scales for calibration check to the Weigh Officials on Friday evening (or at 6:30am on Saturday morning for those Anglers arriving on Saturday). Weigh Officials will mark checked scales for neighboring Anglers to identify which scales can be used for weighing purposes. 18. Weighing System – Each angler’s fish will be weighed and recorded by a neighboring Angler on the Anglers Weigh Sheet with exact weight, type (Common or Mirror Carp), and time caught. The neighboring Angler will also sign the Weigh Sheet. It is each angler’s ultimate responsibility for ensuring that his/her fish is recorded accurately, and that the Weigh Sheet is delivered to the Weigh Officials at the end of the competition. In the event of any weighing disagreements or discrepancies, please notify the Organizer or Weigh Official immediately, within 1 hour of the end of the competition day, in person. The Organizer and Weigh Official will examine the Angler’s Weigh Sheet, talk to the Recording Angler, and will advise the angler of the decision. In all cases, the Organizers decision shall be final and binding. 19. In the event of a tie for any total or big 4 weight awards & prizes, the angler with the biggest single fish shall be judged the winner. In the event of a tie for the weight of a single fish award or prize, the award of trophy will be decided by a coin toss. 20. A Runner (Angler’s Guest) is allowed to be with the Angler at their designated peg, to support the Anglers by netting fish, assisting the Weigh Officials with the weighing and recording of fish, and by releasing fish safely back to the water. In addition, the Runner can leave the peg at any time, to fetch food and drink, carry the Angler’s gear, and liaise with spectators, the Weigh Team, and Media Representatives. The Runner cannot bait the hook for the angler, cast out, or otherwise touch the fishing rod until the fish is netted; at that point the Runner may move the rod and net out of the way, assist with unhooking the fish, and liaise with the Weigh Official. 21. Anglers are responsible for their own property, safety and liability for any damage or injury to others. The Organizer of this competition, and the Sponsors, wave any liability for any personal loss or injury, howsoever caused; this is an “enter-at-your-own-risk” event. Please remember that there are likely to be spectators and children present at all times. Look behind you before you cast! 22. You must be a Fully Paid CAG Member over the age of 16 (on or before the date of the event) to enter the CCC. The $65 Entry Fee must be fully paid to CAG before the draw on Sept 30th. This event will be limited to a maximum of 50 Anglers. 23. If the event needs to be cancelled, due to extreme weather conditions, Covid restrictions etc any refunds will be at the sole discretion of the CAG BOD; their decision will be final. 24. Anglers will be required to sign a waiver of liability before being allowed to enter the draw; any refusal to sign will result in instant disqualification of that Angler. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian also sign the waiver. A valid NYS fishing license must be with you when fishing. Licenses can be obtained on line. http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6091.html Out of state members can purchase a one day license for $10 The Hudson River is a tidal river and as anyone who has ever fished a tidal river knows adjustments have to be made for the flow and changes in depth. Be prepared!

The awards will be consistent with the CCC tradition: The North American Champion trophy will be awarded to the angler with the Four Fish with the greatest total weight (Big 4). Winners will be able to have their name engraved & added to the trophy. The Trophy is held by the winner and then passed onto to future winners. The North American Carp King Jeweled Belt Buckle will be awarded to the angler catching the Single Heaviest Carp. In addition, we will have Special Awards for the angler landing the Biggest Mirror, Smallest Carp Caught, First Carp Caught, the Heaviest Combined Total-Weight as well as Trophies for each Section Winner (Big 4). There is also a 'Catfish' King award for the biggest catfish caught during the CCC. In case of ties, see the rules. We will also have a variety of tackle prizes to award to winners.

Registration for the 2024 CAG Carp Classic is now LIVE! Cost is $65 for CAG Members which includes your CCC Entry as well as Dinner at the Awards Ceremony. ** Non members pay $90 which includes a CAG Membership. ** Click Here to Register for the CCC 2024 & Dinner & Awards Ceremony CAG Members please note you must be logged into the Forum to get the $65 CAG member rate! You can also purchase dinner for a non-fishing guest for the Awards Ceremony on the Saturday night. Click Here for Non Fishing Dinner Guest Purchase *** CCC 2024 Commemorative T-Shirts are also available for purchase *** Designs will be similar to last year and images will be uploaded soon Purchase Link Will Be Posted Soon!

2024 CCC Schedule Saturday September 21st Location: Hudson River, NY Peg Locations*: Coxsackie Riverside Park, Dutchmans Landing & Henry Hudson Park One day NY Freshwater License is $10 Buy online: https://www.ny.gov/services/get-freshwater-fishing-license Friday Sept 20 2024 Meet and Greet: At the Pegasus Restaurant from 5:00 pm A Bar-B-Que will be available in the parking lot 4pm-8pm Get your scales certified. Saturday Sept 21 2024: 7:00am - Peg draw @ Chrissy's Diner (details below) 8:00am - 4:00pm - CCC Fishing 6:00pm - Dinner 7:30pm - Awards, Prize Giving & Raffle The Dinner and Awards will be held at the Pegasus Restaurant Pegasus Restaurant 10885 St. Rte 9w, Coxsackie NY 12051 http://www.pegasuson9w.com 518-731-9200 The Peg draw and Scale Certification will be held in the parking lot behind CHRISSY’s Diner. 11830 Route 9w, West Coxsackie NY 12192. The only red light in Coxsackie turn onto Rt 385 (Mansion St), pull around behind the building to the large parking lot. Certification will be from 6:00 to 7:00. Peg draw @ 7:00. If your coming to the meet and greet on Friday you can also get your scale certified then. We hope Chrissy's will have reopened for breakfast @ 6:00 if anyone wants to grab a bite before the fishing starts. She will also make lunches to go! If Chrissy's is not open you can can also get breakfast sandwiches, subs etc from Griffin's Market 273 Mansion St, Coxsackie, NY 12501 which opens 5am - 9pm. Local Places to Stay! Holiday Inn Express 12740 State Route 9W West Coxsackie 518-719-1999 Best Western Hotel 12600 State Route 9W West Coxsackie 518-731-8300 800-528-1234 21b Motel 12800 State Route 9W West Coxsackie 518-731-2721 Camping: Tents, RV's Cabins: https://www.treetopiacampground.com/ and https://www.campcatskillsrvpark.com/ * Pegs subject to final confirmation

We are asking all carp anglers to complete these important questions. Our aim is to provide key economic and other data to TN and KY fishery agencies in an effort to protect trophy carp at Dale Hollow Reservoir.

And here are the winners! After a randomized draw to pull out 12 winners from the CAG Membership we then put those 12 names in one bucket and the list of prizes in another. Here is the list of winners and the prizes they won. We will be in touch over the next couple of days to confirm your mailing address etc and will then get the prizes sent to you. Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone for supporting CAG with your membership!

Sharpening the Senses - Daniel Jawadnya View File This article was first printed in a NACA magazine about 10 years ago. It is still one of the most fascinating and well conducted experiments to explore what a carp can sense! It looks at how carp respond to a variety of flavors, oils, boilie ingredients etc as well as how carp respond to color and sound. Daniel Jawadnya lives in Holland and can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.jawadnya.angler Submitter Savayman Submitted 03/22/2024 Category 2012  

The 21st Annual St. Lawrence International Jr. Carp Tournament will be held on along the shores of the St. Lawrence River, July 18 – 20, 2024. To kick things off, we’re pleased to announce that recent Madrid-Waddington graduate, Tanner Smith, will be this year’s Grand Marshal! Tanner joined the Jr. Carp family in 2016, and took home the Grand Champion title that same year! Since then he has won several individual and team awards in the event, with last year’s event being his last due to age requirements. Despite now living in Georgia while attending linemen school, his response when invited to be Grand Marshal was, “now that’s an offer I can’t refuse!”, said Jo Ann Roberts, who organizes the tournament alongside daughter, Abby McNamara. His participation in the Jr. Carp tournament introduced him to a larger ‘Carp audience’, and was asked to join Team USA in the World Championship events in Hungary in 2022, and in France in 2023. When asked about his time in the tournament, Tanner said “this event is an opportunity to enjoy a great day on the riverbank with awesome people. I’ve experienced more opportunities because of it than I could have ever imagined, creating wonderful memories.” Abby, who began helping her mom with the event when she was only 6 years old said, “We are beyond proud to have Tanner as our next Grand Marshal. He brings an abundance of knowledge and advice to share with this year’s participants”. The tournament was started in 2003 by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, and is now hosted by the Carp Anglers Group; a national organization with many of their members volunteering during the event. We’d like to encourage anyone who loves fishing, the outdoors and a family-friendly event to join us this year! Equipment and sponsorships are limited but available, and the experts will teach you the rest! Those interested in volunteering, sponsoring or donating toward the event, or to receive a Registration packet, contact Jo Ann Roberts at 315 244-1909 or by email to jrcarptournament@gmail.com. Kids 11 – 18 years of age are eligible to participate. Deadline for registration is Friday, July 5th.

St Lawrence Junior International Carp Tournament View File Details and Registration Packet Submitter Savayman Submitted 03/19/2024 Category General  

Hello Jr. Carpers and Supporters of Carp Fishing people! Our annual St. Lawrence International Jr. Carp Tournament is scheduled for July 18 – 20, 2024. This is a bit earlier than we normally hold it; however, with other events scheduled on the River this summer, it was the best weekend without much disruption. Grand Marshal for this year’s tournament will be Tanner Smith, who most of you already know as a personable and talented carp angler who was Grand Champion in 2016; his first year in the event! Participating until he aged out last year, Tanner will be a great mentor for everyone throughout the tournament. Most of the tournament’s rules and schedule will remain consistent with previous years. A rule book will be given to you at Registration. Age eligibility: If you are 11 – 18 years of age on the first day of the tournament, (July 18, 2024), you are eligible to participate. However, you also qualify, if: You turn 11 years of age between July 18th and August 31st. Or, if you turn 19 years of age between July 1st and July 18th. You can fish as an Individual or as a Team of 2,3 or 4 people. We have sponsorships available to those who really need it, but available on a first-come basis as they are limited. We also have equipment for first time participants who would like to ‘give carp fishing a try’ before renting or buying your own. The # of these is also limited, so available on a ‘first come’ basis, as well. One major change to this year’s event is that there will be no ‘adult’ division. This has been debated for many years due to it being a kid’s event. We hope this won’t change the participation of the kids that were accompanied by an adult in past years, as the adult support can still be constant on the riverbank. Thank you for your understanding to this change. The attached Registration Form includes the fee, who to make the checks payable to, and where to mail them. Jr. Carp 2024 - Registration Packet.pdf Click Here to Download the Registration Packet Please fill it out the form completely, as all information is needed. As always, we’re looking for volunteers, sponsors and donations; with all being important for another successful year. If you know of anyone that might be interested in helping, please send them our way. The Carp Angler’s Group is host of this tournament, and many of their members, who you’ve come to know from their many years of dedication, will once again assist the kids throughout the 3-day event. If you have any questions at all: Click Here to Email for More Details or Questions. Hope to see you on the River! Thanks! Jo Ann Roberts Tournament Director

21st Annual St. Lawrence International Jr. Carp Tournament July 18 – 20, 2024 Tentative 3-Day Schedule* Thursday, July 18th 2 – 3 pm Registration – Madrid-Waddington Central School 3 – 4 pm Opening Ceremonies – (mandatory for all) – Madrid-Waddington Central School 4:30 – 6 pm Riley Basford Jr. Carp School – (mandatory for all 1st time participants) All others are invited and encouraged to stop by to help the newbies! Bankside at location to be determined. Practice casting, while learning from some of the best carp anglers. Friday, July 19th 6 – 7 am Report to designated town location to receive specific location and Peg #. (The town you’ll report to each morning will be given to you at Registration.) 7 am – 12 n Fishing, Fishing, Fishing! 12 n – 1 pm Mandatory lunch break. (No fishing, no casting, no baiting.) 1 – 8 pm Fishing, Fishing, Fishing! Saturday, July 20th 6 – 7 am Report to designated town location to receive specific location and Peg #. (The town you’ll report to each morning will be given to you at Registration.) 7 am – 12 n Fishing, Fishing, Fishing! 12 n – 1 pm Mandatory lunch break. (No fishing, no casting, no baiting.) 1 – 5 pm Fishing, Fishing, Fishing! 6 pm – 7 pm Pizza Party – Madrid-Waddington Central School 7 pm – 8:30 pm Closing Awards Ceremony. Lots of special unannounced prizes, so please attend. *** Scroll Down For More Details & Registration ***

Hi Adam, It is here:

Here are the Results and Details of the 2023 Tournament. This year the Junior Carp tournament, which started in 2003, celebrated its 20th anniversary and featured over $10,000 in prizes and awards! It took place August 3-5 2023 along the banks of the St. Lawrence River County around Ogdensburg, Lisbon and Waddington, NY. 81 competitors, including 30 first time participants, aged 11-18 took part in the tournament which ran over two days. The young anglers caught and released a combined 118 carp, weighing a total of over 1,700 pounds. The participants included anglers from St. Lawrence County, as well as other parts of New York State together with anglers from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. In the end it was fifteen year-old and first-time participant Connor Wright, from Colton, who was crowned 'Grand Champion'. Connor weighed in a total of 71 lbs. for his heaviest four carp to edge out 2nd Place winner in his age division, Tanner Smith, by just one ounce. Connor's team, Chum Chasers 2, also took home the 3rd Place Team award, with a total weight of 114 lbs. The biggest carp of the tournament was caught by Landon Wilcox of Potsdam weighing 28 lbs. 13 oz. Over results: Girls 11-14 -- 1st Place: Samantha Milburn, 36 lbs. 14 oz. (Madrid); 2nd Place: Briley Cota, 31 lbs. 10 oz. (Rensselaer Falls); 3rd Place: Taylor Bailey, 30 lbs. 11 oz. (Red Creek) Boys 11-14 -- 1st Place: Ayden Shepard, 68 lbs. 8 oz. (Heuvelton); 2nd Place: Zachary Payne, 58 lbs. 5 oz. (Lisbon); 3rd Place: Ryan Bailey, 58 lbs. (Red Creek) Girls 15-18 -- 1st Place: Ahna Martinez, 45 lbs. 6 oz. (Heuvelton); 2nd Place: Anisia Bogdan, 37 lbs. 11 oz. (Endicott); 3rd Place: MacKenzie Cota, 36 lbs. 10 oz. (Rensselaer Falls) Boys 15-18 -- 1st Place: Connor Wright, 71 lbs. (Colton); 2nd Place: Tanner Smith, 70 lbs. 15 oz. (Waddington); 3rd Place: Devin Green, 64 lbs. 8 oz. (Potsdam) Team Competition -- 1st Place: The Dream Team, 191 lbs. 15 oz.; 2nd Place: Chum Chasers, 131 lbs. 1 oz.; 3rd Place: Chum Chasers 2, 114 lbs. Adult Division: -- 1st Place: Terry Debiew, 37 lbs. 13 oz.; 2nd Place: Brad Jerome, 34 lbs. 1 oz.; 3rd Place: Paul Gurrola, 18 lbs. This year the Riley Basford Memorial Sportsmanship Award was presented to teammates, Devin Green and Lucas Cruikshank. They were recognized for sharing their passion for the sport with others, mentoring and teaching others on the riverbank, offering advice to help them be successful during the tournament. The tournament, which began in 2003, is supported and organized by the Carp Anglers Group of North America. The Carp Anglers Group is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to catch and release carp fishing and introducing newcomers to the sport. For this year's 20th tournament we were honored to welcome past Grand Marshals, Abby McNamara (Potsdam) and Austin Delosh (Clarksville), and to honor the present we were joined by Grand Marshals, Kaylee Green (Potsdam) and Jaron Belmore (Norwood). “Of the 81 participants, we had 30 first time participants which is exciting and will keep this tournament going. We're also seeing the next generation of former families now eligible to participate. It's truly a multi-generational event and we're already looking forward to next year,” noted Jo Ann Roberts, tournament organizer. “The camaraderie and friendships made on the riverbank is wonderful to see, and some of my best friends are those I, myself met at this event,” added Abby McNamara, also tournament organizer. This year we were joined by Carp Anglers Group President Iain Sorrell. Along with fellow members Jerome Moisand, Phil Saunders and Rita Brown and fellow marshals they helped run the Carp School the day before the tournament. First time participants learned how to play and land big fish as well as taking care of them so they can be returned to the river to grow even bigger. In addition to the Carp Anglers Group the tournament is supported by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. It is part of a series of tournaments supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Our special thanks go to Jo Ann Roberts Tournament Director, Abby McNamara Tournament Organizer, Bob Giodano, our Grand Marshals and Marshals, Radio Operators, Lindsey Baker Photographer, and many volunteers plus our sponsors who make hosting this great event possible! Next years tournament will be held July 18 – 20th 2024.

Here are some photos from the 2023 Junior Tournament!

In 2024 the Junior International Carp Tournament celebrates its 21st year! In 2023 over 80 Junior Anglers including 30 newcomers competed for Trophies, $10,000 in Cash Prizes and Awards over two days fishing for carp on the mighty St Lawrence River in upper state New York! The 2024 Junior Tournament takes place July 18-20 based in Waddington, NY There are two age groups: Girls 11-14 & Boys 11-14 Girls 15-18 & Boys 15-18 This is an amazing opportunity for kids to fish as a individuals or as a team with support from families, friends and our peg marshals. The Junior Tournament is hosted by the Carp Anglers Group and St Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. It is supported by local companies, sponsors and generous donors. It is part of a series or tournaments supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Click Here to Email for More Details and Registration. Connor Wright Overall Winner in 2023

The Baiting Pyramid View File The Baiting Pyramid was originally developed by Mike Wilson and resulted in some remarkable big fish catches from Savay lake in the UK. Here Iain Sorrell writes about its origins and highlights its effectiveness here in North America. Submitter Savayman Submitted 02/27/2024 Category General  

*** Spring Big 4 2024 *** - Now over $1,900 in PRIZES & AWARDS - Become a CAG Member and sign up before midday March 14th! Click Here to become a CAG Member! CAG Members Click Here to: Read the Rules, Register and Enter your Catches. Spring Big 4 Prizes & Awards - Top Ten Big 4 Fish Captors – 1st - $300 * 2nd - $150 * 3rd - $100 * 4th - $75 * 5th - $50 * 6th thro' 10th - $35 each - The Big Fish & Regional Prizes - Biggest Common will receive *$175, Biggest Mirror will receive *$175, Plus * $100 for each Big 4 Regional Award Winner -- New Biggest Buffalo Prize $200 -- Big Common, Big Mirror, Big Buff & Regional Winners will also receive 10x8 Photo Plaques *Awarded as Gift Certificates to spend with CarpAngler.com Our thanks to Carp Angler for their generous support of the CAG Spring Big 4 2024 Prizes will be awarded as Gift Vouchers redeemable with: https://www.carpangler.com/ North American Regions (Anglers will be required to indicate the state in which each fish entered was caught). Regions I - IV shown below Plus Canada & Mexico Region V

By Registering for the Spring Big 4 2025 you agree to abide by the following rules! Spring Big 4 2025 March 15th – June 15th 2025 Entry to take part in the Spring Big 4 2025 binds you to these rules. It is the Competitors responsibility to read, understand and abide by these rules. No changes or allowances will be made to catches or uploads outside of these rules. *** If in doubt ask! *** 1. To enter the Big 4 competition you must be a FULLY paid up CAG member for the duration of the event (temporary memberships are excluded from entering) and have registered and paid your entry fee of $12.00 payable in the CAG Store for the Spring Big 4 2025 before Noon on March 14th. No entries will be accepted if your registration or payment falls beyond this date. - Please look for a separate topic on how to post your catches! - 2. The Competition will run from March 15th at 0:01am until midnight on June 15th 2025. All uploads must be completed by midnight on June 15th. If you have an issue whereby the upload of an entry is not accepted by the CAG Leaderboard on June 15th you must contact Willem by email: big4@joincag.com by no later than Midday June 16th. Provided your entry complies with the rules we will accept your entry and assist you in including it on the leaderboard. No upload or messages posted with a date/time of June 16th midday or beyond will count. 3. Upload protocol must be adhered to in order to have an entry accepted. If any requirement or detail is missing then the entry will not be counted. It is the Angler’s responsibility to ensure all details are correctly entered. See Rule #6 4. Only your four biggest carp of the common, mirror or leather varieties count towards the Big 4 Awards (no grass carp, or other strains/breeds will be accepted) and must be caught from North American waters (fish raised in stock ponds or from commercial venues such as paylakes etc may not be entered). Upload the first four fish that you catch during the qualifying period. Subsequently, ONLY upload a fish if it is BIGGER than your fourth biggest fish. Please DO NOT UPLOAD FISH THAT ARE SMALLER THAN YOUR FOURTH BIGGEST FISH: this clogs the system and causes errors in uploads. This competition is about four big fish & not the total quantity of fish caught during the competition. 4 (a). For Spring 2025 you can also enter your Biggest Grass Carp or Biggest Large or Small Mouth Buffalo capture for a special Biggest Grass Carp or Buffalo Prize. This runs separate to the CAG Big 4 Common Carp event but all other rules apply. 5. Upload your entries within 48 hours of capture and before midnight on the last day when the competition ends. If you have upload problems or unable to upload within 48 hours of capture you must notify us using this email address only: big4@joincag.com See Rule #2 6. Your Upload must include the following details: (1)Trophy Photo of You, the captor, with the Fish, the Scales used to weigh the fish & the Spring Big 4 Logo for 2025 clearly visible in black and white or color; (2) The exact Weight of the fish in lbs and ozs; (3) The State in which the fish was caught. (4) The Date and Time of capture which must be entered in the comments section under the photo. 7. Photo Requirements: (1) Images must be clear. (See notes below). The fish, angler, scales and logo must all be in focus and clearly visible. (2) The Scales & Big 4 Logo must be positioned in the foreground and as close as possible to the fish (scales or logo’s positioned in the background behind the angler and fish are not acceptable). (3) All photo images must clearly show the full width of the fish. Photos where the fish is presented at an angle (45 degrees, tail or head first etc) to the camera will not be accepted. (4) Photoshoped or altered entries may be subject to disqualification. (5) The should also show your fish capture being held over a protective mat. The CAG BOD reserves the right to request any angler entered in the CAG Big 4 to submit his/her scales and photo date stamp for verification in the event of any disputes. 8. The Spring Big 4 2025 logo will be available for download in a separate thread just before the start of the Competition (just before midnight on March 14th). 9. Prizes will be awarded to the Anglers finishing in the first 10 places which will be determined as the aggregate of that Anglers best four fish caught within the rules and during the period of the Big 4 Competition. There will be individual prizes awarded for Biggest Common and Biggest Mirror. Additional recognition awards will be made to the captors of the four biggest fish in the 5 regional areas. Special prizes will also be awarded for the Biggest Grass Carp and Biggest Buffalo caught during the competition. 10. Fish Care: Any entries NOT showing proper fish handling or care will be rejected! 11. For the first 72 hours only entries will be also accepted where the photo shows the CAG Spring Big 4 2025 Logo clearly visible on a cell phone or iPad/tablet etc. Printed Logo’s are valid at ALL times during the event dates. 12. All Anglers must be in possession of the necessary State Fishing License. 13. All fish must be caught on a single hook rig, using legal rod and line methods and must be returned safely without harm. How to Weigh your Catch Please check your scales for accuracy and ensure that you properly zero the weigh sling (wetted but properly drained) before weighing your catch. Here’s a suggestion: wet your weigh sling, shake off any excess water then hang it on the scales until the water drains and the weight is stable. This usually takes less than 30 seconds. Then zero the sling on the scales and weigh the fish. Scales must be suspended from a Tripod, Weigh Bar or Weigh Crook to ensure stability and accuracy of weight. Holding the body of the scales with your hands will result in an inaccurate reading. Some pointers and suggestions for photos. The Big 4 Logo should be printed out to ensure it can be clearly seen in the photo (Letter or half letter size is ideal). Enclose your logo in a zip lock bag or get it laminated to prevent it getting wet or damaged. When taking the photo have the fish close to your body with your elbows balanced on the thigh/knee area and over a suitable un-hooking mat. This allows you to keep proper control of the fish and to place it back on the mat easily and quickly if required. Do NOT hold the fish out at arms length or while standing. The fish, angler, scales and logo must all be in focus. When taking the picture do not zoom in to just have angler and fish. Zooming in reduces the pixilation count on the photo and reduces the quality of the photo. Winners photos will be used for magazine publication and the biggest regional fish photos will be used for awards. A good example of a Big 4 Entry Photo that meets the Requirements for Rules # 7 & #10 The Big 4 logo and Scales are positioned & clearly visible in the foreground. The fish is also being held & supported correctly & positioned over a suitable protective mat These are the final and definitive rules for the CAG Spring Big 4 2025.

CAG Member Prize Draw 2024 ---- It's Free! You just have to be a Fully Paid Member! ---- The Carp Anglers Group Members Draw for 2024 has an incredible array of prizes! Almost $3,500 in prizes have already been gathered or donated. On March 30th a randomized draw will decide the lucky CAG Members who will receive one of the exciting prizes below. All you have to do is ensure you are a fully paid CAG member* before the draw date! *temporary & e-memberships are not included Here are the Prizes. TWO lucky CAG Members will each receive a Solar P1 Euro Universal Pod complete with Front & Rear Buzz bars) – Value $745 each Thinking Anglers 600D Ruck Pack $115 Thinking Anglers Camflex Tackle Pouch $40 Deeper Pro + worth $199 Carp Angler Gift Voucher worth $550 Big Carp Tackle Gift Voucher $500 Carp Bait USA Gift Voucher $250 Carp Maxx Bait Product Gift Voucher $200 Three Prizes of Fire Maple Bankside Cooking Sets - value: $75 each If you are not already a CAG Member it is easy to join! Just Click Here to Join! For $25 (then $20 annually) which includes a New Member pack with a NACA Magazine, CAG Decals and basic starter tackle items. If you need to check your CAG Membership click on Store then Manage Purchases. You can also renew your membership if it has lapsed. New Members Only can also purchase a CAG Membership with a special Gardner Tackle Offer worth $75 for Only $40 through our friends at Big Carp Tackle: Click here for the CAG New Member and Gardner Tackle Package

To all our CAG members, families and friends we wish you all the very best of the Season!

NACA Q3 2023 View File Enjoy the latest issue of the North American Carp Angler magazine Submitter Savayman Submitted 12/12/2023 Category General