Mike Pike
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Posts posted by Mike Pike
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Finally got a bit of time to file a report on my little session on Holiday Monday last week. Better late than never, eh?
My cousin Dan and I traveled down the highway early in the morning to the Niagara region to do a little river fishing. It was my first time at the venue and, on arrival, it looked like a wonderful piece of water.
Being my first time there, the boat ramp looked like a nice enough place to start so we set up and chummed the swim with maize, then fired out our rigs( maize on a hair, with one kernel of buoyant corn ). We also hooked PVA bags packed with additional goodies to our presentations, in the hope that they would help the carp zero in on our presentations.
A few bleeps from liners convinced me we were in the right area, and after about half an hour, I hooked into one of the river's Commons.
This lean mid-double gave a good account of itself and the pale colour was probably an indication of the murky water it came from.
My cousin Dan hooked into a fish shortly afterwards, but he was broken off. The hook link snapped and it was probably our fault. It was a rig that was on his rod since last year and we really should have checked it for nicks or abrasions before casting it out. Lesson learned.
We continued fishing there for a while longer but it became apparent the boat ramp was going to be a busy place on this Victoria Day Monday( You'd think we would have foreseen that, eh? ). So it was time to move our gear and set up at another location further upriver.
By this time, the sun was up and the day was turning into a hot one. I was well please to have purchased my D-A-M umbrella last year. There was plenty of room for my cousin Dan and I to sit comfortably in our camping chairs underneath it, shady and cool.
Once again, the occasional beeps from liners kept us focused and in the game. It was my cousin who was rewarded with a run, but not exactly what we expected. After a fun scrap, I lifted the net on one of the river's other famous residents.
The Channel Cat was the last of our catches before we decided it was indeed Miller Time( lol ). There was a barbecue in our future that afternoon so we packed up and headed for home, knowing that would be back to see if we could do battle with one of the river's giants next time.
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Unbelievable. I will definitely report my concerns to the Ministry( Thanks for the link Lorne ).
Although the RBG's practices have been tolerated thus far, I believe people's attitudes are changing and this type of activity is going to be as disgusting to the majority of the population as it is to us carpers. I'll bet it would especially disgust taxpayers to find out how much money they're giving to the RBG to do such things. Cootes Paradise restoration has cost the taxpayers millions. The carp barrier alone is a sham. It's been in operation for how many years and Cootes is still a far cry from the diverse wetland that we were told it would become. The eye-ball test tells me it's still a silt bottomed dessert of a place that can sustain little more than, ironically, carp!
Far more work needs to be done there than just removing carp, but the will to make the necessary changes to help the Cootes habitat isn't there. It's far easier for us to just blame the carp.
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Way to go, Les.
Things have certainly turned around for you! I am very jealous of both your mirror( I've yet to get one )and your 25lb personal best( as mine is 23lb ).
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Thanks for the report Les.
I had as unproductive a weekend as you did this weekend last weekend. I was on a new body of water in the Guelph area. It's part of my plan to explore new venues this year. Maize, pop up boilies, buoyant corn, method balls, threw the book at 'em with not so much as a line bump. My weather was pretty cold, too, but nothing like you endured this weekend. lol
Anyhoo, I saw a couple jump and one rolling within casting distance, so I was pleased they were around. I'll return for another go as soon as I can.
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A couple of real beauties there, Steeler, and a nice, entertaining report to go along with 'em. Looks like you're off to a pretty good start this season, eh, and had 'em dialed in on your two sessions.
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Welcome Carpy. I hope your first year back is a good one and you bank a few nice lumps to share with us here.
Cheers!
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Some real beauties there Nick. Especially the mirror( I've yet to catch my first ).
I didn't know they net fish up your way for sale( at Kensington market perhaps? ).
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Well good luck to you Nick. It's a big lake so it has got to hold some big carp. And I'll bet a lot of folks don't target them much up that way. You may be a pioneer!
I know what you mean about parking and access, though, so I'm glad you've got that covered now.
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Yup, we'll run into each other soon enough, Lorne! I've been tying hook links, filling PVA bags, wiping down rods, re-organizing tackle, ANYthing to get me through the 'hibernation.'
lol
I took a walk around the CCIW a couple of weeks ago and found there was only ice around the edges so hopefully this will be one of those productive springs out there.
Cheers!
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That would explain how a fellow I know catches carp throughout winter on the harbour, as long as there isn't ice cover at his spot. I was pretty surprised and told him I thought that was impossible, but he assured me he was able too.
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Unfortunately, we can't get close to our nuke plant discharges from shore. Fortunately, we have the Niagara River close by which doesn't freeze over so we can fish throughout the winter, albeit for less desirable species like trout. lol
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Wow, must be nice to have a winter carp spot even as far north as Minnesota! I know the carp's metabolism slows when the temps get cold and getting them to bite is tougher, but it's still nice to get out and be able to give it a try.
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Well it can't be long now. The forecast is calling for 2 weeks of well above seasonal normal temperatures. Even our overnight lows won't be heading below zero, so happy days.
Rivers and lakes in Southern Ontario will be void of ice cover shortly, as many all ready are, and the carp are surely starting to stir.
Good luck to those who will be doing a little early scouting!
PS.. Mostly just wanted to run an early test of the message board. It's still showing a lot of posts with no replies and many other posts can't be accessed. So I wanted to see if the new posts will appear.
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And thank you for your efforts Willem. I'm sure there are many things you'd rather be doing. lol
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Thanks for the comments and thoughts, Guys.
And Mark, thanks for the info about no fishing until bass opener. I actually had forgotten that there are conservation areas with this policy. You may have saved me some embarrassment come spring...
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Ok, so I confess. I hate to post a report on an outing where I've blanked, but I think there is always something to gain from any session, so here goes.
This past summer, I hit up one of our conservation areas to try a little carping. Gates open at dawn so you can always get in just in time for the sunrise.
Conservation areas are never very far from urban centres, so they're great destinations for a few hours of fishing, no matter how tight your schedule or how long your honey-do list. Although, I've fished these areas for bass and pannies, I've never taken my carp gear, until last summer.
After doing a little walk around and spotting some 'bubblers,' I knew where I wanted to set up.
All the carpy activity was fairly close in first thing in the morning so I fired out some corn on a hair, with a tight bed of chum about 10 yards straight out in front of me. While the feeding continued, I didn't have a single take, not even a line bump. Yawn.
Spotted some more bubblers in front of some reeds further away, so I bait up the method feeder to get more distance and more bait into the area.
Well, the morning wore on, but other than a line bump or two, I had no takers. My thought is that these fish have an ample supply of natural food and since they aren't targeted by carp fisherman, they haven't acquired a taste for our carp baits yet.
Well, I'll just have to give our conservation areas more attention this year and find out. Which won't be too hard.
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Well, in response to Arvand's post about the lack of posts( lol ), I was inspired to drag out a few pics from a quick session my friend Steve and I enjoyed after work a couple of months ago.
We hiked down to the Conestogo River to a spot where a bend in the river and some old crumbled abutments created a slack water pool. My friend had hooked into fish here in the past so we kept our fingers crossed as we didn't have much time before nightfall.
I catapulted out a bit of maize into the pool then cast out several kernels of maize on a hair( with a single buoyant kernel ), bolt-rigged. I was perched awkwardly on a rock and surrounded by overhanging branches, so the carp pod wasn't an option here and I had to keep a steady watch on my rod tip and line( the old fashioned way ).
My buddy pitched out some canned sweet corn into his area of the pool and fished a few kernels threaded straight onto his hook, which he's had success with in the past.
Things were quiet at first and I remember wishing that I taken my friend up on his offer to fish here on a weekend when we'd have an entire day. But fortunately, my baitrunner in free-spool began spinning wildly, finally indicating a run.
After using the river's current to its' advantage and peeling away downstream, the carp gave a good account of itself, as they most always do. With all the twigs, rocks and usual river obstructions, I was well please to be able to finally bring it to the net and for a quick photo.
With the fish released and the area re-baited with a bit more maize, I re-cast and waited once again.
Fish were in the area now, we knew, after I had missed on a hook-set( perhaps a liner ). A short time later, the rod tip was bouncing, the reel was spinning again and I engaged the drag, setting into my 2nd energetic river carp. Another gorgeous specimen, like the first, and I couldn't be happier.
The sun had set just as I had one more run, but sadly, this one would get the best of me as it became unbuttoned after a lengthy run down river.
No matter, though. Going 2 for 3 and some good comradery on the river bank is what it's all about.
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Ya, it's interesting. When I joined several years ago, this was a very active place. I learned a ton and met lots of good anglers online and on the bank.
It's hard to say why some folks disappear but I think it's probably a combination of things. Priority and life changes could be a couple of reasons. Also, the novelty of posting reports perhaps wears off for some, etc.
I think, too, the pendulum swings and there was a time when carp fishing seemed to be really taking off in popularity. Now, I think we've hit a bit of a plateau and it's only a matter of time for the pendulum to swing the other way.
I, too, don't post as much as I used too, and I will try to change that because it certainly was a fun thing to do, exchanging photos and ideas with online friends and fisherman. To be honest, my fishing results this year were rather disappointing and there were a lot of fishless trips and my pride wouldn't let me report on those sessions( lol ).
I do know one thing. There are a lot of really excellent carp fisherman in da Hammer and surrounding area, and it's been a real pleasure meeting many of you. I'm always in awe of the knowledge and expertise that carpers( far younger than me )have acquired and put to use on the bank. The inactivity on the board in no way reflects the number of dedicated carpers here, so perhaps in time, the post count will grow and this board will again become the place it once was.
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Glad you were able to take advantage of summer in November! Some really gorgeous fish too, Streamtripper.
That first pic is a beaut too!
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I get my maize at Ren's Pet Depot( in Waterdown near Clappison's Corners ). I think they have hemp seed too. Probably not the best price, but it's darn handy for me and my mortgage is paid. lol
Good luck Steeler. I'm gonna try extending my season this year too, no matter the weather( easy to say now, but it's a good plan ). I know a Chap who fishes into the winter months and as long as there is no ice cover at his swim, he keeps baiting and has produced.
Cheers!
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Sorry to hear that Lorne. Why have they blocked the area off?
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Some really nice fish on your father/son outing. I don't see how it can get any better than that.
Those look like gorgeous specimens there Streamtripper. No doubt they gave you boyz some fun.
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Looks like you guys had a great time and have some great photos to remember it by.
Nice job getting the little fella into fishing. I'm betting he'll never forget it!
I love the look of that partially scaled carp. A real beaut!
Hooklink question
in Ontario
Posted
I use braided hook links mostly and I just noticed a really tight knot is one of them. Do knots in braided line effect the strength of the line like they do with mono?