(CO) JohnFinney
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Posts posted by (CO) JohnFinney
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Off topic perhaps, but I saw the Paylakes mentioned...
30 years ago, in the South East of England where I was born & raised, there were VERY few places you could fish for free - I am not certain but I would have a hard time remembering a free lake anywhere! The cost to fish a day back then was perhaps 1 pound / day (after you purchased your yearly rod license from the Post Office).
You would arrive at the lake at dawn, get your ticket for the day from the baliff, and off you went fishing. The funds from the "pay lake" would generally go towards the upkeep of the facilities. Until I moved here to the USA, and started fishing again a few months ago, I had just presumed the same was the case here - how happily wrong I was.
I purchased my Colorado state license for 2 rods. Now I fish everywhere and anywhere in the State that is _not_ private land. Most venues can be fished 24x7. I am in Carp fishing heaven somewhat at the freedom of choice and cost-free fishing provided here.
Yes, I appreciate the cost and "hype" of Paylakes over in Euro land has gone through the roof these past few decades as the sport of Carp fishing has become highly commercialised. With the huge $$$ involved it would be no surprise to find certain venues fattening up their carp to promote and attract more fishermen. Is this wrong, perhaps not from a financial point of view, is it "ethical" now that would be the question.
Having now caught carp in both the UK and USA I can testify that the common carp here are putting up one hell of a fight, way moreso than I recall from the fish caught long ago back home - of course, that could just be my fading memory !
Either way, congrats to the person on catching that 100lb monster fish - though it does remind me of Mr. Creosote from the Monty Python Film (Rated-18), "The Meaning of Life". A quick youtube search of this will show you a nice video of the scene in question! Perhaps that poor carp just needs one more "waffer thin mint" ...?
...tight lines...
John
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Meow ! One fine looking cat ! Congrats !
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My wife ordered me a pair of Daiwa Sealine reels, so I may have to update my status from "carping on a dime" to "carping on a dollar!". Was a coin flip between a rod & reel or the two reels. Given the Sealine's were on such a good sale from Cabelas, decided to go with those. There is some real great prices out there on entry level gear, just have to look for it and not expect it to perform as well, or last as well, as high end products ! Still $35 for a rod/reel combo is darn fine, makes me wish I had started out with those! Does seem as though most if not all the NGT products are out of stock though.
Warm Regards
John
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Once again ? they banned it before ?
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Alex, the point of the thread was moreso to assist people in understanding that you do not need to spend $1000's to fish for carp, or any fish! When new people to the sport watch various instructional videos, or read articles on the web, there is a horrific array of gear, bivies, tackle, carts, rods for spod, rods for marker, rods for actually fishing, pods, mats, nets, scales, the list is endless and pretty darn daunting.
I highly doubt many here on these forums decided one day, hey, im going to fish for carp today, and them went out and dumped many thousands into the "required" gear. (ok, maybe someone did!).
The $135 was merely a point on what I spent on the tackle was used that day to fish. I have obviously spent way more than that on multiple rods, tackle boxes and other assorted gear.
As with everything this is an education process and as people become more invested in this sport, financially and emotionally, they will hopefully invest not just in technology and tackle to catch the fish but in the equipment needed to take proper care of the fish so that it can be returned to the water safely for someone else to catch another day. I know I will.
John
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Zirjacks, the bank sticks came from Sportsman's Warehouse, think they were $3.99 each.
Note, i have already snapped the top off a couple trying to force them into hard ground. They do the job but are pretty thin aluminum are not robust. As with everything, they are good for short term, light usage.
I will certainly be getting some steel banksticks that are threaded at the top for various attachments, alarm, hangers, swingers, or even just a butt/front rest. If not steel, then a much stronger/thicker aluminium. I have also already encountered areas where you are fishing off rock and using a bank stick just isn't possible. For now I have jerry-rigged the rods using my tackle box and even backpack to hold them off the ground - a pod obviously would be a solution to this scenario.
Always going to be another piece of equipment to acquire! Arggghh !
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A fair point on carp care. Yes. An unhooking matt, and larger more fish friendly net, is certainly in my future !
At present, to limit the harm to the fish, I am unhooking them in the water - not great, but certainly better than them flopping around on the bank & rocks!
You could also add to the upgrade list, a weigh sling - which could be used to return the fish afterwards safely and gently to the water.
To round out the care care topic, you could also add the fish care kit, which includes iodine and/or some antibiotic ointments to treat the hook marks and any scale damage caused during bringing the fish in. Korda I *think* has some of those products available.
John
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Having had my best days Carp fishing since returning to the sport, I thought I’d write a short post to demonstrate that you can enjoy this passion without having to spend a fortune or have the latest, greatest, high end tackle and gear. All you need is some basic tackle, knowledge and most important, patience and luck.
My starting tackle was just a few bits purchased for a last minute camping trip it was not acquired with carp fishing in mind. Here is a list of what tackle I used today:-
(Sportsman’s Warehouse and Walmart!)
- Rod - Shakespear Ugly Stik (8ft medium action) $45
- Reel - Abu Garcia C106 spinning reel $35
- Line – Berkley Trilene Big Game 12lb $9
- Hook – Eagle Claw – Classic Bait Holder size 4 $1.50
- Bank Sticks – 2 x 12-36” extendable aluminum bank sticks with rest ($4 each) - $8
- Landing Net (Ranger) 22” - $14
- Hook Bait (Delmonte Sweet Corn) - $1.50
- Packbait (Panko 8oz, Creamed Corn ½ tin, Cinnamon, Salt) - $4
- 1oz pear sinker $1
- Pliers for hook removal $3.50
- Hanger – homemade with a clothes peg, heavy nuts & bolts & superglue $1.50
- Line Cutter – Nail clippers from the dollar store $1
- Folding Chair – Walmart special for $10 (you just got to have a chair – at least I do)
Basically, all the starting gear for ~$135. If you purchase a rod/reel combo I am sure you could get this number way down to well under $100 - even less if you tried hard or buy 2nd hand/ebay.
Here's the pictures of the setup, rod, bank sticks.
The homemade "Borg" hanger.
Though I have 8 yrs prior experience fishing for Carp in the UK from my youth I found that my knowledge was outdated, especially with regard to the baits used here in the US. My boilies proved ineffective and having blanked out repeatedly on the “old school” style baits I switched to the use of a simple packbait and basic sweet corn packed onto a hook.
Many thanks to those on these forums that pointed me in the right direction for bait and rig use. I cannot begin to express the helpfulness and encouragement that people have given me here.
CAG – you folks ROCK !
The rig I used this morning was a basic running rig, 1oz pear sinker with a 6” leader to the hook. The packbait was simply clumped around the sinker.
Here were today’s results. Now the precursor to this was I have fished this reservoir many times before. I either blanked out, caught nuisance trout (well, a nuisance to me), a catfish and then finally, this past week the Carp started to be pulled out in bigger and better numbers!
A 15.5 common
A 17.0 common (a new PB)
a couple of 11.5/12.0 commons
I did snag another 12.0 ish common but alas the camera batteries died. Also hauled a small channel catfish and a fairly nice rainbow trout.
All told a great few hours fishing and a demonstration that even on a "dime" you can get out there and enjoy carp fishing !
Don't get me wrong - I am sure that within a few months/year I will end up with all the same high tech goodies and gadgets that everyone else uses. IMHO they don't make you a better fisherman but they certainly do make life easier ! As I write this post I am waiting on my reel upgrades to arrive, 2 new Daiwa Sealine Black reels ordered last week.
Im the meantime, don't let those high sticker prices and high tech gadgets prevent you from getting out there with the basics and hauling a few carp into your net !
Warm Regards,
John
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Looks like you had one fine days fishing ! Congrats !
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Congrats Tony ! almost makes me want to try a carp salad now !
John
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2010 River Monsters, had an episode on Snakeheads. Had to go back and watch it today via Netflix in honor of this thread!
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Alex: 34 rods, and 36 reels !! must be like a case of double phenumonia - no saving you I guess ! I retract my medication comment, it obviously will not work on extreme cases like you - though perhaps a lack of wall space to hang those sweet reels or storage space for the tasty rods will work ! You know, you're going to need a bigger house !
Tight Lines!
John
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Alex, 34 rods !!!! there must be some prescription medication out there that can help you with that !!!! dang !!!
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A very timely topic, since I am just getting back into the sport and considering upgrading my, hate to say it, Ugly Stick medium action rods, to 12' rods in length. Btw, ironically, those darn Ugly Sticks take some abuse that's for sure! I was/am still considering the Daiwa mad dragon's, primarily due to their low cost entry point and general popularity, or even the Wacker entry level rods (feedback on those would be great?). For $60 or so, not sure you can go wrong so long as you appreciate you get generally what you pay for. I already rue not spending my Ugly stick funds on something better! Perhaps i'll feel the same about the 12' entry level rods (likely), but who knows! Like many, it is a simple matter of funds, you buy the best you can afford at the time.
The old European addage was _never_ buy a rod that costs less than 100 pounds (about $160) - as it won't last. I would not say that is 100% true - it all depends on your funds available for the purchase, what/how you are fishing (method, pva bags/sticks, single hook bait), the range you are fishing at (25 yards, 50 yards, 90+ yards etc), your casting skill (a more expensive rod will not necessarily make you a better caster!), what your distance goals are and what "Jones" you are attempting to keep up with this week - the later being sadly all too often a reason why some old colleagues back in the homeland used to upgrade to the next, new, shiny piece of gear out there. The "Jones" are also a great supplier of used equipment in the Tackle for Sale section ! (not complaining here about that as i'll likely be acquiring some fine used tackle shortly!). We need more "Jones" here in Colorado me thinks! c'mon, you know are out there!
If you were going to spend those extra $, and could only afford one rod, then I would recommend using those $ for your spod and/or float/marker rod/reel combo (if you use them) as that needs the greatest distance of all. IMHO pointless having $200+ rods that can cast and allow you to fish at 125 yards or more, when you can only bait up at 50-100 yards. Might as well be using Ugly Sticks, like me! Hey, they do work - at least for short range - 50-70 yards or so.
John
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That's one beautiful carp, well done ! and keep at it ! im sure you will get those ghost carp outta there soon !
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A good few days fishing with some nice results ! Congrats ! Patience pays dividends !
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Very Nice !
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Hey Shawn, after 25 yrs away from this sport I know how you feel. Back when I was a kid fishing here was a few of the tactics we used (cash poor).
bait stop = a piece of grass you bent over and used to keep the corn, of luncheon meat, from flying off your hook on a cast.
bank stick = any old piece of debris/limb with a V/Y shape you could drive into the ground without face first slipping/falling off the bank into the lake (done that more than once, btw)
throwing stick = your arm
catapult = offensive weapons back in the day, police would confiscate them if you were found with one, became more accepted for use in fishing later on
method feeder = we canibalised maggot tube holders, made the holes larger, and stuff them full of maggots, worms, corn etc.
bite alarm = 14 hours of watching your rod tip (ledger style) until your eyes started to almost bleed ! I think i was 15 or 16 when my parent bought me my first electronic alarm, i was in hog heaven and at the bleeding edge of technology then !
ground bait = on that lake, you were/are not allowed to ground bait ... *cough*... though it always seemed to happen - perhaps just a lot of feeder use before you setup
float/bobber = when I very very first started a float was a match stick tied to the line with tin-foil to make it more visibile
bait = home made dough balls (parents always wondered why our bread vanished so quick), corn, maggots (when I felt rich from working the market stalls or a paper round - only the "rich" kids used maggots), worms -> very easy to acquire out of the garden, luncheon meat (I suppose somewhat like spam here)
chair = you sat on your tackle box
umbrella = the leaves/limbs of the trees you would hide beneath when it rained
tackle trolley = if you were a "bad kid" you would ninja a trolley/cart from a local supermarket on the walk to the lake and then return it on the way home - often the car park of the lake could be littered with "borrowed" trolley/carts!
John
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Out of nostalgia I did a search and found a website for where I grew up and learned to fish at age10, 1978->1986, Standborough Lakes, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, England, UK. Back in the day I caught an 18lb mirror carp out of that lake, which back then, was a true monster. Lake record is now 33 lbs or so.
Always good to reminisce about where you got started in passion for carp.
John
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You could always email the manufacturer, support@nashtackle.co.uk - though with international shipping, could be an expensive part to replace unless you ordered a few of them, though perhaps cheaper than buying a whole new net.
John
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>>> PB: Peanut Butter. What it has to do with carp fishing I'll never know.
We British old timers used to make bait out of peanut butter. Hell, we used to make bait out of our lunchtime sandwich fillings - you never went home with leftovers!
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Being British, now living in the US for the past decade, i find this thread, most entertaining !
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Sure is !
Now the weather is starting to pickup I can begin doing some research on the local lakes higher up in elevation. I believe there is a nice lake up the trail to Pikes Peak? I have also yet to try Palmer Lake, Monument Lake, and a few other smaller ponds in my local Springs area.
I am going to have to drive down and face Pueblo Reservoir, or up to Chattfield one of these weekends when im not working. As for carp holding streams around here, alas, I know of none though I am sure they do exist - perhaps a local trout angler could provide some pointers in that direction. I am sure if I were to hop into the car and drive an hour or so then it wouldn't be too much of an issue. So far, it would seem, that trout, variants of trout, or anything vaguely trout'ish, is what the majority of what local anglers here are fishing for (rainbow, cut throat, etc), that and bass.
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I was once a Carp addict from the UK (back in the mid-80's). My uncle taught me to fish on the River Trent back when i was but 9 yrs old - I spent my youth fishing ever since that first day. Sadly though, I turned away from this passion to more social pursuits in my late teens (go figure!). I moved out to the USA (Colorado Springs) back in 2001 for work and a decade later I am still here with my wife. Note: - though after a decade I have not lost that British accent ! Finally, after an almost 25 yr absence, I have decided to get back into fishing. here in Colorado. I now rue the day that I moved here to the US and dumped all my old tackle - back then it seemed pointless to actually pay for it all to be shipped here - especially given that I didn't fish anymore. DOH !!!! make that double DOH !!!
My wife and I are just taking up camping (ironic, hit mid-40's and as a mid life crisis, got a tent, not a porsche!) I managed to get approved a "meager" budget for some basic fishing tackle, Walmart specials for the majority of the basics, entry level rods & reels from Sportsman's warehouse. Hey, if you're going to go camping, you got to be able to fish eh ? well, that was my excuse to my wife
Back in late March'12 we took a our first camping trip down to Lake Hasty, near Lamar, CO. Most of my colleagues thought I was insane going camping in a tent here in Colorado in March, they were probably correct ! I had no clue what I would catch out on that lake, I had read that the lake held walleye, wiper, trout and other fish - I honestly have no clue what most of those fish were. I am used to carp, tench, bream, chub, perch, etc - the fish I caught back in my homeland, England.
Knowing no other tactics but ledger I cast out with some spam on the hook and waited. No luck (back in the old days we used to catch many carp on luncheon meats, sweet corn, dough balls etc). I switched to the worms the tackle store had provided as "trout bait" and waited - I presumed a trout or other "sports" fish has got to eat - worms ... yummy perhaps ? Minutes later, the end of the rod twangs around and I reel in my first fish - a small carp, perhaps 2lbs in weight. I was most surprised, 6000 miles from my homeland and I catch a carp here in the USA! not what I was expecting. I cast out again, and again a while later, another carp, then another, and another, all small about 1-2 lbs. dang !
Over the next few days I think I hauled a dozen or so carp from that lake all around the same size but not one "sports fish". The other anglers around me were catching their trout but hey, I was happy with my little carp. I was bemused though at the reactions I got from fellow "anglers" to my pleasure in catching the type of fish I had spent so many long hours fishing for as a youth. A few even told me, "bleh, that's a carp, we just toss them onto the bank or use them as bait for catfish!". I was sad and horrified at this response! One old gentleman even took "pity" on me at my lack of trout / "sportsfish" success and offerred up a few of his trout as a gift (btw, I do not even like to eat trout!).
I do confess on my last evening at the lake to breaking out a few small spoons and casting out in a forlorn attempt at spin-casting (btw I suck at spin-casting I discovered). I managed to snag a batch of small walleye, my fellow anglers were now nodding approvingly at my success. I finally had to swallow my pride and broke down to ask one what it was I was even catching ! <a newb to those hard core sports fishermen I am for sure!>. As I happily returned all my fish carefully to the waters I did notice strange looks again from my peers at the shore at this "catch and release" policy.
Upon our return from Lake Hasty I knew I had rekinlded my old passion for carp fishing again. I spent the next month visiting local sporting shops to inquire about carp tackle etc. Thus my month of frustration began, finding that 99% of the people I spoke to either knew nothing about carp fishing, did not supply or stock equipment designed for this type of fishing, or thought I was some crazed British lunatic. Terminology seemed to be a challenge, most knew not what ledger was as a fishing method. I switched my search online (should done it sooner given I have worked in IT for 25 yrs!). I found the CAG forums here and after being a lurker signed up as a member a few days ago.
I am already assembling my shopping list of new "toys" to acquire from the vendors that frequent these forums, dedicated carp tackle, bait runner reels, rods, pods, bite alarms, mats, nets, the list goes ever on. Hopefully over this coming year I will be able to persuade my spouse to approve the acquisition of more dedicated tackle. <fingers crossed, this will be a hard task as she shares not this hobby!>.
I have dragged a work colleague out with me to a local lake (Pikeview Reservoir) and started to help teach him to fish these past few weeks --- one can never have too many friends to go fishing with. I have seen some Koi swimming in those waters and now must know what else lies beneath the surface there.
I am very surprised and pleased to see that here in the USA there is a swelling number of anglers who fish for carp and respect these beloved creatures and the passion that goes along with the sport of catching them. I have reached out to an old friend back in the UK who has been carp fishing for decades to start getting back up to speed on the new developments in the sport, tactics, bait, gear etc. It would certainly seem that after 25 yrs the carp angling sport has become way more commercialized than ever I remember it with specialized baits, rods, reels, etc.
This coming weekend we are off camping again, this time down to Walsenburg, CO, Horseshoe and Martin reservoirs. I have no clue if there are any carp lurking out there in those still waters (or somewhat still minus the speedboats and water ski'ers). Armed with my basic equipment it matters not, my lines shall be cast out, my folding chair set out and my feet propped up as I wait to see that rod tip quiver. I shall be sure to post an update on my success or failures when we return. This time I have unpacked an old camera to take some pics as hey, what's a post without pictures! Though those waters I shall be facing may hold wiper, walleye, bass, pike, I shall be more than happy if a carp takes my worm, powerbait, or whatever else I can attach to my hook!
If nothing else what the past month(s) have taught me is "Once a Carper, always a Carper". So, greetings to my fellow Colorado anglers with a passion for carp, however, or with whatever you may catch them - it matters not to me !
Warm Regards
John
Colorado Springs
My upcoming acquisition list so far includes, 2 x Daiwa Mad Dragon Rods, 2 x Daiwa 5500 BRI Plus Bait Runner Reels (or Shimano 12000 D's /drool), a Fox Stalker Pod (WTH, we used to use wooden sticks back in the old days! or a single bank stick to hold an alarm), 2 bite alarms, swingers, a carp net, mat & sling and most importantly, a much more comfortable chair - other suggestions appreciated for a Carp'a'holic returning to the hobby once more.
Carp World Records & Euro Paylake Carp
in Carp Locally & Fishing Reports
Posted
>>> European transplants
Dang, I almost feel like a carp organ donor! I hope that in time I might persuade some of my UK colleagues to come drop a line in the waters here when they next come over for a visit/work trip etc. Will be interesting to see what they think of the state of carp fishing here , vs. back home. My knowledge of the UK scene is "decades" out of date now.
John