[Carp pics - but not fishing]

[How I would LOVE to get my kayak out there and toss some bread flies at those carp! But...I'd feel a little silly doing it with a bunch of people at the restaurant watching me. /quote]

I would feel sillier at passing up a good carp opportunity. Who, knows, you might have a few people who will take up this thing about catching big carp.

[New guy and new water!]

I posted a thread a while back about a possible carp haven. We drove up to Charleston, TN yesterday to a produce market. After that, I took a side trip and found the backwater (embayment) that has a large bank area for fishing. I saw some swirls but couldn't see what they were. Hopefully, they were carp. I'm going to watch the weather for the next couple of days and bait it. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated so long as it doesn't cost a lot. I'm cheap!!!

For tackle, I have a couple of spinning rods in the 5-1/2 ft. range, medium action. Have to dust off the rod and reel and put line on the reel.

[Yep. Turtle got a Hemi.]

Good story! Glad everyone had a good time. However, turtles are known to be party-poopers and have no sense of fun.

[Mulberry Carp]

Flyfishing guru Dave Whitlock ties a purple deerhair fly with a green deerhair stem. His first carp was under a mulberry tree.

[What to look for?]

Thanks! I'll try to remember the camera.

[What to look for?]

Phone, this is where the water backs up in a feeder creek off the main river. This one has been here for years. It's dry when TVA drops the lakes to winter pool but fills in the spring. I don't recall how big it is as it's been a while since I have been by it, but it's worth a try.

By field corn, cap'n, do you mean something you get at the farm store? We have a Tractor Supply and a Farmer's Co-op store in town. Any recommendations? Got to keep the price down as the wife says I have never had a cheap hobby.

[What to look for?]

There is a backwater off the Hiwassee River in Charleston, TN. It may be only about 4 feet deep at the most. I plan on going there this week to see if there are any carp there. I might take the flyrod as backup just in case I see one. For baiting the swim, I am thinking of putting out some canned sweet corn. Any particular amount? Walmart has the big #10 cans. After baiting, how soon before actually fishing the swim? Baiting more than once before fishing?

Tackle: UL or medium spinning tackle; got tons of hooks, sinkers, etc.

Any advice is appreciated. I need to get on the bank somewhere for a while to try out this carpin' thingy! Retired so mid-week is perfect! If it pays off, I'll take the grandsons.

[how would you catch carp here]

I use a double or triple surgeon's knot. Haven't have any problems! Wet the line before drawing down to tighten. I pull on the tag ends and the line itself on both ends to get it tight. Be careful of river/creek/lake water due to the nasties in it.

[how would you catch carp here]

Popper and larger flies can be weedless by adding a piece of monofilament tied in first. Tie at the back of the hook at the start of the bend, down past the point and up through the eye, tie it off behind the eye. Pince the line so you tie the mono on both sides of the hook shank.

[The History and the Heat]

It shows that you don't have to travel far to discover new things and new worlds. Thanks for the thread and pictures. The donkey pix remind me of a story that was printed in a weekly rag here at home.

A man and his wife were traveling and passed a farm with several donkeys in a field.

The man asked his wife, "Relatives of yours?"

The wife replied, "In-laws."

[I created a monster]

I could think of a lot worse things he could do. Great story! You want to take him home? Is he catching bigger fish than you?

[How to lose 1M dollars while fishing]

Sad thing is the fish was killed, not released. Look hanging up between the two guys.

[Evil invades my local swim]

1. Does the guy have any kind of license to take fish?

2. What method is he using?

3. Isn't it illegal to take fish and release them in another body of water?

4. Would his actions be considered to be a commercial operation, even though there is no limit on carp? (Not yet, anyway.)

[99 freakin pounds!]

That's a big fish! While he was in Dijon, I wonder if he picked up a couple of jars of mustard?

[Lucky Shirt?]

Just remember to toss the shirt in the washer once in a while to get the carp stuff off.

[Warning! Warning!! Danger!! Danger!!!]

Personally, I wouldn't fish in his swim without permission.

[buff on a fly]

Phone, I remember those days. A cane pole could be bought at the local bait store or hardware store for about 50 cents, black braided line was about the same price, a float, hooks, sinkers and you were in business. I wish I had a penny for every fish caught on a cane pole. I could have retired in style! Bill Gates would be envious!

Oh yes, they were propped up in from of the store as they were all one piece. None of them had ferrules to make them two piece poles.

[buff on a fly]

Phone, I would define flyfishing as using a rod, reel, line made specifically for the outfit, leader, tippet, and fly. The fly is an artificial made of natural and/or synthetic materials. Flyfishing is casting the fly, using several different types of casts, dictated by the water, terrain, etc. What you describe with the willow pole is very similar to a Japanese method of fishing using a long pole, line approx. the length of the pole, and a fly. The line is tied to the end of the pole. The method is known as Tenkara. Do a search and you can see it in detail. There is a video on youtube of flyfishing guru Joan Wulff fishing with the Tenkara method.

[Target fishing]

I have heard of people targeting large fish of different species. Isn't it all about catching large fish? Why do we put our PB on our signature?

[snakeheads]

Snakeheads are a delicacy in Asia. It is assumed that is why they were stocked in the US- for a local food supply instead of importing them. Eat all you want. More room for carp.

[Who would you like to fish with from CAG - that you do not know]

After long and considerable thought since this thread was started, I have made my decision. First, I don't know anyone, yet. So I have to make my choice solely on what I have read and seen in photos. Second, my choice would be Ol' Captain and Relaximus Maximus. Ol' Captain for the fun while fishing and RM for his approach to life- lie down and don't worry about it!

[Beauty in the Blank]

I thought dogfish were found in saltwater. I was not aware that there were invisible fish anywhere on the planet. Remember, it's not all about catching fish! Thanks for the thread and pictures.

[What do you use to keep ticks off?]

Plain ol' insect repellent. Go with 100% DEET but be careful with it around plastics, especially fly line. Some repellants will melt plastics. I remember old timers, when I was a kid, would sprinkle powdered sulfur in their socks and on their legs.

[Interesting road kill found in Ohio]

"Why did the carp cross the road?"

"It was the chicken's day off!"

[Made friends with a bowfisherman yesterday]

I'm reminded of a time my father and I were bass fishing on Lake Chickamauga. We had pulled into a cove near Wolftever Creek and were enjoying a decent day of catching those green fish. A boat pulling a waterskier started buzzing around the cove, even though there was the whole lake to ski in.

"Stupid is, stupid does."- Forrest Gump