Carpaholic
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Posts posted by Carpaholic
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Wow, time really gets away from me. It's time to post up a few more experiences. Continuing on with the 2004 ATC. As organizer of the 2004 ATC, I had not planned on really fishing it too seriously. In fact, I had decided that I'd only fish if there happened to be an odd number of contestant leaving someone without a partner. Originally Zach and I had planned to team up, but he graciously agreed to partner with another contestant who's partner had to cancel at the last minute. I figured I'd be sitting this one out until luck of all luck, the William "Phone" Warder showed up without a partner. Phone insisted that he wasn't serious about competing either, so he had no problem with me dropping off my gear and then spending about half the day visiting as many of the other competitors as I could. As luck would have it, we also drew the warm water discharge swim. At the time, that swim was not known as a producer. In fact, Phone and partner had blanked there the previous year.
So, imagine my surprise when I eventually came back to our swim around 2:30 in the afternoon. Phone had already caught a couple of fish and suggested I might want to get my rods put together and lines in the water. What followed was nothing short of magical. It seemed I had nearly a fish a cast for the rest of the day. By the end of the first day we were in the lead!
Phone has to be one of the friendliest and most talkative carpers ever. Here is a picture of a local Austin resident who Phone taught to carp fish!
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Well done, Brid!
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Perhaps I am not the best resource as I've yet to catch a 40. However, I have managed a few 30's. In general I find that a larger bait doesn't necessarily mean a bigger carp, but it may mean fewer smaller carp. My approach has been to catch as many of the fish in front of me as I can in the hopes that a larger sampling of the population may capture a few on the unusually large side. You can't catch them if they are not there....
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Congrats Kent. A session like that will keep you revved up all winter long. Way to go.
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Just got my copy yesterday. Mega thanks to Stewart for giving it such a professional look, to Zach for helping sell ad space to offset the increased cost, and to Richard for donating the color ink. Thanks also to all the writers and photo contributors. This new format really rocks!
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Awesome. And thank you Ken for making this available to CAG. It is much appreciated.
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I'll be there too. Looking forward to participating. Cheers to the organizers.
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Louis, nope its a "fishin dock"
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Picture compliments of Justin Wengert (Starless Dragon).
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OK, here's the tale, pics to follow...
Lake Fork Report
I really want to make the most of my limited fishing opportunities. With the rest of my family out of town visiting relatives, I had a rare opportunity to fish a full weekend session. In fact, I used a vacation day to stretch it into a 3-day weekend. Plan A was to go fish Town Lake in Austin. Unfortunately, word was that the place was unfishable due to flood conditions and heavy currents. Plan B was to fish at Lake Athens. Zach was pretty confident that he has the place worked out and that we would catch some big fish. However, Zach ended up having family commitments of his own, and decided that he probably couldn’t camp the weekend at Athens. So, a Plan C was very much needed. As luck would have it, Plan C had been evolving for several weeks on the Texas Fishing Forum. The LSCB (Lone Star Carp Brigade) was preparing to fish a private property on Lake Fork. Having checked with the organizers, I set course for Plan C.
I got a late start on Friday. After dropping the dogs off at the kennel, I bought a sack of deer corn and a sack of 38% protein range cubes. Back home, I set the maize to boiling while I went about packing for the weekend. Packing takes much longer when you haven’t been out much. Late in the afternoon, I was finally packed and heading down the highway. Of course, that was exactly the time the heavens opened up and poured down rain. Much of my gear got pretty soaked during the drive. Eventually I drove out from under the thunder storm as I approached my destination. Knowing the rain was following and would soon to catch up with me, I wanted to set up quickly. Thankfully, Jason our host was waiting with an electric golf cart! Talk about service, I was taxied along with my gear down to the waters edge.
A few LSC Brigadiers were already set up and fishing. We had permission to fish along 3 adjacent properties. Two of them had covered boat houses and the 3rd had a short wooden pier. There were a few isolated bits of standing timber jutting up out of the water. I needed to pick a place. People often joke about how I like to fish on the “end peg.” Well experience has shown me too many times that when fishing in a group, the end pegs are often the best pegs. Lucky for me, the last peg to the right was open and it appeared to be free of standing timber. My decision was made and I hurriedly set up camp. I really broke a sweat in the humid evening air, but managed to get most of my gear under the brolly as the rains started.
Wet on the outside from the rain and wet on the inside from perspiration trapped beneath my waterproofs, I decided to take off my rain gear and wait on my bedchair for the weather to break. I was ill prepared for the numerous flies and mosquitoes that had also decided to shelter beneath my brolly. As it grew darker, I learned that Lake Fork mozzies are not the least put off by 100% DEET repellant! Despite having all of my gear set up, I decided to take refuge at a local motel to dry out my feet and escape the little blood suckers. I knew I’d be in for a little good natured teasing, but I figured fishing is supposed to be fun and continuing on at that moment would have been closer to miserable. So, it was off to the motel.
I was sound asleep around 1 AM. That was when my bite alarm went screeming off… Ooops, I meant that was when my cell phone began ringing and vibrating across the nightstand. I answered to hear a drunken celebration well underway. Donny had caught the first of the Lake Fork carp. It was eleven pounds, but it was a start. Apparently, those tougher than I had been drinking beer and taking shots of whiskey (mostly to ward off the mosquitoes I’m sure). Perhaps the mozzies were getting drunk too… Anyways, after the appropriate congratulatory remarks, I was back in the land of nod. I awoke well refreshed and eager to begin fishing. Having dried out my clothing I was again comfortable and ready to roll.
Back down on the bankside, I learned that three more fish had been caught. Tracy Smith had landed a couple up to mid-teens, and Donny had had another mid to upper teen. The fish sizes were not the stuff of dreams, but hey, fish were being caught. Saturday started cloudy and comfortable. I decided to really work at putting in the bait. A bit of checking revealed that the water in front of my swim dropped from 6 to 10 ft a few yards from shore. After that, it was just a slow steady flat tapering from 10 to maybe 14 ft at 60 yds out. Later, I learned from Scott that there was a 2nd drop-off about 200 yds out that went from 15 to about 20 feet. That 2nd drop-off was well beyond my casting range, so I decided to build a bed of bait that I could easily reach day and night. I spodded out about a half bucket of maize approximately 30 yds out parallel to shore. Next, I used the throwing stick to toss out about a half bucket of range cubes just beyond the maize line. Lastly I hurled some racquetball sized method balls to about 50 yds using a method blaster.
Hook baits were maize made neutrally buoyant with small disks of closed cell foam. Each bait was dipped in Scopex flavor and then pressed into the mix on the method feeder. I cast my rigs 50, 40, and 30 yds from left to right. When fishing on the end, I often taper the distances like this. My idea is to allow an un-interrupted approach to each of the baits if a fish is swimming a contour parallel to shore. By having the longest cast the furthest to the ‘inside’, the fish doesn’t have to swim past one or more lines before coming across my bait. I figure if other anglers lines can make inside pegs less productive, then my own lines might just do the same if not arranged carefully.
During the day, all of that careful preparation seemed not to matter at all. Aside from turtles constantly chewing off my baits including the foam and plastic hair stops, there was very little fishy activity. Late in the afternoon, Mark Villanova caught a feisty five pounder. As dusk fell, Tracy’s rods came back to life and we gathered to admire some nice low doubles that were coming to his rods. Kevin Sutton fired up the frier and stuffed us to our gills with the best fried catfish and jalepeno hush-puppies anyone has ever had. As the morning clouds had burned off, most of us sheltered out of the sun on the covered boat house. As afternoon turned to evening turned to night, we enjoyed telling tales and swapping fish stories.
Eventually, the nighttime conversation turned to Lake Fork itself. We had built up a bit of a ‘mystique’ about the place. Surely the Texas heaven for largemouth bass ought to be a heaven for big carp too. A few previous expeditions by LCS Brigadiers had turned up blanks. Blanks are actually a good thing. When it comes to researching big fish waters, blanks are far better than multi-fish days with loads of smaller fish. Yet, here we were. A few fish had been caught and they only ranged from five pounds to mid-teens. Was this the stuff of a big fish water? I must admit, I was taking the skeptics side and thinking it might be a good water for 10 -15 lbers, but I doubted it was going to be a producer of many twenty or thirty plus size fish. The fact that the assembled carpers were split on the topic made for good conversation with some arguing that the small fish caught thus far tended to demystify Lake Fork as simply a slightly better than average water. On the other hand, some like Justin (aka Starless Dragon) argued that we simply had not seen enough to know for sure one way or the other. He kept saying he was still pretty confident that the lake held plenty of big fish.
Eventually full stomachs and lack of sleep for some took its toll and most of us headed back for our pegs to fish and to rest. Scott Townson had arrived early Saturday evening and was well rested. He put up camp in the peg immediately to my left which had been vacated by Donny. We stayed up chatting, hoping for big fish, and swatting at the mosquitoes with Texas sized appetites. Around midnight my bite alarmed signaled activity. Unfortunately it was the first of many channel cats. The catfish seemed to like my maize concoction nearly as much as the turtles had earlier. On the upside though, our hosts wanted us to keep a mess of catfish for them and we came through with at least an ice chest full of them.
Around 1 am Scott and I were still up and chatting. Again my alarm pierced the darkness, but this time it was most definitely the mono-tone of a running carp! After a spirited battle, I landed my first Lake Fork carp. It was a nice long athletic looking carp of 15 lbs. Oddly, it had a few sores on each side. Nonetheless, it is always good to catch a carp from a new water and I was feeling pretty good about myself. From that point, things really began to pick up. I started getting runs from both carp and catfish. All were coming from the right hand side of my baited maize lane. In fact, all of the bites were coming from the rightmost rod. That one rod was plenty to keep me busy though. It seemed that everytime I sat down to catch a breath, off it would go again and again and again. Luckily Scott helped net each of the carp. About 3 in the morning, I got a bonus. I landed a 21 lb carp! Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps Lake Fork may turn out to be a big fish water after all.
For some unkown reason, the flash on Scott’s camera would not fire. I decided to sack the fish until first light. Initially, the fish did not want to go deep, but after a few minutes of assistance it settled deeper in the water. Out again with the right hand rod, and I settled into my camp chair for a few moments. As Scott and I talked on, I spied a shooting star. Immediately a wish popped into my head. As soon as I had made my wish, I thought I should have wished for something else. But, I kept it to myself because everyone knows you can’t tell anyone or change a wish, lest it won’t come true.
The next fish out was another kitty catfish followed by another low double. As the first hints of approaching dawn had the sky beginning to lighten in the east, another carp run sent me scrambling along the bank towards my rods. This fish felt solid. It plodded away with the heavy, deliberate feeling of a big fish. I grew even more convinced that it would be a bigger fish when it managed to stay deep and make a few sustained runs once it neared the margins. Scott, ready with the net, eventually saw it roll on the surface and assured me that it would be a good fish with a deep body. I began hoping the hook wouldn’t pull and that the fish wouldn’t find a snag. The longer the battle drew on, the more worried I became. But, luck was on my side this night. Eventually the stalemate tipped in my favor and the fish was safely brought into the net. As Scott hoisted the captured fish up and onto the unhooking mat, he assured me it was a “good” fish. I unwrapped the fish much as one would a birthday gift from within my excessive netting. What a gift it was, a thick slab of gold nearly 3 feet long! With heart pumping and adrenalin rushing, I lifted the scale and attached weigh sling. “Thirty pounds and eight ounces”, announced Scott.
Once the fish was safely sacked off the end of the pier, I sat there in my chair floating above the clouds. That is when it occurred to me that I had got my wish. The wish that had popped into my head when I spied the shooting star was to catch a Lake Fork thirty. The thought that had followed it was that I should have wished for a forty instead!
Dawn was now truly approaching. At first light, I went to awaken Justin for the photographs. I didn’t want to wait too long because I don’t like keeping fish sacked, especially in summer. I stood outside his tent and told him that I’d caught a good fish. He asked, “How big?” I answered 21 lbs. He didn’t seem too impressed. After a lengthy pause and something about coming back later, I told him about the thirty. He was up and out of the tent in a relative flash. The group was mostly present when I retrieved the 21 for a few quick pictures. All thoughts of a nice brace shot were sorely interrupted when I found the smaller fish was dead. This is the first fish I’ve had die in the sack and I can assure you it will be the last. The feeling of dread I felt when that twenty plus fish emerged stiff as a board from the sack really deflated me. No amount of assistance was going to revive it. It simply stared blankly back without movement. It had been sacked just over 3 hrs, during the coolest hours of the night, during a relatively mild summer, but the warm waters apparently held too little oxygen for this particular fish.
Thus, it was with a mix of emotions that I retrieved the larger fish. Fortunately it was quite lively and fresh. After a few quick pictures and a few measurements it went back into Lake Fork. We captured the release on digital video and it was a relief to see that broad fish cruise back into the depths. Please take my advice, I don’t want anyone to end up feeling the way I did at the sight of that expired twenty. Don’t sack fish at all during the summertime. Carp are tough, sure enough, but that hard determined fight they put up really uses a lot of energy and puts them at greater risk.
The picture taking session wrapped up with Mark Villanova also releasing a healthy mid-teen fish caught during the night. I had to admit that Justin and the others were right. Lake Fork may indeed be a big fish water after all. Having talked the previous night about Fork being somewhat demystified, we all agreed that Saturday night’s results have officially “remystified” Lake Fork. So, if you are brave enough (or have enough extra blood to spare to the vampire mosquitoes) give Lake Fork a try at night. Perhaps the deeper waters will produce during the days, but the armies of turtles pretty much rule out fishing the shallows during daylight hours. Best of luck to everyone.
P.S. It turns out that the current Rod and Reel record at Lake Fork is 25 lbs and a few ounces. I will submit the required paperwork to have the 30 lb 8 oz fish certified as a new lake record.
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Hi all -
Proud father Keith Melrose asked me to post this picture of his son John with a fine 25 lb 4 oz common from Town Lake. The fish was caught early morning before the heat and humidity got too oppressive.
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Wow! It looks like there is some serious hauling going on. Congrats to all the anglers, especially the pay lake guys who look like they are all bunched up at or near the top of the leaderboard. Congrats also to ACS and Baldwinsville NY for tons of positive coverage. Everyone involved seems to be having a blast. Wish I was there too...
All the best.
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Congrats to the youngster and to Jerome for helping make the special moment happen.
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Wow. It's not just the 44 or the 2nd forty, it's also the other beautiful fish backing up this capture. Those high 30's and that 25 mirror are simply awesome. I really believe we are witnessing the discovery of a truly awesome carp fishery. Enjoy these early days to their fullest. Your pioneering spirit is really paying off. I predict that in the not too distant future, carpers in other states will be hoping to prove that its not just TN, NY, and TX, with the forty pounders!
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Congrats, nothing like a PB or 2 to bring a smile.
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Wow, impressive both!
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Maybe leave a bit sooner than the kids would like. Leave 'em wanting more and eager to return. It also makes sure you don't accidentally do the opposite and stay past their attention span.
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Neil, the club and the sport love you back. Thanks!
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Florin and Laura, wonderful pictures. Thank you for coming to TX.
P.S. Nice fish!
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Thanks for the update Andrew. As always, it was wonderful to see you guys. I'm thrilled you had good time and got your string pulled.
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Has anyone fished Town during or just after the spawn? Part of the reason for holding it when we have was to get it in before the spawn. If holding during or after the spawn would help, we might be able to consider moving it a few weeks later in the year.
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Yep, the City Parks folks require that we carry liability insurance and name the City of Austin as a co-insured. That way if we happen to injur a bystander, and they sue, the insurance (rather than CAG or Austin) pays.
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Phone -
Just wanted to say that i got the autographed Zebco at the auction. It really is the Cadillac of the Zebco line complete with ball bearings, metal housing, a smooth drag, and most importantly, your signature. It was great to see you even briefly this year.
All the best.
A Pictoral History of my CAG Experience
in Pictures, Stories & Video
Posted
Of course, holding the lead at the end of the first day put Phone and I in a slightly more competitive state of mind. Phone's job was to pick another hot peg for day 2. I couldn't believe it when he drew the hot water discharge again on the 2nd day! We knew we were in for another day of hauling. I hope when I'm Phone's age I am as healthy and vibrant as he. Yet, he was still recovering from a recent illness so he decided it would be best to hire an assistant to help with weighing all the fish we were sure to catch. He stopped off at a day labor service and hired a friendly young man from Mexico. Our assistant enjoyed the day netting, weighing, and photographing carpas! We even had an extra lawn chair and a good supply of soft drinks for the young man. Here's a pic of my best fish from the 2 days at just under 28 lbs.