LATE FALL WITH THE GOLDEN FISH

People are looking at me funny when I tell them that I have been into the carp gig much of this year. As fall continues into the early winter transition, I find that the fish are getting bigger...and that's just fine with me! The picture above is my new personal best for the specie...a 37.5 inch fish that I caught on Oct. 24 at about 10:45 am. I didn't weigh her, but she's a fatty for sure!This photo was taken just prior to release. Like last week, I had one run today and it occurred when my wife gave me a call and I had to cut the conversation short due to a screaming bite alarm. Here's another look at this fish...don't know the weight, maybe 25?

Went today for a couple of hours after work and had 2 runs. While I was playing a fish, it just seemed to pop off when I had worked it in almost close enough to see it. As I was baiting up, the other alarm went off and I manage to stay buttoned up on that one. The picture above shows a long, lean male carp in the upper teens. This fish was hooked about 60 yards from shore, and likely ran 40 additional yards on it's initial run, making for a long and tense battle. It was one of the strongest I have taken this year, making me think it was much bigger. I went 1 for 2 today, and my yearly score is 33 fish on the bank for 55 runs that set the alarms off. I'd like to up those percentages. One way is to prebait an area with corn by using a spod and drawing and holding the carp in specific areas for days, even weeks, at a time...

 By filling the spod up half way, you can cast farther and distribute the corn in a fairly large area, even a few acres. But it takes time and effort. Kinda like taking time and effort to follow God's plan and commands for our lives. Like baiting and chumming for carp, God's plans take effort, time and dilegence. We can do it once in a while and think we're OK, but the truth is that it is a daily battle and a daily effort to follow His plan and read His word and to allow it to saturate us and guide our lives. Jesus said...'I have come that you might have  life, and have it abundantly'.  Lot's of bait, catching the rewards, enjoying the experience, abundant life. Not necessarily being rich, but having enough. The next time I am fortunate enough to release a big fish, I'll remember that 'abundant life' takes on many forms... God is good, all the time!

Fishing in the Bottom of the Ninth

The mountains declare Your majesty, the heavens declare Your Glory
All creation shouts out Your Name, and that's good enough for me! Even the rocks cry out!

I must admit...when God paints a picture, He doesn't mess around. Even in the midst of what was a harsh and windy day, He took the time to paint this spectacular skyscape right in front of my nose. It makes me wonder how many beautiful things have I missed in my lifetime, a lifetime of serving other things and false gods. I believe the greatest things God often puts right at our feet, right under our noses. Grace, forgiveness, eternal life, truth and abundant joy. Wow! Who needs a fish, anyway?

I managed to get out and carp it a few times last week. Didn't have a lot of time but made the most of it with my friends Bob and Joe. We've been chummin at some new areas and it has paid off well. Above you see Joe with a nice carp that he got past the heavy grass and put on the bank. Images of big, golden fish invade my sleepless nights, making me restless.

My hopes of bigger game continues. Bob and Joe have each gotten a twenty plus pounders the past week, while I had to settle for mid-teen fish. I even caught my smallest carp ever...a 2 pounder... on one of the recent sessions.

Another nice one gearing up for the release...I had a cool experience on Thurs, Oct 20. Got to fish for a few hours after work. Did a three hour gig with nary a strike. Then, as I was starting to gather up, one of the alarms screamed and I just let the rod load up with the circle hook. Fish on! She made two long runs and got me down in the weeds...but I managed to get her out, and it turned out to be my best of the year. Here's my walk-off twenty pounder that saved me in the bottom of the ninth...

One run, one fish...but it was the one that I wanted! Struggled with a few photos, but got the fish back in the water and she swam off looking good. Patience and optimism...I was happy, so I went on home. Water temps are right around 60, so the carp fishing will last about another month or so. Maybe a 25 before the end of the season? The lake has produced 'thirtys'. Will I ever be satisfied with what God provides me? In Proverbs 30, Agur requests just two things from God... to know the truth of God's word and to have daily bread. How often I have had more than daily bread, and yet seemed unsatisfied. He also knew that God's word was flawless, and not to be added to. Simple truths for simple living. I need to be thankful for whatever is provided me.

Fishing in the Rough

Just think about it...most anglers in America just about hate certain species considered 'bottom feeders'. Big catfish, carp, buffalo, suckers and other less worthy game. Yeah, they have their fans, but many look down their noses at the likes of these, and the likes of people that we think might be on the bottom as well. I am sure glad God doesn't harbor those thoughts on us who have fallen and can't seem to get up off the bottom, feeding on bad stuff. Kinda' like fishing for the 'rough' fish...some laugh and some make fun. But all fish are worthy, and all people are worthy of the love of God and His grace, even though we don't deserve it or can earn it.
Fishing in the Rough...and a few from recent trips...in the world of bottom feeders...

Caught in the net of life, and yet a beauty in it's own way...

I admire a modest sized carp from our October 10, 2011 outing where we have been after these fish throughout the summer. Very nice color and scale pattern.

Matt admires a decent chunker of about 14 pounds. I like the dynamics of this fish...short, but solid and heavy. And the gold coloration...wow! Artificial corn and maise does the trick at this local lake.

Mondays' big fish was Bob's 20 pounder. We went 5 for 11 runs as a group using European style carping tactics. In my first year on these fish I have learned to be patient and calm when a big boy hits. We lost three fish to breakoffs...I think an old cable or something is submerged in the area, causing the lost fish. A couple from earlier trips that made it to the bank...

My best looking carp of the year was this robust pre-spawn female in the high teens...a great fish!

Matt with one well over twenty on tutti-frutti corn and a long, tough battle. The only fish we got that day.

Me with a mile-long mule that might have pushed thirty if it was during the pre-spawn and she retained eggs. Hung me up twice in the weeds, but managed to put her on the bank. Remember what I said about beauty?

Other bottom feeders exist, and some like them and some don't. My brother in law Paul and I got to do the rough gig last weekend at a small lake near home that reportedly had big channel cats. We chummed with chicken livers and then just tossed out a few baits and hung on. Using the bite alarm system, we managed 5 hookups and landed three cats...all over 30 inches...and can't wait to go back for more. Here's a 31 incher, male channel cat with the cobalt blue head...

And this female went 33 inches...my new personal record for the species. We put them all back, all alive, all worthy, all fun. Yeah, some sportsman may laugh, but the big rough and tough fish are , to me, far more exciting than skipping a 2 pound bass accross the surface and then unceremoniously pitched back in the drink because it is too small, or maybe, not worthy enough.

I like the rough fishing thing...along with all the rest. Big fish attract me, and I think most anglers would rather catch a big fish than a small one. Til next time, I'm gunnin' for gold...

Fish Just Keep on Bitin'!

Okay, I know it's early on in my blogging carreer, but I just want to say hi to everyone out there who has been following my articles in regional mags in the Mid-Atlantic and in the In-Fisherman over the years. Truth is, I am just an ordinary  poor boy who loves to fish for just about anything and will do his best to catch what ever is biting. Smallies, gills, crappies, cats, carp and more. Oh, yeah, you might even see a bass or trout piece in here. Whatever it is, it's gonna' be fun, and we are hoping you enjoy the ride!

 Ready? Let's go fishing! How about these 1.5 and 2 pound bluegills from Richmond Mill Lake, in North Carolina? Trophies, my friends! Got them last November with my son, Matt, as we had the trip of a lifetime at this amazing private fishery aka the Kingfisher Society. Bassin was good, too...

Matt with a near 6 pounder be got on one of my hairjigs bounced along the bottom on a cool and crisp morning at 42 degrees. The body dynamics of these fish are tremendous! They are F1 hybrid largemouth bass...a lab cross between a northern largemouth and a Florida strain largemouth. First generation offspring exhibit tremendous growth potential with northern feeding aggression and Florida size. This fish is barely 19 inches long, and only 5 years old! Wow!

We also got some big crappie on this trip, like Matt's near 15 incher. Some big chain pickerel were in the mix and we just had a ton of fish that kept our ultra light rods doubled over. Earlier in the year, I joined Alan Warren of the Allen Warren Outdoors show for a couple of episodes at this southern powerhouse of a lake. We focused on Goliath gills, but had to sift through the numbers of 4 to 6 pound bass to get the biggest panfish. Great trip, great fishing!
We'll be back, and hopefully do it again!