CARP ANGLER 2021 Q 2
IN THIS ISSUE: -
CAG NEWS AND REVIEW ESSENCE OF CARPING BIG 4 SPRING REVIEW C C C 2 0 2 1 A N D S TAT E U P DAT E S
F E AT U R E A RT I C L E S I N C L U D I N G : - TA K E A K I D C A R P I N G . - P A N H A N D L I N G F O R C A R P, - S U R FA C E TA C T I C S , A N D M O R E !
www.carpanglersgroup.com
EDITOR IN-CHIEF ADDRESS Dean Brookes
I hope this edition finds everyone healthy and enjoying the up and down summer weather. Here in the North East of the country we have had several weeks of hot and humid weather which with it brings a high barometric air pressure; not the best conditions to catch carp. I’m not much of a hot weather fan anyway so I prefer to put in the hours at work and look forward to the small windows of time where stormy weather comes through and the fishing conditions improve. I also bank the hours at work and with the family so I can take time off when the opportunity arises. In this online edition we have several CAG reviews, with Spring contests such as the Big 4 and Essence of Carping as well as news on new CAG State additions and a couple of regional events. We also highlight the upcoming CCC which will once again take place on the Hudson river. For feature articles we highlight a great event that takes place in upstate New York and introduces the younger generation and we also have arti-
cles featuring anglers highlighting sessions and tactics. As always we rely on our members contributions and I want to thank everyone; both past and present who has contributed to this magazine over the years. Without your input the magazine would cease to exist. Hope you all enjoy this edition and as always, if anyone would like to contribute; please send any communications or materials to naca@carpanglersgroup.com
Dean Brookes Editor in Chief
Letter from CAG president
CAG! the Junior InterThere is a lot happening at ent, are looking forward to ev 4 BIG g rin Sp at gre er tting sign-ups for We just completed anoth later in July and already ge er Riv ce en wr La St the on have a new CAG national Carp Tournament NY in September. We also e cki xsa Co ar ne er Riv on a tremendous the 2021 CCC on the Huds mbers only and best of all me for um for le ab vig na re homepage, a leaner and mo upsurge in new members! me T-Shirts and sertion (seen recently on so as the is me ern nc co to ecies. Invasive refers One area that continues rpio) are a ‘non-invasive’ sp ca us rin yp (C rp ca on mm al native species. We forum discussions) that co impacts or detriment to loc l nta me on vir en es us ca t LMB, Rainbow to a non- native species tha species in the USA including fish er oth h wit g on (al rp ca nsidered ‘invasive’ need to be very careful as silver & big head) can be co as ch su nts ria va rp ca ian ed carp (primarily from trout, Brown Trout and As tter protection of trophy siz be for rd ha sh pu to es nu e that in some in some areas. CAG conti but we also need to recogniz s) ter wa d wil m fro s fer ns large populations of bowfishing and stocking tra gement, often as a result of na ma e uir req t tha s ue iss very likely to alienate states there are localized ive’ terminology then we are as nv n-i ‘no the ing us on smaller carp. If we insist r efforts to protect trophy tions which may impact ou iza an org er oth d an ery ourselves from State fish d rapidly growing sport, angling as an enjoyable an rp ca ng hti hlig hig on us lly co-exist with other fish. Instead we must foc rp waters (where they usua ca y ph tro for n tio tec pro e an economic benefit our continued desire to se ease trophy carp angling as rel & tch ca te mo pro d an ) trophy sized fish species for local businesses. ming newcomers to ting trophy carp and welco tec pro to d ate dic de n tio As a non-profit organiza m all our volunteers. My dedication and support fro the on y rel ly tru we ing do for this amazing catch & release carp fish s for all that you continue to air Ch te Sta d an s tor ec Dir reach out to me as thanks, as always, to our nt then please feel free to ipa rtic pa tive ac re mo a be group. If you would like to more help! we are always looking for
Iain Sorrell CAG President
C O N T E N T S CAG New State chairs
PAGE 6
2021
CAG Carp Classic
Esscence of carping
PAGE 9
PAGE 14
This Is the Carp Anglers Group
PAGE 31
PAGE 41
Pan Handling for Carp in Florida! PAGE 21
Yankee Challenge PAGE 36
Eshhka Cahboshka PAGE 49
Take a Kid Karpin’ Tournament PAGE 54
Back-Leads &How to Use Them!
PAGE 62
Spring 2021 Rhode Island
Big 3
Surface Fishing
PAGE 58
PAGE 68
On the Front Cover: Mike Cianciolo with a magnificent koi from the Connecticut River
A 1/4 page advert starts from as little as $45 and includes a live link to your webpage or become a Business Supporter and get a Full Page advert in each NACA plus a web banner link on the CAG Website and Forums for only $300 / year. For more information email us to naca@carpanglersgroup.com
New Appointments! CAG is delighted to welcome three new State Chairs. Domenic Firestone – State Chair Pennsylvania Domenic is one our youngest recruits. He is not only eager to share the fun of carp fishing with others but equally enjoys learning more about this great sport.
Erik Taylor – State Chair Kentucky Erik recently worked with local fish & wildlife to film a segment on carp fishing for Kentucky Afield that has already had over 17K views! You can see it here! https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyAfieldTV/videos/801279000749895
North American Carp Angler
7
Laine Dillard – State Chair Florida Originally from Alabama, Laine now lives close to the only common carp fishing in Florida and is making the most of the excellent opportunities! Welcome Domenic, Erik and Laine and thanks for becoming the latest in a long line of great ambassadors for catch and release carp fishing in North America!
If you would like to learn more about be-
coming a State Chair and helping support the CAG mission please email us at: cagstaff@carpanglersgroup.com
CAG members are invited to submit photographs that capture what is unique and exciting about carp fishing in North America. Each month the winner will receive a special prize plus recognition for two runners up. The photos do not have to be of someone holding a fish (this is NOT a Trophy fish competition) but they should be recognizable as being related to carp or buffalo fishing in North America and should reflect the capture of a special moment. The ‘essence’ of carp fishing in North America might memorialize a remarkable scale pattern, someone’s first carp, a group of friends fishing together, a spectacular sunset, time of year or perhaps a dramatic background or landscape. The judges will be fellow members who should pay particular attention to the subject matter and composition and not just the photographic or editing skills. In the event of a tie or any disputes the CAG BOD will be the final arbitrator.
Each month we’ll announce a winner and Award
a prize or voucher (worth $100) with the winning
photo appearing in a forthcoming NACA magazine as well as the CAG Forum Site and Facebook page. The top 3 will also receive CAG Medals.
The Rules:
The entrant must be a Full CAG Member & the owner of any copyright to the photograph. An entrant may submit a maximum of TWO photos only in each month. The photograph must have been taken in the submission month (final date for submissions is 24 hours after the end of each month) All fish photos must demonstrate appropriate carp care and catch & release Each submission must include the following details:
1.
The type of device (e.g. camera or
2.
The date the photo was taken.
4.
Your Name
3. 5.
phone) used.
Location (nearest Town and State). Photo Title (e.g. Mirror Magic, Waiting
for the Bite etc)
Entries should be submitted to the “CAG Essence of Carping Competition” under the appropriate “Month” below. Entrants agree that CAG may use or display a submitted photo on the CAG website and Social Media resources. North American Carp Angler 9
APRIL WINNERS
1st
- Michael Huffman
2nd - Kirk Suedmeyer
3Rd - Joseph Venable
North American Carp Angler 11
MAY WINNERS
1ST - (MO) Carper - Kirk Suedmeyer
2nd - Jerome Moisand
3RD
- Michael Huffman
JUNE WINNERS 1ST - Daniel Swartout
2nd (TIE) -
Nathan Head
North American Carp Angler
15
2nd (TIE) -
Robert Michalik
3RD
- Dave Pickering
North American Carp Angler
17
2021
CAG Carp Classic Saturday September 25th Location: Hudson River, NY Peg Locations*: Coxsackie Riverside Park, Dutchmans Landing & Catskill Point Friday Sept 24 2021
The Peg draw and Scale Certification will be done at CHRISSY’s Diner. 11830 Route 9w,
Meet and Greet: At the Pegasus Restaurant from 5:00 pm
West Coxsackie NY 12192. The only red light in Coxsackie turn onto Rt 385 (Mansion St), pull
A Bar-B-Que will be available in the parking lot 4pm-8pm!
around behind the building to the large parking lot. They will be open for breakfast @ 6:00 if any-
Saturday Sept 25 2021
one wants to grab a bite before the fishing starts. She will also make lunches to go!
7:00am - Peg draw @ Chrissy’s Diner (details below)
Certification will be from 6:00 to 7:00. Peg draw @ 7:00.
8:00am - 4:00pm - CCC Fishing 6:00pm - Dinner
If your coming to the meet and greet on Friday you can also get your scale certified then.
7:30pm - Awards, Prize Giving & Raffle Local Places to Stay! The Dinner, Awards & Raffle will be held at the Pegasus Restaurant Pegasus Restaurant 10885 St. Rte 9w, Coxsackie NY 12051 http://www.pegasuson9w.com 518-731-9200
Holiday Inn Express 518-719-1999 Best Western ... 518-731-8300 800-528-1234 21b Motel …… 518-731-2721 * Pegs subject to final confirmation
2021
CCC Awards
- The North American Champion trophy will be awarded to the angler with the four fish with the greatest total weight (big 4) - Additional trophies will be given to each section winner (big 4). In case of ties, see the rules in the previous post. - The North Amerian Carp King Jeweled Belt Buckle will be awarded to the angler catching the
The awards will be consistent with the CCC tradition:
single heaviest carp.
In addition, we will have Special Awards for the angler landing the First Fish, and for the angler catching the Biggest Combined Total-Weight. CAG Raffle
nner
Di ffle at the a R G A C a also be There will Giving! and Prize
North American Carp Angler
19
Pan Handling for Carp in Florida!
Iain Sorrell
In the midst of the pandemic and on a cold Connecticut April morning we handed over the keys to the new owners of our home for the past 18 years and headed south to live in SW Florida. While I eagerly looked forward to some new adventures chasing Everglades saltwater species like snook, tarpon & speckled trout I also knew that there are no common carp locally. In fact the nearest common carp were only to be found some 480 miles north in the Florida Panhandle!
My last carp in capture in April 2020
North American Carp Angler
21
It had been a l-on-g 14 months since I caught my last carp on April 17th 2020. My plan had been to head to the Florida panhandle in early Spring once I’d been vaccinated but I also knew that fishing the Apalachicola River was very much dependent on water releases from the Lake Seminole. So
I’d
ear-marked
some dates in April & May, got the carp gear dusted off and put together some baits ready to go as soon at the conditions were favorable.
Local Angler with 12-14’ bamboo pole Sadly the weather didn’t co-operate and my
The journey was relatively easy and after about
plans were thwarted by high water levels and out
7 hours drive I crossed the Apalachicola River and
flows. I really wanted to put 4 fish on the CAG
turned on to a dirt road to check out and bait a swim
Spring BIG 4 leaderboard and as the June 15th
I planned to fish in a couple of days’ time. Several
deadline loomed on the horizon I checked the river
local anglers were sat there with 12-14’ long cane
conditions and contacted local angler Laine Dillard
poles (which very much reminded me of UK match
for an update on the fishing.
fishing poles) fishing for ‘bream’ which in the south-
After some messaging back and forth and
ern stats is a generic term for bluegills, sunfish etc.
Laine’s promise of a home made chicken tikka marsala ‘The Stage’ was set! In no time I had the
Rather than show my ‘hand’ I decided to post-
truck loaded with anything and everything I might
pone baiting up and headed further down river to
ever need and set off Northwards.
meet up with Laine.
After negotiating some windy and ‘unmarked’ back roads I finally found the spot for the night. We set up on the outside of a wide ‘hair-pin’ bend in the river that will one day become an oxbow lake. A nice back eddy over a gently sloping sandy bottom to a ‘shelf’ some 40 yds out (beyond which the main current runs), makes it ideal for baiting up and intercepting cruising carp.
The Apalachicola River
Laine kindly put me on a prime position and after
‘leading’ around to check for any significant features
Enterprise imitation corn on the hair tied so the bait just hangs below the bend of the hook.
or snags I picked a likely spot and started mixing up a favorite method mix of regular oats, Vitalin, dried molasses and creamed corn. The rigs were my simple go to for most US River systems. A 3oz in-line lead on a 24-30” sinking leader attached to a quick clip swivel to allow easy changes of hooklinks. A 3 – 4” hook link with a #6 SSBP beaked hook (to avoid gravel or stones blunting the point) tied with 25lb sinking braid. For baits I use almost any 12 – 15mm barrel wafter or a combo of sinking and floating grains of
Simple but effective rigs! North American Carp Angler
23
I molded a fist sized method ball around the lead and cast out. On most rivers I usually avoid fishing more than two rods. In my mind it simply avoids too many lines in the water and the risk of getting tangled up while playing a fish. About an hour later the Delkim on my left hand rod beeped a couple of times and then signaled a steady run. After a spirited battle I was holding my first carp in over 14 months, my first fish of the Spring BIG 4 tournament and my first ever caught in Florida! At 17lb it wasn’t going to win me any prizes but it really didn’t matter. I was absolutely cock-a-hoop! Laine and I both had a few fish before the bite tailed off around midnight. In need of sleep I wound in my rods and serenaded by crickets, tree frogs and several Barred owls hooting and sqwarking in the surrounding trees soon nodded off. At around 5am I woke and with very little light pollution looked up to see a star filled sky. Such are
My first carp in over 14 months and even though I could feel some steady thumps from the fish the line become stuck fast. Instead of pulling for break I stripped off some line and let everything go slack and kept my fingers crossed.
the joys of being in the country and far away from city illuminations.
After a minute of so the line began to move again
I molded some method around the leads and
and as I wound back down was relieved to be clear
cast out, waited a couple of minutes before wind-
of the obstruction. This fish clearly felt quite a bit
ing back in and repeating once more. This ensured
bigger and turned out to be my first Florida twenty
there was some ‘chum’ in the swim and I settled in
at 25lb 12oz.
confident we’d see more action as the dawn broke. It wasn’t long before a few fish began rolling in and around the baited area. A steady run had me on the rod in a flash but it felt like the line was rubbing against something
Like many of the fish we caught this common bore some scars and tail damage possibly from encounters with gar or even alligators.
My new PB Florida Common at 25lb We
continued
fishing
until around noon when a freshening wind and the sound of thunder plus an increasingly ominous weather radar persuaded us to pack up for the day. After a stop at a local supermarket and bite to eat in a nearby cafe Laine headed home and I drove to Snead and the appropriately named Lake Seminole Inn for a well earned rest and to ride out the storm.
Laine with a gorgeous fin perfect common
North American Carp Angler
25
Lake Seminole Inn was an ideal place to stay
Woodruff Dam
Once the storm finally petered out around 7pm I made the short drive down to the swim I had planned to fish near the Woodruff Dam to bait up.
The steep sand banks are mostly tree lined and well grooved by the
rain run-off. The main river flow appeared to be running from an outlet on the dam along the far bank but just above my swim and about 40yds out was a significant upwelling of water. I’m not sure where this water comes from but it certainly helps create a significant eddy with water moving ‘upstream’ towards the dam. I plumbed the depths and discovered the river bank dropped straight off into 12’ of water! Since carp often follow the margin contours it was an easy choice on where to bait up! A 5 gallon bucket of Cattle Range Cubes mixed with sweet corn and Sweetcorn Particle Syrup was tossed in about 30 yds ‘up-steam’ as ‘chum’. I sat and watched the water for a while and it wasn’t long before fish began to crash on the surface. I was really looking forward to fishing tomorrow!
Chum Mix - Cattle Cubes, Sweetcorn and a ‘slow release’ syrup
An early start saw me parked well before first
So I fished with & without method, tried every
light and carrying gear down to the swim. Once
flavor of wafter I had with me, a couple of pop-ups
again I baited up with more of the ‘chum’ I’d used
and then finally just two grains of imitation corn.
the night before and it wasn’t long before fish soon
And still the runs kept coming! At one stage in the
began crashing in the swim.
early afternoon the fishing slowed and so I put out
I had barely put the rod in the pod after my first
the second rod only to have two simultaneous runs!
cast at 6:30 am when it roared off and I was soon
After some rod juggling and somehow managing to
battling a strong fish. I was actually a little disap-
avoid any tangles I successfully steered both fish
pointed as a low double came into the net. It had
into the net.
fought like a much bigger fish and, as I was about to find out, this would be the norm for the rest of the
By 4pm I’d had enough! The final tally was 31
day. I recast and just managed to get the second
fish which considering the frequent breaks could
rod out before the next run. By 7am I had landed
have been way higher if I’d hadn’t been totally ex-
3 fish all low to mid doubles. My tally at 7:30 am
hausted. Even though the fish were mostly low to
was 5 fish with the biggest running at 16lb. When
mid doubles (plus two low twenties) they battled fu-
you hook & battle hard fighting fish almost directly
riously. I lost only 3 fish. One to a hook pull and the
under the rod tip in 12’ of water it puts a lot of strain
other two to being cut off on a snag.
on your arms!
As the action continued
unabated over the next few hours I decided to fish just one rod. Almost as soon as I cast out I would get another run! The temperature and humidity climbed steadily with the morning sun and I was soon drenched in sweat. I could only manage 4 or 5 fish before having to wind in and sit in the shade to rehydrate & recover for half an hour! When the runs come thick and fast like this it is often fun and informative to try out different things.
A 21lb common from below the Woodruff Dam
North American Carp Angler 27
After a much-needed rest and something to eat I headed back down that same evening (once another storm had passed through) to bait up ready for a couple of hours and a final session with Laine the next morning. Just as on the previous day fish were crashing over the
baited
area
and it wasn’t long before we both had fish on. Although not as fast and furious the action steadily
continued and
by
9am it was time for me to wind in, grab a quick shower at the motel and then get on the road for the journey home.
A nice fish to finish the trip! It had been a truly memorable experience fishing the Apalachicola, catching my first carp in over a year as well as my first Florida carp. A big shout out to Laine for helping me plan this trip and pointing me to a couple of very productive swims. If you are headed to this area be sure to contact Laine with solid 24lb common.
him.
A local stray making friends
The river also holds some big blue cats
I can recommend the Lake Seminole Inn in Snead. It is just 5 minutes from the Apalachicola River and the Woodruff dam. A nice clean room with the key essentials – comfortable bed, shower, hot water, desk, fridge, TV, microwave & internet. Not bad for $50 + tax per night. You can park directly in front of the room which helps when keeping tackle etc in the vehicle overnight. There is also an ice machine on site. The banks are very sandy (a mix of very fine to quite coarse grains) and it get’s absolutely everywhere! A soft brush helps remove it from tackle, feet etc and will limit the amount you end up taking home with you in your car or truck. It is also essential to thoroughly wash reels, rods, nets etc. I also ran a vacuum over my alarms to prevent them getting damaged.
Essential item!
North American Carp Angler 29
This Is the Carp Anglers Group John L. Torchick
Four elements have been mentioned as inherent to the Carp Anglers Group. They are friends, fellowship, food and fish. The first two reflect the foundation of the group. Someone made the comment that a friend is a stranger you haven’t met. There are three that have had an influence on me. Willem van Schalkwyk, extended an invitation to fish with him at Kingston, Tennessee in October 2012. I was totally new to carp fishing, knowing only what I gleaned from the CAG website. After arriving
introductions, Willem called school into session. First on the list was the mix of instant grits, quick grits and creamed corn. The exact proportions were necessary for the mix to stick together when cast on a gripper lead and then break down properly. He demonstrated the latter by dropping a small ball of grits mix in the water next to the boat ramp. He watched it break down rather quickly, meeting his quality standards. I still have a photo of the grits.
at the boat ramp under Interstate 40 and making the North American Carp Angler 31
The rods, reels, rod pod, alarms, back leads,
reels (courtesy of Willem), rod pod, unhooking mat,
mat and weighing sling were all new to me. I had
net, weighing sling, tripod and an assortment of ter-
fished for many years but never saw anything like
minal tackle. I joined CAG that same month. This
this. Again, he patiently described each item, and
first bank session was the basis of an article written
what it was for and how it worked. He cast out the
about the Euro style of carp fishing, appearing in
rods, turned on the alarms, set the back leads, and
Fur-Fish-Game, March 2020.
sat back. During this interlude, he stated that people from Europe fish this area due to the big carp.
How many of us would have friends that live in
An alarm notified us that we had a run, interrupt-
different cities or states? Just after I joined CAG,
ing our reverie. He graciously told me it was my
I was on the old forum and corresponding with a
fish. My first three official carp weighed exactly 33
fellow in Georgia. A few threads and posts resulted
pounds. I was hooked and addicted, all at the same
a friendly rapport with Barry Shildneck who is the
time.
Georgia state chair. After some time, we decided to
The next day, I discovered I could start off with
fish together and if my memory is correct, we first
tackle I already had, but the bug bit me, causing a
met here in Tennessee. He has shared lots of carp
tremendous reaction. The result was an accumu-
fishing lore which tips heavily in his favor as he has
lation of Euro style tackle- rods, quality baitrunner
fished for carp for about 50 years.
Our past emails and personal meetings on a
Tony introduced me to feeder cages and quiver
bank somewhere had us sharing a lot of our back-
rods. Since this was new to me, it opened a new
ground. We keep in touch on a regular basis with
way to catch carp. I don’t have a quiver rod…yet.
the latest emails about various and sundry things.
He was, and still is, very patient to describe his tackle (kit), what he uses and why he uses it. Cag-
Just after meeting, he graciously shared his recipe for grits packbait, or as Barry calls it, forever grits
es, DIY and bought, have been added to my carp fishing wagon.
as it doesn’t ferment like canned corn-based mixes.
Tony has been intrigued by a local venue, catch-
Other recipes from Barry and other CAG members
ing lots of fish including carp, buffalo, catfish, blue-
are printed and kept in a file for quick reference.
gill, two log perch and one yellow bass. The last two
I think Tony Locke and I met at one of Barry’s
fish were caught on a feeder cage!
fish-ins a few years ago. Tony has taught me what
These times together have forged a friendship
is termed as “the Queen’s English.” Sharing collo-
that has been built over the years and I anticipate
quialisms relative to the Americans and the British
that this will continue to grow. Sharing past experi-
has been an education in itself. When we started
ences in education, family and fishing sets a com-
fishing together, both in Georgia and Tennessee,
mon bond for us.
North American Carp Angler 33
A prime example of CAG members stepping up to the plate was a recent post. Aniq Sajjad said his son had a lightweight rod and wanted to reel to complete the combination. Several CAG members offered a reel or recommended a good reel for him. CAG members stepped up to fill a tackle inventory. How many who are reading this have asked questions on the members’ Facebook page or the forum? How many have willingly shared their expertise and experience on the forum, on the FB page or while sharing bank space? I try to view as many posts as possible as no one is immune to learning something new. An old dog can learn new tricks. If I had a dime for each question and answer, I could retire in outrageous luxury and build my own carp lake. Each person I met in the past was a stranger to me at first, but the first meeting developed into some type of friendship, either on the bank somewhere, through the CAG forum and Facebook page. Their names and what they have shared will remain for a long, long time. Carp fishing, friends and friendships go together like cake, ice cream and hot fudge topping. OK, I just had to mention the fourth part of carp fishing- food. Each time I have shared some bank space with others, I learn something new. I also try to pass along what I have learned. Once, a question was posed to professional golfer, Lee Trevino. The question revolved about winning a certain tournament. He declared that even if he doesn’t win a tournament, he makes friends and that makes him a winner every time. Even if I don’t catch a carp, I guess I’m still a winner, too.
North American Carp Angler 35
Yankee Challenge Sam Williams
On June 26, the Carp Anglers Group held the Second Leg of their Yankee Challenge Carp Competition on the Hudson River at Selkirk. The two teams, one from Connecticut and the other New York States.
New York Team
Connecticut Team Scoring was done on a points system computing both the number of fish caught and the total weight of the catch. The New York team, led by Dan Swartout’s two carp weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces and 5 pounds, 9 ounces end up the winners with notable catches for the New York team including Mark Rakitovan’s at 18 pounds 5ounces and Brian Vedder’s at 18 pounds 4ounces
Dan Swartout with a nice common North American Carp Angler 37
Brian Santos with a PB For the Connecticut team, Brian Santos caught his personal best common at 21 pounds,1 ounce, and Steve Clow at 20 pounds, 6 ounces.
Steve Clow with a nice twenty
Points were deducted for catching a catfish and the Connecticut team had the misfortune of catching a total of six!
Karl Pulaski with a small river common North American Carp Angler 39
Top 10 Big 4 Regional Recognition Awards Big Common & Big Mirror Prizes $1,000 in Prizes
THE WINNERS! Rank
Top-10 Big-4
Big-4 Total
Region
1st biggest
2nd biggest
3rd biggest
4th biggest
BCT Credit
#1
Ian Tallack
139 5/16
I
36 13/16
35 7/8
34 5/16
32 5/16
$300
#2
Tim Marshall
136 1/4
III
34 9/16
34 1/8
33 15/16
33 5/8
$150
#3
David Pickering
135
I
38 1/8
34 1/2
32
30 3/8
$100
#4
Matt Janiszewski
131 5/16
I
37 5/16
31 13/16
31 3/8
30 13/16
$75
#5
Ryan Munn
128 3/4
I
43 3/4
30
28
27
$50
#6
Tom Schulten
125 13/16
I
38 13/16
31 7/16
28 13/16
26 3/4
$30
#7
Rob Michalik
114 1/4
I
33 5/8
27 7/16
27 1/16
26 1/8
$30
#8
Blayne Beeler
113 13/16
I
29
28 1/2
28 1/4
28 1/16
$30
#9
Sean Clayton
113
I
39 1/8
26 11/16
23 11/16
23 1/2
$30
#10
Brenden Burnham
110 7/8
IV
31 1/4
26 13/16
26 11/16
26 1/8
$30
Region
Regional Big-4
Big-4 Total
Region
1st biggest
2nd biggest
3rd biggest
4th biggest
Photo Plaque
I
Ian Tallack
139 5/16
I
36 13/16
35 7/8
34 5/16
32 5/16
II
Nathan Head
105 15/16
II
29 1/8
27 3/8
25 1/16
24 3/8
III
Tim Marshall
136 1/4
III
34 9/16
34 1/8
33 15/16
33 5/8
IV
Brenden Burnham
110 7/8
IV
31 1/4
26 13/16
26 11/16
26 1/8
Biggest Carp
Category
43 3/4
Biggest
Ryan Munn
Biggest Common
==>
43 3/4
$150
Adam Tomlin
Biggest Mirror
==>
28 3/8
$150
V
Photo Plaque
Orient Tackle
North American Carp Angler 41
The Top Ten Winners received Gift Vouchers to spend on the tackle of their choice with our long running supporter Big Carp Tackle.
Each Regional Winner won a Photo Plaque. The winner of the Big Common was Ryan Munn with a magnificent beast of 43lb 12oz, while the Big Mirror honors went to Adam Tomlin with a beautiful fish of 28lb 6oz. Each received a prize of $150 voucher from Orient Tackle
To find out more about our BIG 4 sponsors please visit their websites: www.bigcarptackle.com & https://orientrodsusa.com/
1st Place – Ian Tallack
2nd Place - Tim Marshall
3rd Place
- David Pickering
North American Carp Angler 43
4th Place
- Matt Janiszewski
5th Place - Ryan Munn (Also Biggest Common)
6th Place - Tom Schulten
North American Carp Angler 45
7th Place - Rob Michalik
8th Place - Blayne Beeler
9th Place - Sean Clayton
10 Place
- Brendan Burnham
Big Mirror
– Adam Tomlin
North American Carp Angler 47
Eshhhka Cahboshka
Story by Sam DanWilliams Swartout
I first saw Dan Swartout on a fishing app, I've seen his captures. He had great shots at different angles. I met him on October 22nd at the NY fish-in at Dutchman's Landing. To me he is a true American Fisherman, He has the magic touch and catches all different species of fish.
And the reason I'm here is because to me you're a unique angler, you've got the knack, wherever you do you catch, whatever it is, Striped Bass, crappies, sunfish, Musky and carp wherever you go, and you're also a fun character. So my question is, how long have you been fishing? Dans reply: I've been fishing since probably when I was five years old, when I was able to hold a rod,, and I've been doing it ever since, I enjoy it and it just seems to get more and more intensified each year that goes on
Sam’s Question where you're fishing a specific species when you started? Dans reply: when I originally started at such a young age I mean it was more of an adirondack thing so perch, panfish and large mouth bass. And, I've been fishing for carp, I'd say 30 years and my passion for that has grown over the years.
Sam’s Question So where did the idea of catching carp come from?
North American Carp Angler 49
Dan reply: Just being down on the shoreline you know one day and I was fishing for catfish, with a Nightcrawler and all of a sudden I got this big tug on my line and it took off like a rocket. And all of a sudden, I'm fighting and 15 minutes later, it's just by the shoreline and I looked down in the water. I was just amazed by this thing, I mean it was gigantic it was all gold, and I landed it and from that day on I was just like wow I could fish for these things, are they here or is it just a fluke, you know what I mean when I realized that they were in our water system but it's like hell im fishing for this thing.
Sam’s Question: how did you learn about dough balls, for example, where do you get from learning to try and catch carp? Dans Reply: Dough balls I learned from the internet, I went on there, looking for different ways of catching the carp. Sam’s Question: Was there anybody else who influenced you to catch carp as well? Dans Reply: I did have a buddy of mine, his name was Bill Jenkins. I sat down with him. You know when I was younger and stuff like that, he passed a lot on to be about the carp. He was the same way you know dough balls corn cornmeal flour, stuff like that. But to really get into it more, I mean, I would say I was reading up on internet wise, and magazines. Sams’s Question: Where did the idea of using a method feeder come from? Dans Reply I think what happened is I realized that I was using homemade dough balls and I was using corn and stuff like that. And to me, I mean I wasn't happy with the situation I was in because I wasn't using the Hair rigs I was using regular trout hooks, and I feel with those hooks were wrapped in dough, you were not getting a proper hook set. I feel like a lot were being hooked a little bit too far in the throat and I wasn't happy with that situation. So I decided to switch up tactics, and I came
across that hair rig and I'm fascinated by the way it works and how it is caught inside of the mouth. And I say I started doing that I want to say maybe 15 years back about when I started reading up on it because they were starting to get popular. I experimented a lot back in the day, with just regular braid, And I would just tie my own hair rigs and they work perfectly fine. And to be honest with you. We didn't have stoppers over here like you know what I mean like the stoppers that you put on, so don't slide off. So what I would do is I would find a very long piece of hard grass and then I would snip off a very fine piece of it at the bottom of the root base and I would slide that through that through the loop on the end of the hair rig, so the boilie won't fall off. you know, and then eventually you know, I sort of realized that hey I can get these things, with time but I mean I wasn't really getting into the stoppers and all that. I’m actually just now trying to experiment with Ronnie Rigs and D rigs with swivels and I mean that's all new to me. I've been doing hair rig strictly most of the time, and then maybe putting a split shot on the bottom of it if I was using a popup. But mainly more of a method feeder, you know, and I'm very successful, you know I love.
Sam Question: How did get interesting with CAG I've always been fascinated by Barry Howard.. Barry, I bumped into him a couple times on the reservoir, and I've heard about him around town and I want it to be really bad but seem like I would be in a situation where I was somewhere else. He was somewhere else. And I knew that he is a Director of CAG or he, you know that he was running the CAG store and I heard about it. And then I think I said to Brian Vedder about at one time, and Brian said, Well, we're in this group, and you're more than welcome to sign up and join, and I was like, All right, well I'll give it a shot, and Brian and I were down at Coxsackie boat launch having a session.
And I was blown away by this guy. Well, I finally got the meet and I was just blown out of the water by the guy. You know what I mean we talked for an hour or so about how he's fishing over the years and it was funny because he says oh, I've heard so much about you too.
I've been wanting to meet up with you also. And you know what I mean, last time I mean it was just cool it was just like you know what I mean. I probably say, between Brian and Barry, I mean they introduced me to the CAG. And I went one night on Facebook and I started scrolling through and I was like wow these are my guys these are, these, these are my people, you know what I mean we all we all share the same passion. And that's when I said okay I'm gonna join this group, I did and I'm happy that I did because I've met a lot of great, great people along the way you know I've been the one that we had down in October 22nd 2020 fishin I mean that blew my mind, that was like, it was awesome to all get together and see that I'm not the only one that shares the passion like we all do. And I love that. Sam question Can you explain on your approach to photos and your short videos of your captures? Did you ever think about photographing everything, or has it just been recently, I mean like, when a fishbrain app came along it was easy, you take a picture of yourself.
North American Carp Angler 51
Dans reply Yeah, I've always photographed my fish, no matter what they are. so that way I can go back in time and be like well yeah I want to sign that date or whatever. I wasn't, I wasn't taking photos with the app I was actually taking photos and then fixing them up like I've done with your photos.
I'll edit it down and stuff like that and then I'll post them on certain sites, you know, but I've always been into photography. I mean that's been a passion of mine. you've seen it where I'm like it's all about the angle, you know, when you were doing the video I'll be that one day, Brian. Give him the phone when he knows what I'm talking about.
Can you explain what you were wanting.I knew Brain was trying to get the photos and video but wasn't getting it, how you wanted to come out. Can you explain what you were trying to achieve? Dans Reply: I want you to feel like you're right there on the shoreline with me taking that photo.I want you to feel like you're standing right there witnessing that fish come out of the water I'm holding it there for you to see. That's why I tried to take the angles of the shots that I take.
Sam Question Can you explain the quick pop up surprise video?
i have the cradle and flip off flap the carp comes out, because I wanted the audience to see them and we're watching it to be surprised like wow, what's he got it there, he's dumping water in there. What's he gonna pull out today, what I mean is it gonna be a mirror?, common? Or a ghost carp there?. It's kind of like, suspense, like oh my god he's opening up the cradle, what's that, what's he got. Instead of just turning on a video and here I am holding the fish. There's really no build up to the suspense of the thing, I want to bring that true beauty of that fish right to you, I want you to see that I don't want you just some blurry, drawn out unfocused photo and be like oh it's just another regular carp to actually be up and close and and bring out the detail and everything of that fish. It makes you feel like you're right there, that's why I take the photos I take. I want you to feel like you're the camera man like you're the one holding that camera you took that shot. Sam Question Last Question for you. I've been fishing with you for a few times together. Out of nowhere you come out saying Eshhhka Cahboshka then all of sudden bang your rods goes off… What's the magic words mean? Dans reply Its just a way of talking to the fish gods talking to all about sending me that big fish, It's an Indian chant.
North American Carp Angler 53
Take a Kid Karpin’ Tournament
By Bill & Diane Markle
Our 3rd annual Take a Kid Karpin’ Event was held on June 26, 2021. Having an event like this was a dream of mine ever since Jerome Moisand held the CAG Take a Kid Carpin’ events years ago.
After several smaller events over the years, in 2018 the Wild Carp Club of Central New York hosted the Jaden Ruble Take a Kid Karpin’ Event, which drew over 50 kids at Longbranch Park near Syracuse. The event that year was simply a fun fishing day, in memory of a club member’s daughter who had loved to carp fish. At least half of the kids at this event landed a fish, with the help of club members, on the Seneca River that day. We also had information on all kinds of fishing, environmental information, and crafts for the kids. While we were happy with the inaugural event, we knew that we could improve it the following year.
In 2019, we changed the format to an actual
We pre-chum the venue on the Thursday and
tournament. We moved to another location within
Friday ahead of the event with about 200 pounds of
Longbranch Park, with less poison ivy and a bank
cooked corn in a 600-foot stretch of river. Winning
that was easier to navigate than the previous year.
teams (gold, silver and bronze) are determined by
We planned for the same in 2020, but Covid put a
total weight.
stop to that. We’ve continued the format for 2021,
There are also medals for biggest fish (1st, 2nd,
and we make minor changes each year as we learn
3rd) and biggest mirror carp. All anglers get a medal
more about what works and what doesn’t.
for participating, and each angler gets a certificate
Each team of 4-5 kids, aged 7-16, is placed with
with their biggest fish listed. This format seems to
a Wild Carp Club of CNY pro who sets up prior to
work well, and this year each of the 27 kids landed
the tournament start. The pro ensures that each kid
a fish. The largest was 28 pounds 8 ounces, and
takes turns fighting fish.
the smallest was 5 pounds 7 ounces.
We also serve lunch (about 100 hot dogs!) and
The emphasis for the day is on fun. We try to
have some snacks and treats, as well as drinks,
keep things flexible, so teams and pros can be ad-
available throughout the day. And we still have all
justed during the day to ensure everyone has a
kinds of information available, a lawn casting game,
good experience. Just to add to the excitement,
and alternate activities (coloring, crafts) for younger
we drew an angler’s name at the end of the day for
kids who get bored.
a Baby Yoda Lego set. It was quite a hit! North American Carp Angler 55
We had two sponsors for the event this year –
This event could not happen without the help of
Ripper Nutrition, and Cerio Law Offices. We also
many Wild Carp Club of CNY members, most of
partnered this year with the American Foundation
whom are also CAG members. Also, a huge shout-
for Suicide Prevention, who had a representative
out to my detail-oriented wife for organizing most
there to share information on mental health re-
of the stuff that didn’t take place along the bank.
sources that are available for all ages. Our club is
We’re planning to spread out the work a little more
hoping to take part in the Syracuse area Out of the
efficiently next year – delegating was something of
Darkness Walk in October and is raising money
a challenge without in-person club meetings this
for Team Jaden from now until then, to support the
year!
AFSP’s mission. https://supporting.afsp.org/index.
If anyone is interested in holding an event like
cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.search&search=sear
this, I would be more than happy to answer ques-
ch&eventID=7479&searchTerm=take+a+kid+karp
tions or share my experiences. I can be reached at
in%27
bmarkle60@gmail.com .
Suicide Prevention Information - https://afsp.org/ North American Carp Angler 57
Spring 2021 Rhode Island
Big 3
Tournament Results
Dave Pickering, RI State Chair
In RI we run a lot of our own state tournaments. One of our most popular tournaments is our RI CAG Spring Big 3. We run this tournament from April to the end of June. Our members who want to take part enter their biggest carp for each month. We add the weights up for the three months and that becomes the point total. All fish must be caught in RI waters and all carp must be released in good shape. The top three winners are given engraved medals purchased by CAG. Our RI CAG Big 3 Tournament has recently ended, and as usual our guys and gals entered some pretty impressive fish. The leaderboard was really shuffled around in June as Tom Perron, one of our most steady big fish guys, moved up from 4th to third with a 15 lb. 9 oz. mirror. Jeff Henderson also made a big move from 5th to 3rd place by catching an impressive 24 lb. common. Our leader all along, Brian Savage, remained in 1st place with a big 19 lb., 6 oz. mirror. The top three finishers will receive engraved medals purchased by CAG. The final standings along with the weights of the fish are listed below: North American Carp Angler 59
(Gold medal)- Brian Savage - 31/10 + 23/11 + 19/6= 74/11
1
st
2
nd
(Silver medal)- Tom Perron- 13/2 + 16/2 + 15/9 =44/13
3
rd
(Bronze medal)- Jeff Henderson- 20 + 24 = 44
4.-
Laura Mitchell- 15/13 + 19/2 + 8 = 42/15
5.-
Manny Dias- 16/8 + 24/8 = 41
6.-
Eddie Taylor- 15
North American Carp Angler 61
Back-Leads
&
How to Use Them!
By Iain Sorrell
Back-Leads are a very useful addition to a tackle box but they need to be used carefully and with a good knowledge of what is between your rig and your rod tip! In their most basic form they are a weight that, after casting out, can be clipped onto and slid down the mainline to keep the line close to the bottom.
Here are just some of the ways they can be useful: •
Counteract Undertow & Rig Drag.
•
Stop Braided lines floating up and hanging in midwater.
•
Keep line away from the rig end while Margin Fishing.
•
Prevent Fish Spooking off lines.
•
Pin line down and avoid tangles with your other lines when playing fish.
•
Help prevent weed, leaves and other debris catching in your line.
•
Avoid boats or other watercraft tangling with your lines
Typical Back-Lead Scenarios Shallow water fishing. If the area you are fishing is very shallow (3-4’) then a back-lead can help to keep the line pinned to the bottom so as not to spook fish roaming around the swim. Just use as light a back-lead as needed.
Boat traffic
Margin fishing.
A back-lead can be invaluable if you have prob-
One potential issue when fishing deeper mar-
lems with boat traffic. They can help overcome ef-
gins is having the line going almost directly down
fects of wave action from wakes or worse lines get-
from the rod tip to the hook bait.
ting caught in a motor prop. However you should be
A small back-lead positioned a few feet back
careful as a back-lead close to or under the rod tip
from the rig can help avoid carp patrolling the mar-
can easily smother effective bite detection!
gins from tripping over and being spooked by the line.
Surface Debris When weed, leaves etc are drifting down river
Keep the rod tip pointed towards the back-lead and rig to ensure the best possible bite detection.
or blowing across the surface of a lake it can be a nightmare. A strategically placed back lead can
Undertow.
help prevent this debris catching in the line.
On larger waters even a moderate wind can create significant surface drift and corresponding un-
Avoid Spooking Fish!
derwater currents (undertow).
Carp can easily be spooked by swimming into
These currents can easily drag your lead & rig
lines in the water or seeing them close to the feed-
(especially when fishing at longer range) from the
ing area and hook baits. Position a back-lead to
baited area.
keep lines away from fish.
A back-lead will help pin down your mainline (remember most braided line floats and is especially
Avoid tangles with multiple rods.
vulnerable) and reduce the chance of it creating line drag.
A back-lead can also help when you are playing a fish by keeping the other lines pinned down to avoid tangles. This can be critical in shallow margins.
Types of Back-Leads
Flying Back Leads These small conical shaped leads usually come with an inner & outer component & a small rubber bead. Each has a slot to allow them to be placed on the mainline (with the wide end towards the hook) and then rotated to keep them in place. The rubber bead is placed on the mainline before connecting to your swivel or leader and is designed to protect the knot. When you cast air resistance causes the flying back-lead to slide back up the line so it lands some 60-80% from the overall casting distance of the lead and hook rig to help pin the line to the bottom. North American Carp Angler 63
Running Back-Leads These come in a variety of weights and sizes and are designed to be attached to the line AFTER casting out. A large loop with a clip allows them to be easily attached to the mainline and then, by holding the rod up high, they can be slid down and away from the bank. Running back leads should always be able to detach from the main line should they get caught in a snag or thick weed.
Like a running back-lead they are attached to the line after casting but are also attached to a rod rest or other bankside retainer by a retention cord. When you get a run a clip on the back-lead releases so there is no risk of them getting caught up etc. As the back-lead is attached to a separate cord it allows them to be retrieved. There are also some novel variations on the captive back-lead system like the Poseidon Anglesport Multi Back-Lead System that allow you to adjust the height of your submerged mainline so that it will lift the line clear of weed beds or other obstructions.
Captive Back-Lead
An Adjustable Back Lead is ideal for holding line above margin weeds.
North American Carp Angler 65
Key Tips:
Back-Lead Clips
A flying back lead can
Available from various tackle
help pin the line down near and out of contact with feeding fish in & around your rig,
manufacturers these plastic clips allow you to create your own back-leads.
especially in shallow water. A significant line angle down to a back-lead will inhibit bite detection. Always keep the rod tip pointed toward the rig with the tip, backlead and rig in as straight a line as possible. In deeper water minimize the angle between the rod tip and the back-lead by sliding it further out and away from the bank. This will help improve bite detection.
If a back-lead is not set up correctly a fish may
Also they will not work if the line is being pulled
kite or swim into a snag before it triggers your alarm.
down over a raised area between your rod and the
Always watch your rod tips for any line movement
rig or worse a zebra mussel coated underwater
or changes in line angle!
ridge!
And most important of all… You must know what’s in front of you! It is no use threading on a back-lead and then running it down straight into a weed bed or snag.
So if you haven’t used back-leads before I hope this gives you some insight on how and when to use them and if you already have some then perhaps it this has given you some more ideas.
Tight lines!
North America’s Longest Running Carp Organisation with a Dedicated Mission: • To gain acceptance of the carp as an exciting and challenging sport-fish. • To become better carp anglers, assist others and encourage them to join us. • To treat the carp with respect, promote the release of trophy-size carp & encourage others to do the same. • Most of all: Go fishing, Share with others, and have Fun. As a member you will also be adding your voice & support to help CAG continue its efforts to work with State & other organizations to increase the recognition for carp as a sport fish to benefit the angling community
Member Benefits Include: • Full CAG Forum Community Access
• CAG Apparel & Merchandise
• Member Benefits
• New Member Tackle Pack
• Quartely NACA Magazine*
• Fish-Ins, Events & Competitions
*inc Printed Full Color Special Edition Membership is only $20 / Year (+ a one time $5 joining fee) which includes you, your spouse & any children under 18 living in the same household
www.joincag.com www.carpanglersgroup.com North American Carp Angler 63
The Carp Anglers Group is a non-profit organisation
Surface Fishing – A forgotten Art By Dean Brookes
surface caught carp from the 90’s!
With the summer heat and humidity in full swing at the moment I find myself much preferring short sessions or night fishing. As I’m originally from the North of England I am not a lover of the sun, in fact I prefer the winter, which might sound strange but then again I’ve been called much worse over the years! One tactic that seems to be very underused in the USA is surface fishing. Now many of you I am sure have used bread; either floating or sinking to stalk and catch carp. I also utilize this method and have caught carp to over 40lbs doing exactly this as it’s a great technique to catch carp that are cruising or feeding in small groups. I’m sure some of you have even used dog or cat biscuits to catch carp off the surface, but I’d bet very few of you have ever used floating pellets!
An orange Koi carp that couldn’t resist floating pellets North American Carp Angler 69
Why use pellets? I have to go back to the early 1990’s when I was happily catching carp on bolt rigs and boilies. I was visiting ‘The Anglers Workshop’, which is owned by Kev Baines, who builds rods and generally gives out sage advice. He is also well known for telling you where you are going wrong! In this case, he was asking why myself and my fishing partner were wasting our time sitting behind rods. He then proceeded to show us a large bag of floating trout pellets and over the next few hours described how they were best employed. Fast forward to the following week where I saw first hand exactly how effective they can be in the right situation. Let me explain.
A 30lb+ grass carp that inhaled a surface bait
Pellet Choice Originally I was using floating trout pellets, approximately 4mm in diameter. However, I have used various sizes over the years to see if their effectiveness differs. I have found that if you use solely larger sizes (8mm+) the carp will feed very similar to how they do with mixer biscuits; they will come up for one
A dog biscuit is a popular method to catch carp on the surface or two baits and then drop back down to cruise around. With the inclusion of 4mm and smaller pellets the carp eventually come to the surface and then stay on the surface! They basically swim around with their backs and mouths out of the water, sucking in the pellets. I would be quite happy to fish with trout pellets, but I have found a much better and cheaper pellet that is easily ordered from a grain or feed store. There may be other makes but my own personal choice is Purina Aqua Chow Pellets. They are available in sizes from 200 to 800 and I generally order two sizes and then mix them up. Price wise they usually retail for $30-40 for a 25lb bag. Purina aqua chow pellets come in several sizes and I like to mix them up with small and large In a typical 2-4 hour session I will use around 2-3 gallons of pellets, but they are very versatile and you can add them to method mixes or scald them with hot water and form them into paste; I have also blended them into a powder and used them as a base mix for fishmeal boilies! North American Carp Angler 71
A cracking double figure Koi that was pre-occupied on surface pellets
Enhancing your Bait The pellets on their own are excellent but if you want to give them a boost or if you have any duck weed present a simple dousing in oil will really help. Personally I use hemp or sesame oil. I will also add liquid/flavor to the pellets on occasions and a personal favorite is Spotted Fin Finamino. With the oil added the duck weed will disperse and if you have any wind on the water you will also be able to create a flat spot where the bait is located.
Feed Them before you Fish
On occasions when a fish is close in I will freeline a bait to them without feeding as you can sometimes get an instant result. However, when using the pellets correctly I am attempting to create competition amongst the carp and more importantly, confidence. If the fish are feeding warily they are much, much harder to fool. The best way I have found to feed the pellets is with either a catapult or a throwing spoon. I will set myself up in an area where I can get the pellets to drift; this usually means you want to be on the back of any wind that is blowing. I will then feed them in regularly, every 2-3 minutes. This may go on for an hour or more until I get the feeding response I am looking for. It’s very tempting to cast in as soon as you see the fish feeding, BUT if you do you will most likely ruin your chances of catching more than one fish.
Once the carp are up on the surface, cruising around and feeding heavily I am then happy to start fishing for them. This does not mean that I will stop baiting. It’s almost impossible to overfeed the carp with these pellets and a bucket of 2-3 gallons usually sees me through a session. I will keep up the baiting every 2-3 minutes and if I see the fish slow down I will increase the feeding! I will even continue feeding as I am playing a fish and it is not uncommon the see fish actively feeding next to a hooked carp as they become preoccupied. Pellets, oils and a selection of hook-baits North American Carp Angler 73
After regular feeding the fish are much easier to catch, demonstrated by this unique koi carp After you have landed a fish you may notice the feeding will decrease. Be patient and resume the feeding and in most cases the fish will resume their
Equipment Needed
activities each time.
You can certainly use whatever carping equipment you currently have, but I would recommend scaling down. Generally, you will be fishing lighter lines and using smaller hooks, so a soft through action rod will be ideal. It does not have to be 12 feet in length and in fact a 9-10ft rod is ideal as it can also be used as a stalking rod. You also can scale down your reel size as there is no need for reels that hold 200-500 yards of line.
A medium sized reel and 10-12lb line, depending on the situation
My own set-up consists of a couple of different options, based on the size of fish I am targeting. For larger fish I will use a 2.25lb rod, coupled with a 4500 Shimano bait runner or similar sized reel, whereas for smaller fish (under 20lb) I will use a couple of different rods (8-11 feet) which are very soft and have test curves of between 1-1.5lb. I will also use much smaller reels that hold about 100 yards of line. Line wise you will want to use mono-filament as the added stretch is a major help when playing fish on lighter set-ups. Again the breaking strain depends on the size of fish you are targeting but most times I will be using 8-10lb main-line and a 6-8lb hook-link. With the hook-link I will be using a fluro carbon for the added invisibility; just make sure you take care over your knots as fluro carbon is not forgiving if you kink or damage it.
Hook-Bait Options This is where it can get complicated!! My choice and style of hook-bait will be very much dependent on how confident the carp feed and if they are wary of bigger hook-baits. Generally your hook- bait will be bigger than the feed so the carp can be more cautious when taking them. You can choose to hair rig a plastic imitation bait, a mixer biscuit or even a cut down pop-up. If you do hair rig your bait I would recommend that you mount the bait tight to the hook as in this case you do not want separation between your hook and bait; in fact, you want your bait and hook to go in at the same time. When I am waiting to strike, as soon as I see the hook-bait disappear I know the hook is inside the carp’s mouth and this I will hit into the fish, hopefully hooking it.
With hooks you will really need to scale down, but make sure you still choose a pattern and make that is very strong. I used size 8-10 hooks, usually Fox Arma Point SSBP’s. You will also need a float of some description, unless you are fishing within 15 yards of the bank. Fox, Korda and Nash all make good models and you can also use bubble floats. I will set these up, inline style with a float stop to keep them in place. They also will aid with hooking the carp if they take the bait positively as they have some resistance to them. With a float I will use a hook-link of 4-8ft, depending on the size of the rod.
A couple of options for surface floats to increase the distance you can fish at
North American Carp Angler 75
In some cases the fish will suck in and blow out your bait before you have chance to strike or they may simply approach your hook-bait and then abort the take or back off the bait. In this case the fish knows something is wrong and most likely sees the hook. My approach now would be to side hook a bait and trim it down to mimic the actual feed. However, remember that you also need to see your hook-bait otherwise you are relying on the fish to hook itself!
This fish took a cut down boilie
Other Necessities Without a doubt make sure you have a decent
I have been within a foot or so of feeding carp
pair of polaroid glasses, which will help you both
and not spooked them, even when moving but sud-
see the carp and also see your hook-bait. A peaked
den noises or movement will see them disappear.
hat or baseball cap will also help you vision. Stay
Another little trick you can use is to grease your
off the skyline where possible, but more important-
line with a small dab of vaseline which will help it
ly be stealthy. Do not stamp around the bank and
float and thus make controlling the float and hook-
make slow deliberate movements.
bait much easier.
Another koi that fell to floating pellets
What ‘s better than watching your quarry take the bait. It’s definitely a great opportunity to watch and learn and even if you are not that successful you’ll learn a lot from just observing. North American Carp Angler 75