CARP ANGLER
Editor In-Chief Address
With winter now officially here, especially in the Northern areas of the country many anglers will pack away their tackle and wait until spring. However, there are hardcore anglers all over the country that continue to fish, no matter the weather. I am one of these ‘strange’ group, and I love nothing more than fishing in cold, wintery weather to secure a prize. I’ve caught many fabled ‘snow’ carp and it really has more to do with being out there than a particular skill set.
If you have any bodies of water within range of you that do not freeze during the winter, then chances are you can tempt the carp into feeding. I’ve caught on small rivers, big rivers, ponds and lakes. The key is to find somewhere with a decent head of carp, ideally with water that is moving or aerated or even better warmer, such as an warm water outlet. Once you have a location, it’s just a matter of finding where the fish are and then trickling some bait in to get them active.
Remember to stay warm with appropriate clothing and plenty of warm drinks. If you are staying overnight, then a decent four season sleeping system will help. From a safety point of view, make sure that you are not venturing out on ice that is too thin or wading across fast flowing water. Cold water is much less forgiving, especially when you’re wearing lots of clothing.
Sweetcorn is hard to beat in the winter, but most baits will catch if you put them in the correct areas.
In this edition we have CAG news and tournament updates including the Fall Big 4 results of last year, Essence of Carping, CCC and a review of the CT Tournament.
We also have guest articles from Iain Sorrell, Jami Selvidge, Evan Cartabiano and Joel Harber and we also remember Tim Marshall, who sadly passed away this past year.
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.
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
It’s also important to adjust both your expectations and along with that your baiting strategies. I personally use only a small amount of bait and also scale down my tackle.
President Address
A brief visit to New England in the Fall found me in the company of Nigel Griffin and Steve Clow - two longtime friends and CAG legends! We figured out that, since we all started at a very young age, the photo of the three of us represents over 180 years of fishing!
When I lived in Connecticut I was within a short drive of some first class fishing. This made short 4-6 hour sessions not only very realistic but, especially if the conditions looked right, often delivered some spectacular outcomes.
Now I’m at least 6 hours from the nearest carp fishing and that means more planning and typically longer, multi-day sessions. My recent trip to Parco in Italy, where I spent 7 days and nights on the bank, proved especially difficult. Rain, flooded banks and very localized fish meant many of us struggled. In the end I was saved a blank by baiting an area in some shallow margins and only dropping a bait in some 24 hours later. At 44lb I shouldn’t be disappointed but the magic 30Kg fish still remains on my bucket list. Maybe next year?
I wish you and your families a very happy 2025.
Tight Lines!
Iain Sorrell CAG President
This years Fall Big 4 welcomed back Big Carp Tackle as well as new business supporter West Coast Bait Boats as our lead sponsors.
It also heralded our biggest prize pool with up to $2300 in prizes available to the winners!
In the end it was a close-run battle at the top with just 12 ounces separating first and second place! Here are the results!
OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS.
Regional and Big Fish Winners will also be receiving Photo Plaques commemorating their captures.
We also plan to start the 2025 Fall Big 4 earlier than previously so look out for further updates.
Get ready for the Spring Big 4 which runs March 15th – June 15th 2025
Find out more here:
https://www.carpanglersgroup.com/forum/index.php?/topic/63194-cag-big-4-competition-whats-it-all-about/
THE WINNERS THE WINNERS
1st PLACE RAFAL WLAZLO
Big 4 Total
2nd PLACE BRIAN SANTOS
Big 4 Total 150 lb 13 Oz
3rd PLACE BRIAN LEE
4th PLACE BRIAN VERBITSKY
5th PLACE
7th PLACE DAVE PICKERING
Big
8th
9th PLACE JAY SMITHERS
10th PLACE KODY CLAYTON
lb 9oz
REGION 1
REGION 3
REGION 2 KIRK SUEDMEYER
REGION 4
RAFAL WLAZLO
JAMI SELVIDGE
CRAIG COOK
BIGGEST COMMON BRIAN SANTOS
BIGGEST MIRROR BRIAN SANTOS
BIGGEST GRASSIE JEROME MOISAND
Baits for Anglers By Anglers
CCC 2024
By Sam Williams
This year’s CCC was a mix of surprises and challenges. After doing this event for 6 years with Barry Howard, it should have gotten easier by now. We had to remove the Coxsackie boat launch section due to 2 local town events happening.
We found a new place to pick up breakfast for Saturday morning at Griffins Market that conveniently opened at 5am. It is also not far from Tims and Chrissy Diner that is unfortunately permanently closed but still used for the peg draw in parking lot. Pegs were added at Henry Hudson Park and we used Catskill Point. As always a special big thank you to Barry Howard who uses his own boat, gas etc to pre bait all 3 sections. As I now live in CT I was not there to help him this year.
FRIDAY 20th
I picked up Karl Pulaski (CT state chair) then headed to Henry Hudson Park. There I met up with Barry and Brian Santos (NY State chair) and we began marking up pegs. We also met Billy Slyer and his wife who had driven all the way from Ohio.
On Friday evening we have the welcome social at the Pegasus restaurant. They have a great BBQ set up on Friday evening which everyone enjoys. We also do a scale check
SATURDAY 21st
The CCC Peg draw started at 7am, and while this is an individual event we make sure anyone travelling together can fish in adjacent pegs.
Even though we tell everyone in advance newcomers are often surprised by the outgoing tidal flow on the Hudson River!
Nigel Griffin catches the first carp at 8:11 am Steve Clow is catching steadily and around noon Jeffery Pirog lands a 25 lb carp, the biggest so far.
Kate Hrabsky and Mike Chancer are also catching a few as is Brian Santos
After the excellent CCC Dinner at the Pegasus Restaurant it was time for the results and winners to be announced! Almost 50 fish were caught this year and Jerome Moisand was kept busy adding up the results.
In the end Steve Clow lifted the coveted North American Champion trophy with the 4 biggest fish and adds his name to over 25 years of CCC history!
In talking to Steve he mentioned that this year he used an oats method with a mixture of creamed corn and sweet potato! And instead of boilies his hook baits were either feed corn or tiger nuts.
He only cast out 4-5 rod lengths to avoid the strong current and so that he could also catapult out some particles. Steve also said he doubled up his leader length after being broken off with the first fish he hooked, a fish he says felt much bigger than the others he landed!
Jeffrey Pirog with his 25lb common
Steve Clow - 2024 North American Champion & Coxsackie Section Winner!
Jeffrey Pirog won the Carp King award for his 25lb common. Section wins went to Steve Clow in Coxsackie Park, Brian Santos in Dutchmans Landing and Mike Chancer in Henry Hudson. Brian Santos also won the Total Fish Weight award.
Brian Santos – Total Weight and Dutchmans Section Winner
The winners had a choice of some great prizes and there was also the CCC Raffle.
Sam Williams had one more surprise and presented Brian Santos with a framed copy of the newspaper article celebrating his recent CT State Record for a 45lb 5oz common carp.
Mike Chancer – Henry Hudson Section Winner
Kate Hrabsky – Smallest Carp
Mike Dragone – Catfish Award
As always a very big thank you to Barry Howard, Sam Williams, Brian Santos and Jerome Moisand for making the CCC 2024 a first class event!
RESULTS
Fishin’ Factory 3 2024 CT Carp Tournament
Its tournament time!
Kyle Carlson
The event may not start until October but for Lee Hurn and myself, it begins many months prior
The tourney saw some changes in the off season, such as the big 4 minimum weight going from 22 to 20 lbs and adding $50 to the entry to benefit the marshals. We also removed the Windsor private property peg that has won twice or took 2nd twice the last 4 years to make the draw less of a lottery
The last big change was turning it from a Wednesday – Sunday to a Tuesday – Saturday timeframe to give the anglers a little bit more time to get home. All were changes that we felt confident would deliver a great experience for both anglers and for our hardworking marshals.
Leading up to the tourney, myself and Lee, had no idea what to expect with the conditions that were dealt to us. With zero rain in months, the river was very low. Unseasonably warm for this time of year and combine all that with coming off a full moon only days before the start of fishing.
We knew the tides would be more extreme than normal. We were optimistic though! It was a stacked field of top notch anglers from near & far that we felt would figure out the puzzle, simply known as, The Fishin’ Factory 3 CT Carp Open.
2024 CT trophies
As usual, the fishing got off to a slow start. Reports of catfish plagued anglers at almost all the pegs. Bogdan Bucur & Henryk Burza got off to a nice start with the events first 30+ at 33.8 lbs and Attila Agh & Lita Agh followed it up with a nice 29.14lb common.
Only 5 other carp ranging from 20.14 to 24.8 lbs were caught on day 1.
Day 2 was off to a very fast start with Chris Jackson & Scott Russell filling up their big four board by end of the morning totaling 88.10 lbs.
Attila & Lita added two more fish as well and thirteen other teams added their first fish to wrap up the mornings leaderboard update. Kamil Augustowski & Panel Wesolowski, Ethan Kloehn & Steve Luzzi, and Slawek Miros all added their 2nd fish the the board as well. Hunter Aitchison & Ricky Hards got the tournament’s first Mirror carp at 12.0 lbs and Ioan Paul Dinea & Ioan Jacob got a nice 22.6 lb mirror to get them off and running as well.
Day 2 was also moving day which adds an interesting layer of gamesmanship and strategy to the CT Carp Open.
If you draw a peg that you don’t like you have the option of moving on day 2 starting at 7AM and concluding at 10AM to any open peg. Draw order comes into play in terms of priority though so it’s not as easy as it may sound. The later in the draw you choose a peg means the better chance at getting first dibs on any open pegs.
Lots of anglers talk to each other on day one to see who is going where so they don’t waste any time or lose out on another peg they may want.
Where this unique day gets interesting is once anglers move to vacant pegs then other pegs become open. This year we had 7 teams that moved pegs which ties the tournament record! Will any of these moves pay off? We will find out!
Day 3 has arrived!
It was one crazy morning for the marshals. 31 teams now have at least 1 fish on the board! Chris Jackson & Scott Russell added a 27.6 lb fantail to their board and to take a commanding lead in the big fantail category and putting them in the 2nd place spot for the time being. Attila & Lita added their 4th fish bringing their total to 102.10 lbs and putting them in the top spot!
Team Kloehn, Team Tarnaki, Team Lutz, and Team Carlson all got their 4th fish on the board as well. Bogdan & Henryk put up their 2nd and 3rd fish on the board as well as 5 other teams. Tony Lett & Jason Hammon caught an 18.14 lb mirror to take the lead in that category!
Day 4. The last full day of fishing.
Bogdan & Henryk filled their big 4 board by adding a 28.9 lb common and jumping them into first place with a total of 108.15 lbs. Jimmy Sneed & Pat Schunk also filled up their board jumping them up into 5th place. Attila & Lita upgraded one of their fish to a 28.0 common putting them at 107.0 lbs total! Its neck and neck at the top and only 1.15 lbs separates the top 2 teams.
As the leaderboard was taking shape it was nice to see lots of teams get on the board and lots of pegs that don’t normally do well were doing better than normal.
As the blackout period approached quickly there were lots of teams hoping to just add one more fish.
Joe Lutz & Chad Rinck filled up their big 4 board with a 25.2 lb common and a 22.2 lb common to get them in the hunt. What will be in store for the final 14 hours?!
I know the marshals and I were hoping for some fireworks!
The end is near as day 5 has approached!
The marshals woke up to a flurry of calls! Tamasz Falaszewski & Adam Krysiak stormed up the board, filling up their big 4 by adding a 23.0 and 26.14 commons jumping them into the 3rd position with 98.0 lbs total.
Cody Cutler & Juan Vergara also made a move at the new private property spot, peg 20, by adding a 26.0 and 24.1 lb commons catapulting them into the 5th spot with a total of 95.9 lbs. Action slowed down as the morning fish were weighed in but anglers were still catching here and there.
The final horn blew and no fish were caught at the buzzer and it was time to get to the award ceremony!
The Middletown Elks Lodge was the place to be as usual for both the peg draw and award ceremonies! Somehow we continue to get lucky with the weather and are able to take advantage of their outdoor patio. Anglers started to trickle in, looking beat up and a bit tired but all in good spirits and all very curious to see how they did!
Raffle tickets were selling like hot cakes with all proceeds helping fund our hardworking marshals; Jason Bouchard, Lee Hurn, Mitchel Halligan, and Sam Williams.
Without further ado here are the final results!
1st Place Big Four:
Bogdan Bucur & Henryk Burza @ Peg 38 w/ 108.15 lbs ($10,000)
2nd Place Big Four:
Attila Agh & Lita Agh @ Peg 4 w/ 107.0 lbs ($6,000)
3rd Place Big Four: Tomasz Falaszewski & Adam Krysiak @ Peg 2 -> Peg 1 w/ 98.0 lbs ($4,000)
4th Place Big Four: Chris Jackson & Scott Russel @ Peg 24 w/ 96.13 lbs ($2,000)
BIGGEST CARP: Tony Lett & Jason Hammon @ Peg 12 w/ 18.14 lbs ($500)
Bogdan Bucur & Henryk Burza @ Peg 38 w/ 33.8 lbs ($1,000)
BIGGEST MIRROR: Chris Jackson & Scott Russel @ Peg 27.6 lbs
BIGGEST FANTAIL: ($100) Fishin’ Factory 3 Gift Card
Bucur & Henryk Burza
It was another great event thanks to our dedicated marshals and very generous sponsors! Special thanks to Andrew & Alicia at Fishin’ Factory 3, Carp Bait USA, Big Carp Tackle, Trilogy Carp Baits, Carpy Commando, Carpmaxx Baits, Homestead Irons, The Carp Anglers Group, Bottom Feeder Baits, all of our private property landowners that shared their land with us, and Tim Phillips.
Bogdan
Tony Lett biggest mirror
Scott Russell Big Fantail
Pat Schunk
Manuel Raposa
Ioan Jacob
Cody Cutler
Final thoughts. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who stuck it out for the duration and gave it their all. The CT River is a unique carp fishing destination with heavy tides and a wide array of carp to be caught that there is no wonder why it attracts anglers from near and far. One of these anglers had it on their bucket list for years, Tim Phillips. Tim managed to get out here in May to fish the CT River Shootout and he loved it so much that he came back with his good friend, Brian Rand, for the CT Carp Open. Sadly, we lost Tim Phillips all too early on 12/7/24. Tim was a very nice and knowledgeable guy, getting to both peg draws early to chat with his fellow anglers.
Tim was so generous that he even donated a brand new Deeper sonar to the raffle table. You will be missed greatly Tim. May you forever rest in peace.
Fred Powers
Tim Phillips
orientrodsusa@gmail.com
facebook.com/OrientRodsUSA
instagram.com/orientrods.usa
Seaway Sixpack 2024 Throwdown
By Sam Willliams
The Seaway Sixpack Tournament was the weekend after the CCC which meant Barry Howard and I didn’t have much time to prepare.
Sunday was our day of rest from everything, and I worked on Monday and Tuesday. I Met Barry at his home after work to drop off some of the fishing gear and loaded his trailer and his truck. On Wednesday I met Barry at the service station above Abany, NY with this being new to me, having just moved to Torrington CT.
I arrived at the service station and waited for Barry. This was 1 of 3 pitstops we have made in the past and this being my 3rd time fishing in the St. Lawrence County and my second Seaway Sixpack tournament. In this is tournament there is are handicap spots, with four being available if needed. It is great to see Seaway Sixpack Team looking out for Seniors and people who can’t run up and down high banks or over rocks to be able to fish in a tournament. Thank you Seaway Sixpack Team for doing this.
Looking at Pegs is always fun as you get to explore what possible pegs you might get, depending on the luck of the draw.
What do we look for at a peg? Firstly parking, as there are Pegs with special parking requirements. You can drop off and re-park your vehicles in certain area. Then the area to setup bivvys and other Day shelters. How far is it from the bivvy to your rods, is it straight line? A step down to the water? Can we net easily?
Then there is watercraft. How we would plan our fishing. I’m not a distance caster so I am looking for possible bends, snags, structure, and using a Deeper to see the an holes, ledges and also the temperature of the water.
Barry and I looked at many pegs. We also had the peg map on google maps which is great and gives you the location of the pegs and driving direction. We stopped to get food supplies and ice and we also stopped at local restaurant for some dinner.
The Peg Draw order was live on Facebook but because we were in Handicap spots the other teams got to draw higher.
Karell our “Runner”
Brandy Brook was our Peg. We had driven past this peg many times and heard lots of stories and tips on how to fish this peg. We planned on where we would set up and place the vehicles and the trailer so we could keep it level it out then unhook it to gain access to the bed of the truck. Barry and I discussed how we would fish this swim as Barry had fished this peg before.
We decided to go to the right and fish upstream and along an edge of weeds. I had the bridge to my left, although looking at the water it seemed very low.
At the time we had not much rain for about 6 weeks and you could see line where the water had been 12 hours early, but even that line was a lot lower than the normal water level.
A very big thank you goes to our runner Karell Fogel, as having a runner makes big difference. From Setting up the site, taking pictures, fetching something, to holding my phone while going live on Facebook to present a bait demonstration. Karell also had a big job to land the carp and bring them up the bank.
Having fished near a bridge with Dan Swartout I took the same ideas that where the columns come off the bridge there could be a raised bank.
I used my Deeper to confirm if this was the case and started to map out my swim. All the stories and tips were to hit the far bank but unfortunately I couldn’t cast that far across the river.
Instead, I concentrated on looking for other features. I had a weed bed near first column where boats would not go through and als found a 2-foot channel on the second column. I found the end of the rise where column sloped down and marked the end of slope as a spot. My right hand rod area I cast to the right but straight out and I got lucky and found a gravel spot. Again, I marked it with my Deeper.
I was baiting with DT Baits Sweetcorn boilies in 24mm and started using my throwing stick to bait up 3 spots. I knew it would take some time for the boiles to work, but for now I started using sweetcorn ground bait with hempseed and some chopped up sweetcorn boilies. I also spodded out bait to the two closer spots.
Baiting up
We then setup our bivvys and got the bedding and everything in place, which took a few hours and we completed just before dark. I like to make dinner before it gets dark and make tea for the night.
Thursday as far as the fishing went it was a quiet night, but we also we got some rest until the early hours of Friday morning at 4:45am when I had my first run, a Common carp of 17lb 4oz caught on a Sea Fruit boilie; a very large 28mm boilie. I had a bucket of mixed boilies from Carp Maxx from the previous CT Tournament Competition, one of the Carp Maxx competitors were just giving away bait, so I had an couple of empty buckets with lids and filled them. I brought them to prebait
At 5:15am we had another run, but unfortunately I got cut off. Due to this I put on a PB product spiderwire leader and I ran it two rod lengths. I use Sonik extractor 9ft rods with a Sonik 5000 reels and PB products red mainline 22lbs.
At 6:15am Barry’s rod went off with a common carp of 17lbs 14oz. He was using World Classic Baits Crayfish boilie with packbait.
At 10:15am Barry rod went off again to a common carp of 19lbs 4oz again on the WCB Crayfish boilie.
Base camp
My right hand rod seemed like nothing had moved or touched it so I looked for another spot to cast. Weeks before the competition I had fished with Lee Hurn, who has been fishing at Lake in Avon all year looking for a few specific carp. He showed me how to use a lead to feel for the bottom. He cast his lead into the lake and then handed it to me and asked me what did I feel when reeling in. Knowing the difference between a weedy bottom and a gravel bottom I knew what I should be feeling for. Due to this I found another spot and I clipped up, with the distance sticks that Lee gave me. I had to cast 16 wraps (with a 9ft rod) with the wrap being whatever your length of rod is (standard being 12ft) I knew my line of sight, where to aim, even in the dark.
If I was in doubt in the middle of the night I just had to wait for a car or truck to cross the bridge from behind me there headlight would light up the far bank and my target would become visible.
It seemed everything just stopped, with no signs of fish, but before dark I brought in the rods again to check everything and put fresh baits on. I put a Sweet Stawberry Soluble Boilie on two rods and a DT Baits Sweetcorn boilie, that I had put out the afternoon before with a throwing stick.
As the evening started the humidity grew, moisture was heavy with everything outside becoming wet. We had condensation inside the bivvys, and had to have a Mr Buddy Heater on to help with condensation. I also had my back window half open to help with ventilation. We turned in to sleep at 9pm, hoping for another early morning bite.
Friday night at 12pm midnight we had another screaming run and welcomed a 10lb 3oz common carp which fell to a Strawberry Soluble Boilie from the Middle rod.
Saturday morning bought a common carp at 3:05am (17lb 10oz on a Strawberry Soluble boilie) also at 3:45am Barry had a 17lb 15oz on a crayfish boilie WCB. I then had our biggest Common carp at 27lb 8oz. We have to wait until morning for the weigh marshal but in that time Barry had two more carp at 6:10am with a 10lb 2oz and at 9:30am a 19lb 8oz common, both were on Crayfish Boilie by World Classic Baits.
The weigh Marshal official weighed my carp came to 27lbs 10oz and this is now my new personal best, by 2ozs.
A new PB common at 27lb 10oz
At 10am it seemed as if everything shuts down and the weather was pleasantly warm for the rest of the day which bought an increase in boat traffic. Throughout the day we put more boilies out, and I made some more groundbait balls and put them out about 5pm. We begin to start dinner and night preparations and at 5:50pm I had a run on my chod rig and caught a 20lb 14oz (DT baits N blend chocolate milk pop up). Dinner got put on hold as we had another run from Barry 21lb 10oz (crayfish boilie) at 730pm. After Barry’s carp it went quiet for the rest of the night, and I made dinner for all of us.
As of Black out time the leaders were: (Sept 28th 10:00pm)
Peg 4
Nick Burns/Matt Green
28 lbs 1 oz;
28 lbs 1 oz;
25 lbs 2 oz;
26 lbs 8 oz;
22 lbs; 23 lbs 4 oz;
23 lbs 9 oz
Peg 1c
Joe Lutz/Eric Hickman
23 lbs 2 oz;
23 lbs;
21 lbs 2 oz;
24 lbs 15 oz;
22 lbs 15 oz
Peg 1a
Shawn Rafter/ Austin Delosh/Jen Tieriah
Peg 10
Piotr Karloczyk/ Marcin Targonski
Peg 11b
Bob Giordano/ Scott Walrath
20 lbs 3
Peg 3
Paul Metts/Chris Brandee
22 lbs 5 oz;
oz
On Sunday morning at 6.00am Barry’s rod screamed off near the weeds and a 25lb 15oz Common carp was the result, again on Crayfish boilie. Barry had another run but unfortunately it ended in a hook pull. That was the end of the competition. Here are the final results:
1ST PLACE:
Peg 4 Nick Burns and Matt Green with 165 lbs 15 oz
2ND PLACE:
Peg 1a Shawn Rafter and Austin Delosh with 148 lbs 1 oz
3RD PLACE:
Peg 10 Marcin Targonski and Piotr Karloczyk with 144 lbs
4TH PLACE:
Peg 1c Joe Lutz and Eric Hickman with 136 lbs 3 oz
5TH PLACE:
Peg 3 Paul Metz and Chris’s Brandee 98lbs
6TH PLACE:
Peg 26 Barry Howard and Sam Williams 96lbs 1oz
BIG FISH:
Peg 4 Nicks Burns and Matt Green with 32 lbs 1 oz
2024 Seaway 6 Pack Facts:
-A total of 59 carp that weighed over 20 lbs were caught.
-The total weigh of those 59 carp was 403 lbs 3 oz.
-One mirror was caught. It weighed 22 lbs 15 oz.
-Angler Sam Williams caught a personal best of 27 lbs 10oz.
-Several teams this year were former Junior Carp Tournament kids.
Remembering Tim Marshall (UK Tim)
October 25, 1950 - November 24, 2024
Our dear friend Tim Marshall passed away recently after succumbing to the degenerative disease ALS, often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s”. It is perhaps indicative of just how much Tim was respected that we have received such wonderful tributes from some of his many friends on both sides of the big pond.
Tim was a long-time member of the Carp Anglers Group and a regular participant in the Big 4 competitions. His big fish captures, usually on hemp & tigers, from NC waters were remarkable. His first 30lb mirror caught from nights spent on a 16’ Jon boat in March 2011 showed his skill and dedication to finding such specimens.
In 2022 Tim’s stunning 39lb 8oz mirror together with a trio of 30lb plus commons gave him 2nd place in the Spring Big 4 along with Big Mirror and Region III Big 4 awards. A truly great angling achievement in a state not renowned for giving up its big fish easily.
Tim had some memorable captures from his 16’ Jon boat!
Tim grew up in Kent, England and like most Brits honed his skills on a variety of fish species in his younger years. As Tim reached his late teens and twenties he was becoming known for catching numerous carp and big pike from his local waters. This was long before hair rigs, boilies and off the shelf carp tackle and Tim often preferred fishing particles to almost any other bait.
Tim moved to the USA in January 1996 and in November 1997 met Susan in a bookstore coffee shop in Durham, NC. She was to be his wife and soul mate and ultimately as Tim would say “the catch of a lifetime”.
Tim with Susan – “the catch of a lifetime”
A very impressive bonefish on the fly!
Tim fished with several local anglers including Andy Phinn, Colin Peters and Santosh Shanmuga and was soon convinced that there were indeed some big carp in NC worth chasing after. Tim also demonstrated his skills with a fly rod stalking and catching some very big bonefish in the Bahamas.
In October 2023 Tim made his last visit to Labyrinth Lake in France with lifelong friends Bob MacGregor & Bill Phillips. The first week Tim had a 47lb mirror then nothing until the last night when Tim hooked a fish that got stuck in a weed bed at range. In the end Tim had to go out in the boat to land it with another long-time friend Bill Phillips. Bill recalls: “Probably the most epic boat battle I have ever been involved in. I really did think we were going for a swim on several occasions.” Bob adds: “Tim let out a shout from the middle of the lake when the fish finally went in the net and all the other anglers around the lake who had been praying for a successful outcome started clapping. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Tim’s last fish from Labyrinth with Bill Phillips and Bob MacGregor - a stunning 31.12 common.
Chris Giles with more on Tim’s life story.
Tim was born in 1950 in Hythe, Kent, a small town on the southeast coast of England, and lived there with his parents until he went to Loughborough University in 1969 to study chemistry and management.
At the age of seven, he started fishing the local section of the Royal Military canal with his father where they caught bream, tench, roach, rudd and pike.Tim also fished two small local waters, the Brickfield Pond and Beachborough Pond, where he caught many of his early carp - small commons up to about 5lb.
And whilst still a junior member of the local angling club he became a regular participant in the men’s senior competition team. However, it was the Hythe canal that produced Tim’s first ‘proper’ carp, a mirror of 18lb 10oz in 1965 in the company of two local friends Chris Giles and Bob MacGregor. This fish, caught on a humble lobworm, was a record for the canal at the time and it marked the beginning of a lifetime’s pursuit of the species. Later, in 1971, he caught his biggest canal carp weighing 20lb 9oz.
with his first ‘proper’
Tim also spent several seasons fishing at Brett Marine, in Lydd where he again broke the record for the water with a mirror of 31lb 4oz.
After finishing his degree in 1972 Tim moved to Dartford, Kent to work for the Wellcome Foundation and fished many of the well-known waters in that area like Brooklands, Darenth and Cotton Farm and he also joined the carp syndicate at Kempton Park Racecourse. He would still return to Hythe most weekends and would continue fishing the canal together with other local waters including the Hythe Ballast Pit. Here in the mid 1970s he broke another carp water record with a mirror of 25lb 8oz caught on float fished corn.
Tim
carp, a twenty, from the Royal Military Canal in 1971.
Apart from his love of carp fishing Tim also enjoyed fishing for pike and he caught a number of specimens over the magical twentypound mark from gravel pits on Romney Marsh, at least two of which were on a ‘guesting’ basis!
Specimen pike - another favorite quarry for Tim!
After his move to the USA in the late 1990s Tim still returned to Europe for fishing holidays, mostly to the mighty Labyrinth fishery in France which undoubtedly became his favourite water in later years. And a few years ago this venue produced Tim’s largest ever carp weighing just over 66lb.
At the beginning of June 2024 Chris Giles and Bob MacGregor, who had remained lifelong friends with Tim and who both still fish in the Hythe canal, flew out to America for one more chance to wet a line with Tim who, by then, was wheelchair bound and hardly able to speak. He persevered, and against all the odds managed to catch his last ever carp, a common of 20lb from Lake Cammack. And this too was caught on a lobworm!
Colin Peters reflects on his memories fishing with Tim over the past 20 years:
The lake was quiet and still, the surface like a sheet of glass. In the fading light the giant fish gently broke the surface, paused for a while, then with a swipe of its tail the water surged and erupted with a sound, the eddying, ever swirling water kept on, the sound and the sight held the attention of everyone around, in the following silence and fading light, all that was left was a memory. Occasionally through life, we are fortunate to meet someone who is in every way, just a good, kind, person, a true Gentleman, and a good friend. Always having an enthusiastic and positive attitude, always had a smile, always had time to listen and chat, Tim Marshall was that friend. Susan his wife, recently told me, she had never met a kinder man, when I heard those words, it took me a minute for it to sink in, when it did, the understanding was not without an emotional reaction for the magnitude of that statement and the true words spoken. I have known and occasionally fished with Tim for about 20yrs, there was a group of us in North Carolina, some ex-pat guys, some local, that communicated, fished, sometimes hung out. And just like all carp anglers we were always excitedly searching for that new prolific, big fish water.
Tim’s last fish, a 20lb carp, caught in the company of lifelong friends Chris Giles and Bob MacGregor.
Tim (holding net) and Colin (playing fish).
I managed to visit with Tim a few times in the late stages of this dreadful disease, the last visit he was immobile, wheelchair bound, he had to communicate via iPad, with Susan kindly helping occasionally with interpretation. On arrival I told Tim, I took the liberty of putting TRUMP signs in his front yard on the way in, his sense of humor evident by a twinkle in his eye and a faint chuckle and a look of daggers from Susan. Tim could always manage a smile during his cruel struggle.
Is greatness measured by how much of a void you leave, how much a person is missed, I do not know. But I do know, to many of us Tim did achieve giant fish status.
Anywhere it seems in the US, especially North Carolina bank access is rare, so a few of us had boats that we fished from. Tim in this regard really took this to another level.
Carp fishing from a boat is full of trials and tribulations and can be very frustrating, Tim just took all that in his stride.
Fishing 4 rods for a 3 day weekend in a boat was routine - never mind the weather, it takes a special kind of person to passionately hunt for that elusive 40lber that we all want, but to do it confined to just a few square feet amongst the bait and almost obscene inevitable clutter – with 4 rods out, dealing with the wake from other boats, bass fisherman, bow fisherman, the wet, the cold, the catfish, the turtles. Often no fish at all, it is enough for most to lose their minds.
We are all going to miss Tim and just like that giant fish breaking the surface of the lake, Tim is now gone from sight, but he is still out there, gracefully gliding & swimming, in our hearts, in our minds.
I do have a couple of items of tackle from Tim that I use and cherish, they will absolutely be a reminder of Tim, of how short and precious life is, especially in those quiet serene moments doing the fishing we all love.
Wishing Peace, love and understanding to all. In loving memory of Tim Marshall.
Please help fund research into ALS.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. It is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS results in a gradual loss of muscle control until finally when the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. ALS usually affects people in the 40-70 age range and slightly more men than women.
The disease, in about 5-10% of cases, is known to be inherited through specific genetic mutations but 90% of cases are considered random with no specific link. ALS impacts 1-2 people per 100,000 annually.
Diagnosis of ALS can be challenging but the earlier it can be determined the better the outcomes for intervention and support to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life for an individual.
If you would like to make a charitable donation to help fight ALS please follow this link and please make it in memory of our dear friend Tim Marshall.
https://alsnc.org/eoy24/
Tim with a stunning Dale Hollow ‘fully scaled’ mirror.
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 phone) used.
2. The date the photo was taken.
3. Location (nearest Town and State).
4. Your Name
5. 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.
JuNE Winners
1st Place
Lowell Fletcher
2nd Place
Brian Santos
3rd Place
July Winners
1st Place
Lowell Fletcher
Joshua Jones
2nd Place
Lowell Fletcher
3rd Place
AUGUST Winners
1st Place
Richard De Oliveira
Brian Santos
2nd Place
Brian Santos
3rd Place
Kevin Zirjasks
A Carp Fishing Memory
By Barry Shildneck
Author Barry Shildneck reflects on an early carp fishing memory many moons ago…
This happened in the summer of 1966, the year I turned 21 - many years before I ever heard of CAG, or hair rigs, or boilies, or pack bait. In those days, not many people intentionally fished for carp, and when they did, their tactic was simple -- bait your hook with canned corn or a doughball, then heave it, leave it, and wait.
I had recently met a new fishing buddy, ‘Jack’. He was a friend and a business school acquaintance of my oldest fishing buddy. Jack and I had been having some success catching good sized carp at “Snider’s Landing”, a well-known spot on the upper Potomac River, near the site of the Civil War Battle of Antietam. Another friend, Kermit, a buddy from high school and infrequent fishing partner, heard us talking about catching big carp, and asked if he could join us sometime.
About a week later, a weekend when Jack had other plans, Kermit and I decided to give it a try on Saturday evening. All of our previous success had been after dark, usually between 10 PM and midnight. Jack and I had been catching our fish by freelining BIG doughballs in a slow moving section of the river -- baits large enough to serve as both casting weight and sinker. We were wrapping the dough around 2/0 or 3/0 hooks. I assume because of the unusually large baits, we never got many bites -- but when we did, it was always from a good fish. In the three summers we fished there, we caught just one carp under 20 pounds.
In those days, we just fished with whatever tackle we had at home. I was fortunate enough to own several rods and reels --two or three baitcasters and two spinning outfits. Kermit had just one rod and reel, plus a Zebco 202 that was spooled with 6 pound test line. I brought along an old solid glass spinning rod for him to use with his Zebco. We knew it was under-powered, but it gave us a 4th or 5th bait in the water, so “Why not?”.
After stopping at a gas station for snacks and some 45-cent quarts of cold PBR (hey - we were just 21, remember), we drove on to the river.
We got set up about dusk, and sat there for a while in the lantern light, shooting the bull and enjoying our snacks and beer. Then, after about an hour, the rod with Kermit’s 202 took off. (Of course it was THAT rod!)
He set the hook and began fighting the carp. Immediately, he discovered that the drag on the Zebco wasn’t working properly. In order to give the fish line when it wanted to run, he had to press the line release (thumb) button, and then feed it out through his fingers. Of course with that fine 6 pound test line running across his fingers, and a heavy fish pulling from the other end, his hands got pretty bloody.
That fish went out, and came in, and went out, and came in -- back-and-forth, up and down the river -for what seemed forever. And twice it pulled every bit of line from his reel. But for some unknown reason, the carp turned and headed back toward the bank both times.
As I ‘remember’ things, he fought the fish for an hour -- but to be realistic, probably for about ten minutes -- until I was finally able to net it for him.
In those days we didn’t carry a scale, so we never got to weigh the carp. But it did measure an even 36” long, and was very fat, bigger in girth than many of the other fish that Jack and I had caught there before.
My guess is that it was at least a 25 pound carp. It was certainly not huge compared with many of the ones we see on the CAG website today.
But watching my friend catch that fish back in those “good old days”, on 6 pound test line using a reel with a defective drag, is still one of the best of my many fishing memories that, even after all those years, remain clear in my mind.
A SOLO ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER: My Journey to Dale Hollow
By Jami Selvidge
I embarked on a 24-hour, 1,200-mile solo journey from Oklahoma to Tennessee, fueled by my passion for carp fishing and the allure of Dale Hollow Reservoir. This fabled fishing spot had been on my bucket list for years, and I was determined to experience it firsthand. As I traveled through Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky, the excitement grew. However, my enthusiasm was briefly dampened when I caught pneumonia on the way. But I wasn’t about to let that stop me.
Upon arrival, I met up with Kenny Mac and Daniel Irish, and together we tackled the waters of Dale Hollow. The scenery was breathtaking – rolling hills, misty mornings, and sun-kissed afternoons. The fishing was just as impressive, with the bite coming unexpectedly at night and early morning.
My secret weapon? Mega Spice, hands down the best bait around! Its irresistible allure proved to be the key to landing some impressive catches.
As a solo female traveler, I was a bit apprehensive at first, but the warm hospitality of the people I met along the way and the camaraderie with my fellow anglers quickly put me at ease.
Over the course of four incredible days, I reeled in some impressive catches and created memories that will last a lifetime. Dale Hollow, you have stolen my heart.
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Carp Angler, Carp Guide, USA, and my amazing group, Kansas City Carp Anglers, for their support and camaraderie.
You guys rock!
If you haven’t had the chance to experience Dale Hollow for yourself, add it to your bucket list. Trust me, you won’t regret it. And don’t forget to pack your Mega Spice – it’s a gamechanger!
Reach out to USA Carp Guide: https://www.facebook.com/ usacarpguide
Return to Orellana Return to Orellana
by Iain Sorrell
In February of 2023 Dean Brookes and myself set off to fish in Spain after a planned trip to fish Lake Sumbar in Croatia was unfortunately cancelled. Our first destination was the Ebro River in Mequinenza for Wels catfish and then it was on to Orellana Reservoir for fish for its renowned big wild carp. While the Ebro produced an 80lb wels for each of us we sadly, and despite a couple of near misses, were unable to fulfill our plans to catch a carp from Orellana.
So at the end of October this year, after a very tough week of fishing on Parco in Italy, I headed back to Orellana for another go. After landing in Madrid I picked up a car rental for the 3.5 hour drive to Ardy Veltkamps ‘Carp Casa’ that overlooks a secluded arm of this 12,360 acre reservoir. After a week living bankside in a damp bivvy on Parco it was a real treat to be welcomed by my good friend together with a hot meal and a comfy bed!
Orellana Reservoir in the Extramadura region of Spain
Monday morning was bright and sunny but the forecast suggested more unsettled weather in the coming days. Ardy and I got busy preparing bait as we wanted to get the rods out that afternoon. Ardy had already baited up 3 key spots over the previous week so we had high hopes that fish would already be in the area.
Once we had everything ready to go it was time to jump in the boat and head out to the first spot. A few scoops of particles around the area plus 2030 boilies went in followed by the baited rig carefully lowered into place.
As we slowly motored back towards shore we made sure the line was carefully laid out behind without any risk of dragging the rig.
We repeated the same process with the next two rods setting up the three baited rigs at ranges between 250 – 300yds . When fishing at ultra long range it vitally important to ensure solid hook ups and reliable bite detection. A fixed lead set up can allow a fish to kite and even with heavy bobbins the weight of 200 or 300yds of line on the bottom might allow a fish to move without necessarily activating the alarms.
We used some brilliant COG Running Leads designed and made by a friend of Ardy’s that no matter what direction the fish moved would pull on the mainline to activate the alarm. As a running lead it also helped to prevent a carp from using the lead to shake the hook free.
One of the key’s to long range fishing is ensuring the hook bait sits correctly. If you drop it directly below the rod tip from the boat then there is a good chance it will tangle around the hook. Slowly backing away with the boat over the baited area towards the bank while lowering ensures the bait trails behind the hook and the lead and that the leader or main line lays nicely on the bottom.
Hook baits were ‘hardened’ 25mm Yalla Yalla boilies from German bait maker Schmidt Experience plus a piece of Enterprise yellow or washed out pop-up maize. These high protein boilies have a solid reputation as a long term bait with an amino acid profile that triggers carp to keep coming back to eat.
We washed out ‘free’ boilies in lake water for 24 hours to bait the swim and then added the liquid to the maize, bird seeds, ground tigers etc that were also spread around the area.
Simple but very effective rigs maximize hook-ups!
Washed out’ baits are an important factor for baiting
The rigs were straight forward with #4 curve shank RM-Tec hooks tied to PB Jelly Wire 35lb hook link material with the last couple inches stripped to allow the hook maximum freedom of movement.
For boat work Ardy has 10’ Century CPU 3.50 rods matched with Shimano XTR A-LC baitrunner reels that can hold 500 yds of 0.35 line. We had two rods set up with PB Ghost
Flourocarbon and the other with the new PB Bottom Line sinking braid in 25lb with a 50 yd leader using 20lb PB Hybron a mono / fluorocarbon co-polymer which is new fast sinking abrasion resistant line with very low memory.
Once everything was in place all we had to do now was wait! As most of the takes come at night we settled down to dinner before getting some much needed rest.
A spectacular Orellana sunset and now we wait!
The first run came in the early hours of Wednesday morning at around 2am. It was on the left-hand rod and as Ardy took charge of the boat I jumped in with the rod and we set off into the darkness. While I could feel some weight on the line there was none being taken and I wondered at first if this might be one of the big tench. I steadily wound down picking up line as we slowly motored toward the baited areas until we were finally over the fish.
A few solid kicks told me that this was certainly bigger than any tench and after clearing quite a bit of weed from the line Ardy slipped the net under a nice common.
Finally I had caught my first Orellana carp and as we headed back to shore I was able to marvel at the incredible star studded sky that comes with so little light pollution in this region.
A twenty plus common – my first carp from Orellana. We moved the fish, a low twenty, to the unhooking mat and were about to place it in a sling for weighing when the alarm sounded again. This time the middle rod was away and we decided to quickly release this fish rather than risk losing something potentially bigger. As we headed out in the boat once again I could feel the line dragging through more weed suggesting this fish had already kited quite a bit further from where it had been hooked.
As we got closer I started to feel the fish kick but there was a still lot of weed that had to be cleared before we could get it in. That’s easier said than done in a 9’ inflatable even with two of you! I was now in direct contact with what was clearly a good fish that towed us around while making some solid
runs for the next 10 minutes. When Ardy saw the big scales in the light from his head lamp he shouted, “That’s a big mirror Iain, please take it easy!” Fortunately everything held and after a few more tense minutes Ardy had it in the net and we both breathed a big sigh of relief!
It looked huge and as we motored back I noticed that it had now become overcast and a few drops of rain had begun to fall, but who cared? I was already on cloud nine!
On the mat she looked incredible! We carefully zeroed the scales with the sling and then having transferred her we lifted up the sling waited for the read-out to settle. At 45lb 13oz this was indeed a very special fish.
After taking a few photos in the morning light she swam off hopefully to grace someone else’s net. Later Ardy showed the photos to a few of the Orellana regulars and it seems that this fish had never been seen before.
We then got the two left hand rods rebaited and back out on the spots with some more particles and boilies over the top.
As we sat overlooking the reservoir we began to hear warnings of a major storm that was brewing. The sky looked very threatening and we could hear thunder in the distance. The worst of the storm passed away to the east but as we were to find out other parts of Spain had been devastated by severe flooding.
What an absolutely magnificent wild fish!
Thursday night passed quietly without any action and we grew concerned as we had seen several bivvys set up across on the opposite shoreline which might limit fish movement with more lines in the water. We decided to hold off putting anymore bait over the rigs in the hope the fish would feel more confident if left undisturbed.
On Friday evening, more clouds rolled in over the mountains and it began to rain steadily as darkness approached and we sat eating dinner. At around 1:30am the receiver gave a couple of beeps and then a steady warble. We raced out onto the dock and I grabbed the middle rod. We set off in the boat as the rain lashed down and after what seemed like an age got on top of the fish. It wasn’t long before a lean and angry common was in the net and we were headed back to shore. This one weighed 24.04 and was popped into a retainer for photos in the morning. Thoroughly soaked I dried off and got ready to get my head down.
As I drifted off to sleep I heard a couple of beeps from the receiver then nothing. Was it a fish or a liner? It was still raining but I decided I should probably check the remaining two rods. The left hand swinger was pulled up tight so I pulled a few inches of line off the baitrunner. The line quickly tightened again and then kept going! We jumped in the boat and set off in pursuit. Once again we had to pull clods of weed from the line as we made our way towards our quarry. Finally and some distance beyond the baited area I made contact with the fish. This time there was no question I was hooked into something bigger than the last fish. Playing a fish from a boat is very different to fighting one from shore. The fish can easily drag the boat around and applying side pressure is almost impossible as you end up with it battling directly below the rod tip. There were some savage headshakes and determined dives towards the bottom in 25’ of water as the fish made its bid for freedom.
The 46lb common – what a way to finish!
When it finally came to the surface we could see it was a big common. After a couple of heart-stopping moments when it managed to evade the net Ardy got it safely into the mesh.
Once we were back ashore and had the fish on the mat it became clear that this was yet another special fish. On the scales it registered 46lb 7oz and 42” in length. What a result!
We put the rods out again but unfortunately this was to be my last fish of the trip. As I packed up on Sunday night ready for the journey home I was already making plans to come back.
Even though I’d managed two magnificent fish, a forty plus common and a rare forty plus mirror, I know there are much bigger fish out there with several over 70lb and a couple of 80lb fish being caught in the past couple of years.
As well as carp, tench, pike, zander and large mouth (black) bass there are also Iberian Barbel which can grow to over 30lb!
If you are looking for a new carp fishing experience then certainly get in touch with Ardy. This is a very comfortable way to carp fish on a section of the reservoir that is renowned for producing bigger fish. Access to much of the reservoir is limited and often requires a boat to ferry the gear (tackle, bivvy, food etc) needed for a stay. Ardy can offer the very best tackle and bait needed to make your trip straightforward, that’s perfect if you are flying!
We made a toast to the fish gods!
Ardy’s Carp Casa offers lakeside accommodation in a comfortable caravan with two twin sized beds plus everything you could possibly need. There is a separate shower and toilet along with a nice outside seating area overlooking the water. The caravan also has a multi language TV and great internet connection. There are plenty of direct flights to Madrid from the major US cities and as the best fishing is in Fall, Winter and Spring there are often good ticket deals. Rental car prices are also reasonable and I can recommend using Costco to book as the rates include a second driver in the price. The nearby town of Orellana La Vieja has bars and restaurants plus a couple of supermarkets where food, wine and beer is very inexpensive. So there you go – What are you waiting for?
Ardy with a Carp Casa Mirror of 59lb
A 55lb Common from the Carp Casa
A stunning 15lb tench from the Carp Casa!
The Fundamentals of Carp Fishing
– Part
1
By Evan Cartabiano
New(ish) to carp angling?
Blanking a lot, or all the time? Only catching fish under ten pounds and desperately wondering how you can achieve the fish you keep seeing in everyone else’s pictures on social media? I’ve been contemplating lately the absolute basics of carp angling that will land you those fish–or something at least close. This article (and a few to follow soon) is for those who are new to carp fishing or those who have been fishing for some time but have hit a dry spell and are looking for a way to break the blank.
The fundamentals:
#1. LOCATION
It’s happened to all of us–that seeming inability to catch a carp. Sometimes it happens at the start of the pursuit of carp; other times (and I include myself in this category) it happens after you have been carp fishing for some time or maybe at intervals over the course of many years.
When this has happened to me I have generally found myself going back to basics. To be fair, this can help, but I feel I have now found a better way that is quicker to get back on (or start off on) the right track. It’s a bold claim, but I’m feeling bold right now.
Location.
It can’t be overstated enough that the simple fact is you can’t catch fish that aren’t there. This is obvious to every angler (or even non angler) but it is overlooked with shocking frequency. The biggest reason that this happens seems to be not knowing how to find a swim that has fish to catch. So let’s take a look at some ways to find places to fish.
Online maps.
Yes, there is a map that shows where carp have been found. It doesn’t have all the places that have carp, but it’s a start. The USGS maintains a web page that has records of where you might be able to find a carp. It takes some getting used to but allows an overview to start your search: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/viewer/omap.aspx?SpeciesID=4
Depending on which state you live in there may be other resources that will allow you to narrow down your search. Often state natural resource agencies will have their own fish or fishing related mapper that can focus your search even more. For example here is a list of waters in the Dallas/ Fort Worth Area that have easy access and lists if they contain Common Carp: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_k0700_1218.pdf
Of course you can also find information on the Carp Anglers Group pages and social media, but looking for maps like these can often be a good way to find locations that aren’t as popular, and less fishing pressure can mean easier fishing.
Once you have found a water that is thought to contain carp and close enough you can fish it, it’s on to the next step.
The next step after finding a water that holds carp is to find where on that water you might have the best results. This is a moving target as the best spots often change with the time of year that you will be fishing and with other factors such as weather and fishing pressure.
One factor that doesn’t change, however, is how you will be able to fish for them. If you are limited by the tackle you have, then this must be taken into account when selecting a swim. If the fish tend to be 80 yds out at a spot, and you can only cast 50 yards, then obviously you will have
to move to another swim.
The trick is to find areas that are open to the public. Again, most states have some sort of mapper that will show you where you can fish on a given water. For example North Carolina has such a map at: https://ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/FishingAreas
Sometimes you will also be able to get a good depth map of the lake. If you can, look for areas that will allow you to fish in depth that can hold fish at a range you can fish at (more on that in the next section). Google Earth is a great way to measure and map locations.
The map below is a map that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department made of Quitman Lake (yes, it has plenty of carp) that you can download and view in Google Earth. There are other map options as well and a search for the name of the lake and “map” will often turn up something that can be a good starting point. A word of caution however - these maps may not be very accurate and your own on-the-ground investigation will often be required to narrow down the areas that are actually best.
Bathymetric maps are a great way to narrow down potential areas. So what depths should you be looking for? There is not one simple answer to this as there is considerable variability between waters and environmental conditions. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking at a new water: Get there early or late to look for fish showing. Carp jump. Why is still up for some debate but in many waters they will jump.
Normally this is most obvious early in the morning or late in the day but can happen at any time. If you see carp showing in a given area that is about as good an indication as you can get that that is a good place to start fishing. The fish may move around but finding fish is easy if they are showing. Even after they stop showing the same area can still be good.
A nice mirror caught from a productive spot a year later.
You won’t always see carp jumping, but there might be other signs. If the water is clear you might be able to see them swimming (polarized glasses help) or see bubbles showing up on the surface as they feed. If there are a lot of lily pads of other vegetation that sticks out of the water you can sometimes see it moving as carp swim through it.
If no signs are evident, then structures such as brush piles or other snags can be a good place to look, but keep in mind the fish might be hard to keep out of them when hooked.
So don’t fish so close you can’t stop them before they get there. Casting a bare lead out and dragging it back to check for snags will make sure you are in a spot that is actually fishable.
You will also be able to feel how hard the bottom is to get some idea what it’s made of with some practice.
Obvious places to fish can be lacking, but if you find the best spot you have available you still might be able to make something happen.
A 52lb Grass Carp – making the best of a spot during the ATC.
Sometimes there are simply no signs or obvious starting points so you just have to pick a spot and try it. You can find carp at most depths, but more often than not they are in shallower rather than deeper water. In general, water between 6-12’ is worth a shot at least until you find out some more information.
I had a stunning 32lb common that was caught the first time I fished it a new water and from only about 30’ off the shore. In this case the bank was quite steep and I was fishing in 10’ of water at this range.
Pre baiting is a great way to get fish to stop in the area you are fishing and makes them a lot more catchable. There are many ways to get your free offerings into position, but the key thing to remember is to make sure it’s not too spread out and in a spot you can put a hook bait in. It’s no good putting bait all over an area so the fish never find the hook and it’s no good putting out bait where you can’t cast a hook. If you can bait the day before you fish so much the better, and depending on the water it might not need very much to get the fish interested.
A 32lb common from close in on a new water.
If you can bait for several days it’s even better, but again in some places you can put out too much bait so don’t go crazy with 100lbs of bait unless you know there are enough fish to eat it. In many cases a can or two of sweetcorn is enough if you put it in a fairly small area.
Sweetcorn, hemp and a few chopped up boilies will work on most waters around the world. You can also swap out boilies for tiger nuts or chick (garbanzo) peas. If you don’t currently “clip up” when using a spod start doing so now – baiting accurately to the same spot is vital.
Summing up, there is no point worrying about tackle or other fun things if you haven’t got the location figured out.
In the next installment I will go over rigs and bait. Until then consider the locations you have available to you and work on where you will fish them.
Location really is key for anglers of any age or experience!
Sweetcorn, hemp and a few chopped up boilies will work on most waters around the world.
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
• Quartely NACA Magazine*
• Member Benefits
• CAG Apparel & Merchandise
• Fish-Ins, Events & Competitions
• New Member Tackle Pack *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
The Carp Anglers Group is a non-profit organisation
