St. Louis County Park Lakes

[Haris122]

Unger Lake finally came through for me once again. I didn't fish at the lake for a few months, having kind of lost hope in it, but today I tried it again and hooked a grass carp. While I was trying to figure out what set-up to use, I kept spooking good size fish real close to shore, while walking the bank, so I figured those were probably common carp so I set up several rods with the corn carp bait I caught my first common carp on. 2 rods didn't produce anything, but one I didn't have a bell for, I put in just the right spot and waited with it. I felt something take the bait and drop it, like a half hour into the fishing, so I figured I wait it out. Anyways, like half an hour later while I'm messing with my phone for a minute, I sense another one picking up and dropping the bait, and then I get a good prolonged bend in the rod as the fish takes off with it. I set the hook, and the drag kicks in. It was pretty fun. Those grass carp sure fight to stay off off the bank. I fought the fish like a foot to the bank maybe 4 times, and every time it would make another last effort run back out with the drag screaming. Eventually I figured for it's own good I better just horse it to shore the next time I get it close enough. So after another try or two I got it on the bank. Took me a bit to get the treble out of it's mouth but eventually I set it loose again and let it slowly swim off. Wasn't a huge specimen, but it sure gave my medium rod and spincast reel a workout.

Can't really see it's eye in the pic cause the mud kind of covered it up while it flopped around, but put it back in the water and that got the mud right off.

[Haris122]

Anyone been catching anything at Unger Park lately (lake in particular, but river also)?