My funk is over

[BilletHead]

   Well I was in kind of a mini funk, Ollie this one is for you. Did some Kayak pond fishing last week and did OK but was really wanting to get back out in the boat. I knew the leaves were starting to fall and sure enough had to stop four times on the way up the river to let the leaves go off the jet intake. Just stop and turn off the motor and then start up and go again. No biggie just a pain. (I know Wrench that is what I deserve but I wouldn't of made it very far at all with the prop). I shot four long shoals to make it where I could not go any farther. At that place I rigged the eight weight and put on a clouser and began to throw it in the current swinging it into the deeper pool. No takers but along the bank in the shadows under the overhanging trees I seen some rather large fish. Grass carp in small schools. Just for kicks I threw in front of them. They turned and followed the clouser. Hummmm so I kept throwing into the deeper water with no fish to show for it. So my mind kept drifting thinking of the big grass carp. I dug into my fly gear and found a large rusty brown Clouser swimming nymph. Tied it on and slowly went for the shady bank. Found one of the schools and gave a nice throw six foot in front of them. When it hit the water three bee lined it to the nymph. I got one short strip in and fish on. The rodeo ensued and up and down the hole it took me as I fought the trolling motor to keep the fish in the middle of the channel and out of the rocks on one side and the trees in the river on the other side. This kept on for twenty minutes or more until I was able to get the net ready. As I tried to net him he seen the net and the rodeo commenced again for awhile. I kept thinking no one is going to believe this I got to land this fish. Well i finally did and I was pooped. He bottomed out my scales on the boga grip. I did have a thirty two inch golden rule and measured him with that. Needed another measuring device besides this. Found one and laid it out too. Over thirty -five inches but not making three foot. Wonder what he weighed?  Got him back into the water and revived and he swam off happy, well I suppose he was happy I know I was . Went back to the bank and worked two schools again with the fish looking at the fly but no takers. I think I could of repeated this again but the wind came up and I could no longer see my quarry. With the mini funk behind me I was done for the morning and headed back to the ramp. Wind blowing enough the leaves stayed on one side of the river so I only had to stop twice. I have one question. Why do some people think there is only one specie of fish to catch? Me I don't really care if it pulls back I am happy. Some days I am more happy with whaht I catch though !

BilletHead

[fishinwrench]

That fish is actually kinda pretty, in a buttugly kinda way.       

Nice job, bro.   I've never caught one.

[timinmo]

 

Great fish, wonderful story.  I have never caught one either.

[Jerry Rapp]

carp will wear you out.  A very hard fighting fish.  45 years ago fished a pay lake for carp.  Started out with heavy spincast reels, then went to ultra light and even, God forbid, a fly rod.  Lots of fun and learned how to fight a big fish on light tackle.  The one in the photo came from a local river this August. Bread ball on 2lb test ultra light. 

[fishinwrench]

What IS that thing licking the carps asshole ?   Cat or Dog ?

[BilletHead]

 ha Wrench I think that is one of them there designer dogs you can put in your purse. In this case I bet Mr. Jerry can put that one in his tackle box or golf club bag.

BilletHead

[Jerry Rapp]

that is a rescue dog, Japanese chin, that my wife just had to have!  It is the most cat like dog that I have ever seen.  At first she was terrified of the water(like a cat), but she follows Coco(the English Springer Spaniel) everywhere.  She has come to love the water and just quivers with excitement while I fish.  And for some reason Wrench, it would be you that would notice that!  LOL!

[Old plug]

When my son was about 7 yrs old and started to fish. I wanted him to learn how to fight a fish. So off we would go some evening to Creve course park with corn and a small crappie spinning rod with 4 lb test line on it . He learned that lesson well.  Later that year I took him on a trip to Clearwater where we were going to specifically fish for carp. He caught these in the photo on a medium action spin casting outfit with 8 lb test on it. He has never forgot the thrill of fighting a heavy fish on light line. He never panics and looses his cool. As a matter of fact he is down in Florida this week with his family. He is surf casting for large sharks or anything else that will give him a good battle

[Old plug]

Jerry-----maybe this was a bit before your time. But there was about 6 people would get together and fish for carp.soley for meat down at Clearwater. Those guys could turn out awful fine eating fish paddies from those things. The 2 times I went we took along a empty 14 ft jon. We motored up to where the black came in and chummed heavy with corn. Then would enjoy ourselves catching them on rod and reel.  Both times I went they filled that Jon. They donated the patties to the local church and. It's food bank. 

[ollie]

Shoot billethead, I would have loved to hook into one of those!  A couple of years ago I hooked into one that big or bigger.  It stripped all the line off my reel (spincast) and I was setting the drag tight.  It ran downstream and stopped.  At that point I thought I had a chance.  WRONG!  He turned back upstream and that is when I lost him.  I thought the line had broke, but instead he had straightened out the hook.  It was a fun crazy ride for about 20 seconds.  Glad you got out of your funk as well!