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by Cornacarpio » Sun Oct 07, 2018 8:05 pm
It was a rip-snorter of a day, so I decided to head down to the creek for a fish. Things didn’t get off to a good start. A father/son combination was fishing in my spot. I started catastrophising immediately; “I won’t catch anything now” I said to myself. I also wondered if they had seen me fishing there before, as it is fairly isolated, although the carp are clearly visible from the bike track (possibly the more likely scenario). I know it’s ‘only carp’, but I like exclusive access to the spots I find.
Anyway, I continued on a bit further, as there was a little hole a bit further down that I’d been meaning to try, but never got around too. Unfortunately things had to get worse before they got better. The northern bank was very elevated and I cast out and got ‘semi-snagged’ in a tree on the opposite side, however my float dropped down perfecting into a festering school of carp. “It’s only a matter of time” I thought before my float eventually submerges and the line frees itself from the tree overhead. And I’m pretty sure that would have been the case – until a duck came flying through – mid air – and got caught in my fishing line. My reel screamed like mad and I had to open the bail and break the line, before the duck flew off with half a spool of fishing line. I thought that might have been it for that spot. It wasn’t a very big area and carp do tend to spook easily in small holes. Nevertheless, I persisted and it paid dividends. A few ‘bobs’ of the float before I decided to strike and I was on. On the end was a nice little carp of about 55cm. It’s always nice when a new spot pays dividends.
After a while a passer-by alerted me there was a duck about 50m downstream that was caught in fishing line. This caused quite a scene with about 5-6 onlookers who were giving me dirty looks. I made my way down the elevated bank and walked down mid-stream on slippery rocks to where the duck was flapping about. With the assistance of a passer-by, I managed to untangle the duck. I know it’s not a good look, but it was seriously a case of bad luck. I didn’t even hook the duck or anything, he wasn’t chasing my bread, he literally got stuck in my line ‘mid-air’ between my rod and the water. Anyway, all’s well that ends well. The duck was freed and I cleaned up my fishing line. The distraught onlookers were at least pleased the duck was free. I am quite conscientious when I go fishing at GC. I try not to draw attention to myself – or other fishermen – by leaving carp on the bank, discarding fishing equipment, rubbish, etc. as I know it reflects poorly on the fishing community and I would soon have fishing banned in the creek if I did do such things.
After the whole duck debacle, I decided to try another spot. The father/son combo was still in my spot, so I decided to try another new spot. I had fished this spot before – even got a few hook-ups, but never managed to land anything there as it is so snaggy. Well today was the day I broke that curse. It was long before my float bobbled up and down and I had another carp on to the tune of 55cm. I kept on getting bites after that but couldn’t hook anything. For their size, carp really are timid biters, especially in the creek-type of situation. So I got 2 fish from 2 new locations! Was really happy with that. Like I said previously, it’s always good when a new spot pays dividends. I have a good feeling about the creek this year. It’s still fairly early on in the warmer months, but the carp are already biting!
+2
2018/19 Total:3 (1646)
In some ways, I’m not the right guy to be writing this piece on carp simply because I so dislike the modern carp scene. As I see it now, its dominated by quick fixes and shortcuts. Any method will do, providing it lands a carp. Anglers have become obsessed with size. Size in this twilight world of the modern carp fisher equals fame. And fishing isn’t about fame.
50 Fish To Catch Before You Die, John Bailey (2008), The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, 1 Centre Rd Scoresby, Victoria, 3179, Australia, pp.100-101
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