Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:26 am
The 2020/21 carp season is so far providing excellent fishing. The above average rainfall during winter and early spring seems to have really stirred things up, and resulted in 'above average' sized carp.
Today I got this 71cm brute, it provided the most tenacious, dogged and determined fight I have ever experienced from a cyprinidae. It took over an hour to get in (not joking) and was full of spawn, desperately trying to protect not only its life but its future offspring. Every time I went to net it it would take off again and go on a another run, without tiring. It seemed to be paired up with its male counterpart who was swimming along side it. My antics of wading in, trying to net the fish and unsnag it from various rocks and logs, and trying to 'beach' it at various locations proved amusing to many passers by, who stood and watched (some seemed to be taking photos), but ultimately got bored of my seemingly interminable escapade. All I know is it was bright daylight when I got the bite and getting dark by the time I landed it.
I recently respooled one of my reels with 10lb mono, but looking back I probably should have gone for 15lb. With a 8lb flurocarbon leader, I just couldn't put enough 'hurt' on the fish without the fear of my line breaking or pulling the hook out of the fishes mouth. The creek is also quite snaggy, so once the line come into prolonged contact with a rock/snag/tree branch its all over, irrespective of breaking strain.
Anyway, it was a great day and I sure hope this 'high-octane' carp season continues! I'm averaging over 70cm for the 5 Carp I've caught so far this season, helped of course by my PB of 81cm the other day, which I still can't believe. Probably not a sustainable average, but I can always dream.
2020/21: 5 (1768)
CC
The Carp are still out there!
Today I got this 71cm brute, it provided the most tenacious, dogged and determined fight I have ever experienced from a cyprinidae. It took over an hour to get in (not joking) and was full of spawn, desperately trying to protect not only its life but its future offspring. Every time I went to net it it would take off again and go on a another run, without tiring. It seemed to be paired up with its male counterpart who was swimming along side it. My antics of wading in, trying to net the fish and unsnag it from various rocks and logs, and trying to 'beach' it at various locations proved amusing to many passers by, who stood and watched (some seemed to be taking photos), but ultimately got bored of my seemingly interminable escapade. All I know is it was bright daylight when I got the bite and getting dark by the time I landed it.
I recently respooled one of my reels with 10lb mono, but looking back I probably should have gone for 15lb. With a 8lb flurocarbon leader, I just couldn't put enough 'hurt' on the fish without the fear of my line breaking or pulling the hook out of the fishes mouth. The creek is also quite snaggy, so once the line come into prolonged contact with a rock/snag/tree branch its all over, irrespective of breaking strain.
Anyway, it was a great day and I sure hope this 'high-octane' carp season continues! I'm averaging over 70cm for the 5 Carp I've caught so far this season, helped of course by my PB of 81cm the other day, which I still can't believe. Probably not a sustainable average, but I can always dream.
2020/21: 5 (1768)
CC
The Carp are still out there!