Empty Net Fishing Blog

2011 Goal: Float Stalking

I don’t have a lot of free time, ever, but I do work quite close to one of the areas beast springtime carp fisheries. My plan of attack is to put in one weekend full day session a week (as I can). But I am also considering fishing one day a week before work (aproximately 6-9am).

In order to do this I am considering a very simple set up minimizing my load and the complications of my competition set up by adopting a float stalking approach.The following gear ould comprise my full set up.

18 Ft BPS Tightliner Rod with Shimano Reel

Rucksack Packed with

• Turkey mat for seating
• Small end tackle pack
• Scale and weigh sling
• Flask of particles (including hookbaits)
• Tube of floats
• Folding landing net
• Slingshot
• Camera and water botte

Free Time?

With “Spring Break” starting next week I was hoping on getting some bank time in. However with lots of research to catch up with and 2 classes to prep I probably will only be able to get in one day.

However the weather does not seem like it wants to cooperate with forecasts callig for the mid 40s and lots of rain and storms.

With do little time it looks like my only option is to pick the warmest day that doesn’t have t-storms forcasted and tough it out under the broillie. Honeslty I am already wishing I had invested in a nice sportsbrella.

Rough Fish Wish List

Since taking up carp fishing I have managed a few other species of socalled rough fish as incendentals. These included Grass Carp, Smallmouth Buffalo, and yellow and brown bullheads.

In the interest of building up my lifelist I am hoping to add to a few roughfish species this year. The fox river is a venue I have not had a chance to fish yet and is an extremely diverse biosystem. I would like to get out to carp fish there and maybe desidnate a rod or 2 to suckers.

The Fox River is loaded with at least 3 variaties of Redhorse including smallmouth largemouth, and river redhorses. And the suburban fox river holds the state records for both the smallmouth and largemouth redhorses.

I doubt I will get out to Indiana this year but if I do I will hopefully get a chance at quilbacks.

Windy City Carp League 2011 

I am posting Tracy Jordan’s announcement for the 2011 Windy City Carp League Season. There are a bunch of new venues on the circuit this year and I hope to make it to many of them, even though I have never had much luck with the harbors.

Tournament Format

The league is going to be comprised of 10 individual events or matches that will be
held during the summer of 2011. This tournament is to determine the best Windy
City carpfisher. There will be 5 different venues for this years championship.
Because I’ve had many requests to have the matches on either saturday or sunday, this year there will one on each day(only way to keep everyone happy). Anglers are invited to sign-up via the internet(www.carpanglersgroup.com, www.midwestcarp.com to participate in as many matches as they choose. Matches will run from 8am to 4pm. This year the league will be hunting BIG FISH AGAIN! In order to win the league championship this year, You will weigh the 3 largest fish per venue. 5 venues equals 15 fish. The HIGHEST TOTAL WEIGHT for these 15 fish will be crowned WINDY CITY CARP LEAGUE CHAMPION 2011.

RULES AND REGULATIONS.

1. The draw will be EXACTLY 1 hour before the start of fishing.
2. Pegs/flags shall be 10-20 yards apart and must be staked out by club official(s) and numbered PRIOR TO DRAWING PEGS.
3. Anglers may go to their pegs after the draw is completed.
4. During the preparation period, competitors may set-up their gear, test their rigs, and plumb depth. NO FEEDING IS ALLOWED DURING THIS TIME! No bait on hooks during this process.
5. Ground bait/chum may be thrown-in by hand, by catapult, throwing sticks, spods and bait droppers.
6. Anglers must be positioned NOT farther than 3 feet to either side of their peg/flag. An angler may fish up to HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE NEXT PEG on either side. THIS ALSO GOES TO THE ANGLER WITH AN END PEG! If pegs are 20 yards apart, you may only fish 10 yards to either side of your flag/peg. NO 50 yard casts to the side if your of an end peg.
7. Wading is not permitted. You may go in after something that has fallen into the water, but NO fishing from the water.
8. Anglers will be restricted to 2 poles, 2 lines, 2 hooks at a time. An angler may have as many spares set-up ready at any time, but may only use 2 at a time.
9. Ledger, feeder, hair-rigging, and float fishing are allowed.
10. NO artificial lures,jigs, may be used.
11. An angler MUST STRIKE, PLAY the fish UNASSISTED. No help from other anglers or guests or interested spectators. A fish may be played into the next peg area but only for the shortest amount of time as possible. NO walking over to where the fish is. It must be played and landed from your peg/flag. Netting the fish may be done by anyone.
12. Anglers under the age of 13 are allowed to fish but MUST be accompanied by supervising adult. The supervising adult is allowed to assist the minor angler.
13. Competitors MUST STOP FISHING when the horn sounds to end the match. All lines are to be removed in a timely manner.
14. We will use the weigh as their caught format. There will a board with the current standings of fish caught.
15. IF A FISH IS HOOKED BEFORE THE HORN SOUNDS. THE ANGLER WILL GET 15 MINUTES TO LAND THE FISH. The angler must let an official know that a fish is being played so the time count down can be monitored. IF THE FISH IS STILL TOUCHING
THE WATER WHEN TIMES-UP, THE FISH WILL NOT COUNT!
16. Weigh-in must be conducted by an official and verified by both the official and the angler whose catch is being weighed.
17. In case of any violation of the above rules, where a complaint has been launched, the decision of the official(s) will be final.
18. Angler’s shall conduct themselves in a manner not prejudicial to the sport of carp fishing. Any questions to this rule will be decided by the local law enforcement officer. MIND YOUR MANNERS!!!!!!!
19. All penalties will be assessed in the form of weight. The bigger the infraction the larger the amount of weight will be removed from that angler’s total

Tournament Venues

May 21 and 22 Rowing Canal Next to Lincoln Park Zoo Fullerton and Lake Shore Drive
June 11 and 12 Jackson Park Harbor(outer)6400 S. Coast Guard Dr.
July 16 and 17 Montrose Outer Harbor(lakeside) CCC venue #1 
August 20 and 21 Diversey Outer Harbor(lakeside) CCC venue #2 
September 17 and 18 CHAMPIONSHIP DAY!!! Diversey Inner Harbor East side just north of Fullerton

I will post more info the week prior to each event as to parking and any other
info I can get hands on. If there are any questions, Please feel free to ask,
I’ll do my best to answer all.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD CARPIN’ !!!!!!!!!!

There was recently a question on a local board about the difference between mirror and common carp. I tried to give a brief explanantion and I decided to share it here.

Mirror carp are a normal variation of common carp. Meaning that Mirror carp are just one possible variation of scale patterns. The majority of common carp are fully scaled with symmetrical scales.

Other variations include fully scaled mirrors (odd sized scales like the above but covering the whole body) leather carp (no scales whatsoever) and muddlers (unsymetrical scales).

Carp represented the major food source for much of europe because they could be grown relatively quickly in relatively small areas. The genetic variation is partly natural and partly the result of selective breeding by European monks attempting to minimize the number of scales in order to make an easier fish to clean.

Review Bank Fishing Systems Landing Net

Like all BFS products it is hard to beat their landing net for price. Unlike many components of euri style carp fishing, euro landing nets have not been universally accepted by new world carp anglers as the gold standard. In fact many have sworn them off for good instead choosing to adapt American style hoop nets (often salmon nets) for carp fishing by swapping out knot style mesh for carp mesh. For that reason BFS’s landing net, costing about $20 dollars is a cheap way to try out a euro net.

Pros:

The net includes a handle which telescopes from 2ft to 4ft and a carp friendly mesh across two arms with an integrated spreader block. This makes the whole thing especially easy to transport. The mesh on the bag is plenty large and will accommodate large fish, however…

Cons:

Euro nets require careful handling once a fish in netted. The construction of euro nets allow for an easily transportable net that is easy to handle while netting large fish, the design however does not lend to great strength and durability. While these limitations mean that euro nets require a certain delicacy the relatively cheap materials used in the construction of the BFS net means that is a particularly weak proposition. The arms will flex straight through the spreader block with little weight and the handle can be bent with little effort.

If one wishes to use the BFS net for more than one fish they must carefully follow good euro etiquette. Grabbing the bag (not the handle and not even the arms) when lifting the fish out of the water. While this all but eliminates use at any of the venues I fish it is manageable when you have a gently bank which directly leads to the water or if you wade.

Verdict:

If you fish venues like those described above the BFS net may suit you well and it really is a dream to carry around (I on the other hand lug around a salmon net with a 12 foot handle, ultra useful and durable but a logistical nightmare). I honestly think that the net may make an excellent option for anyone who wades. In fact if I still salmon fished in rivers I would pick up another one of these in a heartbeat.

The nets greatest use may be for parts however. Although I believe I have netted less than 5 fish with my BFS net is have gotten my $20 dollars worth and much more. I have cannibalized every component of the net. The mesh was removed and placed on the above mentioned salmon net to allow for carp friendly netting. The handle is perfect for my baiting spoon and allows for accurate baiting campaigns. And while I have not used it yet, the addition of two segments of hollow pool noodle and tripod/bank stick will turn the arms and spreader block in to a perfectly adequate pole roller.

A Good List of Fishing Quotes

Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” - Henry David Thoreau 

“The trout do not rise in the cemetery, so you better do your fishing while you are still able.” - Sparse Grey Hackle

“Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man.” - Herbert Hoover

“To go fishing is the chance to wash one’s soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish.” - Herbert Hoover

“The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.”  - A.K. Best

 ”All the romance of trout fishing exists in the mind of the angler and is in no way shared by the fish.”  - Harold F. Blaisdell

 ”My Biggest worry is that when I’m dead and gone, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.” - Koos Brandt

 ”If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.” - Doug Larson

 ”The angling fever is a very real disease and can only be cured by the application of cold water and fresh, untainted air.” - Theodore Gordon

 ”Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.” - Ernest Hemingway

 ”All Americans believe that they are born fishermen. For a man to admit a distaste for fishing would be like denouncing mother-love or hating moonlight.” -  John Steinbeck

 ”Scholars have long known that fishing eventually turns men into philosophers.  Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy decent tackle on a philosopher’s salary.”  - Patrick F. McManus

 ”Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.” - Herbert Hoover

 ”There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot.” - Steven Wright