March 2011
6 posts
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...
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...
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...
February 2011
2 posts
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...
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...
July 2010
3 posts
2 tags
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....
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...
CAG Founder Passes On
Bud Yancy, Grandfather of American Carping passed on peacefully yesterday afternoon. Bud was the enthusiastic founder and first president of the Carp Anglers Group and was instrumental in the development of the organization and the american carp scene.
While I never met Mr. Yancy I have in my time with CAG learned a great deal about the level of respect and admiration those who knew him held him...
June 2010
15 posts
2 tags
Review: K1 Wafters
Background
I began using K1 Wafters for two reasons. First of all I know that K1 Wafters are the confidence bait of many of the top anglers in my area and secondly because I find critically balanced presentations particularly appealing. K1 baits all have a great appealing scent and I love the idea of an idiot proof critically balanced bait.
Info
K1 Wafters come in the same set of flavors that all...
Review: RTH3 Carp Hooks
Usually I like to use a product for a pretty long time before I give my opinions on it, however my experience with RTH3 hooks from Resistance Tackle has compelled me to write it up now.
I am always on the lookout for some good affordable hooks so when I placed an order from Resistance Tackle I added a packet of RTH3 hooks as an afterthought. Man am I glad that I added them. These hooks are on the...
2 tags
Review: Bank Fishing Systems 6ft Umbrella
Background
Day One of the Wisconsin Carp Championship saw a lot of rain. When I finally lugged all of my soaked equipment into the hotel shower to dry and got in the warm and dry clothes I started thinking about how to stay dry on day 2 which was predicted to see thunderstorms throughout the day.
Luckily for me Fighting Roughfish captain, IL CAG chair, Misanthrope and wholesaler Larry Kirchner...
5 Hookbaits I am Looking Forward to Trying
1). The Bait Stop Enigma flavored Sweet Corn
2). Chick Peas soaked in Obsession for Carp
3). New World Carp Pinneapple Monster Maize
4). WCUUK Mussel Flavored Sweet Corn
5). World Classic Baits Garlic Flavor Line
10 Favorite Hookbaits
10 Favorite Hookbaits
Everyone has there own confidence or go to baits when it comes to carp. I myself have found that my go to bait this year is different than last year, and I have been trying to experiment more. I thought that it would be interesting to list my favorite hookbaits at the moment and see how they may change over the year.
1). WB&T Tigernut Pips
2). WB&T Pineapple...
Great Feats of Douchebaggery
13 men vacationing in the Hayward WI area were caught by DNR officials for esceding there limit on panfish (which for two days is 50 fish, only 30 of which can be crappie).
The men exceded their bag limit by 2,238 fish (mostly crappie). For this astounding feat of douchbaggery a fine of around 30,000 was given and 3 year suspensions on fishing licenses.
Take A Kid Carpin' (TAKC)
I would really like to encourage everyone to participate in CAG’s newest national event the Take a Kid Carpin Weekend.
When: last weekend in June (June 26th and 27th) Introduction So many carp in North America, so few carp anglers! As the St Lawrence Junior tournament clearly demonstrated many times, kids actually love carp fishing if you give them a chance. So let’s give it a try in...
2 tags
Review: Mean Green Copolymer Fishing Line
I have used many different lines throughout the course of my fishing career. While I briefly dabbled in braid and “super lines” as mainlines in my salmon fishing days (my PB Chinook was taken on 30lb Spiderwire), I have always considered myself a mono fan. When I began to get into carp fishing I found that many mono users were using Berkley Big Game, a mono that is relatively cheap and widely...
4 tags
Couple of free hours, two new species
I had finished up my work at DePaul for the day and had to head down to a meeting in Hyde Park to run a focus group. Since I had a little over 2 hours between appointments I decided to grab some jigs and spikes from Henrys and hit the lake at 31st street. Now it is definitely perch season on the Chicago lakefront but being midafternoon I decided to target rock bass instead. I have never fished...
2 tags
WI Results
The WI Carp Championship Proved to be a lot of fun. I ended up finishing 17th overall (out of 31) with 19 carp for 271 founds (over 14.5lb avg). Unfortunately I did not have a great first day with only 3 fish for 50 pounds and getting myself and all of my gear absolutely soaked in the pouring rain.
Day 2 turned things around for me. I decided to pick a spot and feed it well and fish it all day. I...
WI Carp Championship Eve Eve
Well I am about to leave work and start gearing up for the WI Carp Championship in Two Rivers WI. I still have some shopping, packing, and prep work to do.
I am going to attempt to update with info and pics all weekend here and via my twitter @sigmundfraud . If I am left and right (I can dream) I may not be able to update very often.
To watch the live leaderboard go here...
1 tag
IMHO: 10 Best Store Bought Flavors
1) Chille Oil
2) Vanilla Maizena
3) Pinneapple Vodka
4) Cinnamon Schanpps (Red Hot, Hot Damn, etc,)
5) Maple Syrup
6) Fish Sauce
7) Chile Powder
8) Vanilla Schnapps
9) Peach Schnapps
10) Ginger Ale
2 tags
Review: Bank Fishing Systems Camo Alarm
Bank Fishing Systems’ products are often the source of some degree of controversy on carp boards. They definitely have there ardent supporters, but there are also a hoard of detractors. While I have used a few BFS products and had mixed results the product that I feel particularly able to review here is their bite alarm, namely the camo model (however I doubt that there is much difference between...
May 2010
10 posts
1 tag
The Honor System: 5 Thoughts
In the past month I have twice been asked to vote on the validity of a fish’s weight during tournaments based on the honor system. I have fished events based on some level of the honor system through MCAA, CAG, TOKS, and Bounty Fishing. Each has there own policies around the weighing system, valiadation system, and judging. Based on my experience here are some of my thougts.
It sucks that...
WI Bait Checklist
In the spirit of my last post I thought I would list the bait, hookbait, and additives I plan to take with me to WI. I guess giving this away is probably not in the competitive tournament spirit but I dont think it will really help anyone to know. This is my first time fishing this big of a tournament so I am airing on the side of caution and bringing everything.
Baiting Ingredients
Steam Rolled...
Gearing up for the big time
The WI Carp Championship is in one week. And while it is hard for me to pull myself away from all the various work that piles up at the end of an academic year I am starting to get things ready for the trip.
Here is my TO DO list so far
Pick up last bait and tackle items from Wacker
Book hotel room x
Clean and respool all reels (McCoy Crystal Clear 15lb main, 12lb extra spool)
Get St....
4 tags
2 tags
Windy City Carp League 2010
Tomorrow marks the first weekend of the Windy City Carp League. This is the event that first got me into carp and tournament fishing, and it has been very good to me. Last year I finished 2nd overall in the league, falling just a couple pounds behind Dan Ramir (who was both the 2010 WCCL champion, WCCL Big Fish Winner, and MCAA Winter Carp Champion).
Tracy does a great job organizing this...
PB Catch Report: Addendum
For those of you who like catch details:
Rig: Size 6 Curve Shank Fox hook, 15lb Kryston Merlin Soft Braid with a long hair.
Bait: 4 Wacker B&T Pinneapple Pips with Nature’s Best Hair Stop (piece of plant stem) and Buckeye Blend method mix with no additives (only venue water)
Feeder: 2oz Resistance tackle method lead (weed green)
This was also the first fish landed on my new 3lb tc...
PB Catch Report
I have unfortunately not been able to fish much this spring because I am trying to finish my thesis by my self instituted deadline of May 28th. I have been lucky enough to make some time to fish the last two months but while I have fished some great events and enjoyed some great hospitality and generosity at these events I have not been able to translate that into fish. I have ball parked that I...
Oconto: Bad Weather, Good Food, and Humbling...
This last weekend marked a pair of Wisconsin Carp Championship Qualifiers. Unfortunately it was also a weekend of unseasonably cold weather marked by snow (yes I said snow), rain, and strong winds.
I have been very busy trying to finish my master’s thesis before the end of the academic year to ensure that I will be able to teach in the fall. Unfortunately that meant that I was unable to properly...
March 2010
7 posts
Wind and Work
Well what was supposed to be a week full of fishing became, thanks to unexpected meetings and very very windy weather, a couple fishing purchases and an hour of unsuccessful spoon slinging at 31st street pier.
The good news for those you who enjoy shore fishing is that the brown trout bite has been spectacular. Though this time of year is known for the Coho run the best bite on the lake has been...
4 day weekend full of fishing plans
Its sunny and 60 degrees here in the windy city, ontop of that my trip to Memphis fell through which mean I have a 4 (well more like 3) day weekend coming up. While the weather is not supposed to cooperate entirely I have made some big fishing plans from now until returning to work tuesday evening.
Tonight: After work take the pack rods (wacker 3lb armadillos) and my trial pack of mintzilla...
Multi Species Goal
In preparation for the coming season (read: out of boredom) I made a list of freshwater fish in North America. What I ended up with was a list of 60 kinds of fish. While the list is by no means complete it represents 60 goals which I feel are obtainable. Many are located in my state and many more within neighboring states. Some are not located in driving distance but I still think it is feasible...
And a book of fishing cliches
So I mentioned blanking on Saturday, but I forgot to mention the one thing I did manage to catch. Out of desperation I decided to fish the opposite bank with a World Classic Baits pop up on a helicopter rig. It didn’t catch any fish but when I reeled in I ended up fighting a large pair of work boots for the better part of ten minutes. When I finally got the boots close to shore I decided...
Dale Bowman’s column on the MCAA Winter Tournament
Sam Snow and Frank Rink organize some great tournaments for the Midwest Carp Anglers Association and the winter tournament was no exception.
I only managed 10 hours of fishing during the two months of the tournament but it was great to watch everbody’s progress. Special congratulations are in order for Dan Ramir who was the 2010 MCAA...
A beautiful (ish) day
Saturday was almost 50 degress with the sun shining down through a clear sky. I had 8 hours to fish, my radio tuned to my favorite NPR lineup (car talk, wait wait don’t tell me, sound opinions, this american life, resound), my lunch, and a large bottle of Fat Tire. Everything was perfect…and quiet. The only time an alarm wen toff is when a few of the bait fish that were surfcaing...
The Possibilities are Endless
So I finally got a chance to go to The Feed Store. The Feed Store located on Harlem avenue just outside is a vast (despite it relative size) depot of feed products, many of which are commonly used by carp anglers in method mixes, ground baits, and boilies. The Feed Store’s motto is “If it walks, crawls, or flies we can feed it” Which I completely believe as they carried such arcane products as...
February 2010
4 posts
CAG WEBISTE IS BACK UP AND RUNNING
that was a long few days
Strategy- The Fuzz →
This The Fuzz by Strategy thing is everywhere all of the sudden. Is this going to be the hot new thing? Click the title to check it out for yourself, don’t think there are any US suppliers yet.
The CAG forum has been down for three days and it is really making it clear how much time I spend on it.
January 2010
12 posts
WI Carp Championships
While I am on the topic of upcoming tournament seasons I thought I would also write up the events surrounding the Wisconsin Carp Championship. While I have never fished this event, everything I hear about makes me very excited at the prospect of being involved. This event is definitely one of the premier carp tournaments in North America. And certainly the most prestigious and high stakes carp...
Windy City Carp League 2010
I am getting pretty pumped about this year’s tournament season. The Windy City Carp League is a great set of events run by Tracy Jordan. Last year was my first year competing and I was lucky enough to take 2nd place in the league. Tracy has posted the schedule and the spots have been filling up fast. Currently 22 of the 30 spots have been filled (fishing individual events is allowed and there...
