16 replies to this topic

[MuskieBait]

After last weekend's fun with Bowfin and Common Carp, I wanted an encore. Fishing was tough, but if you pay attention, you can find some actively feeding fish, even in midday. However, they were feeding in all the worst areas. It took a lot of work to get carp to bite, but it took even more work to try to bring them to hand.

The final stats was 3 carp landed out of 12 hooked. These freight trains were simply unstoppable with the snags surrounding me on all sides. Some would run under fallen trees as soon as they were hooked up. I may get 10 seconds if I was lucky; it was either turn them or lose them. If I force the issue, I had either pulled the hook or snapped the 15lb mono. If I tried to be patient and fight them out, they eventually find themselves deep into the fallen trees. Just can't win.

Even so...

I started searching in a back bay and found carp feeding very shallow. They were quite bold since they were protected by two large downed trees. After losing 4 carp to various aforementioned reasons, I managed to tame this 28" model.



Continuing my search, I came upon a trio of post-spawn bass still hanging out together. I pulled one aside for its photo session before the other two moved on.



There were some carp feeding near a dock. But under the dock was a lot of fallen branches plus an anchor chain. Fish were fairly easy to trick, but they knew to run under the dock as soon as there was danger. Another 2 carp lost, and a little Bowfin tried to sneak up on me. I taught another Bowfin not to eat nightcrawlers. I would later see the same Bowfin and tossed a nightcrawler to it again. It appeared he learned his lesson since I've never seen a Bowfin turn tail with such speed LOL.



It seemed all the hungry carp were in the back bay. They were again feeding very shallow and not shy at all...until I broke off 2 of them and the remaining fish became very cautious. A lot of patience later, one finally made the mistake. This time, I quick pumped the rod at the start of the run and managed to turn the fish before it even considered running into the fallen tree that had claimed the last two fish.



Returning back to the dock, I lost one more to the dock but finished the day with this little one.

[Shmogley]

nice report

aside from all the snags sounds like a fun day

thanks for sharing

[hammercarp]

Great report and pictures. 

[Knuguy]

What are you doing beating up on those big fish?? No sticklebacks or dace around??    

[MuskieBait]

There were some Bluntnose Minnow, a lone Common Shiner and all you want Round Goby but no other interesting micros around. I've caught those micros already so didn't want to beat up any of them. I've yet to see a Three-spine Stickleback at the Islands. Dace are river fish...don't usually see them in still water unless it's Northern Redbelly Dace.

 

I was going to go on a micro hunt instead of the Islands...but I'm trying to save up some money in anticipation for a little road trip in August...it was more or less a financial decision.

 

It was either $7 to the Islands to sightfish for carp and bowfin...or...

 

1) $50 to the Upper Grand area to fish a creek for Least Darter, Central Stoneroller and Rosyface Shiner where I've never even seen the creek...and Google Earth suggests it is all private property where I may not get access. Big gamble. I would have done it but my partner in crime decided to fish the Upper Niagara for Smallmouth instead. Boring...and party-pooper...

 

2) $25 to a creek in Oakville where I search for Mottle Sculpin...but that would really be the only lifer the creek would yield for me...I've pretty much caught most of the species the creek has to offer...so it's a big investment for only one new species...if I can even find it (since they hide under rocks and it would involve bending over flipping rocks all day...not like other species where I could potentially spot them and target fish for them).

 

I do love my carping and summer is my favourite when I can "sightfish" for them at the Islands. Plus there's always the chance of spotting and sightfishing for a Bowfin...which is another favourite of mine. So it was a pretty easy decision to make.

 

For me, it's not so much the size...but the pursue...the stalking, the presentation, the wait, and then the rewarding bite. That's why it is just as satisfying for me to catch a little Longnose Dace vs. a big Bowfin. It's all about the hunt.

 

If I want a serious tug, I can just hook my line to a friend motorcycle and ask him to drive around while while smoking my drag.    Plus...nothing can really match a p!$$ed off carp in terms of raw pulling power...aside from fresh Chinooks...but fresh Chinooks are not really available to shore bound anglers yet...and again...I love the stalking and sightfishing aspect. Launching spoons at the lake shore to some possible, but maybe not, phantom roving Chinooks is rather boring in my mind. If they are in an area and busting all over, that's a different story.

 

Sure, landing all 12 carp would have been great...but it's already rewarding being able to stalk and hook some really fussy carp when most people may not be able to do so.   It just sucks that it's a no-win situation most of the time...I can't get them to take if I use even heavier gear (bigger, stouter hook with heavier leader and mainline)...and I have to either horse them and turn them but risk a pulled hook or a snapped line...or I let them do their thing on moderate drag pressure but they would eventually get deep into snags and wrap me up or snap me off anyways.

[Shawarma]

That seems like a beautiful day of fishing filled with loss, hook-ups, and great pictures and stories! 

 

You mentioned night-crawlers for the bowfin. What were the carp caught on? 

[Cyphus]

Wow man, just killin it eh? Great report

[MuskieBait]

That seems like a beautiful day of fishing filled with loss, hook-ups, and great pictures and stories! 

 

You mentioned night-crawlers for the bowfin. What were the carp caught on? 

 

Corn

[Shawarma]

^ Figured as much. It makes sense to go out prepped for a few different species. Corn doesn't weigh much anyway Easy carry. 

[MuskieBait]

Yep. I generally try to pack light fishing at the Islands since I try to move around and stalk fish. So I usually bring a can of corn and some nightcrawlers, plus a few lures for Largemouth and Pike...but I find myself obsessing over the Carp and Bowfin most of the time   I only chase Largemouth and Pike if neither the Carp nor the Bowfin were active that day...which is not often at all.

 

I caught that Largemouth on a nightcrawler BTW. I had two rods with me - one was rigged up with a hair rig for carp and the other had a circle hook and nightcrawler at the ready for any Bowfin. Instead of switching over to lures, I just pitched the nightcrawler at the Largemouth. Not the most technical fishing method...but whatever works is good enough for me.

[MadocFlyGuy]

Great looking fish man! Nice report!

[GB2pair]

Nice report, you faired much better than I, went to centre island Saturday evening and lost two fish probably small bass, other than that a very quiet night. I found that the shore line from the grand stands headed west were very weedy so it limited my approach.

[Knuguy]

Corn

aaah---just like steeelheading!!

[MuskieBait]

aaah---just like steeelheading!!

 

No...when I'm steelheading, I use worms 75% of the time...just like 'finning, or bassing, or 'eying, or 'horsing, or catting...

 

The only time I use corn is when I'm carping. I hardly ever bother with boilies unless the gobies or sunfish are a PITA.

 

Corn for steelheading is best reserved for the pier rats...actually...let me be more specific...the pier dentists...I like to spoon feed pier salmon and trout...unless they feel cranky...

[PUMP KNOWS]

Good Stuff!!

 

I finally found where the pike were hiding at the island but none were interested in what I was throwing.

[MuskieBait]

Good Stuff!!

 

I finally found where the pike were hiding at the island but none were interested in what I was throwing.

 

Yeah, that's the typical problem I have. Personally, those Island pike are difficult to solve. MikeH seems to be able to crack their code though. I still haven't learned his way yet...the force is strong in him.

[troutddicted]

Looks like a good days fishin'