Whisker1

 2016-06-18 07.34.15_1.jpg   179.35KB   85 downloads

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Hi Folks,

I hope the pics work for you. It's kind of a new format for this ol' computer illiterate, LOL!

 I know she's not the calibre of monster carp that some of you far more experienced carp anglers and enthusiasts are used to catching, but this season, starting in the spring, was the first time that I have ever really tried to fish specifically for these wonderful powerhouses, and must admit that I had so much fun doing so!

 It was really great therapy for me. Easy access, basically across the street from my home, plentiful carp of varying sizes ready and willing to attack my no-fuss, vanilla-scented, canned sweet-corn bait, and a quiet river-side setting with all kinds of wildlife right in the centre of town - just fantastic!

 Sometimes the best fishing IS right under one's nose...

I'm not sure exactly sure how big this baby was, but my wife had to run home to get the bigger landing net, the fish just would NOT fit, LOL!

 I do believe that this might be the biggest fish I've ever caught, and I'm in my 50's, so I'm quite proud of the animal. I think it's a pretty nice-looking specimen.

 I'm guessing around the twenty-pound mark? What do you guys think? It was a heck of a tussle on my trusty old Mitchell noodle rod, old, but carefully maintained Shimano Sedona rear-drag real, and 6lb Stren monoflament with a single split shot and and "octopus-style hook" (my standard carp rig for the less snaggy areas). The fish tend to be in close to shore, so there is generally no need for long casts at all.

Thanks for any input if you should have a size "guess-timation". I'm never quite sure...

 And as always, after a few quick pics the fish was carefully released as gently as possible.

Thank you for looking.

Cheers, and Good Luck, Everyone!

Simon

I only started fishing for these guys late in the summer this year after happening to catch a decent one on corn in my favourite carp hole.

 So I decided to set up to target them specifically, just to see what was hanging around the area.

Most of my fishing was done in the very early morning while still dark, using a whole black tiger shrimp plus two frozen smelts on a single big hook as my bait at first, then switching to large cut shiner minnows that I caught myself with my fly rod.

I found that I had much better luck with a big load of cut shiners on my hook than anything else.

 Anyway, here's a good one that my wife, Sharon, caught on an evening trip...

Thanks for looking.

Cheers!

Simon

Hello everyone!

I live in Chatham, Ontario, basically between London and Windsor. I moved here from T.O. about twenty six years ago.

 I'm fortunate enough to have the Thames river right across the street from my house, so I get to fish it quite often these days now that I'm older.

My wife also like to fish, and she comes along whenever she can.

 I don't currently own a boat, so all of my fishing is done from shore, or wading, as I occasionally fish the upper stretches of the Thames as well, seeing as there's some good smallmouth water to be found. I'd have to say that river smallies are my all-time favourite fish to angle for.

 These days, I spend a lot of time fishing for carp on light tackle, and big channel cats are another favourite target, as I like to catch something which can really give a good account of itself. I'm starting to learn how to find and catch the bigger channel cats, so next year should be rather interesting.

 Pike are a another fave of mine as well, and I even enjoy taking my fly rod to the local pond for a day of bluegill fishing, even though I still can't cast worth a darn, (luckily the bluegills don't seem to care, LOL!).

 When I was younger, I used to spend all my spare time in northern Ontario, and I've been as far north by road as you can go in this province. 

 I'm not a "fish snob", I'm happy to catch whatever's biting, and not being a huge fish-eater, I'm a great proponent of careful catch and release...

Good Luck To All...

And, Cheers!

Simon