H
Hopeless
Don't you just love the smell of burnt drag in the morning? 
I know that the carp good/bad and 'angling methods' topics can be heated at times; I apologize in advance.
After no luck for a month besides a little bitty catfish (totally coolio, kindly released with a smile on my face) and some sculpins, I was kind of desperate.
Today when I arrived at Trojan, as I drove up I could see carp activity. When I got out, I could hear it. The spawn is on !! !! I walked closer to the south bank, and almost got showered by the spray from the spawning carp. Uggh. Icky.
I ran back to my truck and tied up a snagging rig as I watched for activity. My first rig did nothing, just a half dozen snelled single salmon hooks with weight under it.
NOTE: I am not indiscriminately casting and ripping hooks through the water hoping for anything. I am deliberately snagging CARP I can SEE. <-emphasis
Those little worthless hooks, were useless. I made a quick run for 'proper snaggin' equipment' at the Rainier Tru-Valu, and came back. Next up, 1/0 treble and 1 oz lead tied to it. I managed one glorious hook up with one, and had a hell of a fight.
I recently bought an Okuma combo; a ML 8'6" SST rod, and a Citrix 354 levelwind. I think I proved the equipment. My rod was bent clear down to the reel seat like an elbow macaroni, and the reel has a very smooth, powerful drag. I got cocky and lost the fish, with a scale as a disheartening memento.
I really do NOT like that I lost it, even though I have no love for them. I have a 'one shot, one kill' mentality, and I wounded with my first shot. Like I said, I really don't like that.
Also, just FYI, snagging carp is HARD. They are very wary of movement on the bank and of stuff going over them. Most of the time, I couldn't even get the hook down next to them before they took off. That was IF they allowed me down on the bank within fifteen feet of them. It was either miss or holy carp, mostly miss.
I think the spawn will be mostly over in a week, from what I read, and the bite will be 'back on'? Hopefully I can get them with the 'kinder, gentler fishing methods' then.
Worth mentioning, the carp are pretty big. I think a good number could go over thirty inches, and they are thick and powerful. Most fish I saw were probably around 24".
Regards, and better luck for you.
I know that the carp good/bad and 'angling methods' topics can be heated at times; I apologize in advance.
After no luck for a month besides a little bitty catfish (totally coolio, kindly released with a smile on my face) and some sculpins, I was kind of desperate.
Today when I arrived at Trojan, as I drove up I could see carp activity. When I got out, I could hear it. The spawn is on !!
!! I walked closer to the south bank, and almost got showered by the spray from the spawning carp. Uggh. Icky. I ran back to my truck and tied up a snagging rig as I watched for activity. My first rig did nothing, just a half dozen snelled single salmon hooks with weight under it.
NOTE: I am not indiscriminately casting and ripping hooks through the water hoping for anything. I am deliberately snagging CARP I can SEE. <-emphasis
Those little worthless hooks, were useless. I made a quick run for 'proper snaggin' equipment' at the Rainier Tru-Valu, and came back. Next up, 1/0 treble and 1 oz lead tied to it. I managed one glorious hook up with one, and had a hell of a fight.
I recently bought an Okuma combo; a ML 8'6" SST rod, and a Citrix 354 levelwind. I think I proved the equipment. My rod was bent clear down to the reel seat like an elbow macaroni, and the reel has a very smooth, powerful drag. I got cocky and lost the fish, with a scale as a disheartening memento.
I really do NOT like that I lost it, even though I have no love for them. I have a 'one shot, one kill' mentality, and I wounded with my first shot. Like I said, I really don't like that.
Also, just FYI, snagging carp is HARD. They are very wary of movement on the bank and of stuff going over them. Most of the time, I couldn't even get the hook down next to them before they took off. That was IF they allowed me down on the bank within fifteen feet of them. It was either miss or holy carp, mostly miss.
I think the spawn will be mostly over in a week, from what I read, and the bite will be 'back on'? Hopefully I can get them with the 'kinder, gentler fishing methods' then.
Worth mentioning, the carp are pretty big. I think a good number could go over thirty inches, and they are thick and powerful. Most fish I saw were probably around 24".
Regards, and better luck for you.
