Big Carp on the Fall Feed

 

Here's a good size carp landed today.  Big fish 
are on the fall feed right now!

Right on schedule.  It's mid October and the large carp are on the fall feed in anticipation of winter coming.  In the last week, I have caught a good number of carp in the 15 to 24 lb. range.  Other RI CAG members have been doing the same thing as reported by the large fish entered in our RI Fall Combo Tournament. I expect this good fishing for larger fish will continue in RI waters until the temperature really drops and ice starts to form.  That means you can expect a solid month left to this big fish fishing.

I have been going with my old favorite of maize and an artificial corn on the hair rig. Recently I have been favoring a pale pink pop up artificial. If there are turtles around I do not go with a method ball as the turtles have been bait stealing pests on these 70 degree days in October.  Remember, too, that this is the time of year in which night fishing is very productive.  These warmer nights (that we have been having lately) are quite pleasant compared to those 35 and 40 degree nights that are coming.

The first very large carp over 30 lbs. that I handed in RI was caught on Nov. 9 many years ago. That fish actually weighed 36 lbs. and was the unofficial state record back then. So, the potential is there to catch a real monster in the coming weeks.  Good luck if you get out and try.

One of the Rarest Carp I Have Ever Caught

 

The albino mirror koi is in the net ready to take
ashore.

I had a rare and unexpected treat today while carping.

I would identify this carp that I landed today as an albino mirror koi.  This fish had large white scales like a fully scaled mirror along with sprinkles of faded pink spots on its body.  It was both beautiful, and probably the rarest carp I have ever caught.

I have only landed 2 koi in the past so this is unusual for me.  I also landed this fish in a spot where I have never seen one. The fish hit a combo bait of maize and a white artificial pop-up corn.

I've often said that when carp fishing, you never know what you are going to catch. Proves it today!

Beautiful and one of the rarest carp I have ever caught!

Nighttime Carpin' Heats Up

 

Here's a good size mirror that was landed after
dark recently. Fall is a great time to fish after
dark for carp.

In the next two months, I will do more nighttime carping than at any other time of the year.  Nighttime comes earlier and earlier, and if you want to get out and fish after getting home from work or after supper, you probably have to fish in the dark.

What many fishermen don't know is that carp hit really well at night, just as good as in the daytime. In addition, many sharpies will tell you that the bigger girls, who are wary feeders, are easier to catch after dark as they prowl around for food. Fall is also a time in which carp feed heavily in anticipation of winter, which also makes them more likely to hit. Use the same baits after dark that you would use in the daylight.

I was out after dark several times in the last week and sure enough, the carp were hitting.  I got several good size mirrors.

One more note, if you do happen to go carping at night, pick a safe area to do it.