Two RI CAGers Score Top Ten Fishing in National Big 4 Tournament

 

Tom Perron- 5th place

Two RI CAG members scored a 5th and 7th place finish in the Fall CAG Big 4 Tournament. The fall Big 4 is a national event and draws some of the best carp fishermen from all over the US. The event runs for two months and fishermen enter their 4 biggest fish by weight. You can fish anywhere in the US.  This is a tough event to crack the top ten (Big Carp Tackle gift certificate prizes) since about 60 experienced carp fishermen enter this CAG signature event.

Tom Perron, one of our most experienced carp fishermen here in RI, placed 5th in the tournament.  His top four entries were 36/9, 34/3, 29/3 and 24/8 for a total of 124 lbs., 7 oz.

I came in 7th place.  My top four entries were 29/2, 28/8, 28/8 and 28/0 for a total of 114 lbs, 2 ounces.

Dave Pickering- 7th place.

I should add that two other RI CAG members, Scott Burns and Evan Aziz, had very respectable showings and placed in the top 20. They landed multiple 20 lb. carp.

We are a small state in the US, but we have some really good carp fishermen here in RI who can easily compete with the Big Boys around the country in these national events!

Final Results for RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament

 The final results are posted below for our 2025 RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament.  This event ran from Sept. 1 to the end of November. Anglers entered their biggest common (c), their biggest mirror (m) and their biggest bonus fish ((b), sucker or catfish). They were all measured to the nearest inch. All fish entered were caught in RI waters. First three finishers all receive engraved medals donated by the national CAG group.

Here are the results:

1. Gold Medal- Brian- 33 1/2 (c), 33 1/2 (m) and 19 1/2 (b) = 86 1/2 points

2. Silver Medal- Dave- 36 (c), 30 1/2 (m) and 14 (b)= 80 1/2 points

3. Bronze Medal- Evan- 35 (c) and 21 1/2(m)= 56 1/2 points

4. Tom- 33 (m) and 19 (b) = 52 points

5. Scott- 34 (c) and 12 (b)= 46 points

The biggest common entered in this tournament
was this 36 inch, 29 lb. common.

The biggest mirror carp entered in the tournament
was this 33 1/2 inch mirror.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Loyal Readers

 

We live in a small state but we have a lot to be thankful for
when it comes to carp fishing.
Enjoy this day with family and friends.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Windows of Opportunity

I landed this beautiful mirror today, a sunny day
in the forties.  Carp can still be caught between 
now and when the ice arrives.

 It seems like winter has arrived early this year. And, while this sudden November chill has really cooled off the carp fishing, there is still opportunity out there to catch a decent fish or two before the ice comes along. Once the ice envelops a pond or lake, it's over until spring.

Today I went out this morning to check out a carp spot and potentially fish there. To my surprise, it was completely frozen with a skim coat of ice.  But, by mid day and late afternoon, the temperatures had risen to a comfortable level and the ice departed. Lesson here is that late afternoon provides the best opportunity to fish for carp at this time of year. That warmest part of the day will bring the best opportunity to catch. And, today was a good example as I did catch a few.

Another tip at this cold time of year is to focus on small spots like small ponds and small rivers.  There's just no place for the carp to go in these places, and these places (if they are shallow) can warm up nicely when the sun is out even on a cold day. That will up the activity level of the carp there.  Big bodies of water are so much harder to find the carp in winter, and they are slow to warm.

Finally, go small with your bait offerings.  Today I just fished a hair rig with a kernel of maize and a white artificial corn on the hair. I used no method ball. They just don't feed as heavily at this time and going small is often better.

So long as there is no ice the carp will continue to hit though not at the same pace as the warmer months. Still, there is something special about catching a carp in late November and even December when most fishermen have given up thinking that carp can no longer be caught.

Update: 2025 RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament

 

Brian Savage has taken the lead in our
fall combo tournament.  Here he holds
a 33 1/2 inch common.

Here are the latest results after the second month for our RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament.  Remember, in this event we measure the carp by inches.  Members can enter their biggest common, their biggest mirror and a bonus fish (catfish, horned pout or sucker). The tournament runs till the end of November. Below are the results through the end of October: (c= common, m= mirror and b= bonus)

1. Brian- 33 1/2 (c), 33 1/2 (m) and 19 1/2 (b) = 86 1/2 points

2. Dave- 34 (c), 30 (m) and 14 (b)= 78 points

3. Tom- 33(m) and 19 (b)= 52 points

4. Evan- 30 (c) and 21 1/2(m)= 50 1/2 points

5. Scott- 33 (c) and 12 (b)= 45 points

Still a month to go, good luck to everyone!

Really Big Carp a NO SHOW this Fall (So Far)

 

I landed this 15 lb. common today. There's been
good numbers of these teen fish hitting this fall
but the really big ones have been no shows so far.

The really big carp, those monsters over 30 lbs., have been a no show so far this fall here in RI. I have put in a lot of time looking for them in multiple places, but have only about a half dozen fish in the twenties to show for my effort. I'm on the hunt for the really large ones every fall since I compete in the CAG Big 4 Tournament. To have any shot of placing in the top 5 you need to put up thirty pounders or even forties on the board. You might remember that last spring I came in third place by landing 4 carp over 30 lbs. Last fall, I was able to put up 3 thirties.  So far this year, my biggest fall fish is 28 lbs. I've landed good numbers of carp in the teens, but the really big ones have been elusive so far.

In past years the window for catching a really big carp here in RI starts to close as November arrives. Mid November tends to signal the end of your chances at getting a monster unless we have a really warm spell.  So, looking at the calendar, you've got less than a month left to score that really big one.

September Results for Fall Combo Tournament

 

Brian checks in with the biggest mirror at 33 1/2 in.

We have just finished the first leg of our RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament. And, once again, our guys have landed some impressive fish.

In this tournament we enter our biggest common, our biggest mirror and a bonus fish (catfish or sucker).  We measure each by length to the nearest half inch.  Add up the results and that's the total.  The tournament runs from September through the end of December so it's still very early in the tournament.  All fish entered must be caught in RI waters.

So, here are the results so far (C=common, M=mirror and C= catfish or sucker):

Dave- 34 (C) + 30 (M) + 14 (C) = 78 points

Brian- 33 1/2(M) + 19 1/2(C) = 53 points

Evan- 29 (C) + 21 1/2 (M)= 50 1/2 points

Tom- 33 (M)= 33 points

Not a September to Remember

 

I landed this mirror yesterday. 
Overall, it's been a slow month
numbers-wise and size-wise.

This has been a tough September for fishing for me.  It's been low numbers and not a lot of big ones, never a good combination. So far, I have landed 30 carp in the month of September, numbers that are way off compared to recent year.  I've been fishing hard and fishing many different places, but the numbers just have not been there.  My best day of the month was yesterday when I was able to put 5 mirrors onto the bank.  Other than that, it has been one here, one there.  Also, I have not landed a lot of big carp. My biggest for the month was 23 lbs., not anything to brag about.  I had only one other low 20. So, the big fish fishing has not been great either.

September has always been a transition month.  Some years we see a cool, wet month. I would argue these are the best conditions.  Other years like this year see a warm, generally dry month, much more like August than September. I'm waiting for some cooler weather that just might get the bigger fish active and feeding.  In the past, October and the beginning of November have offered the best fall fishing around here.  I'm hoping that will happen this year.

Labor Day Weekend Outlook- Fall Fishing is Here

 

I landed this decent size common today. There's
been an uptick in carp fishing in RI since the cooler
weather arrived.

In the last week I have noticed the water temperatures have really dropped in the places I have been carping. That's all due to these cooler days and nights as well as the decreased amount of sunlight. To me, that signals the start of fall fishing. 

This time of year can be as inconsistent as the weather. It's simply a matter of getting out and fishing. My fishing in the last few weeks has been up and down but it has generally trended upwards.  Good numbers one day. Go back the next day and maybe one fish. In places I prebait, I'm usually able to consistently land a fish or two.

I've also been catching a few decent size ones, mainly in the 20's, in the last week.  This is another indicator of fall fishing as these bigger fish begin to feel a need to fatten up as fall and winter approach. I've found fall to be the second best season of the year to catch large carp here in RI (spring has been the best for me).

My best bait continues to be a combo bait that consists of a kernel of maize and a white artificial on the hair rig.  I am still not using a method ball due to the numbers of turtles and catfish that have also been active.  I've caught more catfish and horned pout in the last two weeks than I have caught all year. I suppose they are also feeding up in the cooling waters.

So, if you have the time this weekend, get out and try.  Water levels are low everywhere right now and that generally makes for easier fishing and access.  And, the fish are hitting.

Lousy, Windy, Cold Weather Perks up the Fishing

 

There has been a mix of small ones and larger
carp around this week.

I had been having a poor August of carp fishing (see previous post). But, that hurricane offshore that has brought in cool, wet and nasty weather in the last few days has also brought something else: very good fishing. While I was averaging about 1 fish an outing in August prior to this week, the last five days have delivered 4 to 5 fish an outing.  It's been a mix of small ones and large ones with little in between. I landed good numbers of fish between 20 and 25 lbs., but I also had a good number of them under 5 lbs.  It almost seems like they were traveling around in schools of the same size.  Other good signs have been there like fish jumping and bubble trails which I was not seeing earlier in the month.

Along with the good carp fishing, the pests have also been active.  Turtles have been stealing my bait, especially the kernel of real corn.  Horned pout and catfish have also been active.

All the fish I landed this week feel for a combo bait of white plastic artificial corn along with a kernel of real maize fished off a hair rig, the same set-up I have used most of the year.

While I've landed good numbers of smaller carp,
I've also gotten good numbers of larger ones this week.

Poor in August so Far

Here's an August carp that was 
just released.  Thus far, carp fishing
has been poor in August.

 That poor fishing I talked about in July....well, it just has continued into August.  I've been trying a lot and all I've got is 13 fish on the bank thus far in August.  And, most of them have been small. A number of factors have contributed to this poor August fishing.  The weather has not been good.  It's been a constant dose of hot, sunny and dry.  We need some cooler weather along with some rain to jump start the fall fishing.  Rainy days have always been best for me, and there has been almost none of these days in July or August this year. Turtles have been very bothersome also.  The sun turtles will steal the real corn in no time.  I swear they are attracted to the sinker hitting the water, and they will head right for the bait, chew it apart with not even a twitch of the rod tip. An occasional big snapping turtles will also harass my bait. Catfish have also been active but unlike the turtles, you can catch these.

Years back, according to my logs, the worst month I ever had of carp fishing (non winter) occurred in August.  That month I landed a dismal 18 fish total.  So this month has a history of poor fishing, and we are seeing it play out this year.

Sizzling Temperatures Cool Off Carp Fishing

 

I landed this mirror carp this morning.
Fishing has been slow in this heat.

We are in a brutal stretch of hot weather. Temps in the 90's the last three days have slowed carp fishing to a crawl, especially in the daytime.  Water temperatures are like bath water. I am trying to fish the coolest times of the days- mornings and evenings into darkness. Those have been the most productive times for me although the fishing is not great even in those cooler times of the day. I'm catching a carp here and there with some blanks.

I'm guessing that carp in most large lakes have moved to the comfort of deeper and cooler water where they are probably just sulking on the bottom. They have also been a lot less active as I'm seeing fewer jumps and bubble trails in this heat.

Warm water pests have also hindered the fishing.  Turtles have been especially bothersome as they are constantly stealing the bait. I'm talking both sun turtles and snappers.

With and eye on the upcoming weather, I am hoping the cool and rainy days predicted at the end of the week wake up the fishing for the better. It usually does at this time of year.

Catching in the Nasty Weather (Again)

 

This is one of seven carp landed on
a nasty, rainy and stormy day this 
week.  Carp just love to go on a 
feeding spree in lousy weather.

I had the conditions I was looking for a couple of days ago.  It poured overnight and light rain continued into the next day.  I set out in the rain and cool conditions to a location in which I hadn't caught a carp in a month.  But, I knew from past experiences this was the place to be on a lousy, stormy, summer day.

Right away, as I was setting up, I saw several fish jump right in front of me. Well, it took about 20 minutes before one of the alarms began screaming. I was onto a good fish, which I landed.  It was a low 20 lber., a real decent fish. Six more fish followed that day which ranged from 10 lbs. up into the high 20's.  Once again, nasty weather lit up my carp fishing.

All my fish were landed that day on a combo bait of a kernel of real maize along with a white plastic pop-up corn.  This combo bait was fished on the hair rig. I haven't used a method ball for over a month now due to the presence of lots of turtles.  Turtles love this warm weather, and they seem to be everywhere. The method ball in an invitation to come and feed, and I am doing my best to avoid them.

Final Results- RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament

 

Brian Savage holds a 30 lb., 15 oz. mirror.
This was the biggest fish entered in June.
It was also a PB mirror for Brian. Brian won
the silver medal.

Our spring tournament ended in dramatic fashion as several remarkable fish were added in June.  This shuffled the leader board and ended up making the tournament results very close.

Two of our most experienced carpers, Tom Perron and Brian Savage, entered two magnificent mirrors in the June segment. Tom's mirror, a PB (Personal Best) for him, was 29 lbs., 1 oz. Brian's mirror, a PB for him also, was 30 lbs., 15 oz.  Those monster fish moved both guys up in the standings.  Brian finished 2nd overall to win the sliver medal while Tom took the bronze.

Two of our newcomers, Scott Burns and Evan Aziz also recorded PB's in this tournament with Scott entering a 25 lb. , 8 oz. common and Evan catching a 23 lb., 4 oz. common.  Both guys ended up  entering 3 fish over 20 lbs., a great feat for guys who have been carping for a little over a year.

For me, June was a disappointment, and I was only able

Tom Perron holds
a 29 lb., 1 oz. mirror 
that he landed in June.
It was a PB mirror for
him. Tom won the bronze
medal overall.

to enter a 15 lb., 2 oz. mirror, my biggest fish of June. However, my big early lead with two 30's including a potential state record carp of 35 lbs., 4 oz. barely got me the gold medal.

Thanks to all who competed.  This was one of our best tournaments in years. 

Below are the final results: 

1. Dave- 31/8 + 35/4 + 15/2 = 81/14

2. Brian- 20/8 + 24/12 + 30/15 = 76/3  

3. Tom- 19/7+ 24/10 + 29/1 = 73/2

4. Scott- 20 + 25/8 + 23/10 = 69/4

5. Evan- 23+20/8 + 20/8 = 64/1

6. Daphne- 20+15/3= 35/3

7. Tony- 23/4

Some Like it HOT

Carp fishing has been very good for me in this
heat.  This mirror was landed yesterday evening.

 I'm on a real good streak of carp fishing right now.  I've been getting very good numbers of fish, and they seem to be quite active (jumping, bubble trails, grubbing in the shallows).  It all seems to coincide with this hot streak we are experiencing with the weather.  It's been so hot I've limited my fishing to a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours before dark in the evening.  The before dark fishing has been the best. My best bait continues to be a kernel of maize with a kernel of white artificial corn on the hair rig with no method ball.

While the carp have been active in this heat, other undesirables have also been super active.  The turtles have been a big menace, often stealing the real maize on my hair rig.  These smart son-of-a-guns will not touch the plastic but have a way of picking off the maize without being detected on the alarm.  I'm talking sun turtles as well as snapping turtles.  When this happens, I will throw out a longer cast into deeper water which the turtles tend to avoid.  By the way, avoid using a method ball since the turtles REALLY are attracted to that. 

3rd Place Finish in National CAG Big 4 Spring Tournament

 

This was my biggest carp landed in the 
tournament.  It weighed 35 lbs., 4 oz.
It was a potential state record and was released.

The CAG Big 4 Spring Tournament has concluded.  This is one of CAG's signature events and it featured about 60 of the best carp fishermen in the county competing to see who could accumulate the most poundage with their four biggest fish.  You could fish anywhere in the US, and we had entries from many different states. The tournament started on March 15 and ran till June 15.

I had one of my better years in this year's event. Yes, little Rhode Island has some great carp fishing and some real big fish to boot.  My four biggest fish for the event were 35 lbs., 4 oz.,  32 lbs., 10 oz., 31 lbs., 8  oz. and 31 lbs., 4 oz. That gave me a grand total of 130 lbs., 10 oz. and earned me THIRD place. All my fish came from RI waters.  Note that my two biggest fish were potential state records which were released.

The top ten finishers were awarded gift certificates to Big Carp Tackle.  My prize for third place was a $100 gift certificate.

This year's event was not easy here in New England.  The weather was ever changing- cold, hot, rainy, sunny, windy with no consistency. For the most part, my fishing was inconsistent, but I did manage to bank a lot of great fish between 25 and 35 lbs., just what I was looking for.

Here are the final results of the Spring Big 4.

Change in Strategy Delivers BIG Day

 

I had a big day in some crappy weather yesterday
as the carp were on the feed.

I had been having a very poor June.  I spent a lot of time targeting big carp in my big carp spots.  When you go after the big girls, expect a lot of blanks, and I was getting them.  So, I decided to make a change yesterday and head to some of the productive spots I used to fish.  It paid off in a big way. Once again, the rods were bent and the alarms were singing.

I ended the day with 11 carp on the bank.  While I had no real large fish, these were all good looking 8 to 13 lb. carp that were very aggressive.  This was all done cold turkey with no prebaiting ahead of time.  

Yesterday was one of those ideal carp fishing days.  It was overcast and cool with light rain and drizzle. Maybe because of the weather, the carp were charged up.  I saw a lot of jumps, mud clouds and bubble trails. I also saw many carp prowling around the shallows, so close that I could have touched them with my rod. I landed all my fish on a combo bait of maize and a white artificial corn fished on the hair rig.

It was great to get in on the action again. These were not 25 or 30 lb. fish, but I'll take it.

May Results for RI CAG Big 3 Tournament

 

Brian Savage logged in this 24 lb.,
12 oz. mirror. A beauty!

The second leg of our RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament is in the books, and once again, our members logged in some impressive fish.  We have one more month, June, to go, and it looks like the tournament will go down to the wire! The results listed below list the April and May fish along with the totals thus far.

1. Dave- 31/8 + 35/4= 66/12

2. Scott- 20 + 25/8= 45/12

3. Brian- 20/8 + 24/12= 45/4

4. Tom- 19/7+ 24/10=44/1

5. Evan- 23+20/8= 43/8

6. Daphne- 20+15/3= 35/3

7. Tony- 23/4

Evan Aziz logged in this 20 lb., 8 oz. common.
Nice going.

Cold Weather Cools off May Carp Fishing

So far it's been a tough month for carp
fishing here in RI. Cold weather and dropping
water temperatures are to blame.

 It's been a very tough May for me thus far.  I blame the unusually cold and rainy weather that seems to have shut the fishing down in many of the places where I am fishing. The water temperatures have dropped, not a good thing in the spring.  In fact, in the last ten outings, I've landed exactly two carp.  Both those fish were in the twenties.

All spring I have been targeting big fish and it has paid off with many 20's and even good numbers of 30's.  When you target bigger fish, you are going to catch less- just a fact. Most of those fish were caught from mid March to late April.

Normally May is THE month for big carp here in RI.  However, April fishing proved to be far better for me than May. I'm guessing other carp fishermen here in RI are experiencing the same poor fishing since I have received, so far, only a few entries for the May leg of our RI CAG Big 3 Tournament. The only bright spot for me in May is that I did land a 35+ lb. carp here in the beginning of the month.  That is my biggest carp so far this year.

For May fishing to improve we will need a return to warm, or at least normal weather, that will drive up the water temperatures and get the carp feeding again.

Winner- Essence of Carping Photo Contest

 The Carp Anglers Group runs many tournaments and contests a year for its members.  Every month they run a photo contest called "Essence of Carping". I try to submit and entry every month.  The winners generally have a photo of something other than a person holding a fish.  Sunsets, scenic shots and even live fish photos have the best chance of winning.

For April, my photo was voted the winner.  It was a photo of a big carp (thirty pounds) just after release.  It was just sitting in the water with its back out in some beautiful light (see photo below). For my winning entry, I received a $100 gift certificate to Big Carp Tackle!  Membership does have its privileges. 

Consider joining CAG if you are a carp fisherman or interested in becoming one.

April Winner- Essence of Carp Fishing Photo Contest

Love These

 

These have been super hot for me
this year.  You can get them at Big
Carp Tackle

As many of you know, I use a lot of plastic corn, usually in combination with real maize on my hair rigs. For the most part, I have been using imitation sweet corn made by Enterprise Tackle which I buy online from Big Carp Tackle.  Enterprise has now come up with a new product called "Large Pop Up Imitation Sweet Corn".  These are larger versions of their original sweet corn.  I bought a couple of packages of these in a white color and have been using them all spring.

I think they offer a slightly bigger profile and they tend to have a bit more buoyancy.  They have been my go-to bait all spring so far.  I am using one of these on the hair rig along with a kernel of real maize.  This is the first spring that I have not used a method ball around my sinker. That has eliminated a lot of catfish and turtle bites.  To date, I have not landed a single catfish or horned pout.

I have had super success this spring using these large pop-ups catching the most large carp, over 20 lbs., that I have ever caught in the early going.  Maybe it's the pop up, maybe just luck!

Here's a 20 + lb. carp that was landed this week
on a combo bait of a large pop-up along with a
kernel of maize on the hair rig.

April Results- RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament

 

Biggest fish entered- 31 lbs., 8 oz.

We have the April results for our RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament. The tournament runs for three months.  The idea is to enter your biggest fish in April, your biggest for May and your biggest for June. I add up the weights for the three months and that's the total points.  All fish must be caught in RI waters and released. The tournament is open to any CAG member.

Here are the April results (pounds/ounces) for our spring big 3 tournament. Some impressive fish were entered.  We have quite a talented group of carp fishermen here in RI!

1. Dave- 31/8

2. Tony- 23/4

3. Evan- 23

4. Brian- 20/8

5. Scott- 20

6. Daphne- 20

7. Tom- 19/7

Biggest mirror entered- 20 lbs., 8 oz.

A personal best for Scott and his first 20 lber.!

Cold Weather Shuts it Down

 The last three mornings I headed out to go carp fishing the temperatures were in the 30's after a nighttime below freezing. I got nothing for those three straight days as the cold has shut down the fishing. There were no fish, no hits and no jumps.

These cold streaks can really put a damper on the carp fishing here in southern New England.  Carp just don't like these dropping temperatures in the spring after some warm days.  They'll feed very little and they are not active in the dropping water temperatures.

The best pattern so far this spring has been a warm day coming after a warm night (temperatures 50 or above). That will bring a carp lake to life.

Interestingly, so far March has fished far better for me than April. It was those warm streaks in March that really got the fish hitting. The beginning of April has brought some brutal weather. I'm hoping we get into a warmer weather pattern soon.  Only that will improve the fishing.

Catch of the Week!

 

Here's a spectacular wild koi that I landed
in the last week. These are rare but to get one
like this with all its colors is a once in a 
lifetime catch!

Success Measured by the PB

 

It's his first 20 lber. and a PB. Huge congrats!

I got out yesterday with two of our new members, Scott and Evan. We went to a spot that had been kind to me in the past, and which has some good size carp. Both Scott and Evan were looking for a place where they might score a big fish or two. This was the place based on my past catches here.

The place didn't disappoint as the four of us landed 4 carp in a few hours of fishing. All of them were decent size. But, the big story of the evening was that Scott landed a PB (Personal Best) carp of 20 lbs.  This was his first 20 lber. 

Success in carp fishing can be measured in different ways like number of fish one catches or by the biggest fish.  Big ones are not easy to come by.  It took me ten years of carp fishing to get my first 20.  It took another 5 years to get my first 30.  But, after that the 30's and even a few 40's came quickly.  I figured it out, and stuck with it.

Scott made a big leap tonight, and I am happy for him.  He landed  his first 20, and it's now onto beating that fish with an even bigger PB.  That's the way carp fishing works and often the way success is measured for many.

RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament Underway

 Our annual Spring Big 3 Tournament is underway, and it should be a very competitive event.  Any RI CAG member can enter this free tournament that runs for 3 months. The idea is to enter your biggest carp for April, the biggest for May and the biggest for June.  In the end we add up the weight totals and that is your score. All fish must be released, and all fish must be caught in RI waters. In the past we have had fish that were entered that would have qualified as state records so there are some monster fish that could be caught.

We have 10 active RI CAG members and all of them are top notch carp fishermen. Any one of these guys or gals could win this tournament.  Engraved medals (photo below) donated by the national group are awarded for the top three finishers.

I will post the results every month and update the standings.  Good luck to all who enter.

Off and Running

 I'm on a roll this March.  I'm seeing the best carp fishing of the last three years in March with good numbers of them as well as some unusually large fish for this time of year.

Here's a good size mirror that I landed this week.
Carp fishing has been very good so far in March.

Normally March is a funky month for carp fishing.  The water is cold, the air is cold and the fish are lethargic.  Sometimes they feed; sometimes they don't. There's not much consistency  In addition, the most active carp of March tend to be small fish, roughly 5 to 10 lbs.

That big rainstorm that we had last Monday really perked things up.  It was warm (50's) and pouring followed by a warm day on Tuesday.  That really got the fish active all week.  For instance, I got out this evening and landed 3 decent mirror carp in just an hour and a half.  I also had another runner.

I've landed good numbers this month so far as well as some real decent fish in the 20 to 27 lb. range.  These are some of the biggest carp I have ever landed in March. Most years I don't start to catch those 20's until April or even May.

So, we are off to a good start.  Remember,  if you plan to fish in the coming weeks, all non trout stocked waters in RI are open for fishing in March.  Trout stocked waters are closed until the second Saturday in April. You will also need a new 2025 fishing license if you plan to fish RI or MA waters.

Spring has Sprung!

 Just a short week ago, most of the ponds and lakes in RI had 8 to 12 inches of ice on them.  Today, most of that ice was gone as I was fishing in totally ice free water. Most bodies of water fouth of Providence are now ice free.  Further north, ice still exists in some places.

A good size common comes to the
net today. The carp were active in
ice free water that I fished, a 
sure sign that spring is here!

Today, spring was in the air with temperatures in the mid fifties. Upon arriving at my spot, I noticed a carp rooting in the water in front of me.  I also noticed a few bubble trails. So there was excitement and hope that I'd get something today.

I casted out my two rods and set them on my banksticks armed with bite alarms.  About an hour into it, one of the rods started jumping, a sure sign of a carp take.  I was soon on and within a minute or two I had a chunky 13 lb. common in the net.  A bit later in the day I had fish number 2, another common in the low teens.  Both hit a combo bait of maize and a white artificial corn on the hair rig.

While the calendar says we are still in winter, disappearing ice and open water says spring is here. And certainly, the fact that the carp are active and hitting REALLY says spring is here.

Note several unique laws regarding spring fishing for carp here in RI.  First off, you need a new, 2025 license after March 1st here in RI if you plan to go fishing.  Second, any bodies of water that are stocked with trout are off limits to carp fishing and all other types of fishing until the second Saturday in April (opening day of trout fishing). Finally, if you do fish for carp in trout stocked waters, the use of corn is prohibited.

Catching in the Snow!

 

Today was only the second time I got out since Jan.1 to fish for carp. It's been a rough winter to this point. Today, I was greeted by snowy banks and some icing, but I did have enough open water to give it a shot. 

Well, it was not hot and heavy, but I did manage to grab one small mirror that went about 5 to 6 lbs. I had also another runner that dropped it. I got both on a small piece of maize along with a white artificial corn on the hair rig. It was great just to get out and fish as I haven't wet a line in about 8 weeks.

This is the start of my early spring carp fishing. It starts off slowly like today, but get a warm, sunny day and the action will suddenly perk up.  The fish are around, just not active in the cold water. Expect the fishing to dramatically pick up in March when all the ice and snow leaves.

Next Seminar Stop- Springfield Sportsmen's Show

 The next big show where I will be doing carp and striper fishing seminars is the Springfield Sportsmen's Show. This big outdoor show will be held at the Big E in Springfield from Friday, Feb., 21 to Sunday, Feb. 23. This show has everything for the outdoor enthusiast.  It has freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, hunting, outfitters, tackle shops., boats and kayaks and more. It is held in a massive venue and draws big numbers of people.

I will be doing my two new seminars for this year titled Seasonal Strategies for Carp and Seasonal Strategies for Stripers.  Most likely I will be doing these on Saturday, Feb. 22.  As of right now, the exact schedule has not been posted yet.  The website should have the schedule up this week.

Hope to see many of my followers at the show.

Update: My carp fishing seminar will be on Saturday at 4:00 in seminar room A.

Seminar Schedule for New England Fishing Expo

 I will be at the New England Fishing Expo this weekend (Feb. 1 and Feb. 2) doing a striper fishing seminar and a carp fishing seminar.  This big outdoor fishing show will take place at the Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center which is right off Rt. 495 in Marlborough, MA. It is one of the largest fishing shows in New England and features a lot of both freshwater and saltwater fishing along with some top notch seminars. You can see the complete seminar schedule at www.nefishingexpo.com 

Here is my seminar schedule:

Sat., Feb. 1- 2:00- Seasonal Strategies for Stripers

Sun., Feb. 2- 11:00- Seasonal Strategies for Carp

Hope to see many of my blog readers at the show!

First Carp Fishing Seminar of the Year- New England Fishing Expo, Marlborough, MA

 

My winter seminar adventures start at the New England Fishing Expo on the weekend of Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.  This big show will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, MA which is right off Rt. 495.

I've been doing this popular winter show for many years now.  It is one of the best "pure fishing shows" around. It's a mix of saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing.  The show is loaded with vendors and has an all star line-up of seminars.

This year I will be running two all new seminars, one on freshwater carp fishing and one on striper fishing.  The titles of my seminars are "Seasonal Strategies for Striper Fishing" and "Seasonal Strategies for Carp Fishing".  These digital slide shows feature lots of information and have loads of photos and videos all shot in the past year.

The final seminar schedule is not out yet, so keep your eye on the website as it should come out prior to the show. I expect to be there on both Saturday and Sunday.  Hope to see many of my followers there.

On the Board for 2025!

My first carp for 2025! I landed 3 of them
today from 10 to 15 lbs.!

 I got a real Happy New Years surprise today.  As I have done in other years, I went carp fishing hoping to get my first carp of the new year. Well, instead I landed my first three carp of the year. They were all good size commons, running 10 to 15 lbs.

I guessed as to where to go.  The first spot I went to had ice covering a quarter of the pond, too much for my liking, so I kept driving to my second spot. Fortunately, this venue was free of ice. The weather cleared, the sun came out and the fish started hitting on this 50 degree day. 

All my fish were caught on my favorite bait- a kernel of real maize and a white artificial pop-up (see photo) on the hair rig. I was using no method. The fish hit well but were very sluggish on the fight as you would expect in near freezing water. 

I'm guessing the ice will be returning soon, and the fishing will shut down. Winter around here is an off and on deal with short windows of fishing opportunity.  But, I got my first fish of the new year, and I'm happy with that!

This was the hot ticket today. It has
been my go to bait since the fall.