Reminder: New RI License Needed on March1

Here's a reminder for all you carp fishermen out there who want to test the waters in March and early April.  A new, 2014 license is needed on March 1.  Unlike most other states, your RI freshwater license runs from March 1 until the end of February.
For those looking to purchase a license, the website where you can get one is here:  https://www.ri.gov/DEM/fishinglicense/  You can also purchase them at town halls, most tackle shops and places like Benny's or Walmart.  Note that in the past the state was slow on printing licenses and some years they were not available to vendors till days or even weeks into March.  Hey, that's RI for you!
The whole license issue really affects carp and bass fishermen because we are fishing as soon as the ice departs.  The rules allow you to fish in non trout stocked waters until Opening Day for Trout (second Sat. in April).  Trout stocked waters that hold carp are off limit until Opening Day.  There is a list of the trout stocked waters on the DEM website.

Carp Fishing Seminar....TOMORROW...at Springfield Sportsmens Show

I will be doing my "Secrets of New England Carp Fishing Show" tomorrow, Feb.22, at the Big E at the Springfield Sportsmens Show at 11 AM.  The seminar will take place in Seminar Room B.  This show is the biggest outdoor show in New England and features everything you ever wanted to know about the outdoors from hunting to fishing to other outdoor activities.  Here is the link to the show,
http://www.osegsportsmens.com/index.html

Spring Big 3 Contest for CAG Members

The top three scorers in the contest
will win gold, silver and bronze medals
like the one shown above.

We will be holding a new and exciting RI Spring Big 3 Contest for CAG (Carp Angler Group) members.  Here is the way it will work.  You will enter your three biggest carp for the spring months of April, May and June.  That's your biggest fish for each month.  Add up the poundage and that's your number of points (works similar to CAG Big 4).  To make this a level playing field, all fish must be caught from RI waters, and the fish must be released in good shape after capture and weighing. I'd also like a picture of each big fish if possible. I'll be posting updates on this website as the contest rolls along.
In keeping with the Olympic spirit this year, the national CAG will be donating engraved gold, silver and bronze medals for the winners that have pictures of carp etched on one side and engraved on the other.  I've got to tell you that these look real cool and will become a keepsake for the winners.
So, if you are a former member who has not paid up his dues, now is the time.  If you are thinking about joining our group, the info on how to join is in one of the previous posts.

New Fox Alarm Looks Like a Winner

I just purchased a new Fox M+ bite alarm to use as a spare alarm for my friends and kids or as a back up to my Delkims.  The company Fox is the big name in carp fishing in Europe.  Fox makes top quality carp gear. I have two Fox M (old model) alarms that I have been using for at least 15 years.  They are starting to go, but have served me well for a very long time.
This new model has the same general shape as the old model, but other than that, it has been completely redesigned.  For starters, it takes two AAA batteries, a major upgrade over the pricey and hard to get N batteries that the old models ran on.  The M+ boasts new battery saving internal circuitry, a new on/off switch in the front, and a redesigned screw in battery compartment.  It has all kinds of waterproofing seals, and that's why these alarms will last 15 years even if you fish in the worst of weather. In addition, the alarm comes with a snap on case, a big plus that will protect the alarm when not in use.
The M+ bite alarms range in cost from about $45 to $55.  Big Carp Tackle (www.bigcarptackle.com ) does sell them as do other online tackle dealers in the US and UK.  If you are looking for a quality alarm at a decent price, consider the Fox M+.  You will be impressed.

How to Join the RI Carp Anglers Group

If you are a beginner or an experienced carper, we'd love to have you in our group.  To become a member of the RI CAG, you must first join the national group.  To join, go to the website at http://www.carpanglersgroup.com/cag/  At the top of this home page, you will see a tab named membership.  Put your mouse on that and a drop down menu will appear.  Click on the "join now" tab.  You will then be taken to a page that shows the membership types.  You want to select USA 12 month membership.  You will then be directed to an info page along with a check out page.  The cost of membership is $30 a year initially and then $25 to renew every year.
For that membership cost, you get total access to the Forum, membership in the state group, access to all contests, fish-ins and tournaments,  the NACA magazine and some discounts at online carp stores.  Best of all, you are part of a network of some of the best carp fishermen in not only RI, but the entire US, and info you can pick up from these guys is priceless.
So, hope that there are fishermen out there who will consider joining our group.

Carp Fishing Seminars Coming to Big Outdoor Shows

In the next month, I will be taking my carp fishing seminar on the road to some of the biggest outdoor shows in the northeast.
On Feb.8 (5:00 PM) and Feb. 9 (2:00 PM) I will be doing my "Secrets of New England Carp Fishing" seminar at the New England Fishing Expo at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. This is one of the biggest fishing shows in the northeast and features exhibitors, continuous seminars, tackle companies, outfitters and more. For more info, visit the website at www.newenglandfishingexpo.com
On Feb. 22 (no time yet), I will be doing that same "Secrets of New England Carp Fishing " seminar at the Springfield Sportsmens Show at the Big E at Springfield, MA. This show features everything you want to do in the outdoors from hunting to fishing to water sports and more. For more info, their website is www.osegsportsmens.com
My seminars are Power Point presentations and are geared to beginners as well as experienced carpers. The carp fishing seminar outlines everything you need to know about carp fishing in southern New England..... information about carp, gear, rigging, baits and places to fish. In the past these seminars have been very popular.  In addition, this year I also have a limited supply of the special edition of the NACA (North American Carp Angler magazine) that I will be handing out at my seminars.  Well worth coming to the show just to get the magazine!

Does Color Matter?

As far as color,
a study claims carp love
 the warm colors such as pink andorange.

I just read an interesting article in the latest edition of the North American Carp Angler magazine which is given to members of the Carp Anglers Group (by the way....worth joining just for the magazine!).  In the article "Sharpening the Senses" excepts from the Jawadyna report are quoted.  This report or study looked at a number of variables such as a carp's taste preferences, color preferences and sound preferences in regards to baits they might take.

A real hot producer for
me last fall and summer
was a combo bait of
an orange Mistral 6mm
boilie along with a kernel or
two of corn.

As far as color, the report concluded that carp preferred warm colors when selecting boilies to eat. Of five color choices of white, blue, pink, yellow and orange, the carp's top choices were pink followed by orange.  No other color came close.
This confirms my own experience with fishing with boilies.  Last summer and fall I was using a lot of combo baits with one of those baits being a Mistral 6 mm floating boilie.  These boilies came in a variety of colors, yet my top producers by far were pink and orange.  I had absolutely no success when using a purple or green boilie and little success with white or yellow.
So, if you are thinking about bait for the upcoming season, consider color as one important variable.  Yes, it does matter at times.