Start of the Fall Feed

 

This brightly colored common was one of many 
carp landed today. The fall feed has begun!

There has been a significant uptick in carp fishing in the last five days for me since we have been having these cold nights.  I call it the start of the fall feed. Every year about this time, dropping air and water temperatures signal to the carp that winter is coming.  This sets in motion increased feeding in preparation for winter. I've seen this uptick this week.  I had not been doing well and all of a sudden, I'm catching good numbers and some larger fish.  In the last week, I have landed three carp over 20 lbs. I've also landed some good numbers of smaller ones.  I had 12 carp in the last two days, real good numbers.  In addition, I've seen bubble trails and fish jumping in the places I have been fishing.  I didn't see that several weeks ago. The activity level has jumped.

So, if you are a carp fisherman, right now is one of the best times to get out and fish. 

Two Tournaments Running at the Same Time

 

Here's a nice 20 lb. common that I
have in the net.  Carp fishing recently
has been slow here in RI.

The fall carp fishing tournaments are now underway.  Here in RI, CAG members can take part in our RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament.  This runs until the end of November. You enter by length your biggest common, biggest mirror and biggest bonus fish (catfish or sucker). We add up the points and that gets the total. The early leader is Brian Savage who entered a good size mirror carp at 30 inches.

On the national level, CAG is running their popular Fall Big 4.  Members can enter this event. Basically, you enter your 4 biggest carp by weight.  You need photo documentation. At the end of the event, your weights are totaled up and that is your total.  There are some very nice prizes for those finishing in the top ten. I currently have a 20 and a 22 lber. on the board which has put me in 6th place in the early going. I am hoping to get at least 100 lbs. of fish. 

This has been a slow fall of carp fishing thus far for me. I have found no evidence that the fish are on a fall feed before winter.  In addition, the invasive weed has been a real problem in a lot of places although it is dying off. Finally, I've spent a lot of time striper fishing which has been lights out in the last three weeks. I I'm hoping to get back in the groove in the coming weeks.

High Water, Invasive Weeds and Pests

I landed this mirror yesterday along with a couple
of more. September fishing has been slow over-
all in RI thusfar.

We should be in the start of some good fall fishing for carp right now in RI, but we are not. The weather has been summer-like in the past week or so and that has warmed the water. The pests such as turtles and horned pout are right at home in this bath water, and they are active. They have been very bothersome with their bait stealing antics.

In addition to the pests, we have very high water and lots of invasive weed to deal with.  Most of the ponds in RI are very high right now due to all the rain in the last few days. Water levels are at a springtime high and not a fall low.  I don't like fishing high water.  Just too many places for the carp to hide in the vegetation near the shore.

Finally, there is the invasive weed.  It is just everywhere though it shows signs of dying out.  Last year it was generally gone by mid to late October but we will need some cold weather to kill it.

Still, I have been slogging through a tough early September and I have been catching a few fish here and there.  Nothing to write home about but I've gotten about 10 mirrors so far this month from 6 to 10 lbs. Better days are coming but we'll just have to wait it out till cooler weather arrives.

Ups and Downs of August Fishing

 

Here's a good size carp from today coming to the
net. August fishing is very much an up and down
affair.

All that invasive weed I have been writing about has forced me to abandon some of my August hotspots and fish other places this month.  I'm out of my comfort zone so I have been having a rough time of it. Up until yesterday I landed only 5 carp in the month of August, and I was out almost every day. That poor streak ended today as I fished a new location and came away with 9 good size carp in just four hours of fishing.  The fish were running 12 to 25 lbs. 

Exploration is a big part of carp fishing.  Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn't. Today it did for me. The hot bait today was just a kernel of maize and one kernel of white artificial corn on the hair rig.  I've been avoiding the use of method mix since the turtles are right on it and have been super pesky in this heat. By the way, I also prebaited today's spot with maize yesterday evening and I am sure than helped.

August fishing can be an up and down affair.  You just have to get out and try.

Photo of the Week....A Beautiful Mirror

 

Yes, it's hot.  Yes, the water is high and weedy. And, yes, they 
have been tough to catch.  But, if you put in some time and
effort you will be rewarded!

Slogging Through a Tough July

 

Fishing has been slow in July,
though they can still be caught 
with persistence!

This has been a tough month for carp fishing here in RI. I've been out just about every day in some shady spots, but I am getting very little.  It's a small fish here and there.

Th reasons (I believe) are many.  Weather is a big factor as it always is in carp fishing.  The torrential rains of the last month have swelled the ponds, lakes and rivers.  With a lot of water in the woods, carp will grub on what used to be dry land.  They are near impossible to catch when feeding in the flooded woods. The heat has been a killer. Water temperatures are very warm causing the fish to be sluggish feeders. The invasive weed has been terrible in most places this year.  Both water chestnut and milfoil weed has been very troublesome in places and has actually shut down the fishing in many of my favorite summer spots.  That won't disappear until late fall! Finally, the turtles have been super pesky in this heat. They are clever bait stealers, and occasionally you will hook one (snapping turtle).

Still, I am getting a few fish. Landed exactly three fish in my last five outings. And, there wasn't one over ten pounds.  I suspect this slow fishing will continue until the weather breaks.  Just the way it is at this time of year sometimes.

Water Chestnut: A Growing Problem

 

Water Chestnut will grow in thick
masses that can overwhelm a pond
or river in no time.

Water Chestnut is the most invasive weed I have ever seen.  And, it is taking over, or should I say overwhelming,  many carp waters in this state. This weed looks leaves from a tree in the water.  It grows up from the bottom with the leaves appearing on the surface.  Under the leaves you will find multiple seeds that fall off in fall and seed the bottom for the following year. One of these plants can produce anywhere from 10 to 20 seeds. The seeds eventually turn into a black spiky seed that has sharp points. So, you can see how this weed can multiply in huge amounts from year to year.  I was reading one article that stated in one lake the weed went from covering one acre of water to 100 acres the following year. It can spread that fast! It will destroy native plants and suck the oxygen out of the water posing a threat to fish.

There are only two ways to get rid of it- pull it out by hand or treat with chemicals.  I have seen an army of kayaks and canoes in one location trying to pull it out. Thirty boats working all day barely put a dent in it.  As one volunteer told me, it's like shoveling sand against the tide. Supposedly chemicals are coming next for this place.

I have seen this weed in multiple places in RI, and where it grows, it has shut down the carp fishing.

 

Under the plant's leaves  you will find seeds 
growing.  One plant can produce 10 to 20
seeds that will grow next year.

Here's a lake completely inundated with water
chestnut weed.  Two years ago there was NO weed 
in this location. If unchecked it will take over a lake.