So Far, October Has Been a Struggle

Here's a good looking 18 lb. mirror that I landed
a few evenings ago. So far, October fishing 
has been a struggle with a fish here and there.

 I am coming off two real good months of carp fishing.  August was the very best August I have ever had with big numbers of carp as well as many big ones.  September was not quite as good but still good with lots of big fish and good numbers.  And, along comes October, and it all goes downhill.

This month has been a struggle.  I have fished just about every day in multiple venues.  I have managed to land exactly 8 carp so far in the month of October, very poor numbers for this time of year. My one highlight is that I did get a 30 lber., my seventh 30 of the year. But other than that, I haven't even banked a 20 lb. carp.

October can bring slow fishing.  I have seen it in the past.  There are big weather changes this month and the cooling water tends to have a chilling effect on the fishing. Carp sometimes do not adjust well to rapidly dropping water temperatures, and I think these 40 degree nights are responsible for the slow fishing. In the past I have done the best in mid to late fall on unusually warm days or days followed by warm nights.  A warm rain can also light up the fishing.

All About the PB

Evan, one of our newest members, landed this
PB common earlier in the month. It weighed 
19 lbs.

 PB, Personal Best. In carp fishing, that's what every carp fishermen strives for.  They are constantly out to beat their personal bests. For some, that might be a carp in the high teens.  For others, it might be a carp in the 20's,  a fish considered "big" here in RI.  And, for others it might be a mega fish in the 30's or even 40's (yes, they do exist around here).

We are currently running our Fall Combo Tournament. Many of our guys are out looking for a big common or a big mirror.  For two of our newcomers, they landed a couple of PBs while fishing in our tournament.  Evan landed a PB common which tipped the scales at 19 lbs. Scott, another newcomer, scored his PB mirror, a carp that weighed in at 19 lbs. also. Huge congrats on those PBs. I'm sure these guys are now out there looking for a PB of over 20 lbs.  Stick with it....it's coming.

Scott, another new member, landed this PB 
mirror that weighed 19 lbs.

When I first started, my goal was to get a 20 lber.  It took many years for that to happen, and for at least 10 years, my PB was stuck at 27 lbs. I looked long and hard for a 30.  Finally, the search was over when I landed a 36 lber. here in RI.  It took me ten years to find that one thirty, and the next year I had six of them over 30 lbs. You just seem to figure out how to do it. My next goal was a 40.  That took only a couple of years, and soon I had a 40 lb. PB mirror and a 40 lb. PB common. Those are my current PBs.  My next goal is to get a mid 40. Not easy to do, but possible. In fact, I might have had it on this spring, but the hook pulled right at the net (I hate when that happens!). But, rest assured, I am out there looking!

Fox Micron X Bite Alarms with Receivers

 Recently I purchased a new set of Fox X alarms. I've used Fox alarms in the past and find them to be very durable and high quality. These alarms came in a set of 2 along with a receiver (see link- https://www.bigcarptackle.com/bite-indication/fox/fox-micron-mx-bite-alarms.html ).

The alarms work great.  They have volume and tone control.  They also have the ability to change color with the push of a button.  The receiver is really neat. When turned on, it will sound when an alarm is going off.  It will show the specific color and tone to determine which alarm is going off.  Today I used the alarms with the receiver. I was fishing a peninsula and set up rods on opposite sides.  I could see one outfit but could not see the other.  So, I turned on the receiver and attached it around my neck. Suddenly, the receiver went off signaling a hit on the alarm I could not see.  I ran over, hooked the fish and soon a 20 lb. common was on the shore!

These engineering marvels are not cheap, but in my mind, well worth the money.  The two alarms along with the receiver were $219.  It also came in a sturdy hard case.

RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament Underway

 Our annual Fall Combo Tournament is underway, and already we have some big carp entered. Here is how it works.  The event goes from September to the end of November. All fishing is done here in RI. Members enter their biggest common and their biggest mirror and it all goes by length (inches).  In addition, we have a bonus fish that can be a catfish, horned pout or sucker.  We add up all the lengths and that is the point total. Medals donated by the national CAG group are awarded for first, second and third places. In the past some of our sharpies have entered some very impressive fish in this tournament.

One of our top carpers, Tom Perron, entered this 25 1/2 inch
mirror carp.  Our Fall Combo Tournament is underway!

Photo of the Day- "Yes, They do Hit at Night"

 

Yes, they do bite at night.  With the cooler nights and darkness
setting in earlier and earlier, it might be time to fish a
night session.  I landed this high 20 tonight after dark.

15 Minutes of Insanity

The biggest fish of the day was this 31 lb. 
common. I was the biggest carp I have ever 
caught in August here in RI.

 I went out carp fishing yesterday. I was fishing a spot that had been producing some fish in the last week. It was interesting that in recent outings I would catch my fish in bunches. Nothing for an hour and then two or three fish in a short period of time, like in a half to an hour.

On this day, I put two rods out baited with a combo bait of a kernel of maize and a white artificial pop up corn on the hair rig. I sat for an hour and a half without so much as a twitch on the rod tip. Then, a screaming alarm broke the silence and boredom, and I was onto my first carp of the day.  Nothing special, maybe a ten pounder. While I was unhooking that one, my other alarm goes off.  This time it was a bigger fish, and soon I had a twenty pounder in the net. I unhooked and released that one and casted out both rods.  I no sooner put those on the alarm when I get another runner. I knew I had a bigger fish on since this one moved very slowly and hugged the bottom, a sure sign of a biggie. I never saw this fish until it was right at the net, and it was a "wow" at first sight.  This was a big fish. Once on shore I got it into my weigh sling, attached the scale and it pulled the scale down to exactly 31 lbs., 6 oz., making this the biggest carp I have ever landed in  the month of August. After a quick photo and a release I went to cast out this rod when the other alarm went off. Once again, I was onto a decent fish. Once close to shore I knew I had another large one, but not a thirty.  This one turned out to be 25 lbs.

ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN A TIME SPAN OF 15 MINUTES!!!

And, that was it.  I stayed another hour and a half and never got another hit. But, today's action would turn out to be one of the best and wildest 15 minutes I ever experienced in carp fishing.

Photo of the Day- "Another Double Header in the Net!"

 

It's another double header in the net. The fishing has
been better than average lately as I have scored good
numbers of carp as well as some big ones.