Recap of 2021

 Here is the recap of 2021 for me.  It was one of those rare years in which I caught a lot of carp AND a lot of big ones. Because of Covid, I spent a lot of time fishing in RI, more than any other year, and it paid off.  Instead of spending a lot of time traveling, it seemed I was spending more time on the bank. I also discovered some new spots to fish that really paid off.  Carp fishing involves a lot of looking and a lot of experimenting.  Sometimes these things pay off, sometimes they don't.  Last year it did. I also committed to fishing boilies in the spring and fall and it really paid off with many twenties and three thirties.  Yes, boilies are a big fish bait.

This huge, beautiful wild koi was
one of my most memorable fish
of 2021! 

Here is a brief summary of my numbers and highlights for 2021:

*Total carp landed- 740

*354 mirrors, 386 commons 

*Best month, numbers-wise- July- 110 carp

*Slowest month, numbers-wise- December- 11 carp

*Biggest carp of the year- 38 lb. common

*Number of carp over 30 lbs. landed- 7 from 30 to 38 lbs.

*Best big fish month- June- 19 carp over 20 lbs. and up to 34 lbs.

*First fish of the year- Jan. 2- common, 19 lbs.

*Last carp of the year- Dec. 31, common- 20 lbs.

*Best big carp (fish over 20 lbs.) bait- Carp Maxx 20 mm coconut boilie/maize combo bait

*Best bait overall- maize/artificial corn pop-up

*Best artificial bait- Enterprise Popup sweetcorn in white or washed out pink

*Most memorable carp- a white wild koi that had every color imaginable on its body- see photo!