tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49687783943932403062024-03-19T03:58:40.727-07:00Rhode Island Carp FishingPlaces to fish, catch information, techniques that work, equipment ideas, bait choices, rigging, and fish-in information!
Copyright © 2008-2024 All rights reservedDave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.comBlogger1180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-29766808158370471902024-03-08T16:42:00.000-08:002024-03-08T16:42:15.001-08:00Springing Into a New Season<p> It's early March and the spring carp fishing is starting locally. I got out several times in the last week trying multiple venues. I ended up with 2 mirrors and 1 common. It's a start.</p><p>I must say that these fish were super active unlike the ones I was getting in the cold of winter. Each fish sent the alarms screaming on the take. They were also feisty on the fight unlike the sluggish fish of mid winter.</p><p>It all tells me that the new season is here. Now, as soon as I get the first 20 lber., I can really say it's really here! That's coming soon.</p><p>Just a reminder- if you plan on carp fishing in RI, you must now have a new 2024 fishing license. Also, any waters stocked with trout are closed to any kind of fishing until after Opening Day (second Saturday in April).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdydm45V87Y6bjEt75naxhqs6qnkBYlZm-u5cnwLXYENQ7FsjQUuzpE9AQ4-zn2xo_M4meZTT6Xb866aYH2Pb342mMr0xHjP2UMdV8_COFCoqSchRXb6Az8tjGEYTrGlmNdcPeHxmTnKIxtcUH980PnTKXkp_LWBkBcmdntnJ5fO7KJ7PZoI1pqKTzF9qd/s3603/IMG_4411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2603" data-original-width="3603" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdydm45V87Y6bjEt75naxhqs6qnkBYlZm-u5cnwLXYENQ7FsjQUuzpE9AQ4-zn2xo_M4meZTT6Xb866aYH2Pb342mMr0xHjP2UMdV8_COFCoqSchRXb6Az8tjGEYTrGlmNdcPeHxmTnKIxtcUH980PnTKXkp_LWBkBcmdntnJ5fO7KJ7PZoI1pqKTzF9qd/s320/IMG_4411.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I landed this beautiful mirror today. Spring carp fishing <br />has started!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-91948914285064614302024-02-23T15:04:00.000-08:002024-02-23T15:04:09.866-08:00Some Ice, Some Open Water, Some Fish<p> Hey, it's still February and the fishing reflects this. In the last week I did some exploring and was surprised by how much ice I found in many of the ponds in RI. Some places had almost no open water.</p><p>I did, however, find a spot that was fishable, and I tried today. I did manage a few fish but it was not hot and heavy. Once again, it's February, not May.</p><p>Your best bet at this time of year is to look for a small pond that is ice free. If the pond is shallow all the better since the water will warm up faster on a sunny day. Small rivers are also a good bet. Look for deep, slow moving water in small rivers.</p><p>There are no pests around at this time so sweet corn is a good bait at this time. You can either use a hair rig or just thread a few pieces on a small hook. Method balls are optional. I caught my fish today on a combo bait of a small piece of maize along with an artificial pop-up corn fished on a hair rig off a #8 hook.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLj8nySS23TokwFMFsmx7Si4PJjkHH6EIw_oFpgLJRp2KoCDkmgKFaooAh3ldH4kN94rxsKg7QLNMeOffopS1ehtMjetvHCdTifCSXAtOYNXNSWWdt73YqINh0P73vA1QeErdx2QyOLVyuNhxHXWDa4wTKz-kEAUsVDv0snW9baZb8p81ICrQqgiw4UT9/s3429/IMG_4361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2492" data-original-width="3429" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLj8nySS23TokwFMFsmx7Si4PJjkHH6EIw_oFpgLJRp2KoCDkmgKFaooAh3ldH4kN94rxsKg7QLNMeOffopS1ehtMjetvHCdTifCSXAtOYNXNSWWdt73YqINh0P73vA1QeErdx2QyOLVyuNhxHXWDa4wTKz-kEAUsVDv0snW9baZb8p81ICrQqgiw4UT9/w368-h268/IMG_4361.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i>I landed this mirror carp today in some ice free water.<br />They will hit in February but don't expect the action to be hot and heavy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-50874044204087745782024-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:36:08.008-08:00Next Stop......Springfield Sportsmen's Show<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qJhiJcNLxQ7GGqaCOYof_tbjrLBFXjik1uiP5PSjDXo529gkUGxXHaE1Er-3-LoTy5yX1u080-TRS06HYu-n1GeclmiXN_BM5mNPm4kfiBZGKyrymQQFZUMa81H20yDLht-RnYLrr2p5NWyni_zqUr8lhBRhWnek8OvtDM1jQywMdXCIj7LxunEdVLOJ/s913/IMG_3638.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="589" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qJhiJcNLxQ7GGqaCOYof_tbjrLBFXjik1uiP5PSjDXo529gkUGxXHaE1Er-3-LoTy5yX1u080-TRS06HYu-n1GeclmiXN_BM5mNPm4kfiBZGKyrymQQFZUMa81H20yDLht-RnYLrr2p5NWyni_zqUr8lhBRhWnek8OvtDM1jQywMdXCIj7LxunEdVLOJ/s320/IMG_3638.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br /> My next stop on my winter seminar tour is the Springfield Sportsmen's Show on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Big E in Springfield, MA. I will be doing seminars at 1:00 and 4:00. <p></p><p></p><p>For anyone who has never been to this popular show, it is a mix of everything outdoorsy. There's hunting and fishing stuff, camping stuff, outfitters, charter boat captains, tackle shops, boats, kayaks, etc., all in a massive venue. It also features an all star line-up of seminar speakers.</p><p>I will be doing my striper and carp fishing shows.<b> </b>My striper fishing show is called Finesse Fishing for Stripers. <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">This show is loaded with info on using a finesse approach to catching stripers from shore and kayak when the bait is small (which it was most of the time last year). The show is filled with tackle and plugging ideas. Some terrific video footage and photos from last year's fishing are in the narrated presentation.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">My carp fishing show is titled </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">Carp Fishing Strategies</span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">. This show focuses on different approaches to catching carp. also nicknamed "freshwater tuna"! These monsters of freshwater can be difficult to catch on rod and reel, and I'll offer many suggestions on how to do it that should appeal to beginners as well as seasoned pros. I've got some serious photos in the show that include multiple potential state records.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">The striper seminar is scheduled for 1:00 while my carp fishing seminar will take place at 4:00.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">Hope to see many of my loyal readers at the show! Form more info, check out the show information at <a href="http://www.osegsportsmens.com">www.osegsportsmens.com</a></span></p><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-38120455866619751862024-02-09T15:07:00.000-08:002024-02-09T15:07:11.940-08:00Back in Business<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAC0eu0AJeQ2eh9hnCmLlaw9Vy8hc_rJxNgpe9YPjaApGyV9hZNjOcq-GTt1q6yQl90med0kT63tk2xG5uydzWC2VUPZmTgsrUQq66PDHICLkPzegdSs9BUe0qKqZxVcnbzTFxboFAVt7hTVJeRSiDt0wg_rpho1oqpM-ID6XGnNZlMLq2SIlrtjuZgIa/s1692/IMG_4296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1692" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAC0eu0AJeQ2eh9hnCmLlaw9Vy8hc_rJxNgpe9YPjaApGyV9hZNjOcq-GTt1q6yQl90med0kT63tk2xG5uydzWC2VUPZmTgsrUQq66PDHICLkPzegdSs9BUe0qKqZxVcnbzTFxboFAVt7hTVJeRSiDt0wg_rpho1oqpM-ID6XGnNZlMLq2SIlrtjuZgIa/s320/IMG_4296.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a mirror that I landed today. Yes, carrp<br />can be caught in the dead of winter!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'm on the board with my first ones of 2024. I was out twice this week and landed 3 mirrors. They all looked like clones in the 6 to 8 lb. range.</p><p>Yes, you can catch carp in the dead of winter in ice free waters. However, realize these are not the voracious feeders you find in the spring when the waters have a chance to warm. In the very cold water of February, these fish will feed sparingly. Everything about them has slowed in the cold. The takes will be just subtle bangs of the rod tip. The fight will be sluggish. Most likely, you won't catch a lot of them and the ones that do hit tend to be smaller fish.</p><p>Still, on beautiful winter days like today, it feels great just to just get out and wet a line. Carp tend to hit on these warm, winter days. If you plan to try, here's a few tips. Go light with the bait. Today I was using one small kernel of maize with a white, artificial corn on the hair rig. I was also fishing a "small" spot. Big waters don't tend to produce in the wintertime. Best times will be a sunny afternoon, or the warmest part of the day.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-7789934944152365382024-01-30T16:24:00.000-08:002024-01-30T16:24:31.751-08:00Fishing Seminars this Weekend- NE Fishing Expo<p> I will be at the NE Fishing Expo this weekend on Saturday and Sunday doing my latest carp and striper fishing seminars for 2024. The NE Fishing Expo is a pure fishing show that has gotten rave reviews in recent years. This year it will move to the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, MA which is right off Rt. 495. This is a show that caters to both freshwater and saltwater fishermen with loads of vendors, tackle dealers and the latest equipment on display. Show info can be found at their website at www.nefishingexpo.com</p><p>Here is my schedule. Hope to see many of my followers at the show.</p><p><b>Saturday- 2:00 PM- Seminar- Finesse Approach to Catching Stripers</b>. This show is loaded with info on using a finesse approach to catching stripers from shore and kayak when the bait is small (which it was most of the time last year). The show is filled with tackle and plugging ideas. Some terrific video footage and photos from last year's fishing are in the narrated presentation.</p><p><b>Sunday, 11:00 AM- Seminar- Carp Fishing Strategies</b>. This show focuses on different approaches to catching carp. also nicknamed "freshwater tuna"! These monsters of freshwater can be difficult to catch on rod and reel, and I'll offer many suggestions on how to do it that should appeal to beginners as well as seasoned pros. I've got some serious photos in the show that include multiple potential state records.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3ZoKCK-ibZuVxjjKDLEjoQAwhU_ADfBvlf72jvC4Hn9HA5iUzxsurhxc-vpHxfy4xBtnHAwXisIeK2d_-qTRVKNb5G0SVKmhMALTSYaZjiOoN7_ywO9NyOnSFqPtYXTgbkJp-vIt0GlY8VIRBZWikb7qphQ6Z4JfiLrEQHgqf0d68zyCV9mZUpdS_w5K/s1080/71130.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3ZoKCK-ibZuVxjjKDLEjoQAwhU_ADfBvlf72jvC4Hn9HA5iUzxsurhxc-vpHxfy4xBtnHAwXisIeK2d_-qTRVKNb5G0SVKmhMALTSYaZjiOoN7_ywO9NyOnSFqPtYXTgbkJp-vIt0GlY8VIRBZWikb7qphQ6Z4JfiLrEQHgqf0d68zyCV9mZUpdS_w5K/s320/71130.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-61331177436151002652023-12-28T15:25:00.000-08:002023-12-28T15:25:37.008-08:002023- The Year in Review<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgPgPfXa7zZU5eXmoeCLOjkuoy1QCPlnwcvxpg1gN-CyHG-2tO0IEDjq5BfwOajY321L-lJmMGVGKhfE4e4yaqeY8ODOgVqL6TcAkq19sdMWkGjA5VYSD46h9QB7MZrZ1TfGA1OjhlLxZeUhnSQ6hRM4RI4W4IILz4pRGFmxSdy7RcxlEvCqcnoOQ2C-T/s1456/IMG_2987%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1456" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgPgPfXa7zZU5eXmoeCLOjkuoy1QCPlnwcvxpg1gN-CyHG-2tO0IEDjq5BfwOajY321L-lJmMGVGKhfE4e4yaqeY8ODOgVqL6TcAkq19sdMWkGjA5VYSD46h9QB7MZrZ1TfGA1OjhlLxZeUhnSQ6hRM4RI4W4IILz4pRGFmxSdy7RcxlEvCqcnoOQ2C-T/s320/IMG_2987%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My biggest carp of the year was this mammouth<br />fish of 38 lbs., 12 oz., a potential state record that<br />was released.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One word describes this past year of carp fishing in RI- SUBPAR. This was a year that I landed my fewest numbers of carp in the last ten years even though I fished the same number of times. However, I must admit that I did land good numbers of large fish over 20 lbs., including three thirties. I released two fish that would have been potential RI state records. Those fish, 38 lbs., 12 oz. and 36 lbs., 4 oz. were magnificent RI fish. The 38 was a top 5 fish of all time for me. Another highlight for me was coming in 3rd place in the CAG National Big 4 Spring Tournament, my best finish in recent years. I had 4 fish totaling 133 lbs., 12 oz., an average of over 33 lbs. per fish!</p><p>Some of the big issues that affected the numbers were high water and invasive weed. I was constantly struggling in these big rainstorms which sent the water in the woods in many places. When that happens a lot of carp feed in the flooded woods and you just can't get to them. Invasive weed was also a big issue with big time weed growth happening because of a perfect storm of hot weather, lots of rain and runoff. The water chestnut took over many of my favorite spots. Milfoil was another culprit that clogged many of my carp spots. All this weed was around big time from June to October.</p><p>Here are some numbers from my logs:</p><p><b>*Total number of carp landed - 411</b></p><p><b>*Number of carp over 30 lbs.- 3</b></p><p><b>*Best month numbers-wise- April, 114 carp landed</b></p><p><b>*Worst month (non winter)- November, 18 carp landed</b></p><p><b>*Best month for big carp- April, 17 carp over 20 lbs.</b></p><p><b>*Best Bait- Combo bait of one kernel of white artificial maize and one kernel of real maize on the hair rig</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2-qo4PGidCaKtsh8vjzqOPnGI4IixRsddcr_IMvGSy6jdpBfbyRvw8qcnIx1hIoEudFGxJyUF3zYl4qVO6HPyJ8yEQuKW1aFG54ED_MbdDmgHeZmb9R7_81nt5V8pwdfXmExSdJdy_d0l6WWayoYTqLfIpKd2CrjLLiFL73k6fsfr2deNCEAY9OEBWAy/s640/IMG_3502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2-qo4PGidCaKtsh8vjzqOPnGI4IixRsddcr_IMvGSy6jdpBfbyRvw8qcnIx1hIoEudFGxJyUF3zYl4qVO6HPyJ8yEQuKW1aFG54ED_MbdDmgHeZmb9R7_81nt5V8pwdfXmExSdJdy_d0l6WWayoYTqLfIpKd2CrjLLiFL73k6fsfr2deNCEAY9OEBWAy/s320/IMG_3502.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Invasive weed like this water chestnut covered<br />massive areas of some ponds and made fishing<br />impossible in 2023. Milfoil was equally as bad <br />in some places.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-82536832285566871442023-12-13T15:02:00.000-08:002023-12-13T15:05:18.378-08:00CAG Fall Big 4- 11th place<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KMX_OuPKhnRugX9boF7Ne5cTaZHzdpKZMr3O-H2MOcUPtgX0NfM_qWzSnH1SPAcBmVmrmPM5xYBdis67ySZuabWKNQh_yyHtnzlBlF3emTLxCci_O81jNcZV52mxreIJeCk1f88YyGu1uSSPH5pCbvDmRxvmkKJNJ4nVFgF6nll2_RwsnL4f8VbQFaCb/s1703/IMG_3911%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1703" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KMX_OuPKhnRugX9boF7Ne5cTaZHzdpKZMr3O-H2MOcUPtgX0NfM_qWzSnH1SPAcBmVmrmPM5xYBdis67ySZuabWKNQh_yyHtnzlBlF3emTLxCci_O81jNcZV52mxreIJeCk1f88YyGu1uSSPH5pCbvDmRxvmkKJNJ4nVFgF6nll2_RwsnL4f8VbQFaCb/s320/IMG_3911%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my entries in the Fall Big 4- 24 lbs., 6 oz.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I ended up in 11th place in this year's CAG National Fall Big 4 Tournament. I just missed the prize categories of 1st through 10th place. </p><p>This was a tough fall tournament. We had a lot of sharpies from all over the country competing. These were some of the best carp fishermen in the US, and they were fishing some of the best fall locations, mainly big rivers. I knew before I started that I needed about 110 lbs. of fish to make the top ten (weights of top four fish). That meant catching at least two thirty pounders or a couple of high twenties along with other fish over 20 lbs. That's a tall order here in RI.</p><p>Here are my top four fish that I entered: 20 lbs., 6 oz., 22 lbs., 4 oz., 24 lbs., 6 oz., and 29 lbs., 6 oz. My four fish total came out to 96 lbs., 6 oz. All my fish were caught in either RI or MA waters. </p><p>November proved particularly tough for me. There was a lot of wild weather and the waters were high. Weed was dying in a lot of places and problematic at times. And, the fish were just not cooperative. I landed only a grand total of 18 carp in November, and I did not have a single carp over twenty pounds. All my tournament entries were landed in October.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-11229339645603343412023-12-04T17:33:00.000-08:002023-12-04T17:35:29.136-08:00December Nights<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qo9zcZAJ3hMpj-WzWTcCvxtHpKjiNZ_MLELKt29Xed-SiyhjRealIRUj7HHQC0jEZzkGmKRXz4DClj0CBJsuOUsvMCuy78H85cg2nQWivQVtuprTC15QrzVjOq8lvEqbl42W0loDx9gzB_VVuM_XvB4Nu2hjHG3yVLWprinYG1RrGdMWlRu6j3N8PuEm/s1432/IMG_4110.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1432" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qo9zcZAJ3hMpj-WzWTcCvxtHpKjiNZ_MLELKt29Xed-SiyhjRealIRUj7HHQC0jEZzkGmKRXz4DClj0CBJsuOUsvMCuy78H85cg2nQWivQVtuprTC15QrzVjOq8lvEqbl42W0loDx9gzB_VVuM_XvB4Nu2hjHG3yVLWprinYG1RrGdMWlRu6j3N8PuEm/s320/IMG_4110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First one of the night was a mirror. It hit a combo<br />bait of maize and an artificial corn.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This is the time of year that I often fish at night, especially a warm night. For some reason, carp will prowl the shallows at night in late fall in search of food.<p></p><p>Tonight I had the right conditions. It was warm yesterday followed by a warm night and warm again today. So I prebaited a spot I wanted to fish this afternoon and headed out after dark. I managed to get three fish, all mirrors and all mid size- 6 to 10 lbs. I got them all on a combo bait of a white pop-up artificial corn fished with a kernel of maize on the hair rig. I used no method. I like to go "small" on the bait in cold water.</p><p>Carp will continue to hit even in cold weather until skim ice starts to form. Once the ice comes, they seem to go into a funk in still water lakes and ponds. They tend to be more active in moving water (rivers and streams). Don't expect to catch big numbers in December, and any carp landed in December is a bonus in my book!.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEVgeXiuFLvjJEXloyY0TViBopmdtsx3nbqi74FsjxmyP09axBbt37cGLRhSujAvHipQmdgrlUxCwJBGT7vCJNcnTJY3ttkck3z7tETTdQHcPHLN_nZpi0kg2SPmnCYkCtOrdk9MgxACNcaGbQuuaQrQUmnE7dQ87P3iVeXstshW4tJkcUzQoHxHaHlGe/s3384/IMG_4115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3384" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEVgeXiuFLvjJEXloyY0TViBopmdtsx3nbqi74FsjxmyP09axBbt37cGLRhSujAvHipQmdgrlUxCwJBGT7vCJNcnTJY3ttkck3z7tETTdQHcPHLN_nZpi0kg2SPmnCYkCtOrdk9MgxACNcaGbQuuaQrQUmnE7dQ87P3iVeXstshW4tJkcUzQoHxHaHlGe/s320/IMG_4115.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final fish of the night was this good looking mirror!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-75682352923649794282023-12-02T17:12:00.000-08:002023-12-02T17:12:40.797-08:00Results of 2023 RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWEqKFx-tKcFc-7A4oL9vJd2pbMN75WAgmDkAXx34KD3BXoT8EZVqB4OeGr0lbbx-gluDqsgZJWQIZQ9GoKC1WAoGlowFIdhiogyl-XnUFT_BDiiwIwFq6Ib616obo1S7TJZzKKLD2S2bnOYtdq-HyhEuiswjYAemU0CA25bQ15gzot2_J8S9IZlNvyOP/s640/image0%20(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWEqKFx-tKcFc-7A4oL9vJd2pbMN75WAgmDkAXx34KD3BXoT8EZVqB4OeGr0lbbx-gluDqsgZJWQIZQ9GoKC1WAoGlowFIdhiogyl-XnUFT_BDiiwIwFq6Ib616obo1S7TJZzKKLD2S2bnOYtdq-HyhEuiswjYAemU0CA25bQ15gzot2_J8S9IZlNvyOP/s320/image0%20(4).jpeg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Perron, gold medal!</td></tr></tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE7r5KyMKB7kplxiM0McWhI3OboJikKgAjbsG3mWgF5TkDpAR4Ry4nXvsjpR9nbnplOtWrlCPgWdVKuPVwVP2mtm5OMAveCn7GLgPqpJRCvBgmdj0KMf2eMbIxWiCliJ9A3t2tSykV0xVIAc947Y_tzRKUjHfh0RWA_HUf_wjzslWmKqXhyphenhyphen4thRBLjx8t/s3801/image0%20(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3801" data-original-width="3021" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE7r5KyMKB7kplxiM0McWhI3OboJikKgAjbsG3mWgF5TkDpAR4Ry4nXvsjpR9nbnplOtWrlCPgWdVKuPVwVP2mtm5OMAveCn7GLgPqpJRCvBgmdj0KMf2eMbIxWiCliJ9A3t2tSykV0xVIAc947Y_tzRKUjHfh0RWA_HUf_wjzslWmKqXhyphenhyphen4thRBLjx8t/w199-h250/image0%20(4).jpeg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Savage- silver medal!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The RI CAG fall combo tournament is in the books. The event ran from Sept. 1st to the end of November. Our members fished and entered fish by length (inches). We had three categories: mirrors, commons and a bonus fish (catfish or sucker). Add up the total lengths and that was the score. Once again, our top two big carp fishermen, Tom Perron and Brian Savage, slugged it out for the top spot with some impressive fish.</p>
<div class="default-style">Here are the final results:</div>
<div class="default-style"><b>Gold medal- Tom Perron- 79 points (30 inch mirror, 30 inch common, 19 inch sucker or catfish)</b></div>
<div class="default-style"><b>Silver medal- Brian Savage- 60 points (30 inch mirror, 30 inch common)</b></div>
<div class="default-style"><b>Bronze medal- Tony Carvalho- 15 points (15 inch catfish)</b></div>
<div class="default-style"><b> </b></div>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-74013895263198374582023-11-14T17:45:00.000-08:002023-11-14T17:45:45.603-08:00400th Carp of the Year Landed<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJj-mBSOaov5CLW2GY1i2aZqBiBFFRnsOhN_xOUquCpd4UXHCRziTNfMxx3AZNwuNGJboDKypdGeWOvgwBhU8xJEM7bCGT2eZGUbx6O2VgoXYDTQnugADXSeYJ6vH0Q-AfrAbK9Q_0p53Vv_XKa4IiCdOTXPEql3uo2FffOYJAKxxELbAQ6nyc8qksQaj/s2961/IMG_4055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2305" data-original-width="2961" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJj-mBSOaov5CLW2GY1i2aZqBiBFFRnsOhN_xOUquCpd4UXHCRziTNfMxx3AZNwuNGJboDKypdGeWOvgwBhU8xJEM7bCGT2eZGUbx6O2VgoXYDTQnugADXSeYJ6vH0Q-AfrAbK9Q_0p53Vv_XKa4IiCdOTXPEql3uo2FffOYJAKxxELbAQ6nyc8qksQaj/s320/IMG_4055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This common, landed today, is my 400th carp<br />of the year. It's been a rough road to find numbers<br />of fish this year.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today I hit a milestone as I landed my 400th carp of the year. I finally had a few fish today and that got me over the 400 plateau.</p><p>I set 500 carp as my goal every year. I keep logs of all my catches. In my best year of the last ten years numbers-wise, I landed a whopping 1,300 carp. Last year, my worst year numbers-wise saw 430 fish landed. If I were betting man, I would bet 500 is not going to happen this year. Heck, I am lucky to reach 400 this year. Overall, this has been a tough year of carp fishing. We've had a lot of rain and a lot of warm weather. That is the perfect storm for weed growth. The invasive weed, mostly milfoil and water chestnut, has been awful most of the year, making for impossible fishing in some of my favorite carp fishing places. The weed has cleared up with the cooler weather lately, but the fishing overall still remains poor.</p><p>The carp fishing calendar is ticking away. It will end with the ice. I'm guessing in early December. Even skim ice will end it in ponds and lakes. You can still get them in the moving water of rivers and streams, but carp fishing in the real cold is inconsistent and difficult.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-21676241132770926152023-11-10T16:05:00.002-08:002023-11-10T16:05:36.331-08:00Downright Poor for November<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMX5THHyop81fCPPfHiiaRu4JwlYCDiSSawlZg6_jgtLb1pA1KghR9tpr3rUWuQbUtR18UV-KyD893F6z5P6vYetBEe4rWYk3SGmqHyuy8RZ7euOW2SmTXWe1q8VfOT_xnmWUd29bea8GX5Qr_ds6e6KRhKx2E3GDGITwZAaxXgBwz7OhTdCtFZIgFLhU/s589/IMG_4054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="589" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMX5THHyop81fCPPfHiiaRu4JwlYCDiSSawlZg6_jgtLb1pA1KghR9tpr3rUWuQbUtR18UV-KyD893F6z5P6vYetBEe4rWYk3SGmqHyuy8RZ7euOW2SmTXWe1q8VfOT_xnmWUd29bea8GX5Qr_ds6e6KRhKx2E3GDGITwZAaxXgBwz7OhTdCtFZIgFLhU/s320/IMG_4054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alarms have been silent in November as it<br />has been a complete blank for me in multiple<br />locations.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's been my worst November EVER for carp fishing thus far. It's now November 10, and I have tried every day in November and it has been a complete BLANK. I've switched up spots and tried at least a half dozen venues that have produced in the past. I've been prebaiting these spots. I've mixed up my baits. All to no avail. The carp are just not in the feeding mood!</p><p>This downward spiral began in early November when we had those two or three days of extreme cold. Up until then the fish were hitting. But, that sudden cold put the fish in funk and they have not returned to active feeding. I've also seen no jumps, no bubble trails and no fish near the shore moving around.</p><p>This can happen with carp fishing as it has its ups and downs. Right now we are in a down period but I'm confident the fishing will perk up.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-68055114358296835162023-10-11T16:17:00.000-07:002023-10-11T16:17:13.925-07:00Start of the Fall Feed<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4C4VywvDd6BHvZfNVrTcjvpN0ZTRED6BMmz_gni6fCNGCb5RYLYgpxfnnvQ5mt4AX75OaWFUPHT8BiLkezpJZmuB1mCWNgFoTCDPFXv2AgRuyIZ0cjKUMmYCJ428LeKM-RvCbSzztxAZElUs7BQgIQ9cT641jpI8cvRKq3tKU2iO6Uvesv3MLXGUSRi1/s1679/IMG_3925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1679" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4C4VywvDd6BHvZfNVrTcjvpN0ZTRED6BMmz_gni6fCNGCb5RYLYgpxfnnvQ5mt4AX75OaWFUPHT8BiLkezpJZmuB1mCWNgFoTCDPFXv2AgRuyIZ0cjKUMmYCJ428LeKM-RvCbSzztxAZElUs7BQgIQ9cT641jpI8cvRKq3tKU2iO6Uvesv3MLXGUSRi1/s320/IMG_3925.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This brightly colored common was one of many <br />carp landed today. The fall feed has begun!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />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.</p><p>So, if you are a carp fisherman, right now is one of the best times to get out and fish. </p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-67154187275676634742023-10-07T16:21:00.000-07:002023-10-07T16:21:12.455-07:00Two Tournaments Running at the Same Time<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QngiIJ0PWP3_lIwg4yzuNw-1ib2UhopE1TPZKLH-8h3rQlK1CDaECv5JykpTeOq20j_HP5sn5Ek8ryqu9BiNBxlkLd1a4caMsGfFRHsIqbcYgGs8wERzfZ6zKdR1mY22GwlG6IBjZx9DulN_koAfPpGQMujZWw5Tblhnw_RLwOOYj7pwD8qKZC7fn5wE/s2016/IMG_3759%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QngiIJ0PWP3_lIwg4yzuNw-1ib2UhopE1TPZKLH-8h3rQlK1CDaECv5JykpTeOq20j_HP5sn5Ek8ryqu9BiNBxlkLd1a4caMsGfFRHsIqbcYgGs8wERzfZ6zKdR1mY22GwlG6IBjZx9DulN_koAfPpGQMujZWw5Tblhnw_RLwOOYj7pwD8qKZC7fn5wE/s320/IMG_3759%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a nice 20 lb. common that I<br />have in the net. Carp fishing recently<br />has been slow here in RI.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-48851571218733528632023-09-11T16:47:00.002-07:002023-09-11T16:47:38.437-07:00High Water, Invasive Weeds and Pests<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Bjd_LJUSUKgXuU9lrrVC-glp-UNpF2G8eUMVKiY25CPFvmcXLbUsaQpUISOEGBQAgq2wV8PtmQw2CvgLEmcwCVEbKi1jqBhwzLFwrusMleJiQy6TzeSUejSCTRNwTJ-wC880N5brPvGRmgNI9hHol7_P8__n8UPWsVKJYnv4U668B_OUlgVgAGKWXtaU/s2016/IMG_3703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Bjd_LJUSUKgXuU9lrrVC-glp-UNpF2G8eUMVKiY25CPFvmcXLbUsaQpUISOEGBQAgq2wV8PtmQw2CvgLEmcwCVEbKi1jqBhwzLFwrusMleJiQy6TzeSUejSCTRNwTJ-wC880N5brPvGRmgNI9hHol7_P8__n8UPWsVKJYnv4U668B_OUlgVgAGKWXtaU/s320/IMG_3703.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I landed this mirror yesterday along with a couple<br />of more. September fishing has been slow over-<br />all in RI thusfar.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-57034037794624901682023-08-11T13:27:00.001-07:002023-08-11T13:27:08.870-07:00Ups and Downs of August Fishing<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylREx-HJ_AN5_P1pJLMiLoWPEIPgcdwIeNq2TuIdROKCWlVyR31PeHejHja3vql1oqz3Ee1aj0IBSbq5ZZbXZAngDltOGdpVKKWOU7VNvi0kb0sZrG6bOH6hnwOPLKGZ6kqu5AmiPRKvGqEp9M_z20As-g674M3ewdSqEvvkIpBua5ZPLYta2mDewzmQ2/s1701/IMG_3586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1701" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylREx-HJ_AN5_P1pJLMiLoWPEIPgcdwIeNq2TuIdROKCWlVyR31PeHejHja3vql1oqz3Ee1aj0IBSbq5ZZbXZAngDltOGdpVKKWOU7VNvi0kb0sZrG6bOH6hnwOPLKGZ6kqu5AmiPRKvGqEp9M_z20As-g674M3ewdSqEvvkIpBua5ZPLYta2mDewzmQ2/s320/IMG_3586.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a good size carp from today coming to the<br />net. August fishing is very much an up and down<br />affair.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />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. </p><p>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.</p><p>August fishing can be an up and down affair. You just have to get out and try.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-52328508192637618052023-07-23T16:49:00.000-07:002023-07-23T16:49:14.034-07:00Photo of the Week....A Beautiful Mirror<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-E4K6RvQFuc0hwYjWE147DqBVMZwhJVaefjWRvp5kx_5VirBjCJvfWb9br2zh3vAZkP7-j2svi3JxF31bNtWdTtDi3KZWPv9oan2a_KQVNPfk5teL9ei9ZGyVyDgwuDpHx2jBkUedJaiBS0fFjZHk42Ec7ue6IqWaQOs4Z5mF7OF_PKceMXoqVd59LKO/s1468/IMG_3506%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1468" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-E4K6RvQFuc0hwYjWE147DqBVMZwhJVaefjWRvp5kx_5VirBjCJvfWb9br2zh3vAZkP7-j2svi3JxF31bNtWdTtDi3KZWPv9oan2a_KQVNPfk5teL9ei9ZGyVyDgwuDpHx2jBkUedJaiBS0fFjZHk42Ec7ue6IqWaQOs4Z5mF7OF_PKceMXoqVd59LKO/w376-h247/IMG_3506%20(2).jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it's hot. Yes, the water is high and weedy. And, yes, they <br />have been tough to catch. But, if you put in some time and<br />effort you will be rewarded!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-41393861763338493912023-07-18T13:10:00.001-07:002023-07-18T13:10:14.162-07:00Slogging Through a Tough July<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMFsPk3WeVtEqP65morBm1IQmoP3k5nGmFNvKcv7wukUdousRxvtvkZNW513q0rK2_SxSuEgysRW-zGacLN1q-AQda5P0-4rqnCsC4fP1zIm5iybDBplf35LkLqfljKl0YbSCHQ66-lVDO2ddp0OefBJYM8Bf-s7tRd75NNkLirdgcqwB1fcr3g1QXXRJ/s2016/IMG_3422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMFsPk3WeVtEqP65morBm1IQmoP3k5nGmFNvKcv7wukUdousRxvtvkZNW513q0rK2_SxSuEgysRW-zGacLN1q-AQda5P0-4rqnCsC4fP1zIm5iybDBplf35LkLqfljKl0YbSCHQ66-lVDO2ddp0OefBJYM8Bf-s7tRd75NNkLirdgcqwB1fcr3g1QXXRJ/s320/IMG_3422.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing has been slow in July,<br />though they can still be caught <br />with persistence!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />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.</p><p>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).</p><p>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.</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-34781984823900474792023-07-15T13:33:00.002-07:002023-07-16T13:19:15.986-07:00Water Chestnut: A Growing Problem<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI64q3aAIVqjgbBOUC9lwkDJH5hCQQ2Si6aPXXQayp1v_lBOsiMxjYJoS4MGHpD54bK63Tp323DF9rZJIcmrEG3s0EA9vawYqViXMfXJXljlnZOIlbLLBfa_lGU0rPBDxImAo2ZXDB_A1gsmyD6WOVIGZyGQkUwlTO1XyUnSAi94YttoHpF6ALVG9pe5hx/s640/IMG_3500.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI64q3aAIVqjgbBOUC9lwkDJH5hCQQ2Si6aPXXQayp1v_lBOsiMxjYJoS4MGHpD54bK63Tp323DF9rZJIcmrEG3s0EA9vawYqViXMfXJXljlnZOIlbLLBfa_lGU0rPBDxImAo2ZXDB_A1gsmyD6WOVIGZyGQkUwlTO1XyUnSAi94YttoHpF6ALVG9pe5hx/s320/IMG_3500.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Chestnut will grow in thick<br />masses that can overwhelm a pond<br />or river in no time.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />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.<p></p><p>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.</p><p>I have seen this weed in multiple places in RI, and where it grows, it has shut down the carp fishing.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZeydYmUTZiRCQRuZQ_WPinHHT7aVrZZtx52bqTd1CJiicX6jCERWOqKfSzOeR-z7URjnskSXd0jIxe6Pcm83LZysma2S5YQ8L6BAN6JY904KSy8cybnj3CTmvRgyeNkJXeiioJm3gxacEBt3THwDV1MuSplGwAr6Eegg0MOcgCmsqAX8WUoCPmCQQsM4/s640/IMG_3499.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZeydYmUTZiRCQRuZQ_WPinHHT7aVrZZtx52bqTd1CJiicX6jCERWOqKfSzOeR-z7URjnskSXd0jIxe6Pcm83LZysma2S5YQ8L6BAN6JY904KSy8cybnj3CTmvRgyeNkJXeiioJm3gxacEBt3THwDV1MuSplGwAr6Eegg0MOcgCmsqAX8WUoCPmCQQsM4/s320/IMG_3499.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the plant's leaves you will find seeds <br />growing. One plant can produce 10 to 20<br />seeds that will grow next year.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbxSYoD5ESCXXBRCa9QcgoU6Y2cg9fHZ7bjhe6sB-_L0EOgB2MrBdOCv7ZNcr_5u7gpUgxk-ZXVFFW7-3x4Mm_p9sSHHBjAPBUZ7TLGkbzrmr5fl-q7B1GNHMeKC9IwwwdK9TzW565HnWRTWrkFr7zjyxbRX3R1wU-eRTL5txbjguyV1mWo5oSk1-22am/s640/IMG_3502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbxSYoD5ESCXXBRCa9QcgoU6Y2cg9fHZ7bjhe6sB-_L0EOgB2MrBdOCv7ZNcr_5u7gpUgxk-ZXVFFW7-3x4Mm_p9sSHHBjAPBUZ7TLGkbzrmr5fl-q7B1GNHMeKC9IwwwdK9TzW565HnWRTWrkFr7zjyxbRX3R1wU-eRTL5txbjguyV1mWo5oSk1-22am/s320/IMG_3502.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a lake completely inundated with water<br />chestnut weed. Two years ago there was NO weed <br />in this location. If unchecked it will take over a lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-51760534789960880202023-07-03T16:48:00.000-07:002023-07-03T16:48:00.228-07:00Winners in the RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOabIiE7ODq8Unlh3jOYch_-I767nvqgBnacozfCZeOnhIKOhuARToydUEAZEhuuKgF8vlNte4wWQJFX92fFuJ1G7kL0Ysk1I3sEVkUOx2xWT9SxHZtxKF93YK6qQpiQnkwAT7VpNKu3j7EGIzRdrlAiJrcemBlFdN_qC04Inb8YvD3zcL2dI7jBRI1-Kb/s4032/image1%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOabIiE7ODq8Unlh3jOYch_-I767nvqgBnacozfCZeOnhIKOhuARToydUEAZEhuuKgF8vlNte4wWQJFX92fFuJ1G7kL0Ysk1I3sEVkUOx2xWT9SxHZtxKF93YK6qQpiQnkwAT7VpNKu3j7EGIzRdrlAiJrcemBlFdN_qC04Inb8YvD3zcL2dI7jBRI1-Kb/w194-h259/image1%20(2).jpeg" width="194" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Savage- 1st place</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Our RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament is in the books for 2023. Our two top guys, Brian Savage and Tom Perron, perennial winners, slugged it out with some big fish in each of the three months.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQavOCjYli07L2INqPUfuzVGUEa8DzSkvSO7WH44iknWbfAa7L5QHU3VHkT7QpZAhiAgydDI1jwzPz-NzVR1nzxsgLtKyufh3Xg3kcSkGyr6B21vnxkUFSmANPHhdJdwF1sukGHlaL6LH4Nu1YLIuP2kgGV9ekSy-XjeODWkRzROCzdaanchefCPtXyOR9/s640/image0%20(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQavOCjYli07L2INqPUfuzVGUEa8DzSkvSO7WH44iknWbfAa7L5QHU3VHkT7QpZAhiAgydDI1jwzPz-NzVR1nzxsgLtKyufh3Xg3kcSkGyr6B21vnxkUFSmANPHhdJdwF1sukGHlaL6LH4Nu1YLIuP2kgGV9ekSy-XjeODWkRzROCzdaanchefCPtXyOR9/s320/image0%20(4).jpeg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Perron- 2nd place</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>All the carp entered were landed in RI waters. CAG members who<br /> entered the tournament logged in their biggest carp for the months of April, May and June. We add up all the weights and that's the final total. The top three finishers are given engraved medals donated by the national CAG group.</p><p> The top three finishers are listed below (pounds/ounces):</p>
<p>1st- Brian Savage- 20/7 + 25/1 + 20/5 = 65/13</p>
<p>2nd- Tom Perron- 18/4 + 16/5 + 15/9 = 50</p>
<p>3rd- Tony Carvalho- 23</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-43185780991648984212023-06-26T17:16:00.003-07:002023-06-26T17:16:55.116-07:00On the Mulberry Drop<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTqmrAUHvDJQUMAQbxIcOTyPSRZ4cf1u-Urv4IIkl1T74_ISR9w9A-Qwwn1CKs-RDSl01nqYyjRNO19rL-kybNpjwe5L190Xzu4nc5kqyeAvhNCkq_XspLH9z_0myR_aIsb_biW19mVJZaXmuI5uDLq9pIjZVh_9ZiWFwXll44E3vPU_AYBre7iyIIK4T/s1367/IMG_3430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1016" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTqmrAUHvDJQUMAQbxIcOTyPSRZ4cf1u-Urv4IIkl1T74_ISR9w9A-Qwwn1CKs-RDSl01nqYyjRNO19rL-kybNpjwe5L190Xzu4nc5kqyeAvhNCkq_XspLH9z_0myR_aIsb_biW19mVJZaXmuI5uDLq9pIjZVh_9ZiWFwXll44E3vPU_AYBre7iyIIK4T/w195-h262/IMG_3430.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This carp was hooked in a <br />heavily shaded spot under<br />a mulberry tree.</td></tr></tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UlPSiDbwwRaO_ux21PizvKLF8IzlLdHLtkB2KVLhDX3d7ycyX8klvoZVnptlwN6sRwp4E43lxfGOhQHDt76MUxYy1EBYVNUlrI97yIyzCcNNXvHE_ojqSh4FDFMT-1adkI4j3ub-KQCgkcK5HCOCe7HcbRQ3ziJW-dvcyFqXco_T5pIPYHG8Zh9Poz8-/s2016/IMG_3433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UlPSiDbwwRaO_ux21PizvKLF8IzlLdHLtkB2KVLhDX3d7ycyX8klvoZVnptlwN6sRwp4E43lxfGOhQHDt76MUxYy1EBYVNUlrI97yIyzCcNNXvHE_ojqSh4FDFMT-1adkI4j3ub-KQCgkcK5HCOCe7HcbRQ3ziJW-dvcyFqXco_T5pIPYHG8Zh9Poz8-/w184-h245/IMG_3433.jpg" width="184" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mulberry is impaled with<br />my #8 hook. They are best<br />fished freelined with no<br />weight.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My previous post talked about how the carp were on the post spawn feed.<br /> Well, if you know of a mulberry tree on the water's edge, that is a great source of food for these hungry carp. Carp absolutely love mulberries. They just can't get enough of them, and they will gorge themselves on berries that are hitting the water.</p><p>I fished a spot tonight in which the berries were dropping like raindrops onto the water below. Carp were under the tree just grabbing every berry that hit the water. I came prepared. I quickly grabbed a berry off the ground and impaled it with a size 8 small shank hook. I casted it out and within a second of the berry hitting the water a carp rose from the depths and inhaled it. The fight alerted all the other carp who were feeding, and they all took off sensing something was wrong. Be aware that the carp get wise to this berry fishing, and they quickly learn which berry has a hook in it and which berry does not. They also learn that when a fish has been hooked, it's time to quickly flee to safety!</p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-71320411387292622762023-06-24T16:45:00.002-07:002023-06-24T16:45:50.481-07:00Post Spawn Carp on the Feed; Ideal Weather<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KdbmnnWUlr-UEpK-SVSx32NXskzCPPvj0S9EDhcnpCo5hM7ezt2VeZo77l7rCew7CkebL6l-8SMdePzjJoMprFUwrFalZwFUj2sUIEUs8zC5nhvQ6E-uUWEuC0vclLRRUW4GYDTdWJ4uIBn3OhU5pt4r1BtZzK0vbXMjVGOCfxcOgds96Qf2C_q2P-4C/s1479/IMG_3418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1014" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KdbmnnWUlr-UEpK-SVSx32NXskzCPPvj0S9EDhcnpCo5hM7ezt2VeZo77l7rCew7CkebL6l-8SMdePzjJoMprFUwrFalZwFUj2sUIEUs8zC5nhvQ6E-uUWEuC0vclLRRUW4GYDTdWJ4uIBn3OhU5pt4r1BtZzK0vbXMjVGOCfxcOgds96Qf2C_q2P-4C/s320/IMG_3418.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This combo bait of maize and<br />a white pop-up fished on the<br />hair rig has been super effective<br />lately. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /> June has been a very good month of carp fishing for me. I have been in multiple places, and the fish are really hitting. There are numbers to be had as well as some big ones up into the 20's.</p><p>All this good fishing is being fueled by two things. First off, the carp are done spawning. Those post spawn carp tend to be very hungry, and they often go on a feeding spree for weeks after the spawn. Secondly, the weather has stayed cool and rainy. Those are ideal conditions for fishing for carp even though most fishermen will avoid this bad weather. I'll take rainy and stormy anytime over nice and sunny!</p><p>I have also fished a variety of baits in June and all seem to be working. My homemade coconut boilies were very effective in early June. Lately, my ole favorite combo bait of a white plastic pop-up corn along with a real kernel of maize on the hair rig has been very effective.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCFdKkWh3cGT-a9FHOCWGpWIqiJO62Md_CBnrYvMe2kyJ4X-vzjNP4V9Wdp9kke761Jhb2jQ45Sq7_kktgbY8bHffRyJgCy9imziAc-aJQakkp8PPQZkx6mDwMfIT2V_7Oodpc0bpRVm3hOrqR0eZBYcDWn1TfL12u8m1_YGzW-rwZc_8AZcslXAwTGIt/s1795/IMG_3416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1795" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCFdKkWh3cGT-a9FHOCWGpWIqiJO62Md_CBnrYvMe2kyJ4X-vzjNP4V9Wdp9kke761Jhb2jQ45Sq7_kktgbY8bHffRyJgCy9imziAc-aJQakkp8PPQZkx6mDwMfIT2V_7Oodpc0bpRVm3hOrqR0eZBYcDWn1TfL12u8m1_YGzW-rwZc_8AZcslXAwTGIt/s320/IMG_3416.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have been getting good size commons as well as good<br />size mirrors mixed in with some smaller ones. June<br />fishing has been hot.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-16221858699415398612023-06-18T16:49:00.001-07:002023-06-18T16:49:40.702-07:003rd Place- CAG National Big 4 Tournament/ TWO Potential State Records Released<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHQrBwBIDTRSu8UBIfOZhb7xKSrMr69uIPQIf6r7MBtY-N17Ad7cglEDkDYnUpOvhkw0Sr1NvyNPo89Rb6CkXB9YGtRuDCGGLjs8ZXLLHtWPrp-Dci4r3ZNxX4bDkIq5umdHssebid49Khm3Euv08tlIg2ghnHkWK253cJusUt3JLfk7EY_dIlQqYRw/s3596/IMG_2993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2638" data-original-width="3596" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHQrBwBIDTRSu8UBIfOZhb7xKSrMr69uIPQIf6r7MBtY-N17Ad7cglEDkDYnUpOvhkw0Sr1NvyNPo89Rb6CkXB9YGtRuDCGGLjs8ZXLLHtWPrp-Dci4r3ZNxX4bDkIq5umdHssebid49Khm3Euv08tlIg2ghnHkWK253cJusUt3JLfk7EY_dIlQqYRw/s320/IMG_2993.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My biggest carp in the tournament was a 38 lb.,<br />12 oz. monster common. It was a potential state<br />record, and the second largest carp I have ever <br />landed in RI!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The CAG National Spring Big 4 Tournament has come to an end, and I ended up in third place overall this year. It was one of my best finishes ever in this event. The event drew over 60 members from all over the US. And, these guys really know how to carp fish! The first place finisher with 143 lbs. fished in Tennessee. Second place came from Pennsylvania and surprise, surprise, third place came from RI.</p><p>The tournament ran from March 15 to June 15. The goal was to enter your four biggest carp. My four fish total came to 133 lbs., 12 oz. I had carp of 38 lbs., 12 oz. (potential state record), 36 lbs., 4 oz. (potential state record), 29 lbs., 8 oz., and 29 lbs., 4 oz. All my fish were caught from RI waters. This was my second biggest weight total in the 12 years that I have been doing this tournament. I caught all these fish on the same baits- a combo bait of one kernel of maize and a white pop-up artificial corn fished on the hair rig. A method ball was packed around my sinker.</p><p>For my third place finish, I won a $100.00 gift certificate to Big Carp Tackle. I'm sure I can find something nice to buy with that! </p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-13980022128890667862023-06-01T12:52:00.001-07:002023-06-01T12:52:22.303-07:00May Leg of RI CAG Big 3 Tournament Completed<p> We are now 2/3 of the way through our RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament. Here are the results from April and May along with the totals. Medals donated by CAG are awarded to our top 3 finishers. The tournament ends in June.</p><p>1st- Brian Savage- 20/7 + 25/1= 45/8</p><p>2nd- Tom Perron- 18/4 + 16/ 5= 34/9</p><p>3rd- Tony Carvalho- 0 + 23= 23</p><p>4th- Manny Dias- 15 + 0= 15</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3jLREGUqzszdBdg4t_TeiD1rVycwHlYVnrPsx1mQwaYmt40lcjTq_feIdKLAs904xrvKmK4KpJOOMlT1ns9fvpLUUdqXb4AqEqkMOLE9lZ72aiqOy1RumBh15yyWRhBpdfXVyL-5V0ErgWEg3H4xu39-Z7dh7QxzCuxT-dEQFeuR1UhQphaQt-_mAA/s3107/image1%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3107" data-original-width="3023" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3jLREGUqzszdBdg4t_TeiD1rVycwHlYVnrPsx1mQwaYmt40lcjTq_feIdKLAs904xrvKmK4KpJOOMlT1ns9fvpLUUdqXb4AqEqkMOLE9lZ72aiqOy1RumBh15yyWRhBpdfXVyL-5V0ErgWEg3H4xu39-Z7dh7QxzCuxT-dEQFeuR1UhQphaQt-_mAA/s320/image1%20(2).jpeg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Savage landed the biggest carp in May<br />for our Tournament. The fish weighed 25 lbs., 1 oz.<br />The one on the mat is not too shabby also!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-71386813001265514312023-05-04T12:44:00.006-07:002023-05-04T12:44:59.451-07:00Tight Race for RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament<p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixec3cQakNzC7DhtBAnodW7JGNY74rATBCARyRLlVEuuXNfl-3oQMoDEGqbrVpy_KWNiaFkXndW_QsAD8uscAvuLKA215KKzEityMU53332hrWvhyo09Bk7ag52rYnnVvZfWw4ZXPt4ZtX-JEH1ychy8i22uwlC0E0SNOu1lC2NTvX63tpATCt2vzWg/s2882/image1%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2243" data-original-width="2882" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixec3cQakNzC7DhtBAnodW7JGNY74rATBCARyRLlVEuuXNfl-3oQMoDEGqbrVpy_KWNiaFkXndW_QsAD8uscAvuLKA215KKzEityMU53332hrWvhyo09Bk7ag52rYnnVvZfWw4ZXPt4ZtX-JEH1ychy8i22uwlC0E0SNOu1lC2NTvX63tpATCt2vzWg/s320/image1%20(2).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Savage leads the Big 3 with a 20 lb., 7 oz.<br />common.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The first leg of the RI CAG Spring Big 3 Tournament has been completed, and it is a tight race for the top three places. Here's how our Big 3 works. Members enter their biggest carp for April, for May and for June. We add up the weights at the end of the tournament and that total determines our winners. Medals donated by the national CAG group are awarded to the top three finishers. In the past we have had some impressive fish entered in this event. All fish entered in this event must be caught here in RI.</p><p>Here are the top three results for April:</p><p>Brian Savage- 20 lbs., 7 oz.</p><p>Tom Perron- 18 lbs., 4 oz.</p><p>Manny Dias- 15 lbs.</p><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968778394393240306.post-54862236158242348502023-04-20T18:12:00.000-07:002023-04-20T18:12:08.915-07:00Bait Choices- Less Can be Better<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu1XJrpClPJrSbF0UsLYQuCevNXo4MoBS8tj3GLjVTuGnGVkcEmyBBrS4jI2SxMOBKK7R8vpcnX_ZHqZqEGscNp4XA1QTpGOi9aM5Ja53hMmzPuw_WLLO2ocV1Ai85r5maAsyI4AE4SZ-emX5lAdzO9WKJPsZYHpZrGmdFmM14L4uDWC7GtqykeTN1g/s2983/IMG_2832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1991" data-original-width="2983" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu1XJrpClPJrSbF0UsLYQuCevNXo4MoBS8tj3GLjVTuGnGVkcEmyBBrS4jI2SxMOBKK7R8vpcnX_ZHqZqEGscNp4XA1QTpGOi9aM5Ja53hMmzPuw_WLLO2ocV1Ai85r5maAsyI4AE4SZ-emX5lAdzO9WKJPsZYHpZrGmdFmM14L4uDWC7GtqykeTN1g/s320/IMG_2832.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely at the bait in this carp's lip. It is one <br />kernel of maize and a kernel of artificial, plastic<br />maize. This has been a real hot ticket in the last<br />week for large and small carp.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The carp fishing has improved greatly here in RI in the last week. The water temps have ticked upwards and the carp have gotten far more active. I've been getting good numbers of large fish as well as smaller ones. But, this warm water has also delivered the dreaded pests- turtles, horned pout and catfish.</p><p>In an attempt to avoid these pests, I have gone light on the bait. I am using no method since that bait ball really attracts these pests. I'm going with just a kernel of maize along with a white, plastic pop-up corn on the hair rig. Turtles and cats are not high on the plastic offerings but carp find that plastic corn fascinating and often hit it when paired with a kernel of the real stuff.</p><p>That approach has upped my catches of carp while decreasing my catches of pests. It has accounted for small carp and big ones up into the twenties in the last week. In my experience, less has been better in the last week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OXZ_Fn0oe-ljOSljIwNx1G62q_EAB6VRWaqY_4Z23mlxtK9X1hl0THmTkyYBZY-gex8WlVy4IRQxKCUDzpIegEoq5trluzRUrPkWIKyvig-pdp2Z-0CLOAgMX0KcDYYCgBvfkfu5oMQRTL1LyMOREn6z__JH_5aaJoTzGcVT2PaxKg9dQnaU-fctKQ/s1502/IMG_2840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1502" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OXZ_Fn0oe-ljOSljIwNx1G62q_EAB6VRWaqY_4Z23mlxtK9X1hl0THmTkyYBZY-gex8WlVy4IRQxKCUDzpIegEoq5trluzRUrPkWIKyvig-pdp2Z-0CLOAgMX0KcDYYCgBvfkfu5oMQRTL1LyMOREn6z__JH_5aaJoTzGcVT2PaxKg9dQnaU-fctKQ/w382-h233/IMG_2840.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large carp like this twenty pound common have been<br />hitting since the warm weather arrived. This one fell for<br />a combo bait of maize/ plastic corn.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05575920009855932525noreply@blogger.com0