Very Poor in November

So far, it has been a very poor November for carp fishing
here in RI.

This will not be a November to remember for me. I'm working on the poorest November carp fishing I have ever experienced.  In most normal Novembers I am able to land about 50 or 60 carp here in RI.  Thus far, I have only 5 carp on the month, and it shows no signs of improving. All my November spots that produced in other years seem to have no fish or none that want to feed.
The weather has really been working against me.  With the massive amounts of rain, the high, high water is at record levels.  I've written before that I am no fan of high water as it moves a lot of the fish into places they would not normally be.  In most places, ponds as well as rivers in RI, the water is in the woods.  Parts of the Blackstone look like a massive pond right now. Add to that big time dropping water temperatures brought on by this cold weather. As I write this I am staring at 6 inches of snow in my backyard.  It's all put the carp in a funk.
I am hoping this weather settles down into a more normal pattern soon. If not, I'll keep looking and trying
.  As most of you know, I do fish all winter on a limited basis, so I will keep going. Hopefully, things improve. 

Big Fish Being Caught at NIGHT

This 23 lb. hog was landed two nights ago. Nighttime can
produce some trophy fish in late fall.

I'm competing in the CAG Big 4 Tournament right now, and I'm looking for some big carp to enter.  With the action for bigger fish slow in the daytime for me, I have turned to these warm nights in search of a big fish in the past few days.  And, it has paid off.
Three nights ago, I landed my biggest RI carp this year, a beast that went 30 lbs., 2 oz. That fish was also my biggest that I have ever landed after dark.  The next night I landed a good size one that went 23 lbs., 2 oz. I can also report that other RI CAG members have entered some big fish for our RI CAG Fall Combo Tournament that were caught at night too.
Experienced carpers will tell you that many of the biggest carp are taken at night. Big carp are wary creatures, and they will often come close to shore to feed under the cover of darkness. Combine that with late fall, a time in which bigger fish are feeding up for winter, and this month is a great opportunity to land a trophy. With darkness coming very early next week, it might be a time to get out and try carp fishing in the dark.

Photo of the Day.....An October Hog.... 30 lbs., 2 oz.

Tonight brought the biggest carp of the fall for me and another 30 lber.
for the books. This huge bellied carp was taken on a combo
bait of maize and a white artificial pop-up corn fished on the hair rig.

Not a Fan of High Water

In this photo that I took today, these are flooded woods
along the Blackstone River.  The main river is over a hundred
yards away from where I am standing! River waters are near
impossible to fish right now in RI. 

First it was the severe cold and the dropping water temperatures that put a crimp in the October carp fishing.  Now, it's VERY high water due to all the rain in the last two days. It's turning out to be an October to forget here in RI.
I went out scouting around the Blackstone River today.  Forget it.  In most places the water was in the woods.  In one spot that I checked out,  the water at my feet was about 100 yards from the main river! Many of the ponds are also way higher than normal.  Scott's Pond near my house is the highest I have ever seen it in the fall with no shoreline access to fish.
During these times of high water, many carp will actually move into flooded wooded areas to feed where the food is abundant. They are impossible to catch when in these spots. I've seen this many times in both ponds and rivers.
So, here's what I am hoping for in the coming weeks.  A warm-up would be great along with dry weather.  I know it will take a few days for the rivers to recede to a fishable level here in RI. In the meantime, small ponds remain your best bet to catch carp here in RI.

Photo of the Day....Back in Business

It's back in business as I found good numbers of cooperative
carp today on this cold morning of fishing.

Cold Weather Shuts it Down

I'm on one of the worst streaks I have ever experienced in carp fishing in October.  I have blanked on my last FIVE outings in a row. It's not for lack of trying. I've fished good spots in three states,  RI, MA and CT, in the last five days and I have nothing to show for it.
The fishing had been good up until that cold weather hit last week. I am guessing the sudden cold dropped the water temperature about 10 to 15 degrees and that was just enough to shut down the feed. Today I took a temperature reading at one of my spots and the water temp there was a cool 55 degrees. Carp should be feeding in that range, but the sudden drop has brought on lockjaw.
Note that in the last five days, I have not seen a carp jump, I have not seen any bubble trails and I haven't seen anyone catch a fish.  And, I was in some pretty good spots.
I say we are in a temporary lull right now. The fishing should perk up continue until the ice arrives.  Fall is a fickle time for carp fishing as it is often an on or off deal.  Right now, it's off for me.

Big Carp on the Feed Here in RI

This carp that is coming ashore was one of 8 fish landed in the
last 2 days in the nasty weather. The big fish are on the fall feed.

The next four weeks or so will be your opportune time to land a huge carp here in RI. A few years back I landed the biggest fish ever taken in RI waters when I landed a 36 lb. carp in mid November. Already the big fish show signs of the fall feed. I know of several 20 lbers. that have been taken recently by our RI CAGers here in RI. In the last week or so I have landed three twenties up to 26 lbs., a sure sign that the big ones are waking up to feed up for winter.  With dropping air and water temperatures on the way, it will only increase the need to feed. These bigger fish will continue to feed right up until the ice comes in.
I have been out in the heavy rain and wind of the last two days.  The fishing has been good as I landed a total of 8 carp with all of them going 10 to 15 lbs. It was nothing fantastic for size, but all good fish. I've written many times about how these carp just love to feed in the nasty weather and this was just another example. If you have the gear to last in the rain, give it a try.