Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Trout, Redfin, Salmonoids, Carp etc
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Cornacarpio
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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Cornacarpio » Sun Nov 04, 2018 7:06 pm

Got one carp and three 'micro's' today, for a lazy Sunday afternoon of fishing. Was getting enough bites to keep me interested for a couple of hours. Good way to spend the day.

:water:

+4

2018/19 Season: 13 (1656)

Carp Facts
Carp are as least widely spread around the world as brown trout. I can think of countries without them, but there aren’t many. Because of their tendency to overbreed in warm, shallow, fertile waters, there are places on the planet where they’ve become a pest. Carp, therefore, as a family, are at very low risk. Wild carp and crucians, however, are a different matter altogether. These smaller, older, more vulnerable varieties have been edged out of much of their former territory.

From: 50 Fish To Catch Before You Die, John Bailey (2008), The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, 1 Centre Rd Scoresby, Victoria, 3179, Australia, pp.100-101
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First two for the day

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Cornacarpio » Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:18 pm

Well it’s been that long that I’ve almost forgot what’s it like to catch a Carp. The annual father/son fish-off at the Carp-infested Taylors Lake on Christmas Day produced only one Carp – and I didn’t even catch it! (For a more detailed account, head on over to Cornacarpio & Co’s Callop and Cod Catching Caper thread in the natives section). Yesterday I caught the train to Belgrave and rode my bike to the picturesque Belgrave Lake thinking a change in location might result in a change in fortune – but it did not. Saw a few fish swimming about, and the lake looked ‘fishy’ as, but I didn’t get a single bite for the whole day. Today, I actually planned to head to Caulfield Lake (via the creek) to tie on a lure and catch a stocked Rainbow Trout. My thinking being; “they’re stocked, designed for kids to catch – surely I can manage that”.

I never made it to Caulfield Lake. As I was riding along the creek I saw a huge school of Carp. While not exactly devouring my bait, they were quite receptive, especially with a healthy dose of patience. I got my first one virtually straight away, and the second one probably 10 minutes after that (both measuring approximately 47/48cm). Eventually the school broke up, with me catching the two in question and several passers-by scaring them off. Feeling great to finally be back on the board, I tried a few other spots, but ultimately didn’t do any good.

I sometimes hear reports of Carp schooling on the surface and the Carp not being interested or receptive to bait. While I can definitely relate - and have experienced this situation many times before, I find if you are patient and don’t cast directly at the school of fish (scaring them away) you are always a chance if your bait is in the area where the fish are. Just don’t expect them to bite straight away.

Anyway, after a Carpless December (in fact, I've hardly caught a Carp in nearly 2 months), it was great to start the new year off with a ‘bang’ and catch 2 Carp in relatively short succession. With a bit of time off during the first month of the year, I plan to try a few new spots I haven’t had time to get around to. Hopefully a few more Carp will follow.

:water:

+2

2018/19 Season: 15 (1658)
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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Lightningx » Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:37 pm

Great way of starting off the new year.
Enjoyed the read as always.
Nice report and pics.
Cheers :thumbsup:

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Cornacarpio » Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:02 pm

Headed to my old haunt TNA today, more for curiosity than anything else. I wasn't really expecting it to be fishable, but secretly hoping it would be. It wasn't. The top pond is a 'water-filter' pool, and the bottom pond, while it has water in it, is quite shallow, full of weed and not really suitable for fishing. I did see a few Goldfish swimming around above the weed bed, but didn't even bother chucking a rod in.

There was something about TNA when it was 'on'. I'm sure there are many ornamental ponds around Melbourne with Carp in them, but TNA really seemed to 'pop'. I was always confident of catching at least something every time I went there.

Speaking of ornamental ponds, I stopped by one on my way home. I caught 6 micro Carp. I wonder how many I would have caught at TNA in its heyday. The current set-up at TNA is probably better for the environment, as it recycles water (and the water is a lot clearer), but from a selfish point of view, isn't so good from a Carp-fishing perspective.

+6

2018/19 Season: 21 (1664)
Attachments
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Top Pond - is a shadow of its former self
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Bottom Pond - the water is very clear

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Lightningx » Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:23 pm

Nice work :thumbsup:

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Cornacarpio » Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:22 pm

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Tried a new spot day based on someone's advice on Carp Busters, and I was finally successful in a new spot, landing a 62cm carp.

It was a bizarre day. The water here is just inches deep for the most part. When the carp get spooked you can see them 'running' across the water! It was tough going at the start, I could see the carp, I just couldn't catch them.

On the opposite side of the spot to where I was fishing, someone left their rods unattended. One of the rods buckled over violently for a second or two before 'snapping back'. I went over to investigate (more to get closer to the action than to snavel the rods). They were indeed unattended. I set up camp pretty close to the rods, and about 20 minutes later old mate comes back with 2 bags of shopping! I tried explaining to old mate what happened (don't think he understood English too well, so I did bother bringing up the legality of leaving rods unattended either) and when he reeled in the rod that had the bite on it, there was nothing there - whatever it was snapped the line and made quick work of it.

I moved to another spot nearby by which time another fisher-person turned up. I wasn't entirely happy where I cast my line, so I decided to reel it in to recast it. During which time, I felt a bite! It was quite a significant one to! The person that showed up was much better equiped than me and even offered their landing net, which came in very handy! The end result was a nice little 62cm carp in a new location.

I've made a point of trying new spots this summer - Belgrave Lake, Ringwood Lake, Caulfield Racecourse - rather than catching the 'same old' fish down at the creek. I had been spectacularly unsuccessful - until now. It's always good to catch a fish on your first-go in a new spot. The chances of me returning have increased significantly.

:water:

+1

2018/19 Season: 22 (1665)
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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Lightningx » Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:31 pm

Nice one :thumbsup:

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Cornacarpio » Thu Jan 10, 2019 7:08 pm

Took a workmate from regional NSW out fishing yesterday. I’ve been meaning to go to Coburg Lake t for a while, but have kept putting it off. Even yesterday when I woke up and it was cloudy outside with a forecast for 18 degrees, I still wasn’t that keen. But boredom took a hold and I finally came to my senses – of course I should go fishing!

I arranged to meet my mate at the Lake as he lives nearby. He was already there with a handline, and had been for quite some time, without any luck. I suggested we try another spot. On our bikes, we were circumnavigating the lake looking for a ‘fishy’ spot. It didn’t take long to find one. I chucked one rod in with a running sinker leaning against my bike, but took a more ‘active’ approach to my rod with a float on it. I was convinced at least one of the many Carp I could see had my name on it. After about 20 minutes of ‘chasing’ the Carp with my float, I was convinced this is exactly how Gardiners Creek is fishing at the moment – fish absolutely everywhere, but unwilling to take the bait. That was until my mate yelled out ‘Your rod, your rod’, referring to my other rod leaning up against my bike. And lucky it was, otherwise it would have ended up in the murky depths of Coburg Lake. On the end of it was a hard fighting 60cm Carp. Just as I was about to suggest another change of location!

About 20 minutes later the same rod went again. This time the pull was even heavier and I knew I had a serious fish on. When I could actually see it, I was paranoid the line was going to break, so I took my time getting it in. It took ages. In fact, my arm was getting sore from holding the rod for so long. There was a few near misses as well. As we were fishing off a relatively steep bank, I had nowhere to beach it, so my mate actually waded in to net it with my tiny butterfly net. A few times he nearly had it before it swam off and went on another ‘run’, but eventually the beast succumbed. When I finally landed it, I couldn’t believe how big it was! Over 70cm! The very definition of a ‘big Carp’ in my book. It also had another (much bigger) hook in its mouth (along with about 1m of line), which obviously belonged to a lesser angler than myself.

Speaking of hooks, I was using ‘circle hooks’ which I bought ages ago, but never really used them or had much luck with them. They don’t really suit my style of fishing with a float down at the creek, but I give them full marks when using a running sinker. Each fish was hooked beautifully. I know they’re only meant to ‘lip’ the fish, but the huge model absolutely inhaled his, there was no was he was getting off. It was fully embedded in his mouth.

I was so stoked to catch a decent Carp – one the Lake is known for. I’ve tried CL once or twice in the past – seen huge fish come out of there, but never managed to do any good there – until now. Although my colleague didn’t catch anything, he played an instrumental role in helping me land all the fish. There’s a good chance the big bertha would have gotten off if he didn’t wade in with the butterfly net. I was so stoked. I finished off the day with a nice 50cm model, so all-in-all I got 1 x 48cm, 1 x 60cm, and 1x 70cm+. It was a great day fishing.

It was good to actually go fishing and catch some decent fish. I actually had some real ‘fun’ this time. The company, and the size of the fish just added a whole new dimension. I finished the day on a high. Speaking of drugs, I often liken Carp fishing to taking drugs. Every time I go fishing for Carp (its not always good), but I'm filled with the sense of possibility. The possibility that this might be the day. The day I land a 90cm Carp, the day I land a 100cm Carp, the day I land 100 Carp. Any every time I stop fishing, I wonder what the next trip will bring...

:water:

+3

2018/19 Season: 25 (1668)
Attachments
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Last Carp of the day - 48cm
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And then there was two...
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This guy already had some metalwork in his mouth...
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First Carp of the day went a respectable 60cm

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Lightningx » Thu Jan 10, 2019 7:17 pm

Great read as always mate.
Nice report and pics. Sounds like you were very lucky to land that big one and lucky to have your friend there to help you!

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Re: Cornacarpio's Cumulative Carp Culling Caper

Post by Cornacarpio » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:02 pm

Popped down to the creek tonight afterwork. It was hard work! Carp everywhere but seemingly unwilling to take my bait. After trying the humble running sinker rig, which I had a bit of success on at Coburg, and my 'traditional' float set-up, I decided to change tack: floating bread crust. I almost got a strike straight away! The water was too dark to see the Carp, but I saw the water 'enveloping' the bread-crust, then a splash...then nothing! Feeling rather dejected, I tried another spot. More or less the same thing happened - I could see the Carp swimming towards the bread. He 'nosed' it, but didn't inhale it, like what often happens when fishing off the surface as the fish seem a little less sceptical of a piece of bread floating 'naturally' on the surface. This happened about two times before he finally 'went for it'. On the end was a modest, but respectable 38cm Carp. I was feeling mightily relieved just to catch something, as I considered going home several times during the trip.

The only thing I can think of that would make the Carp skittish when taking bread off the surface is if they feel or 'mouth' the line, i.e the leader as opposed to the hook-bait if that makes sense...

+1

2018/19 Season: 26 (1669)
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