CornaCarpio's Carp Culling Capers!

30 degrees or over and you have to go fishing right? Them's the rules. Even if you are tired from a 07:00 start. But rules are rules, and being the law-abiding citizen I am, I dutifully headed down the creek, under duress of course. Now contrary to popular belief, the creek doesn't just consist of 40-50cm small pools (which I am quite partial to) but consists of some 30 kms of water, about a third of which is 'riparian' and ripe for fishing (I just made those numbers up). When I finally got down to the creek, I was getting bites straight away (good sign), but not hooking up (bad sign). After about an hour I was convinced Rod Blender had jumped in his car with his two cats and come down from Shepparton (probably Spot X) distracted himself from 'catching a yella on lure' (easiest thing to do ever) to curse the creek so as I would never catch another Carp again (my last two attempts have been 'unsuccessful' to say the least) but my fears were allayed about an hour in when I landed a heavily pregnant common to the tune of about 60cm. Now the bites were coming 'thick and fast' a goldfish soon followed, followed by another, even bigger Carp. I was fortunate enough to run into a flyfisher ('at Gardiners Creek!!!) who lent me his landing net to land it, followed by another Goldfish! I was even getting bites in-between all that and hooked another 60cm model who snagged me on a stick. Although I 'only' caught 4 fish, I felt the fish were 'on'. I love these warmer nights and when the fish are biting. I literally couldn't think of a better way to spend a couple of hours after work!

+4

CC
Getting his mojo back!


First fish of the evening (Above)


Second Carp of the evening


The two together


A Goldie


And 4 all up

 

Went for a cheeky fish after work tonight. It took two spots, a bit of cycling and a bit of patience, but I eventually got one about half an hour before sundown. I had literally packed up my first rod and was ready to go when I saw the all too familiar, and subtle, 'tap tap tap' on the second. It fought well above its division and had the line peeling off the spool at a rate of knots. I was actually surprised at how 'small' it was when I eventually landed it. Nearly made up for a very lackluster day yesterday, when I was sitting on the bank through long periods of rain without a bite, let alone a fish to my name. Yes, Blunder, I said rain. The creek is now officially flowing and I don't have some fancy graph to show it. Just a fish, of the Cyprinidae variety, which are becoming more and more active (as is the author of this post). Only a matter of time before its upgrade time!

+1

CC
Humiliating Blunder one Carp at a time!


Note the pristine flowing water in the background

 

Went down to the creek on Cup day for...absolutely nothing!

In hindsight, I probably should have gone to a land-locked impoundment that wasn't as affected by last nights weather event, i.e. lots of rain.

I Vow and Declare this will not be a common occurrence!

CC
Is that desperate he is reporting doughnuts!

 

Yeah, I find with the creek that's generally not the case, but seem to do OK a few days after it has settled down....

 

I haven't used worms for a very long time, although I do have a compost with a few in it, so might have to give them a go. Yeah, I think after it rains down at the creek maybe there is too much food washed in and the old crusty bread just doesn't cut it. Also, the water was absolutely turgid, which doesn't help.

CC
Beaten by an arm-chair expert!

 

Well, a combination of 'being busy at work', 'late shifts', '(relatively) cool weather' and 'bike issues' means I have not been out much lately. I have had the odd-session down at the creek, but they have all resulted in doughnuts - until now. As I checked the barometer on my way out - which read 1009 - I still wasn't at all confident I'd get one, but mother is the necessity of invention, as they say. It was clear my 'go-to' spot wasn't going to produce, so it was time to try something radically different - and by 'radically different' I mean 'try a different spot', which was about 50 meters away from my preferred spot. Nevertheless, it paid dividends. First I had a bite on my float, which I missed. I thought I had missed my chance. I had had bite/s on my last 3 attempts, but had walked way empty handed. The creek can be notoriously unforgiving for missed opportunities, which I know all too well - my last few attempts are testament to that. Anyway, I was fortunate to get a bite (and hook-up) on my other rod, rigged with some split-shot, shortly after. On the end of my line was a modest, but welcome, 50cm Carp. I caught it in front of an incredulous teenager, who seemed genuinely interested in my technique. He confided in me that he has tried to catch Carp from the creek a few times before, but had been unsuccessful on each occasion. It happens to the best of us. After that, things went quiet, so I tried a different spot - about 50m in the other direction of my preferred spot. Just as I was contemplating leaving, my precious 3/4 inch red and white float started bobbing around - I struck - and missed. Unlike recent attempts, I cast back out and got lucky. On the end of my float was a 'wild Goldfish', taken on bread, right on the margin of the creek.

It was great to get back on the board and catch a couple, if just to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The way I'm going, my next haul won't be until Christmas Day, for the now traditional Taylor's Lake Father & Son fishing extravaganza!

+2

CC
Hope Santa brings me a bike for Christmas!

 

Been very quiet down at the creek lately. Haven't had so much as a nibble. My theory is they're spawning and are not interested in the bait...or maybe they've just wised up to my techniques!

Next stop - Taylors Lake. Hopefully I will have a bit more luck up there.

CC
Sick of reporting doughnuts!

 

A close inspection of the bottom pic would suggest I have, in fact, NOT 'caught them all...'

CC
In transit!

 

Today was meant to be a cornucopia of fish - Cod, Yellowbelly, Redfin and the odd by-catch of Carp (at least 20 or 30) for the traditional Father & Son fish-off at Taylors Lake. Instead there were people in our spot. Who in the bloody hell goes fishing on Christmas Day? There was even people set-up in our second favourite spot. What the hell? This threw everything out. Like a defender trying to kick a goal, or a forward trying to defend. We had to scout around the lake and settled on a very sub-standard spot. So sub-standard in fact that we didn't even catch a single fish!

I may head out for a day trip tommorow, but then again, with the 'luck' I've been having lately, I might save myself the embarrassment.

CC
The incompetency continues....