Day 366: Union County Carp

[catfishonthelake]

Since it was a leap year, today was the last day. I only had 30 minutes to fish, but the carp were on the chew mad-style the second we arrived. I hooked one within 10 minutes and after a nice fight, my fiancee took the second fish after another 30 seconds. Her fish peeled off 50 yards of drag but she fought it like a pro. The mudsub wouldn't give up and it took her over 10 minutes to get it in. What a great morning. Fish caught on corn...of course. I estimate both fish between 15 and 20 pounds.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546390_3988684041749_1420277128_3476187_1133365430 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555380_3988677881595_1420277128_3476178_659929469_ n.jpg

[NorthJerzyG]

Nice beasts!! I think hers is bigger though...........:)

[AndyS]

Some really nice fish ya got there !!!

[danyeo]

Hey I live right near there. I didn't know there were such big carp in there. That pond was empty a year or 2 ago.

[Fishon1982]

Hey great fish and congrats on fishing for the whole year that is great task and very cool. What is the next step just stop going or u gonna just keep going either way great job beers to you

[catfishonthelake]

Yeah Danyeo, there's some nice fish in there. And thanks Fishon. I'm just gonna go back to blogging once a week instead of once a day. I'll still go fishing prob once a week and I'll get the report up.

[jmurr711]

way to go bro that text hurt though!

[catfishonthelake]

Sorry Jmurr. I was just trying to let you know they were on the feed by me and was hoping you could get out and they'd be on the feed by you too. Went for a re-run tonight. Came tight with 2 but both came unglued. Not used to losing one fish little less two. One was small but the other was real nice.

[jmurr711]

we tried for snakes and got cockolla but saw the carp real active getting there freak on! we went to a lake by my cousins and caught nada except sunfish and a 3lb bass in a barehook ahhahaahah

[saxmatt]

Nice carp! It's good to see some other people are targeting them. I think I saw you post a fish ID question out of one of you're carp spots about a year ago back before I was a member. Those small fish you were catching that look similar to a baby common or a goldfish were actually Crucian Carp. They are common in NJ. They look almost the same as baby commons but don't have barbells.

[Chris1129]

Very nice....who would have thought such big fish are in that lake!

[catfishonthelake]

Cool man. Thanks. I just got into carp fishing last year and I absolutely love it. I've tried using boilees on hair rigs, but I find I have the best luck with corn in the local ponds. I went back again last night for an hour or so and came tight with two but both came unglued which is unusual. I usually land 75 to 100 percent of the ones I hook, but oh well, I guess that's gotta happen at some point.

[saxmatt]

I've tried pretty much every bait that carp fisherman use including those expensive boilies from K1 and Dynamite baits, and I've found the most productive bait is sweet corn. #1 sweet corn, #2 bread, #3 oat ball. Shows you don't have to break the bank to catch carp. They love alcohol, if you haven't tried it soak sweet corn in vodka or whisky mixed with different flavors like strawberry, pineapple, banana, or buy little nips of pucker. Sometimes there will be 1 flavor they go nuts for and it can change overnight. Try this mix around your lead too: 1 large can of quick oats and 1 large can of creamed corn. It breaks apart and puts a big pile of food around your hook bait.

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks man. I appreciate it. Out of curiousity, what are you gearing-up with for those big river carp? I use 7-foot, MH action rods with 8-pound mono in the ponds with small egg-sinkers, I've caught fish to 25 pounds and have yet to have one snap my line. I'm looking to break the 30-pound mark and was wondering what kind of rod, line and weight to use in the river. I've seen those carp in the Raritan and I've always wanted to take a crack at them. I notice the Ruskies use surf rods, but I'm not sure that's necessary.

[saxmatt]

River fish are a completely different ballgame. They fight like they are on steroids and you have to deal with rocks and snags. Even fish in the teens can take over 100 yards of line and I've had many fish take over 20 minutes to get in. I use 11' cabelas predators, okuma epixor baitrunners (baitrunners are important unless your cool with your rod flying into the water), 50 lb power pro main line, 3' 60 lb floro shock leader, 2-3 oz lead and a 4" 50 lb power pro leader with my hook.

[catfishonthelake]

Cool. Thanks man. I have a pair of the 20 size Epixors that are on my 2 carp/catfish rods. They're fantastic. I don't think Okuma even makes those 20's anymore. I'm assuming you're using the 30's? I appreciate the feedback. I have to set myself up for river fish.

[danyeo]

Cool info as I was looking at getting a rod/reel for carp, or anything else bigger that wants to bite. Do you guys think 20lb line would be strong enough for river Carp?

[saxmatt]

If you're using 20 pound test mono it should be fine, but you might run into trouble with 20 lb braid because the abrasion resistance isn't that great. A lot of great carp fisherman use mono around that size but I prefer heavy braid because it doesn't stretch so you can see the bumps better, and it floats so I think it's a little better for avoiding snags. It really comes down to what you're comfortable with because fighting fish on mono and braid is a bit different.

[Jay1111]

What lake or pond are you referring to? It seems that the thread was deleted or is missing some info.. I can't see the pics either.
Since it was a leap year, today was the last day. I only had 30 minutes to fish, but the carp were on the chew mad-style the second we arrived. I hooked one within 10 minutes and after a nice fight, my fiancee took the second fish after another 30 seconds. Her fish peeled off 50 yards of drag but she fought it like a pro. The mudsub wouldn't give up and it took her over 10 minutes to get it in. What a great morning. Fish caught on corn...of course. I estimate both fish between 15 and 20 pounds.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546390_3988684041749_1420277128_3476187_1133365430 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555380_3988677881595_1420277128_3476178_659929469_ n.jpg

[Eskimo]

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What lake or pond are you referring to? It seems that the thread was deleted or is missing some info.. I can't see the pics either.
:D lol - that's because this thread is so old cameras weren't invented yet.


http://s4.postimg.org/jbyj0j85e/Thread_Necromancer.jpg

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[youngdumbandfulloffish]

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:D lol - that's because this thread is so old cameras weren't invented yet.


http://s4.postimg.org/jbyj0j85e/Thread_Necromancer.jpg

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All my years playing MTG and I never got that card :( . Awesome pic!


My guess on location based on my recollection of 365 days of fishing (life goals) and Union county. Lenape Park or Nomohegan

[NJSquatch]

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:D lol - that's because this thread is so old cameras weren't invented yet.


http://s4.postimg.org/jbyj0j85e/Thread_Necromancer.jpg

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HA....never thought in a million years I would see a Magic card referenced on a fishing message board....awesome.....

[acabtp]

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:D lol - that's because this thread is so old cameras weren't invented yet.


http://s4.postimg.org/jbyj0j85e/Thread_Necromancer.jpg

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Lol that's great

[catfishonthelake]

It was Nomahegan, but I don't fish there anymore since the big drain and carp kill of '14.