GoPro HD Hero 4 Session Camera

The GoPro HD Hero 4 Session Camera is currently available for $200.  That's a pretty good deal. I might have to pick one up myself as a Christmas present.

GoPro Session Camera (photo courtesy GoPro)

Winter Carp Fishing Tactics

Carp Fishing Tip - Peanut Powder

My first two years of carp fishing I primarily fished with flavored maize with some commercially produced boilies utilized occasionally to add a little variety.

Last year I started making my own homemade boilies with some very good results. But after analyzing my results I am confident that I can improve the results from these homemade boilies by adding more protein to my base recipe.

When I made my boilies earlier this year I used items that I could find in my cupboard and didn't really put a lot of thought into it. I have posted the specific recipe previously, but here's the link again if you need it: Homemade Carp Boilies

A few weeks ago I was surfing around the internet and ran across something that will provide an interesting source of protein that I am going to incorporate in my recipe next season and it's readily available at the local grocery store.

Peanut powder

I am also going to try some of this stuff in my ground bait mix and see how it goes, but adding it to boilies is likely a better strategy unless I can find it available in bulk. The volumes needed for mixing it in ground bait are cost prohibitive in smaller package sizes.

What Do I Do When It's Too Cold to Fish for Carp?

It's much too cold for me to fish comfortably, so I have placed my carp fishing efforts on hold for a few months until it warms up this spring.

This time of year I spend time on other things; like updating this blog; like reading novels; like watching more football; like writing; and pursuing my aquarium keeping hobby (Tiger Oscar, Jack Dempsey and Gold Severum).

The precipitation was the kind that Detroiters hated. It made driving a pain in the ass. Cold enough to turn the light rain into snow flurries, but not cold enough to actually melt when impacting the windshield. The driver flipped on the wipers alternating between low and intermittent settings. One was too fast and other too slow to keep the window cleared.

He lowered the driver’s window an inch and lit a cigarette doing his best to blow the smoke through the crack and out into the early December night. Promising himself to give up the cancer sticks for good after the New Year, he took another puff.

The radio played a non-descript Simon and Garfunkel tune as the vehicle merged onto I-94 east. Something about parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, but he didn’t care. The radio was used for background noise more than actual listening.

Soothed by the familiar rhythm of the daily commute, he had to remind himself to concentrate on the driving. The freeway was sparsely lit except for occasional headlights from the west bound lanes. With hours to go before sunrise, traffic was light.

He hugged the right lane and set the cruise control on 60 mph; driving well below the posted limit. Occasionally switching lanes to allow an eighteen-wheeler to merge from an on-ramp, pass a delivery van, or navigate around an airport shuttle transit bus. It was all so mundane. No reason to hurry. The work would be there when he arrived. It always was. But he needed the paycheck.

He coasted down the off-ramp and turned right. Through a stop light; a right turn at the stop sign and then into the industrial park. Past one warehouse for a trucking company; another for an office supply operation; and a third that cleaned high dollar imported rugs for the well-healed. He continued driving toward the back of the park.

The vehicle rolled up to the guard shack at 2:26 a.m. as it did every other day reporting for the early morning shift.

The security officer stepped out of the shack and faced the vehicle. The driver extended his access badge to the officer.

“What’s your name?” the officer asked.

“Nathan Stutgardt.”

“Date of employment?”

“July 14”

The guard flipped over the badge to the back and scanned the barcode. The hand held chirped its approval. He extended the vehicle search mirror haphazardly to view the undercarriage near the driver’s side door area, walked to the vehicle’s rear, repeated the ritual under the trunk, walked to the passenger side, and then to the front extending the mirror under the engine compartment.

“Proceed,” the guard said, giving the thumbs up sign.

Nathan wheeled the Nissan Maxima through the gate, past the thermal scanners on either side, slow enough for the surveillance camera to capture images of his license plate before passing over the three speed bumps and through the facility gate.

Home for the next 9 hours.

#

Detective Kerry Cates had been with the department for 27 years. His career spanned 3 precincts, put three kids through Catholic school, fueled an ulcer, high blood pressure, and burned through two wives.

A thirty minute drive from downtown Detroit, he entered the apartment in Farmington Hills, flicked on the light and proceeded with the familiar nightly ritual.

Place the car keys on the peg by the door. Cell phone on the kitchen counter top near the sink. Drop the loose change in the dish by the can opener. Proceed to the refrigerator to grab an Atwater Redford Red Ale. Pop the top before heading down the short hallway and into the bedroom and de-holstering the department issue Smith and Wesson .40 caliber M & P for storage in the gun cabinet sitting toward the rear of the walk-in closet next to the out-of-date and out-of-style sport coats and suit jackets that had accumulated in the years since wife number two decided she was no longer desired to be married to a Detroit police detective.

He walked down the hallway and into the living room to assume his familiar position in the Lazy Boy and tune the remote to Fox Sports, ESPN or ESPN2. With luck the Tigers, Red Wings or Pistons would be on, but he would also settle for highlights of whatever college teams were being featured on Sportscenter. Between the Wolverines and Spartans the odds of catching the latest news and highlights about the Ann Arbor or East Lansing juggernauts would be high. Tonight it would be the ‘Wings wearing white at Joe Louis arena vs. the L.A. Kings – ‘Wings leading 4 -2 in the third period. And like most nights, Kerry fell asleep in the recliner before finishing the Atwater; and before the final buzzer sounded on the hockey game.

Shortly after 4:00 a.m. he was awakened by the ringing cell phone.

“Cates,” he answered.

“When?”

“Uh huh.”

“O.K.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

Cates arrived within thirty minutes. He was greeted at the checkpoint near the entrance to the parking lot by two uniformed Detroit Police Department officers and a member of the private security firm contracted to control entry.

“I need to see some identification sir,” the security officer said.

“I’m with them,” Cates said pointing the DPD officers.

“Sir, your identification,” the security officer repeated.

Cates flashed his badge, satisfying the requirement.

During the walk across the parking lot the two uniforms filled him in. Mass casualties. Blood everywhere. Unfortunately he’d seen it several times before, but it never got any easier.

They entered the building through the front doors and were greeted by Sergeant Larry Smithfield.

“Morning’ Cates,” Smithfield said. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”

“What are you doing here Larry?” Cates asked.

“Cates, this is not a one man job. It’s all hands on deck. You’ll see soon enough.”

The Sergeant led the detective through a maze of rooms, work bays, rooms filled with cubicles, and hallways an onto the factory floor.

Unprepared for the scene, Cates gasped for air.

“Oh my god.”

“God had nothing to do with this,” Smithfield responded.

The first four bodies lay ten feet ahead on the stained concrete floor near a stack of wooden pallets. Face up in pools of blood, arms at their sides, shoes pointed upwards.

            “Who moved the bodies?”

            “Whoever killed them I guess,” Smithfield said.

Smithfield continued walking.

“Where you going?”

“Come on. There’s more.”

Three more bodies lay forty feet further down the aisle. Like the others, arms at sides, shoes facing up in pools of their own blood next to rolls of plastic sheeting.

Michigan Carp Fishing Club Activities

Learn to catch big fish from shore. No boat needed. Join Carp Anglers Group today.

The video shows some of the fish we caught in 2015 at some of our club activities and events.

Carp Fishing 2016 Shopping List

I am writing this post to assemble a running list of items that I have decided I "need" for next carp fishing season. I will add to it from time to time. Let me know if you see something I've left off. :-)

• 1,200 yards of 50# TUF braided fishing line to spool my reels
• Trakker EQ carp landing net
• World Classic Baits 3D dip (peach, pineapple and 4seasons)
• Ingredients for homemade boilies
• PVA carp fishing capsules

My Biggest Fish of 2015

Here is a picture of my largest fish caught in 2015 - a 24 pound common carp caught on Halloween.

It's going to be several months before I can get back out on the banks, but at least I have my pictures to tide me over in the meantime.

Sonik 6000 FS Reels One Year Later

I purchased the Sonik 6000 reels on a promotional sale last year and have used them for 1 full season at this point. I thought I'd post my impressions of them after catching 140 carp on them this season.

I agree that the sales information posted on Carp Kit is accurate. Here it is again in case you need it:

A superb new bait-runner style reel, with a super smooth trouble free operation and sleek black cosmetics. Supplied with two spools, they feature S-curve Oscillation for even line lay, instant anti-reverse, front and rear drag, balances twin handles, thick Aluminum black bail arm, Titanium coated anti-twist line roller and a 4.6:1 gear ratio, which recovers a full 87cm/34 inch of line per turn of the handle.  

• 5+1 Stainless Ball Bearings
• High Strength Composite Body/Rotor
• Instant Anti-Reverse
• S-Curve Oscillation for even line lay
• Line Recovery Per Turn of Handle - 34inch/87cm
• Balanced Rotor
• Balanced Twin Handle
• Titanium coated
• Anti-Twist Line Roller
• Thick Aluminum black bail arm wire
• Free spool feature
• Sensitive sealed drag
• Gear ratio 4.6:1
• Supplied with 2 graphite spools, capacity of mm/m 0.30-460 0.35-340 0.40-260/lbs/yds 15-375 18-340 22-225.
• Reel Weight - 460g

These are sturdy reels. They look good and they produce as advertised. I have snagged hooks with them occasionally and jerked, yanked and ripped to free the snag and the reel did not falter. I even tightened down the drag once reeled until my hook bent with no obvious ill effects, although I don't recommend you do what I did.

I like the black finish on the reels and it has worn well with minimal scratches. The only reason there are any scratches at all is because occasionally I got a little excited and dropped the reels when unhooking fish.

I'd buy them again if I needed new reels. I think they are a good intermediate reel for people who are getting serious about catching lots of carp on a regular basis.

Sonik 6000 FS

Fishing Bloopers Video

As anyone who has ever tried to take a video with their cell phone can probably attest, the first few times trying to use video on a new phone is a little tricky. I did the best I could with this one. Taking the video ended up being the easy part. Posing the fish and then trying to narrate the results proved to be even more difficult.

Maybe you can relate. I would love to see fishing blooper videos from others who would be willing to share them. We can all use a laugh or two now and then.

Carp On, Carp On, Bang a Gong

I have truly enjoyed the prolonged fall this year and certainly took advantage of the extra chances to catch some fish. I had the day off from work, so after checking the forecast and seeing 60 degrees I headed out for what will likely be my last carp fishing session for 2015.

It's always a risk to fish this late in the season. It's a fine line with water temperatures that will prompt the fish to remain active. With the colder evenings the water is getting colder and it's inevitable that the bite will slow down before too long. Last night we had air temperatures in the low 30's. When I arrived at my spot today, the air temperature was 33 F.

I was fortunate to catch 9 commons today. Most of the fish ranged in the 8 to 10 pound range with a few larger fish for good measure. The biggest fish today weighed 22, 20 and 16 pounds.

Here are some pictures and a couple of videos of my captures.

22 pounds and change

 

20 pounds and change

Carp Photo Gallery

This slideshow includes a few of my carp catches in 2015.

Nice Looking Girl

After spending the dark and gloomy winter months indoors, hiding out from the rainy, sleety, snowy and miserable cold and eating lunch at the company cafeteria I always look forward to spring and warmer temperatures so I can eat my lunch outdoors.

There is something about springtime that renews the soul. The sunshine, the warm gentle breeze, budding flowers and trees all heighten expectations for good things happening and this year was certainly no different. It didn’t take long before my annual habit of eating my bagged lunch at the local park kicked in again. It was a nice way to escape the conference calls, questions from management, complaints from customers and questions from employees that reminded me why the job paid so well.

I had a supervisor several years ago that liked to remind me that if the job were easy, he could hire the janitor to do it for $5 an hour. Luckily I earn more than that, but unfortunately he was right, it is not easy.

City parks are a flurry of activity in springtime. Senior citizens walk lap after lap around the “loop” to get some exercise, landscaping crews mulch, trim weed and mow grass, co-eds from the college with their IPods arrive after morning classes. There are housewives walking the loop with cell phones to ear, grandmothers and father, mom's and daughters, babysitters and other caregivers of every age, shape and size bring their preschool kids to the park to work out some of the childish and nervous energy before putting them down for their afternoon nap in exchange for a few hours of quiet time and maybe get the dishes washed or a few loads of laundry cleaned and folded.

I always choose a picnic table near the parking lot, but very near the lake to enjoy my daily ritual. It offers a nice view of the deeper water near the spillway, but it is also close enough to the walking loop for people watching.

I saw her the first time a few weeks ago and she was beautiful. Long, lean and good looking; she was the best I'd seen in ages, but definitely a shy girl. She would hang out for a while and I’d watch her, but then bolt toward the other side of the park on the shallow end of the lake where it was covered with lily pads and cattails concealing the view. No amount of neck bending, torso twisting, or eye squinting would make it any better. I could only hope she’d be there the next day again. I started looking forward to these daily meetings from afar and dreamed of the day I’d make my move and see her closer up.

I decided to try again on a Saturday in early May. Spring transitions into summer way too soon and with the rising temperatures she may go elsewhere in the heat. The time had come to take control and go for it or regret the missed opportunity and what might have been.

Countless nights awake thinking about her until I fell asleep. I dreamed of her a lot. The dreams made it all seem so vivid and real, but the morning alarm signaling the pending sunrise returned me to reality. I offered my bait and waited hoping this would be the day I finally caught her.

It didn't take long before the planning was rewarded. I caught her - all pre-spawned 33 pounds 11 ounces of her. She was my new personal best.

Leveraging Fishing Information for Mutual Benefit

Short cuts. The easy way, not the hard way. Sure things. It's what we all want. Its human nature to want those things. We don't desire to spend time with trial and error methods, when a short cut will do the trick. And short cuts can potentially save us quite a bit of money that we won't need to spend on things that will not work.



 

It's what we secretly want from fantasy football picks. Girlfriends. Career advancement. And on and on and on. We want to know something that others haven't noticed. A tidbit of information that helps us get an edge or a leg up on our competition. But of course most of us would never lie, cheat, steal, or do anything illegal to gain the advantage...at least I wouldn't; because it's just not worth compromising my values and ethics. But I can't speak for everyone else.
It's no different with carp fishing. We want to know what rod, what reel, what bait, what hook, what flavor, what maize, what color, what lake, what river, what location, and on and on. It's a never ending quest.

Why spend years learning through trial and error when we can take a short cut and get results much faster?

I'm not going to twist this around and try to convince you that we should all want to learn on our own because its more rewarding or fulfilling. Others might disagree with me a little. I know some folks who disagree vehemently.

We learn from others and others are more willing to share their special knowledge more freely if we offer something in return. We leverage the experience of an older brother or sister. A father or mother can provide the benefit of their past experiences as well. Or we can pay for lessons to learn a new skill whether its guitar, piano, singing, cooking, performance driving, etc. But it doesn't always have to be money that is traded to gain this knowledge. We can trade knowledge for other knowledge. I'll teach you how to fish if you help me change the brakes on my car, as one example.

Another alternative is to share fishing information directly. Share results with others because they share them with you. Leverage each other's experience. But using these methods requires a lot of trust in the one(s) you are sharing with. It requires like-mindedness and respect.

I joined a carp fishing club online to leverage information via a membership. In return for $10 I gained access to member only information, social events, fish ins, discussion boards and local carp fishing contacts. It cut several years of trial and error off the learning curve. I'd recommend joining to anyone who wishes to learn how to catch large common carp or buffalo.

The club will only take you so far, however; because like many organizations I've belonged to it does have some limitations, but there is still a lot of value in belonging to those kinds of organizations.

And there is value in cultivating your own local friendships, contacts and alliances. I have friends I fish with who share information with me because I share it with them. We have an informal alliance and mutually benefit. Our alliance doesn't have a name, it's not a club, it doesn't require membership, it's not a competition, it's a common interest and friendship based on a hobby that we all enjoy.

I'd like to see more of that.

Fishing for True Giants of the Depths

If I ever relocate from Michigan back to Florida at some point in the future I am definitely going to start grouper fishing.

Improve Your Health, Start Fishing for Carp

By most accounts, I live a fairly sedentary lifestyle. I work indoors. I sit at a desk. My daily work is more mental than physical. At times it's very stressful, but there are no physical aspects to it whatsoever.

When I was several years younger I loved to run, ride my bicycle, walk for miles, play basketball, etc. But that type of activity halted once I had surgery on both of my knees several years ago. Those years of physical activity put a huge strain on my knees and now I have degenerative arthritis in both knees.

But exercise is not always physical. There is also mental exercises that provide fantastic benefits too.

The nature of fishing for carp requires physical exercise, mental exercise and a certain amount of quiet time where you are doing next to nothing while waiting for the fish to take the bait being offered.

As I continued carp fishing into the second year and now as I head into my third year it became clearer and clearer to me that the quiet time means almost as much to me as the time spent fighting and landing fish. I have spent the last several weeks trying to pinpoint what it is about the quiet time that is so attractive.

I now understand that the quiet time on the bank while carp fishing equates to meditation. The benefits of meditation are scientifically proven.

Here is a list of some benefits that I have noticed:

• Stress reduction
• Anxiety reduction
• Improved concentration
• Decreased blood pressure
• Better sleeping habits
• Improved decision making
• Improved mental strength
• Improved mood
• Improved creativity

LiveAndDare.com published an article that lists many more benefits as well.