I caught this one early on my vacation day. The carp in this spot are slow to bite and seem to give up early with little activity after 9:30 a.m.
Fall fishing can be very good at times, especially in lakes. When water temperatures fall back into the 50's at night, it seems to spur a return of better than average carp fishing prospects.
The trials and tribulations of a carp fisherman (continued)
I headed out fishing this morning at O' Dark Thirty to one of my favorite fall fishing spots. The park supposedly opens at dawn, but after a few phone calls to the city offices, police department, and (after pressing zero), the Oakland County Dispatchers office who actually logged a non-emergency call to the local police station, frustration ensued. After wasting 2 hours, we gave up and headed to a second location 20 minutes away.
We set up to fish and kept noticing boats rolling into the parking lot. If you guessed that I had another run in with a group of boaters, you're right. I confronted one who ran over my line and beached his boat about 20 feet from my rods. I let him know that either I have the worst luck with boaters or boaters in general are out to get me. He didn't apologize or anything, which seems to be typical of the boaters I've run across.
On the way out of the park I ran into the DNR Officer. I explained what happened and she promised to make a visit to them and talk about it. I explained to her that I expect careless behavior from young, inexperienced boaters, but these guys were retired folks, experienced boaters, and driving antique boats. Bottom line, they should have known better.
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| Yours truly on a happier day of fishing |
I would like to see more respect from boaters towards shore fishermen. Sometimes I get the feeling that boaters look down upon and consider shore fishermen "lesser" somehow. I can only base this view on how I have been treated by boaters. I am sure not all boaters fall into this category.
I am continually surprised and confused by the actions of boaters on lakes that I fish. My impression of the reasons someone decides to buy a boat in the first place have been turned on their head recently. I have always thought that a boat is purchased to fish out in the water, away from shore, but time-and-time again I see boaters actually beaching their boats on the shoreline rather than piloting them out in the actual body of water that they are designed to navigate.
My suggestions and observations for boaters from a non-boater point of viewpoint:
Looking for the best carp hooks?
I highly recommend these G-Carp hooks from Gamakatzu. I have bent several hooks, but never one from Gamakatzu.
I tied up 10 hair rigs recently and at one point there was blood on my desk. It was from these hooks.
They're sharp and they're just plain good. I think they are the best on market, but I've also used Nash carp hooks successfully as well.
The best fishing hooks are not cheap. But then, you wouldn't trust heart surgery to the low cost provider would you?
I know it's a stretch comparison, but for those of who fish regularly, losing a potential new personal best because a cheap, inferior hook bends during the fight might cause a few heart problems.
This Labor Day has been very, very good to me. We didn't catch Diablo today at the Detroit River, but...after discussing that catching a triple is unlikely from this spot, guess what happened...yep, a triple - 3 on the mat.
One of these photos in the collage is of the same fish twice (unless I actually caught 9), but after landing 8 carp and 5 of very similar size and shape, they begin to look a like.
The largest fish today weighed 13#, but it was a fun day and weekend of carp fishing.
In this age of bigger being better in carp fishing where 12' and even 13' rods are the norm, I have been interested in doing some testing and videos using smaller equipment. Inspired by a recent video by Catfish and Carp on YouTube, I am going to try to catch a carp using a Zebco Dock Demon (or similar) from Walmart.
I would love to see others try it too and share the experience here in the comments below. The only rule I will follow - the rod and reel combo must cost less than $15.
Stay tuned.
The Detroit River offers some great fishing opportunities at many public fishing venues. Public parks and piers provide access to the river where you can catch species from catfish to carp and bass to walleye; from musky to sturgeon and everything in-between. My favorite little known catch so far - a River Carp Sucker.
I spent some time this morning fishing a spot on the Detroit River that has seldom produced carp for us. But whether you call it luck, skill, or persistence the results improved today.
There are other spots nearby that have also produced some catches, but based on my personal experience you may fish one day and catch; and fish another day and not.
I think river fish tend to travel more and move around more than fish in a lake might have a tendency to do. And wind direction definitely plays a big part in the odds of catching carp from the Detroit River.
My largest carp in the photos below weighed more than 21 pounds.
If you decide to try fishing the river, aim for a day when the wind is low and slow. We ended up leaving around 11:15 a.m. along with most everyone else.
This is a quick, hit it, get it and go spot apparently because no one was catching anything after 9 a.m.
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| Mid Teens Carp |
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| Small, but scrappy |
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| 21 pounds |
If you are looking for a camera, look around for a used Fujifilm 12 megapixel pocket sized point and shoot. It's better than many phone cameras and it saves your phone battery. You can buy them under $100 if you shop around.
2021 is finding my carp fishing efforts focused largely on the Detroit River. These efforts date back to 2019 and 2020 when I started fishing the rivers nearby more and more.
My efforts to fish public lakes near my home have become frustrating with boaters and jet skiers.
But I've caught some nice fish this year in the Detroit River at 3 different swims, which is rewarding. There are a few other Detroit River swims on the list for later this year as well.
Here's an interesting fish from earlier today. I wish I'd thought to photograph the head from the top, but I did not.
"I don't need therapy, I just need to go fishing." I get mine most Saturdays, from April to early in November.
Forty-six million people can't be wrong.
There are actually fishing therapy programs popping up across the country.
I caught these carp today from the Detroit River.
I am speaking generically about therapy. Please consult a professional if you think you may need therapy or counseling.
Fishing has provided me a powerful way to unwind and de-stress after a work week. It's difficult to successfully catch fish while angry. Trust me, because I have tried many times.
There are so many details involved in successfully catching fish that a calm and cool approach is needed.
Fishing usually occurs in nature, in peaceful surroundings, which has been a source of meditation for me. My blood pressure reduces just thinking about fishing. Sitting by the water adds a calm that is sometimes difficult to find sitting on the couch.
The next time you are stressed, try tieing a few fishing rigs. It's difficult to tie a fishing rig while anxious, upset or uptight. In my experience, the act of rigging baits for fishing forces me to become calm and very "Zen".
Here are my pictures from the Reel Fish Reel Fun event today at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor.
It was a nice event. We arrived early. We conquered rain. We conquered wind. We conquered some strong fighting Huron River carp and shared carp fishing with some interested, studious, excited kids who hopefully left the event with some new knowledge and appreciation for what is one of the most accessible, largest average size, and strongest fighting freshwater fish available to the average angler in the Ann Arbor area.
We met, networked, swapped fishing stories and tips with some other local carp anglers. If you haven't hosted or participated in this type of kids fishing event before, I'd urge you to try it. It's an easy way to get more involved in the community and pay it forward.
I caught 10 carp today using what is probably the most economical combination of carp rod and baitrunner reel available on the market - the NGT Carp Stalker rod and Okuma Carbonite baitrunner.
I haven't priced them specifically for purchase but after a couple of Google searches it appears you can get the combo brand new for $60-$65 not including shipping costs.
The rod's 2.0 test curve is fine casting 2 oz. leads and packbait up to 40 yds. The reels were spooled with 30# braid and were able to do the job okay-ish. The reels are rated at 12#s of drag pressure I believe, which might be enough in clear, weedless, and snagless lakes and small rivers/creeks. The reels show their weaknesses quickly with heavy weed and/snags such as submerged tree branches. I had to apply manual drag with my hand to help compensate while fighting several fish today.
I would rate the rods as "good" for an economical price. They are decent stalking rods. I would rate the reels as "fair", due to lack of drag pressure while fishing in heavy weed beds.
This combination is a decent option for a kids' setup or quick hit and go sessions.
Almost anyone can learn to catch carp FAST with a little effort and planning.
Kentucky Afield recently featured a segment about carp fishing. Carp fishing guru Erik Taylor hosted the filming crew from the TV show at his home lake.
Erik demonstrates pack baits, hair rigs, fighting, and landing common carp, which are gaining notoriety as a worthy sport fish.
Check out the video online. It's a very good representation of modern day European-style carp fishing.
Steps to catching carp:
1. Get a suitable rod and reel: Almost any medium action bass fishing rod 7' or longer will work to get you started.
2. Find a body of water with carp: Spend some time reading the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website. There is a section that allows you to search by water and by species. While you're there read the fishing regulations.
3. Do a web search for "how to make method mix for carp fishing"
4. Search YouTube for "how to tie a hair rig"
5. Mold your method mix around a 2 oz lead.
6. Cast your bait into a spot close to shore that is at least 5 feet deep with signs of carp. I like to cast out about 30 to 40 feet.
7. Loosen your drag completely so it free spools allowing fish to run with the bait.
8. When you hook a carp gradually tighten the drag as you reel in the fish.
Frustration and fishing go together like baseball and apple pie. They are joined at the hip. You can't have fishing without frustration; otherwise, they would call it "catching".
In my 8 years of carp fishing I have developed some techniques that help prevent that frustration from getting to the point that I don't enjoy fishing any more.
For me, I try to focus most on getting out of the house during months of nice weather, meeting new people, enjoying time with friends, seeing new places, traveling a little, exploring, visiting new cities, fishing in new locations, etc.
In my first couple of years of carp fishing, I focused a lot on fish size and less on those other things that help make the process more enjoyable.
Although it is certainly difficult, I try to focus less on catching my new personal best, a koi, a fantail, a mirror, etc. But I am certainly happy if it happens.
I spend all week at work dealing with a level of stress that melts away for 8 or 9 hours when I get to do some fishing on Saturday morning and afternoon.
As an example, I took the photo above while fishing. Photography and fishing make good companion hobbies. Fishing takes us to various urban, rural and city environments where we see unusual things like this bulk container vessel that is 600' long.
Ducks, geese, frogs, dogs, bobcats, dear, squirrels, etc. also make interesting photographs. I recently watched a squirrel swim across the small river where I was fishing. I didn't know squirrels could swim so well.
Four years ago Linda and I were in Toledo exploring downtown and I scoped out some fishing spots.
It took 3 years, but last fall I fished in Toledo a couple of times catching about 12 catfish and 3 carp.
Today I headed back and in 8 hours caught a fourth carp. It's making its way down my list of spots to fish, but I still love downtown, catching a Mud Hens game, the restaurants and the fireworks on the 4th.
I used to post a lot of carp fishing photos on my personal social media pages. It became inevitable that one of non-fishing friends would comment or tease me about the poses and pictures all looking alike. Now I mainly post the photos in a fishing group page where the readers/viewers have a bigger interest in seeing them, which has helped reduce those type of comments.
But, I do still share carp photos on my personal page if its an unusual fish that has unique size, color, location, weight, etc. I have also tried to add variety to them to help appease my friends and family.
An easy way to do that is with Google's color pop feature via Google Photos.
Here are are a few color pop photo conversions from the past couple of years:
I've been surprised at the attention to detail people pay when viewing my fishing photos. I receive a lot of comments about my hat choices. So, that's another easy way to add some variety and fun for friends and family.
I'm a Cardinals fan and Ford employee, so those hats are my "go to" head gear for many of my photos.
My good friends in Tennessee are big fans of Mississippi State football, so they sent me a MSU hat that I have also worn in the past for something fun. They actually loved it.
