First day of spring, first day of open water fishing!

[Slappy]

Let the open water season begin! --127-3-

Met up with Jacob K for an early season carpfest. Crappies bit at O'crappie o'clock, then shut off. We got about 20 carp in 2.5 hours. Standard charles fish, most were 7-9#. Of course this time of year they fight like wet rags.

Keeping in the spirit of the charles, Jacob was catching trash like you wouldn't believe. I think he even reeled in one of the keebler elves (and I have a pic to prove it). Jacob will certianly be able to talk trash at the Kayakfest.

Time to start fishing!

[sped]

..that thing is gross....Sped

[Jacob K.]

DUDE, THAT IS FISH!!!!
When was the last time you caught a 10 lb fish???????????
No idea what you are missing.
Anyway, where is the picture of my trash fish? that was a sweet one.
and I can attest that they come in like wet rags, having caught a few of those this morning too....

[Slappy]

..that thing is gross....Sped

Man sped, that is harsh! Jacob may be a little disheveled in the morning, but gross is going too far.

the fish were beautiful!

[capemike88]

Thats it, I'm going carp fishing this weekend!
Care on revealing some of your trade secrets?

[Jacob K.]

corn, corn, corn, corn corn.
chum.
use a hair rig (google it, learn how to tie one).
cast out. hang on!

[Jacob K.]

hey, slappy, i would not talk. your looking a little like the guys i woke up walking along the river this morning.

Man sped, that is harsh! Jacob may be a little disheveled in the morning, but gross is going too far.

the fish were beautiful!

[Slappy]

Yeah,
and make sure you go with someone who knows where to go....

[haguebrook]

Damn, those are some ugly fish!!!!

[Jacob K.]

i hear that helps too.

Yeah,
and make sure you go with someone who knows where to go....

[Slappy]

Mike, don't wait until the weekend. You have the best carp river around up your way. The merrimack has huge fish, many 20+ fish. The bigger fish can be tough when the water is this cold. Look for warmer spots in the river (any power plants? or places where a shallow river enters) and find a current break or edge. Pick a spot and go after school every day and chum 2 cans of corn over a wide area. Do this 3 days in a row, then fish it on the 4th day. Use small hooks (#4 or #6) on a hair rig and handle the fish gently. A soft rod helps to keep the hooks from pulling.

[bulkyj]

I create carp like that by releasing hundreds of baby coi in local area streams and ponds sometimes a snakefish or two.

[capemike88]

Well I have lacrosse everyday after school but I might be able to figure somthing out, how far up river are you guys fishing?

Mike

[Slappy]

Mike, we were in Boston, but the fish on the mack are much larger. You should try to get up past the saltwater. The key right now is to locate spots where the fish would winter over, because they get in big schools. Current breaks and eddies with warmer water should be your focus.

[capemike88]

I'm going for a ride in a little bit to see if i can't locate some of these spots as practice isn't until 7 tonight, by the way, what lb leaders are you guys fishing for these fish? I'v always heard there spooky but the Merrimac has quite a current too it.

Mike

[Slappy]

fish with mono as your main line, but use braid for your leaders. Braid is softer and they are less likely to spit it out. Use braid for your main line and you will pull a lot of hooks out--soft mouths.