Kayak Carpin'

[everythingthatswims]

   Bass weren't cooperating, I was fishing a heavily pressured stretch of river, fishing swimbaits, caught a few dinks and a couple in the 2-2.5lb range early in the morning but once the sun got up the fish would only follow and look at the bait, I couldn't get them to commit no matter what I did (using jigs, senkos, worms, cranks, etc. is a joke because they see so many baits, my buddy tried t-rigs and jigs with 0 luck, he did get a couple on a swimbait though). 

   Luckily my little brother was targeting carp and had plenty of corn to spare. I rigged up a #16 fly tying hook on 6lb test (my little brother told me the fish were EXTREMELY wary and he could only get them on a #16 with 1 kernel of corn). He had so far landed 3 with the biggest measuring 30". I landed 3  with my biggest measuring 28", and my friend landed one measuring 30", I had to grab the rod and work the fish out of a tree before handing the rod back to him so he could paddle out in the river and pull the fish away from the tree. Somehow the 6lb test didn't break! Bummer that we couldn't get any nice bass, but the "junk fish" saved the day.

My little brother with a 20 something inch fish

My friend with his 30"er

My 28"er

[Bluebasser86]

I've spent a lot of days sight fishing carp, drum, and gar out of creeks and small rivers. They might not be a desirable species in some people's eyes, but a 5lb carp will out pull a 10lb largemouth any day of the week. 

[Bankbeater]

Carp in a kayak?  Did any of them take you for a ride?

[Catch and Grease]

Carp in a kayak? Did any of them take you for a ride?

I was thinking the same thing! Haha

[Christian M]

Carp put up a saltwater fight in fresh water. I love yaking for carp, nice fish!

[Darren.]

Wow, looks like you guys had a great time!

 

I've tried for carp only a few times, not successful, 

 

I got pulled about 100 yards in my yak when I caught a 14 lb striper. Awesome ride.

[everythingthatswims]

Wow, looks like you guys had a great time!

 

I've tried for carp only a few times, not successful, 

 

I got pulled about 100 yards in my yak when I caught a 14 lb striper. Awesome ride.

Where did you do that? I have landed quite a few big grass carp from my kayak on a 3wt fly rod, they usually pull me around for 5-10mins!

[Darren.]

Where did you do that? I have landed quite a few big grass carp from my kayak on a 3wt fly rod, they usually pull me around for 5-10mins!

 

Lee Hall Reservoir (Newport News Park). Only known Striper ever caught there, too! The don't stock the species. Biologist told me was likely introduced as a fingerling when stocking other species, or someone dropped it in, or it came in during a flooded period. Either way, it was awesome.

 

Hit a lipless crank I was throwing and had given up on...but it was "one last cast" that I boringly let sink to the bottom when I felt the thud, thought I was snagged, then it took off. Never saw it for 75 yards, thought I foul hooked a huge catfish, or had the bass of a lifetime. Awesome experience.

 

[everythingthatswims]

Lee Hall Reservoir (Newport News Park). Only known Striper ever caught there, too! The don't stock the species. Biologist told me was likely introduced as a fingerling when stocking other species, or someone dropped it in, or it came in during a flooded period. Either way, it was awesome.

 

Hit a lipless crank I was throwing and had given up on...but it was "one last cast" that I boringly let sink to the bottom when I felt the thud, thought I was snagged, then it took off. Never saw it for 75 yards, thought I foul hooked a huge catfish, or had the bass of a lifetime. Awesome experience.

 

Cool! Sounds like the world record white bass from lake orange (they were never stocked there). 

[Jtrout]

Carp are awesome fighters didn't know that till I hooked some few broke my 15 pound test while pullin drag it was crazy I was using bread balls I had to pull my bay rods out lol

[Christian M]

Carp are awesome fighters didn't know that till I hooked some few broke my 15 pound test while pullin drag it was crazy I was using bread balls I had to pull my bay rods out lol

I catch most of my Carp on a 10# braid with a 12# flouro leader, you just have to just let them run then gain line when you can. Eventually you'll get them in, but if you try to horse them in they'll break your line, snap your rod, or straighten your hook out. I usually back way off my drag and use my hand on the spool.