Blackstone Carp

It is around 100 pm when the commercial fisherman finally leaves. I watch him carry his 4th bucket of fish away in disgust. My sttention is quickly brought back to my rods as I get a series of quick beeps then one tone on the Mistrals. Another 6-8 pound mirror, but the rig held firm. Really looking for those 20's and I am confident I am going to catch one of them soon.

A second fish falls to my DAT Food with the pop up maize at half past 1 in the afternoon. Probably around that same average size, I got it to the mat, unhooked and released it quickly without a photo as I thought the Mistral rod was gonna go as well. Turned out to be a false alarm. It wasn't until 10 minutes later a really nice 9-10 pound mirror grabbed up the pop up and it went running.

A bit later, think it is around 230 now and I get another average mirror. I pick up my DAT Food rod and dig in, only to find no fish there..turns out my Mistral rod was running...have no idea why i thought it was the left rod. Feeling a bit the fool I put it down and grab the right rod and sure enough, there is the fish.

After the release I put another pot of tea on. getting a bit nervous now as the clock is ticking down. I am not complaining about any of these fish, all of them hard fighting, beautiful carp. I am a man on a mission though, I want another great 20 during the winter months. As the day continues on the temps start dropping and the sun makes it's way behind the far tree line. I've got another knock on the DAT food but nothing has come of it, yet. The days move too fast when they are nice like this one has been. Round 330 I get DAT Food number 3 which is a very nice 9-10 pound mirror. Still within that average but at least on the higher end of it. This one put on a very spirited fight for the size and I am quite happy with it.

Well it is 400 pm and this will probably be my last entry unless something else happens. It is coming down to the wire for my goal today and I am starting to think it may not be the day. The river has risen about 6 inches over the afternoon as well, from the rain last night and ice/snow melting up river. There has been some bleeps on both rods, signs of fish maybe? I have a good feeling for another fish..maybe it will be the one...


Turns out it wouldn't be. I did manage one more fish on the Mistral pop ups, but it was no monster. I was packed up and on the road around 6pm. While I didn't get the fish I was after it was still a great day and I would not have wished to be anywhere else but there!