Each May I look forward to observing the carp gathering to spawn in the headwaters of one the rivers near my home. This afternoon, I launched at noon into shallow, chocolate brown-colored water. Initially I did not see much splashing or sediment swirls, but after 15 mins I found where they were. I saw a bunch of carp rolling in the shallows next to the marsh grass and aquatic plants. But as I drifted along, I saw hundreds of sediment swirls in 1-2 ft of water showing where the carp had just taken off as they sensed me coming. I was fishing with a 1/8-oz jighead with small white twister tail on an ultralight rod using 8-lb mono. I hooked several dozen fish, but usually the line went tight for a second, then the hook popped free. I had about 10 fish that stayed on for 10 seconds, and 2 large carp that I got to boat side after a 3-5 minute fight and a sleigh ride. The first photo below shows part of the two-foot long fish splashing next to the kayak.
At one point I looked up and saw a bald eagle fly immediately overhead. Within seconds, an osprey flew over to harass the eagle. The middle photo below shows the osprey on the left, and the eagle on the right.
After loading the kayak in the van, I drove a short distance to one of the road crossing culverts I had fished earlier in the week. I took a few casts with the white twister tail and hooked up with a 12” largemouth that had a dime-sized wound on its back. It is hard to beat good fishing within 15 minutes of home.
At one point I looked up and saw a bald eagle fly immediately overhead. Within seconds, an osprey flew over to harass the eagle. The middle photo below shows the osprey on the left, and the eagle on the right.
After loading the kayak in the van, I drove a short distance to one of the road crossing culverts I had fished earlier in the week. I took a few casts with the white twister tail and hooked up with a 12” largemouth that had a dime-sized wound on its back. It is hard to beat good fishing within 15 minutes of home.
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