In this episode of CarpQuest we take a family picnic down south to a lake near Pueblo. This was our first visit to this venue and I was unsure if the rumors of grass carp in these waters would prove true.
About a decade or so ago the lake had been stocked with grassers to control the abundant weed. Though typically a sterile hybrid nature always finds a way and there was now a breeding population present – or so I had read.
Arriving at the lake mid-morning I took a walk around to scout out the margins. Shallows, overhanging trees, bull rushes, the place sure looked very carpy!
Out in the middle of the lake I could see trails upon the surface formed by large fish just beneath. The wind was light and my wife and I picked a spot a few hundred yards from the car park to setup.
With the sportbrella setup for my wife, a tie-down secured for our dog Raven, I setup the fishing gear.
The clouds were dark and full overhead and I was pretty convinced the heavens would open and we would be soaked with a downpour.
Now, as I knew this venue had both common and grassers I chose a very fruity bait offering, some giant peach flavored maize. Combined with the usual panko/oats packbait I cast both rods out to a distance of 40 yards off the bank.
The first few hours were peaceful, no rain descended and no runs were had. I enjoyed the picnic sandwiches my wife had prepared though sadly I had forgotten my coffee.
Reeling in the lines I cast them out again to the same sports and waited. Just after lunch the wind started to gust and chopped up the surface of the lake nicely.
My efforts were finally rewarded with a fast run. Pulling into the fish at first I wasn’t sure if it was a big trout, channel cat or carp. Once the fish was close to the bank I could see the glittering off those golden scales and the familiar long torpedo shape of a grass carp.
The slender carp was netted and placed in the weigh sling. This gave me a great opportunity to test out my new Cygnet Sniper Weigh Tripod. Over the past few months I’ve been getting over a back injury and wanted something to help me with weighing the fish and getting a more accurate reading.
The Cygnet Tripod was christened and my first grass carp topped the scales at 10 lb 4 oz.
The peach flavored maize was going the job nicely!
Quickly re-baiting up the rod I cast it back out again .The storm clouds above looked ominous and I was not sure just how long left we had. Not fifteen minutes later I had a nice screaming fast run on the other rod. This time the fish put up a good fight but was soon netted. Another grasser, slightly larger and longer than the first, which weighed in at a respectable 11 lb.
Again this grass carp fell to the peach flavored corn. Two fish in less than twenty minutes, both grass carp,
My earlier research was being proved accurate. The gusting winds faded and there was the occasional glimpse of sunlight through the blackness above. We managed another couple of hours at the venue, I even caught a baby catfish. With weather alerts on the smartphone implying rain was imminent we packed up and headed back to the car for the drive home.
It was a great day out, we avoided the storms, had a nice picnic, got to spend some time together, and yes, a couple of nice grass carp graced my net.
Here is the video of the session.
Tight-Lines,
John