This story took place two years
ago in 1997. This was a new carp lake; it was its second year open. I had
heard a lot about it from friends and others and wanted to find out firsthand
about it. The first trip I took up there was with a friend and a teacher for
you can never have enough of them. We took 7 different kinds of bait with us
that day. We caught fish with all of them on 4 different places on the lake.
It was through the week when we went up. There were just a couple fishing so
he said that we could just fish for the fun of it. That’s what we did and it
was one of the best times I or Rick had had. It’s a good drive up there from
the house about 11/2 to 2 hours. But it was well worth the drive that day.
Rick caught 38 fish and I caught 34 fish so you could say they were biting.
We still talk about that day now sometimes.
The next time I went was by me I could
not find anyone to go. It was to be his first all nighter that he had. He was
to pay $200.00 an hour spilt up 4 ways also $100.00 for the biggest.
$75.00 for the second.
$50.00 for the tried.
$10.00 sidepot for biggest and the reger pots.
He ended up having 49 fishermen.
From talking to some of them and the couple that fish the first time Rick and
I went up. I knew I did not want the lower half of the lake for that was were
all of them were going. That’s were all the fish had been caught. Anyway falt
had a hand in were I was going to fish. I was draw 46 out of 49. I went drown
4 shards drown from where you pay. This lake is 300 yards long and 300 feet
wild. If you look at a box that is how it looks. There is not supposed to be
3 INS different in the ends of the lake or the sides. He said that’s the only
way he could make it fair. It’s the nicest lake I have ever fish for carp at in
my over 30 years of doing the sport I love. This man has a way to put fresh
water and oxygen in the water that you would not believe.
Well I got setup and only took one
bait with me that day. It was rice everybody that walk buy me would stop to
tell me. That these fish would not bite rice. I told them that I was in for a
long night then. They also would tell me that I needed to get out further
then what I was doing. I would tell them Ok. But I was trying to bait me a
hole up about half way to the rope which was running down the middle of the
lake. This went on for about 3 hours and I pull out of the hole. I started to
put them out to the rope and got a few little ones. The people at the lower
end were catching fish in the 20s now. Well it was dark now. I started to see
some good feeding bubbles now were I had been putting the reels at first. So
I pull them back in and put them back in there. About that time one of them
walks by and said. I see you pull them back in close as I told you, you need
to put them to the rope, but I guess we all have to learn in our own way. I
said yes sir we do and he walks off laughing.
Man I don’t know what it is about
me but people just love to pick on me. I would not have it any other way.
Buddy let me tell you this. I have never seen so many fish in the 20s caught
as was caught that night. For 8 hours four spots on the hour. If you did not
have a fish in the 20s don’t even think about whaling one for it took 21s and
better. I got lucky and got 4 tops and the biggest fish of the night witch
was a 25.6lber. Also got the side pot that was $10.00 each person. The hour
that I got him on there were a 25.4, 25 and a 24 something on that hour. I
had to wait for 3 hours for it to be over. I was a wreck when it was over.
Man that’s is some of the toughest fishing I have ever done. Here is the pic
of the fish that made me the best out of 49 others for one night in the
pay-lakein gallery. Just hard to beat a night like that. LUCKY
Paul Collins
Just Carp’N
I did this story in 1999.
Saturday, April 10 2010
