William Joseph Exodus Pack

• Hypervent suspension distributes load evenly and provides excellent breathability
• Chest pods are removable to convert vest to a standalone backpack
• Each chest pod features two inside mesh zip pockets and two exterior zip pockets
• Two built-in retractors and a zip-down workstation
• Dual rod holder and multiple lash features
• Tippet Control System keeps your tippets organized and neatly tucked out of the way
• Hydration system compatible (bladder sold separately)
• Tuck-away net and boot holder
• Padded shoulder straps with adjustable sternum strap
• Adjustable waistbelt
• Docks to the William Joseph Access pack
• Internal frame with two metal stays
• Fits torsos: One size fits most
• Left chest pod: 10x5x2"
• Right chest pod: 10x6x3"
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 19x12x7"
• Capacity: 1596 cu.in.
• Weight: 3 lb. 2 oz.
• Material: Nylon with two metal stays

Fifteen hours

The plan was to meet early, at 6:30 AM, to fish for carp in one of the lakes in Central Park
I wanted to fish near the restaurant at 72nd street.  My friends wanted to fish on the west
side of the lake.  The previous evening we had been SKUNKED by a band of koi on
Staten Island.  There was a score to settle.

The reason we had to arrive so early is that this lake has a boat rental concession that opens at 10:00 AM.
The best carp fishing is before the concession opens or after 7:00PM when the rental closes.

We fished from a prehistoric rock left by the glacier's retreat as it receded north. 
Not ideal for fishing but carp fishing requires constant adjustments.

Here is my first carp of the morning.  A little guy.

Here my friend Steve holds the net with my next carp.  We stayed until the concession
opened.  Once the rowers started to bang their oars on the boats carp feeding stopped.
Two of my group of four had to meet their families so they went home.  Only Dennis and I were left.
We decided to fish at another of the fisheries in the park.  "The Pool"  holds "Club Size Bass".
My definition for  Bass that are about a year old ( twelve inches) is they are club size.
Dennis and myself  used streamer flies.  I used single hand rod spey casting to
reach bass on the far side of the pool.   We hooked several bass before the bass turned off.

We walked to The Meer at the north end of Central Park.  Surprise.  About 3 feet of water
was missing from the lake.  We guess the water had been drawn down for some repair work
that needed to be done. 

We packed up and headed for New Jersey to fish for carp there.  By the time we arrived
in Garfield, New Jersey,  Steve had driven to Garfield also.  So after eight hours we were
back together fishing for carp again.  By the time we decided to quit, it was dark.  By the time
I reached my home more than fifteen hours had passed since we met at 6:30AM 
.

 

This was my longest day of fishing; fifteen hours of thinking about nothing else but how to
catch carp.

Rahway River Park

Finally went to Rahway River Park.  There are bass,carp and BG's plus trout in the river.
It wasn't too humid but the walk was nearly thirty minutes from the train.

Looking south as you arrive at the pond.  There are lily pads on 90% of the shore line.
I saw carp feeding in the south end of the pond.  But the lily pads are more than 10 feet
deep in many places from the shore line.

Next to the pond and parallel to the walking path is the Rahway River; which is stocked
with trout.

Another view of the lily pads.

Weedless is the only way to go here

Looking north at the south end of the pond.  Surprisingly there are no geese & only
a few ducks here.

The mudhole

Can you count the trout in this picture?  This photo was taken at a river that passes
through Nutley, New Jersey.

I like to fish this part of the river for carp.  The carp here are so difficult to catch that
even fishing with corn does not make it any easier to catch them.  I spent three hours
trying to catch some of the tailing carp.  I tried everything.  Nothing worked.
 

As the day was ending, I moved to a different part of the river.  I noticed that the
carp would move away when they sensed my presence but would slowly and I mean
very slowly return to continue to feed.   Carp seem to ignore things they see daily.
By that I mean, if there is a tree or a wall  near them that is something you can stand
near, in front of or behind and carp will be unable to "see" you; if you stand very still.

I stood in front of a tree on the shore and waited.  I waited some more and saw the
 feeding pod of carp slowly return to where they were feeding initially.  It was as if
 they had GPS.   Suddenly my fly line tightened and the reel released line to a fish
that was accelerating across the river.  I forgot to mention  that I was using a
 2 weight fly rod!  It took a while before I was able to get control.  Half my backing
 saw daylight.  Bit by bit I was able to put line back on my reel and eventually
 land the carp.  

Carp on a white fly

A friend on a message board posted a picture of a fly he tied.  What makes the fly
unique is that it can float for a short period of time.  After that the fly slowly  sinks
through the water column.

When I saw this fly I knew I had to get a fly like that.  I offered to buy them from
the tier.  He sent me a bunch for free. Up until now I had not had the opportunity
to test this fly

I fished several flies before I tied on the white fly.  I pitched it among several tailing
carp that were eating about twenty feet from my position.

BAM!  It never reached the bottom of the lake.  Just as the tier had said the fly floated
down through the water column and when it reached "attack depth" a carp sucked
it down.

I landed the fish and pitched the fly amongst the tailing carp in another spot.  The next carp
reacted the same way.  sucked it down and ripped across the lake as my fly line tried to
follow.

I hooked 4 carp before I put on a deer hair fly.  I caught two more carp before calling it a day.
Thanks Gregg!

A river runs through The Bronx

                            
                         I  went to Shoe String Park in The Bronx last week.  This was my first
                        visit to this part of the Bronx River.  The Bronx River is New York City's
                      only fresh water river.  For decades the river has been the brunt of jokes
                      because of pollution.  I've begun to appreciate the flowers I see as I fish in parks.

                           I don't know the names but I admire their beauty.

                  This is the south entrance to the park.

    
             Another flower near the river.

      A rare black squirrel foraging near  the walking path

         The Bronx River as it enters Shoe String Park.  The river is cleaner now that
         raw sewage is no longer being released into it.  As recent as 2006 waste was being released
         into this water from Westchester County.

     Due to the dry spell we are experiencing the river is very low and not navigable
    in several places.

     The Bronx River has become home to beavers again.

     An egret fishing in the Bronx River.  Clean up work by volunteers has had a positive
     affect on a river destroyed by abuse and neglect.

        There  were once trout here.  Herring have been released into the river in the hope
         that at some point they will return to the river to spawn.

         I noticed small minnows all along the river bank.  I couldn't identify the species but
         the river is cleaner and growing again.

          Here is a fork in the river.  In this part of the river I did see panfish. 

         Look at how clear the water is.  I suspect the best fishing is where the river
        enters the Botanic Park and passes through The Bronx Zoo.  Below the Zoo the water
       is tidal.  Both largemouth and stripe bass can be caught there.  Oyster are being reintroduced
       to help improve the quality of the water.

       The Subway looking north

A few carp on a hot afternoon

 It has been awhile since I have ffished  for carp in New Jersey.  I've had some personal
matters that I must complete.  So It was fun to watch and catch carp again.

 Carp fly fishing is fun and exciting.  Putting your fly infront of a feeding carp is a test
and a challenge.  I hooked 4 and landed two this day on the new 5/6 wt rod I bought on e-bay.