Clove Lakes

                   I arrived at Clove Lakes on Staten Island at about 1:00pm.  It was hot.

             There was no wind and it was humid.  I sat down and ate a turkey hero &
             looked around to see if any fish were active.   Nada!

          I did see a chipmunk on the walking path

      And one of these standing beneath the shade of a lake side tree.

         Another bird which fishes for it's supper

         Ducks transiting from one end of the lake to another.

          I stayed at the park for eight hours and saw no carp in spite of the chum
           I put in the lake.

New fly rod

                     I went to the lake at 72nd street.  I have tried to fish this area for awhile
                    but there are always too many turtles.  And today was no different.
                    Have you ever seen a big snapping turtle sprint 20 yards?

               This is a new 5 piece, nine foot, 5/6 weight fly rod I bought on ebay. 
               Since I could not fish near the restaurant, I fished near the Bethesda
              fountain.  It wasn't until 8:30 that I notice my line move,slowly at first &
             then the rod changed shape.  The reel screamed and line stretched out over the
            lake.  The upper third of my new rod was pointing to the northwest! 
            Backing was moving out to keep up with the carp. 

                I used the Franco Vivarelli carbon fiber reel, which is not really a carp fly reel.
               It is intended for trout.   But it would not be the first time a reel was smashed by
              a powerful fish.  The carp slowed as my backing was no longer backing the fly
              line.  It was the fly line.

               But you can see here that when used correctly, the trout reel will pull in a reluctant carp.
               Pump and retrieve, pump and retrieve.

                   Egret in full stalk mode

              

          
           The next evening I took New Jersey Transit to a lake in New Jersey for more
           carp fishing.

          
         I hooked five and landed three.  Not bad for a $40.00 fly rod.

Blue gills

                       I took a walk around Prospect Park & caught this BG on a Fenwick
                       fiberglass fly rod.  It is always fun to fish one of these old rods with
                      their slow flex.  I've been able to use some on my carbon fiber Franco Vivarelli
                      semi automatic fly reels to fish for a few carp.  A representative from
                      the company assured me that the reel would not be able to handle the
\                     stress of carp fly fishing.  I will e mail him a photo or two of carp
                      caught on their "trout reel".

     
                       Here is another old tree stump in the heavily wooded area on the
                       Peninsula.

                   More Forest on the Peninsula.

               This is in the heart of Brooklyn.

                 A new patch of lily pads for fish to hide beneath during the hot summer.

                   Calm windless evening at the "mudhole"

                   A mess duck weed floating on the surface

                   More flowers blooming in the park

                 This one resembles a succulent

Grass carp

http://vimeo.com/44362597

Golden Bones Carp on the Fly Part II (WildFish Angler)

Head Hunting Carp on the Fly with the WildFish Angler

A few good men

                        Dennis, Steve & I fished for carp in New Jersey.  It is a small lake
                       that once was stocked with trout but now is loaded with common carp.

                     Here Steve is holding the net while Dennis reels in another one.

                              I caught this one.

                          and this one.

                 Dennis removing another carp from the net.

Queens fishing

                                
                                   Several of us fished a few lakes in Queens during June.
                                   Fishing was slow.  I saw these flowers in Baisley Pond Park

                              
                                 I don't know the names but they are beautiful, none the less.

 
                              When you fish for carp, Mulberries are always a welcome sign.
                               Carp & People love the taste of ripe, sweet mulberries.

                               Brookville Park is located under one of the flight paths for planes
                              landing at JFK airport.  So every ten minutes or so you are buzzed
                             by another plane about to land!

                           Conselyeas Pond in Brookville Park is tidal.  It holds some carp
                          and occasional striper.

                   Baisley pond has both largemouth & smallmouth bass as well as other
                  panfish.