Carp on Fenwick 535

I was still annoyed about Dennis and I being skunked a few days ago. So I returned alone
with an entirely different strategy.  I brought different flies and I planned to not use any
dog food as chum.  Carp have feeding patterns which they follow and I planned to
take advantage of their behavior.

The carp did not follow the behavior I expected but I took a chance and fished a pellet
fly in an area near the aerator in the lake.  More than thirty minutes past without any
sign of carp.  I sat on a bench near the edge of the lake and waited some more. 

Suddenly, the rod was yanked from my hand and was being dragged by the fly line
toward the lake.  I instinctively dove for the rod's handle.  I was on my hands and knees.
The rod was just inches from going into the lake.  My Fenwick, my Fenwick was all I was thinking to myself.  Somehow, I got hold of the rod.  My thoughts turned to the carp that had tried to
steal my rod.  The new reel didn't function the way I had hoped.  The drag simply S U C K E D.
I need to try to adjust the drag more.  It is not easy working with no instructions!

Fiberglass Fly rod - The Fenwick 535

I fished this rod once before with WF#3 line and landed a nice carp.

Today I was testing a new fly reel loaded with WF#4 line.

I had no problem casting the rod.

This rod has been in my possession since I won it on an Ebay auction, maybe fourteen
years ago.  It was during my "Fenwick phase", when I bought several Fenwick Fiberglass  rods.
All of the rods cast well especially when roll cast.  There are trees in Brooklyn and a fly rod
which is only 5 feet 3 inches long allows one to cast under most trees.

 

 

 

no name Fiberglass fly rod

Another hot humid afternoon, trying to catch fish.  Besides the carp I've caught this summer,
I have not caught fish larger than the blue gill pictured.

I fished a fiberglass rod I picked up on Ebay a few years back.  It is a 7' 6", 3 piece
4/5 wt fly rod and it sold for less than twenty dollars, new.  I also got the sister rod that same
season.  It is a 3/4 wt, 3 piece, 7'6" fly rod.

Actually, I am testing the Maxcatch "automatic fly reel".

Most of my fishing time this afternoon was devoted to trying to adjust the drag on this reel.

Trying to figure out if there is too much drag or just enough is tedious; especially since the
reel arrived with no instructions.

I can't get over at how much this real looks like the Franco Vivarelli Goldstar semi automatic
fly reel.

Fly Fishing shoot out

My fishing buddy Dennis and I took Anthony to Hughes Lake to get him started with catching carp using ultra light spinning equipment.  My friendship with  Anthony goes back more than a decade.  Normally, he fishes for panfish in Prospect Park and  he is deadly; catching crappie and bass.

It was another very warm day.  Dennis is the best dry fly carp fisher I have ever seen.
He has the ability to anticipate when to set the hook.  I've watched him, on a good afternoon,
catch twenty carp.  More than twice the number I caught on that same afternoon.  He fishes
with ease and confidence.

Here, Anthony, in the khaki shorts and blue shirt is holding the net for Dennis, who is
wearing the gray shirt.  Dennis has hooked another carp(note the water ring).

Anthony was the net man this afternoon.  The efficient use of the net is extremely important
when catching fish.  Poor presentation can spook fish and delay the landing of the fish.
It is important to keep the net low and to net the head of the fish first.

Dennis examining another carp, one of five he caught that afternoon.

       
Anthony took this photo of me looking for carp feeding on the surface.  It was a long, long slow day of trying to catch carp.  Can you spell:  S K U N K?
                            

Hughes Lake

I got out again for some fishing.  I think the most important aspect of fishing is to understand
the behavior of the fish.  If you do not understand how the carp behaves it is very difficult to
catch one.  Take the time to watch carp swim whenever you can.  What direction is it swimming?
Is it feeding?

Remember carp are omnivores, they eat anything.  What is important is the presentation
of the fly being used.  Carp have a feeding zone that resembles a triangle.  The apex
of the triangle is at the mouth of the carp and the base of the triangle extends about
two feet; drop a fly in that area (softly) and the carp may take your offering.

Carp

Have net will travel.  When you fish for carp always have a large net; not the net made for trout.

This fish is not a double digit (10 pounds +) but it is non the less a nice representation of the carp in this lake.  I spent half the day trying to catch one.  It was worth it as this carp nearly took me into
my backing.  A crowd gathered as I moved along the edge of of the lake and countered the runs
made by the carp.  They cheered as I netted the golden torpedo.

Canada Geese

Sun down at the boat house.

The calm before the second common carp.  After the crowd had dispersed, I saw more carp swirling
and feeding on the surface of the lake.  This is something very hard to resist; carp feeding on the surface.  It can be like "Wack a mole" trying to put a fly where you think the next carp will surface.

I recommend patience.  It is difficult trying to guess what the carp will want to eat next.  I  advise
make your best guess and just wait for the carp to take your offering.  I've seen carp pass flies for
more than 30 minutes and finally take a fly that was lying on the bottom.

More Maxcatch "automatic reel" photos

The handle feels loose when squeezed to retrieve line; not like other semi automatic  fly reels

 It looks very similar to the Franco Vivarelli semi automatic fly reel on the inside.

Maxcatch "auotmatic reel"

The reel came with no manual or instructions.  And for some reason, it is called "automatic fly reel".

Reel capacity: WF5F + 20M 20lbs backing line.