New fly reel from Aventik " The Automatic"

• Rapid Automatic Trigger System - allows for swift and efficient line retrieval in any circumstance. This is just plain fun for the angler. A totally different experience to feel the rotation of gear inside.
• Lightweight and Convenient - ideal for those seeking a tranquil and stress-free approach to fly fishing, only 130g / 4.59oz. No tired casting for all day
• Large Arbor Design and Line Capacity - 76mm out diameter with a large arbor design to limit the line memory. Enough for 2wt to 4wt fly line with 25 meter 20lbs backing
• Designed for Fast Water fishing - a fast line retrieval capacity of two meters per cast to catch any high speed fish. A lovely toy for any fly fisher.

 Side by side of the Franco Vivarelli carbon fiber semiautomatic fly reel and the Aventik "automatic"

fly reel.  This is a copy of the Vivareeli reel but it cost less than $40.00 for the time being.  I will fish this reel and give an evaluation soon.

Skagit crappie first cast

I took out my skagit set up and tried to catch carp this afternoon.  On the first cast, I had a take.

the line moved smoothly through the water.  I was excited to hook a fish.  It seemed to be a small carp.

But it wasn't.  submitter for your approval is one crappie!   
 

Fall carp fishing eleven foot 2 weight fly rod

After fishing with my 11 foot 6 weight fly rod, I thought why not try something different?

So , I grabbed the sister rod of my 6 weight, my 11 foot 2 weight.  The rod is loaded with

4 weight forward line on the Maxcatch "automatic fly reel.  This is the first time for this rod and

carp.  I felt it would be okay since double-digit carp are a rarity here now.

I arrived at the lake late this afternoon.  This meant I had less than three hours to catch carp. Years ago

I fished this lake with my Japanese, fiberglass 2 weight.  I broke the spring on my Franco Vivarelli fly

reel that day.  But I have had years of experience fishing for carp using various fly rods since then.  I've become skilled at landing the fish on the mossy covered boat ramp.  It allows onlookers to see what I do and gives them an opportunity to photograph the carp.   

I feel like a matador, sometimes as I fight and bring in the fish while standing on the ramp

Bystanders stand behind me as I use my 2 weight.  Experience has taught me to be patient

and careful as I maneuver the fish to shore.  It seems that the smaller carp fight hardest.  People gawk

as the graphite rod bends and bounces.  I can hear the orchestra playing "March of the Toreadors"  

The Two Weight and the reel

 

Long Pond Park

This is the last of the 30 lakes that  make up The Great Lakes of NYC!  It  is unique because

it sits 65 feet above sea level.  This Kettel Pond was formed during the last ice age ,some 15,000

years ago

Long Pond gets its water from an underground source and therefore, the pond water is

crystal clear and not subject to runoff water contamination.  The park is almost primitive.

Deer roam freely in the park.

Looking south from an apparent watering hole used by the wildlife.

The pond produces bass and panfish

Another watering hole used by deer and other inhabitants

Looking east, across the pond

Deer tracks left in the mud at this watering hole. looking southeast.

 Long Pond is one of the most pristine ponds in the New York City area. Located 65 feet above sea level, it is fed completely from underground springs. Due to its elevation, the pond does not receive surface water, thus it resists pollutants that often flow into bodies of water from surface run-off. With its special level of purity, the pond is a vital habitat supporting many species of animals.

Long Pond’s history stretches back for thousands of years, beginning with the Wisconsin Ice Sheet. Twelve to fifteen thousand years ago, a huge sheet of ice blanketed the area, hundreds of feet thick. The pressure of the ice caused depressions in sections that had weak underlying rock layers. As the ice receded, these sunken areas formed wetlands such as Long Pond and Pam’s Pond. As a result, areas of stronger underlying rock were left above sea level. This topographical feature, known as “knob and kettleterrain,” can be seen throughout much of Staten Island. The extreme southern and southeastern portions of the island were not covered by the Wisconsin Ice Sheet and therefore do not exhibit this type of terrain.

Long Pond and other bodies of water in the park have been incorporated into the Bluebelt water drainage system by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Encompassing several parcels of state-protected wetlands on the island’s south shore, the Bluebelt system was specifically designed to provide storm water drainage for the neighboring communities. Mature beech, oak and hickory woodlands provide much of the foliage in the park, with many of the trees over sixty years old. They help to support an understory layer of spicebush (Lindera benzoin), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and many herbaceous plants.

Goodhue Park Allison Park Pond

This is a newly acquired park called Goodhue.

This small pond has panfish and suckers.

A short hike away is Allison Park Pond.  Goodhue and Allison share hiking trails.

Allison Pond has carp

Parks has acquired 15 acres of Goodhue Park, thanks to a generous allocation of $5.6 million from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and $1.5 million allocated by the City Council. Parks has been working since 2006 to acquire 38 acres of this property, owned by the Children’s Aid Society, to create a new public park for the North Shore of Staten Island. The property is located in the Randall Manor community and is comprised of 26 acres of woodlands, with the balance consisting of a meadow, stream, pond, open field area, indoor gymnasium, and 11 buildings which are planned to be used for recreational programming and maintenance and operations purposes. The new park is situated between Allison Pond Park and Jones Woods.

 Allison Pond, adjacent to the Sailors’ Snug Harbor Cemetery, once provided part of the asylum’s water supply. When a borough-wide municipal water system was implemented in 1939, the institution had no functional use for the pond. The trustees of the property deeded the pond site as a gift to the City, which transferred it to Parks in 1943. Since that time, the local community has used the pond and brook for fishing and strolling its banks.

A stone pedestrian bridge spanning the mouth of the pond adds interest to the landscape, as do the many mature trees and grasses. The park was renovated in 1990. New additions to the site included tree guards, new fencing, and railings. Boulders were placed around the pond and several new trees and flowers of many species were planted, including red maples (Acer rubrum), American beeches (Fagus grandifolia), tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), swamp white oaks (Quercus bicolor), downy shadblows (Amelancier arborea), sweet bay magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum), pink summer sweet (Clethra), northern bayberry (Myrica), Redosier dogwood (Cornus), swamp azalea (Rhododendron), mountain laurel (Laurus), various ferns (Osmundaceae), including columbines (Aquilegia), dwarf bleeding hearts (Dicentra), sensitive (Fabaceae), Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum), and marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris).

First carp of October

I hooked three carp today.  October is usually a slow month for me so I'm starting early.

This lake since the dredging no longer has large fish but I'm hoping that things will

improve as time moves on.  It is encouraging to see minnows in the lake.  I also see

young largemouth bass swimming near the boat ramps.  Youngsters are catching larger bass too.

It was a nice day to be out in spite of the virus.  The third carp buried itself in the lilly pads

and broke me off