Clove Lakes

Went to Staten Island to see if mulberry trees
were bearing fruit. There are an abundance
of trees, mulberry trees in Clove Lakes Park,
all bearing fruit. All with insatiable carp stuffing
themselves beneath the low hanging branches.



One of the things I like to do at Clove Lakes is
catch catfish with flies. In June, catfish become
active and can be taken with dry or wet flies.



I took this picture while catfish of different sizes
swam below a bridge. They took a #10 white
woolie bugger, whenever I would fish it like a
minnow.



I saw another orange and white koi in the water



Looking south on one of the three lakes at Clove
Lakes Park

Better than manna, Mulberries.

It is Mulberry time!
These mulberries are a favorite carp treat; as they
lazily drop from branches overhanging rivers and
lakes. Carp seem to lower their guard in order to
gorge themselves on these late spring treats.

8 carp today

Fished in Passaic County for carp. In spite of
the windy conditions and brown water, I had
quite a day. I got to the water about noon.
Carp were tailing and feeding on the bottom.
I threw a handful of carp pellets close to shore
and then set up my fly rod.



A local sage yelled to me from across the lake
that fish were feeding on the bottom; so I knew
what to do. I lost my first fish, which is unusual.
I looked at what was left of my line and determined
that I had purchased an inferior tippet. In an effort
to save a few dollars I bought an unknown tippet
from a vendor on e-bay. As they say: "cheap is cheap".



I replaced the weaker tippet with an Orvis
fluorocarbon tippet. A little while later I landed
my first carp of the afternoon. Carp continued
to feed in my area and I continued to fish.
I landed another fish. Lost the third fish, this
time due to the fish being able to out maneuver
me as I tried to lift him from the water and place
him on the bank of the lake.



I hooked my 3rd and 4th carp & a friend
netted them for me which helped save time.



By the time I was ready to leave I had hooked
a total of 8 carp and landed all but 3. A really
good day of carp fishing for me.

The Mudhole

Today, after 3 years and several frustrating efforts
I landed my first carp at the "mudhole" in New Jersey
This spot has the most cautious carp I have ever
come across. Nothing I tried worked the way I
wanted. Chum, which should attract fish and make
carp feed did just the opposite; it chased these carp
to the far end of the pond.

Even the bait fishers have no advantage here.
I watched as half a dozen others tried what they
thought would entice the carp but I was the only one
to land a fish and I was only able to do it early in the
afternoon. I did hook 2 others but I lost them to
a purchase of an inexpensive tippet from e bay.

Passaic

I spent the day in Passaic, New Jersey.
It was too windy for sight fishing, except for
when I took this shots of a cruising carp.



Fish still are in spawn mode. Normally there
would be more carp in this shallow water.



Surprisingly, fish were not spooky. I was very
close to these carp when I took these pictures.
I was even able to put a fly in front of a carp
and get a take. Unfortunately, too much drag
and a 6X tippet do not stay together for long.



All quiet on the Passaic River. I saw no carp
at all during my visit.

Lincoln Park

Took the PATH train to Jersey City to take a
look at Lincoln Park.



The park has two ponds. The first pond has a large
carp population. Unfortunately, an unknown
illness attacked that population late last season
& caused poor fishing and many dead carp.



This season the pond will be closed to fishing
but the state of New Jersey has restocked
the pond; which will be open for fishing next
season.

Roll Cast; Fly Fishing technique