2008 WI Carp Championship!

2008 WI Carp Championship - May 31/June 1

Jefferson Park, Kargus Drive, Menasha, WI

Yes Folks, we are only a few days away from the 2008 Wisconsin Carp Championship! This is THE WI-based catch-and-release competition of the year, with internationally-known carp anglers fighting it out for a big cash payout, ultra-modern carp gear prizes, trophies and the prestige of winning the title: Wisconsin Carp Champion for 2008!

Last year was an awesome event, with plenty of large, hard-fighting fish caught right in front of the spectators, throughout both days. This year the Championship is back at the same venue; Jefferson Park in Menasha, where the spectators can see all the action as the competitors are fishing from the shore. The fishing starts at 10.00am on Saturday May 31st, and everyone will be back for more carp-catching fun on Sunday June 1st. All fishing is from the shoreline at the park, so spectators get a ring-side view of one of the most exciting angling events in the calendar; those Big Carp really do fight!

I'm hopeful that the 2007 records will be blown away this year:
Top Weight (both days): 450lb
Top Weight (1 day): 329lb
Biggest Carp: 25lb 10 oz

Competitors for this years Championship include:
Ernest Kolodziejczk (2007 WI Carp Champion), Event Sponsorship by WorldClassicBaits
Josef Settele (3rd in the 2007 WI Carp Championship & Largest Carp)
Wayne Boon (English Carp Angling Guru, now residing in California), representing American Carp Society
Paul Pezalla (American Carp Scientist), Event Sponsorship by Wacker Bait & Tackle

Come and see the competitors and their ultra-modern European Carp-Fishing gear, their different methods of bank fishing, and let's not forget the fish themselves! Last year, over 2,200 pounds of Carp were caught, weighed and safely released; this year's event promises to be even better!

For more details, or if you'd like to help by being a weigh steward at this event, please post a comment on this blog, with you contact information.

Trivers Twenties Trio

The Trivers ABC (Two Rivers All Big Carp) Friendly Fish-in produced some small fish, but enough good carp were also caught to make it interesting.

Eric and I fished the West Twin both days; for some reason Eric believed me when I told him I could smell fish! Anyway, I must have been right, because I managed to hook and land the biggest three; with all my fish coming on a new home-made boiled bait and my new Tiger Feeders. We both caught on the Tiger Feeders, with me just fishing boilies (boiled baits, it was the Big Fish challenge, after all!), and Eric fishing with Delmonte's finest and some commercial boilies.

On Day 2, I had a number of visitors stop by, and heard tell of some high singles being caught on the East Twin, but apparently no-one made it into double figures there. I met some new Carping buddies on the West Twin, and I think they will be coming to the 2008 WI Carp Championships, to watch and pick the brains of the Carping stars!

I had a fun day, watched some other folks catch a few fish, and finally "sorted out" my peg. I didn't break my Day 1 biggest fish catch, but managed a couple more twenties, five doubles, and the rest of the 13 fish total for the day were just under the 10lb barrier.

When I fished the peg on Day 1, I caught 2 good fish early on both sides of the channel, then one smaller fish late on the 90 yd mark. Day 2 couldn't have been more different, with a fresh breeze blowing almost behind me and across the river, I felt that it was just possible that the bigger fish could move up into the very shallow water on the far side (Eric and I had seen the occasional fish roll over there, the day before, but my casts there hadn't led to bites). After catching one good double in the deeper water, I started to get bites from smaller fish.

After a few of these smaller fish, I decided to wind up some big casts and started fishing at about 110 yds, in less than 2 foot of water. The water on my shoreline still felt cold to me, but the wind must have been warming it up over there, as it was like turning on the Carp Tap... one fish after the other.

It just goes to show, it's worth taking a risk sometimes and being prepared to change things around a little. Although I was still getting bites from small fish, by fishing over into the shallower water, I improved both my catch rate and size of the fish being caught.

A couple of firsts for me:
1. First time I haven't opened a can of Delmonte in 8 years fishing in WI
2. First time I've fished just boilies for a whole day in WI
3. First time I've fished and caught on the Tiger Feeders at 100 yds+

All in all, a fun two days, met some good new friends, and there were some priceless quotes from the locals, as ever... it must be something they put in the beer there. A favorite was from an old guy who snuck up behind Eric on Day 1 and asked him if he'd "caught any crabs?" Fortunately, we were able to clarify that he meant crayfish; kinda worried about what he was referring to for a moment there!

Lastly, an old guy on a bike stopped behind me to watch me hook and land a couple of fish, including the 25 pounder. He then asked me "Why do you cast so far, why don't you just go and fish from the public park opposite?" Truth to tell, he had a point there... sometimes, I'm not too bright!

Here are pics of the three biggest fish, 27lb 8oz, 25lb 14oz, and 21lb 15oz. The 25 pounder was a fantastic looking fish, like a golden Mahseer; a good example of the famous Trivers Golden Trout!

Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo - Chicago Feb 8 - 10

This years Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo looks like it's going to be a really interesting event; it's being hosted by the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, February 8th to the 10th.

I wish I could get there, but it looks unlikely at the moment. The guys from Tight Lines Fly Shop in De Pere will be there, and I believe Tim is presenting on Sunday; his topic is NEW Smallmouth!

Here's the link to the Expo Website (also includes details on the Minneapolis Expo in March), and here's the link to the presentations.

Check it out, it should be fun and informative.