Not Carping Too Much
Reva L. Schneider
Date: 5/17/99
Okay...I admit it...we're trash fisherman. Well...we are here in America, but while living in Germany, we were much admired.
My husband and I are of European extraction, and have fought many years of "eeeewwwww...you're eating THOSE??" while out fishing for one of our favorite prey in Northern IL rivers.
Yep...carp, those heavy scaled, whiskery, "Mr. Bill" lipped, oversized minnows...who happen to be one of the best fighting fish you can hook, and if out of decent water and properly handled...happen to be damned good eating. Now admittedly, carp live forever and do tend to soak up whatever is in the water where they live, but contrary to popular belief, they are NOT garbage eaters, and in fact each much of the same stuff that trout and smallmouth bass eat. In fact, they like the same type of waters.
So...here it is about a month ago and hub and I are out on the DuPage River in IL for some serious smallmouth bass fishing. We are NOT going for carp because my carpal (carp-all?) tunnel syndrome is acting up, and I am not feeling up to handling the long and heavy rod used for carp (tho' with fine line and very small hooks). I'm fishing a light graphite rod with 4lb test line and a tiny jig and leech combo.
I'm bouncing it thru the rocks and current on the river when I get "tap...tap...tappa-tapp...uh...tappity tap", and I lift the rod tip and set the hook...at this point two things happen: one is that the 16 foot or so of river I am standing next to explodes in foam...the second is that the soggy bank under my feet gives way, and I find myself in tennies and shorts up to my hips in the lower DuPage River attached to what feels like an irate whale who is heading for Naperville at a high rate of speed.
Meanwhile, husb has ambled off to find a convenient bush off the public way, and I am in BIG trouble. I have no knife or anything, I'm fighting for my footing in sucking mud and slick rocks. There is a foot bridge over where I am fishing, full of birdwatchers and hikers, and the sound of the screaming mitchell drag (not to mention my screaming) has attracted quite a crowd. I manage to bow the rod tip, slip line, and convince this fish that maybe taking the natural dam at a full gallop ain't a good idea. Fish goes doggo, I catch my breath for a minute, and uncramp my numb rod hand, and I tentatively lift up the rod tip for a second...at this point, literally 3 feet of :*CARP* careens straight up out of the water, soaking the bystanders, and literally tailwalks zigzag up and down about 50 feet of river, finishing by diving into a large current hole leading into a small pool.
This was enough to lose me my footing and I go down with a resounding splat, flat on my denim clad fanny in 55 degree river water, about up to my lower lip. Now, remember, I am fishing 4lb line and a #10 fine wire jig, and by gods, I CAN'T break this fish off! (says something for the new polymer lines, btw) Husb shows up at this point, and I'm yelling at him to stay the #$%@ out of the water--he walks with a cane and has an artificial hip. So, sitting up to my neck in icewater...I fight this damned fish...I'm worried about losing my new graphite bass rod, not the fish, at this point. Finally, after about 15 minutes, the fish wears out, and slowly, I am able to guide it in...while "scootching" my fanny up the rocks and closer to shore as we go.
The upshot after all this is that I wound up, shivering and dripping, up to my waist in the river with a *huge* carp basically uhhh...between my legs. I shakily stood up, reached down, grabbed the lip, and rolled the fish over...and the darned jig hook SNAPPED at the bend!
The looks I got at the WalMart across the way when I staggered in and basically took a hot shower in the bathroom sink were priceless. If I hadn't been so cramped with the cold and exhausted I'd have murdered the voice that spake out from the bridge: "Oh Jeez....it's only a #$%@ carp!" However, the family gathered next week for Passover were much impressed with the gefilte fish I served....I wasn't limping too noticeably by this time.
Fishtales One Year Ago: 05/18/98 - The Hydrilla Cure - Ron Brooks figured out how to catch bass out of the hydrilla while fishing at Seminole.
