So this week has been a hard week for me working on kenworth trucks and peterbuilts all day so i set up a trip to the Brazos river again. Joe and Steve joined me and we arrived at 6am and began the usual unloading and getting setup. They both had there lines in the water by 7am and i took my time and was finally in by 8 or so after tying new rigs and leaders. after about 10 minutes of me getting my lines out, Joe gets a very slow take and we thought it might be a catfish, but the fish darted left, got in the current and hauled arse. After a really good fight it was close and joe yells "IT'S A MIRROR" I jumped up and got the net and it was on the mat!. Let me tell you this was one pristine mirror and also the biggest that iv seen come out of this river in a looooong time. we didnt bother weighing it but i kinda wish we did just to know. here is where the weird part comes in..

As the fish was laying on the mat, I was trying to get the hook out and it was stuck in the lip good. i couldn't get it out for nothing and i didnt want to tear it up anymore. i ended up cutting the hook in half and pulling the 2 parts out with ease. After a few pictures it swam off without a problem.

Soon after it was my turn and i started things off with a nice common and the same thing happend again with my hook. As i was trying to get it out, it just broke in half and fell out. After releasing that fish we all sat down and took a break. just a few minutes into that break i got a hard run and when i laid into the fish, i couldn't stop it. this fish was heavy. As i was playing this tank, Joe sneaks up and scares the cr@p out me, i jump and the hook pops out. i was really upset but what was even stranger is that a korda wide gape X was almost completely straightened out. i couldn't believe it. iv used these hook for years and iv had the regular wide gapes do that but never the X's.

So after tying some new rigs we was all back in action and continued hauling all day. i estimate we had 30-40 fish between 3 of us. im burnt to a crisp and worn out, but it was so worth it.

here are a few pics, enjoy!

Nice catchin there and that is a pretty mirror!

Is that around Waco?

Fantastic Post! Good job guys.

good going fellas ..... the hook thing is straaaange

Yes Sir!

yes right in the center of waco right off 35 there. there is a recreation center on MLK drive and a good size pier there. great fishing there unless the river is muddy and current. then its a waste. we had some current till about noon then it stopped. the bite there seems to shut off around the evening time.

Didn't expect that much detail Chris but thanks!

That is crazy that hook straightened out!

DANG!!!!!!!! Great fish, also beautiful. What size hooks and what was your bait? How long were y'all out?

The gates were open at Whitney and there was some flow, 2,800 to 3,000 cfs for several days, ending Friday night at around 12:00 PM (midnight). By Saturday morning, the flow coming down the Brazos had dropped to near 450 cfs.

I read an article the other day about the numbers of fish TP&W had released, no carp of course, but they were touting it for multiple species. Looks like they were right, including carp, which they don't care about.

Congratulations, guys!! What was your guesses on those fishes' weights?

Ray

P.S.

Also would you all mind company sometime when you fish the Brazos downtown. I have fished a lot over the years but never for carp, and I would like to learn. I have never used the pods and set-ups you and many here use. I would like to learn how to use them right, and right now don't have a clue. I would like to sit and watch and learn carp fishing with this type of gear.

So you will know, I am an old guy, 74, so much older than you, a long time veterinarian here in Waco, and I have fished quite a bit over the years, with periods while raising my family of fishing little. I also fish more than I catch, unfortunately, but I always have a blast.

Thanks!!

Ray

Sounds like a very nice day of fishing. Tough luck on the hooks. Maybe you just got a bad batch? I've had big buffs straighten out cheap trebles when I have to try and horse em away from a snag or something, but like you said never had em straighten out a hook like you got there. Must have been a real monster, or maybe a tail hook on a decent buff?

the baits ranged from plastic yellow corn to wcb peach boilies, tiger nut boilies, 4 season boilies, pretty much anything we had. the method was old fashond oats,quick grits, cream corn and for me, chilli powder and lots of it... the hooks that went straight was a korda wide gape X size 6. and the other 2 hooks was also korda wide gapes but those was our doing, one we had to cut the hook in half and the other one broke when i tried to get it out with the pliers. so cant blame that on the the fish haha.

As for the weights im guessing the carp ranged from 10 to 15 pounds, they looked much bigger then they really was. we weighed one that looked 20 but was only 14lbs. As for the boofalo's the biggest one we weighed was 25lbs. iv had carp to 25 there and buffs to 30. i think it holds bigger fish, just got to find.

well actually there will be a couple of us out at Trading house creek (its in waco too)on the weekend of the 12th. Come on down and we would be glad to show you the setups and how it all works.

I checked my schedule at the clinic; turns out I am working Saturday, but that lasts only until noon, if I'm lucky. I will finish there, get something to eat, and come on out, at least that's the plan.

Are y'all spending the weekend, or what?

Chris,

Thanks for the information bait and the method, and the invitation. With what you gave me, I have already begun reading, learning. Thanks again!

Ray

As far as i know jesse and larry are going for a day session, i was thinking of going friday after work so i can get the bivvy out and ready for this winter.

I've run into a problem. I told Theresa I was coming out to Tradinghouse after work and she told me, she had invited 3 friends to lunch at 3:00 pm before they go to the Baylor game at McLane Stadium on I-35, so I may not make it this time. If not, I hope to catch y'all another time.

I am going to take the bait and method info though and get started.

Ray