Howdy fellow rough fish fishermen. I was just checking in to see what is happening in the rough fish section. I was a regular on the TFF when this section of the forum was created due to the tireless efforts of some very fine folks.
Man, this section has really grown. I don't recognize many of the names. I had so much fun with get fishing meet and greets from years past. When the weather warms up and after the crappie have left the banks, I would love to meet some of you new folks and hopefully see old friends again.
Had a lot of fun with somethingsmellsfishy, Rudy, Jessie, LoneStar Carper, Starless, Donnie,Scott, Dubrain, fishlady and who could forget Ratmo and so many others from this section and other parts of the forum.
Do you folks still have bank fishing get togethers?
If so, I would love to try to come sometime in the future.
Well; I am just saying howdy and wow, this section has grown. Good job folks.

I hope it picks back up! A lot of the Carp anglers rarely post here anymore. I sure loved seeing those fish and reading the comments. Seems only a very few post.

Gitter Done,
Well hopefully we can arrange some type of fishing get together in the future. I am 50 years old and have been fishing for as long as I can remember. Fishing remains the one activity I enjoy as much today as I did as a child. I will however admit bass fishing was and I suspect always be my favorite freshwater pursuit. And until I started reading the fishing forum and those who posted in the bank fishing section, my thoughts towards rough fish were not flattering. I always considered carp a "trash fish" and it was not until I started reading the reports in what originally were in the bank fishing section did my opinion slowly evolve with a better understanding and appreciation for what are arguably one of the hardest fighting fish in our local waters.
But it was the fellowship of the carp fisherman on this forum that began to help me appreciate the fish and those who fish for them. This forum is a very powerful tool because there are others lurking right now that like me before them may have a curious interest or may in fact already know just how much fun fishing for carp can be but may be reluctant to say so publically.
My opinion of the carp was so low previously, I was almost embarrassed to admit I would like to join in on the fun. The members I mentioned earlier would spend entire days or more sharing the love of fishing and enjoying each others company. That is admirable in my book. If you think about it, few other fisherman show that type of dedication and effort to both catch the fish they love to catch and also to spend time with other like minded folks. And unlike the bass snob I once was, I have never met a carp fisherman from this forum that did not say come on and bait up a hook and join us, that is pretty rare in some circles.
So, I hope some of the old gang is reading this, I would love to touch base and wet a line again.

Hey Mike don't think we ever met, I'm one of several 2nd generation posters on this section after you old timers disappeared on us, been gone awhile myself but would love to hook up and share the bank with you, just getting gear together and should be ready to go within a week or so, if weather permits, I see your in Fort Worth so we are neighbors. Have you heard of ghostie??? if so that will probably be the 1st spot I hit coming back, maybe whiterock lake as well.

Shoot me a PM and lets talk Carping

That sounds good, Stephen. I am in full crappie fishing mode right now when I do get to go fishing and that will continue until the spring spawn is over. I have been reading some of the post on here and I see you bought your equipment from a real good guy. I met Brett towards the end of my regular visits to the forum. Lots of good memories are coming back to me from fishing with him and so many others.
Stephen, I never did buy any specialized carp fishing gear. I would take my bass fishing rods and have a ball when I would hook a carp of 5lbs or more or a 15lb plus buffalo fish. Good times, I miss those days. So yes, we will have to have a bank fishing howdy come early summer.
Thanks for saying howdy and I look forward to meeting you and some other new members.

Not quite new, been around since 09 but took a short break, i do have a passion for carp fishing using UL gear

It is always great seeing some very beautiful fish that have been posted in this section and reading up on the anglers stories behind the catch. These guys not only loved the sport of Carp Fishing but they also had a love for the Great outdoors. Would love to see a lot more postings.

Banker you said that very well. Earlier this evening I watched a show that I enjoy called Swamp Pawn. I think I like that show so much because the folks on the show seem to be real down to earth men and women who not only make their living in some way that is related to the swamp; they genuinely seem to love the outdoors in a way many will never appreciate. These are the folks that still go fishing after the fishing for a paycheck has been completed.
That is how so many of the TFF members I have met seem to be, we have a deep down in the very core of our souls appreciation for the outdoors that folks that do not can never fully appreciate. I have had the good fortune to catch many varieties of saltwater fish off the coast of Destin Florida, Texas, and rainbow trout in Lake San Cristobal in Lake City Colorado.
And I have fished many of the lakes found in North and East Texas; and you know what, I can still get a thrill watching a bream pull down a bobber as much as I did 45 years ago. I think when I begin to only find pleasure in grand fishing expeditions of almost guaranteed catches of a few specific species of fish will be the day I no longer want to go fishing.
I believe my heart will stop before that ever happens, at least I hope so because a life without fishing ant living

Well stated Sir!

Hey Mike,good to see you back on the forum,a few of us were worried about you and tried to chase you down after you quit posting .
Phone numbers and address changes made it difficult .The forum has really grown ,not sure what has happened to alot of the old timers
Starless must have fell off the face of the earth Zack(Lone Star Carper)is a mod now but post rarely. I think drought conditions
have not helped, many areas including the Cliffs at Grapevine are just not ideal now,due to low water the boat slips at the Marina in Twin Coves have been moved out to deeper water,presently sitting where we used to cast to from the Cliffs ! Keep posting ,don't be a stranger,we need to get together

Rudy,
It is so good to hear from you. Yes, this section of the forum has really grown. It is unfortunate to learn that some of the old mainstay members are no longer active. Still, their enthusiasm and hard work has clearly paid off in attracting new members to this section.

I have been keeping myself busy and have not fished as often as I would like in recent years. The rainbow trout are stocked in the Trinity just a 5 minute drive from the house and I only fished for them during one stocking on two occasions. I struck out both times. On the stocking date that I was able to go, the trout were released during a time that the river was flooded and murky making the catching of the fish very difficult.

I fished Weatherford fishing barge a few weeks ago several times in a two week period and caught a few small crappie and one keeper that I gave away, so my fishing trips of late have not been very productive. I do love it though, just being able to go fishing outweighs staying home and reading about it on the internet.
I am really looking forward to the crappie spring spawn. I have found some good spots at a local lake that in years past I have really done well. I love watching that float go under and feeling the weight of a large crappie on the other end.
Rudy, when the spring spawn wraps up for another year we need to try and get a fishing meet and greet together like the old days. I know it is a long shot but if we get some good rains maybe we can hit lake Grapevine again. Those were some great times.

whats up Mike, us old guys are still around - just older and busier

Hi Zack,
Man it is great to see you are still here. I can still remember reading your post in the bank section and thinking this guy is doing exactly what one of the primary purposes of a fishing forum should be, the sharing of knowledge on how to catch fish and in the process enjoy the common denominator we all share, the love of the outdoors in particular our shared love of fishing.
The exception in your challenge was the promoting a fish or several species of fish that most myself included regarded as at best a nuisance or worse, a detriment to our preferred choice of angling. In my case that would be bass first and crappie a close second.

I cannot recall specifically what it was that prompted me to first read your post back in the day but I suspect it was the unashamed photos of you and the other old timers holding up fish that exceeded in length and weight the bass and crappie I was pursuing. And without question I was always impressed with the very specific knowledge you possessed that you shared willingly to educate and promote the rough fish in our local waters.
I remember the first time we met in person, it was at the Mesquite Fishing Show that I attended with my friend RangerKev. You had your own booth with a video playing and carp fishing equipment's on display. I remember you were as proud as any other vendor, the guys and gals with multi thousand dollar bass fishing boats and equipment did not have an upper hand in comparing sheer enthusiasm.
You did good, Zack. You and the others have so much to be proud of, I am a better fisherman and most important a better outdoorsman in relation to respect for a fish I knew little of before having met you.
I tip my hat to you

Thank you Mike, my passion for the fish and the opportunity for urban bank anglers to land a monster remains. I am happy to hear that not only my efforts but the group of weirdo anglers that chose to chase a misunderstood fish and our dedication to promote said fish had an impact...I just love getting people on BIG fish and wish I still had the time to dedicate to introducing new anglers to carp fishing that I once had.