Took my 3 YO fishing in the local pond this AM, caught 6-7 catfish and a bass and this large (grass?) carp which was almost as large as the kid. The lesson learned THE HARD WAY is NEVER leave a rod unattended for ANY TIME. Lost a new spinning combo, cast it, set it down, turned around, heard a scrape/splash and GONE. Oh well, beautiful day with my son.

did you get any photos?!? congrats on the captures

OOoops ! Might want to stand on the handle while you turn around next time - don't hand it to the little boy - fish might be bigger than him!

http://images.snapfish.com/3465%3B%3B253%7Ffp339%3Evq%3D3268%3E656%3E947%

Here is a photo of the carpin kid!!
http://photobucket.com/albums/j200/wjcrenshaw/th_bubbacarp.jpg

Finally figured out how to do this!!

Which lake/pond? I could go for catching a huge carp and a new rod and reel combo.

Great job dad. The smile on your little man's face tells the story.

That is wonderful! I too have lost a damn good rod/reel because of one of those things. Fun to catch them. I bet he had a blast!

nice to see the kids have fun.

yeah that is a white amur or grass carp! they will tail walk and jump like a tarpon! I have a small community fishing pond that has them up to 60lbs in it here in dallas its only about a 3 acre pond you should see the people at this park when I get a fish on it always seems to go just like this

(hunching over a 40lb fish unhooking it and a on looker comes over to watch)

on looker: WOW that is huge how big is it?
me: I would guess 35-40lbs
on looker: WOW that is huge is that a catfish
me: no its a white amur or grass carp
on looker: Man that is HUGE did you catch that here
(taken by there stupidity)
me: oh no I didn't catch it here, its my pet fish I just bring it here so it can swim around.
on looker: oh wow ok.....

great catch by the way, I bet he will never forget that one!

Great picture! Congrats on the day, and the fish. Very happy lookin' kid! Nice fish, too!

As you initially guesses, yes, that is in fact a Grass Carp.

It's a White Amur. Actually a totally seperate species from Common Carp.

What did you catch it on? From a City pond I take it? They're often stocked in City Ponds to control vegetation. \

Sorry to hear about the lost rod/reel though. That's almost happened to me a few times, but I have yet to lose a rod to a fish. I quite literally dive in after them! So far, I've not only gotten my poles back, but most of the time got the fish too!

But yeah, carp are VERY strong, and can easily yank a pole in the water as you saw.

Nowadays I always secure my poles with a rock or my tackle bag. Or, I'll just leave the bail open or leave it on free spool.

Hope that's the last rod you have to loose, and I hope you can get your kid into some more great fish like that!

Beat me too it, Zack!

Pet fish, lmao. Nice.

All fish (including the bass) were caught on a mix of wheat bread, bran flakes and strawberry soda in a doughball. This formula has worked well, at least in these small community ponds.