FFF Diary

Introduction

Here is a day by day diary of my preparation for the First Fishing Folly 2011 edition. And what happened on Jan 1st. I certainly worked hard on it, I can tell you that. Starting in September 2010.

September

I fished a few locations in brackish water, with some decent success, up to 26lb. I learned a few new things about this type of fishing, and then it hit me... Brackish waters are supposed to be full of protein-rich food, plus by definition, are well oxygenated (cf. the tide) and shouldn't freeze as easily as regular water (cf. the tide again, and cf. the salinity). Could it be a good plan for Jan 1st?

 

I have a theory. If we can find a spot where carp can be caught relatively easily during the year (hence a regular feeding area)... And it is well oxygenated... And it doesn't freeze as fast as surrounding waters (e.g. due to the sun exposure during the day)... And we prebait several days in a row... Carp should find it, get more active, and this would be winter bonanza for them, and they should quickly congregate and become greedy pigs! Even in very cold water. And guess what, I know such a spot!

So I tried. Every morning during the week, I threw a full bucket of maize in the swim, before going to work. I never fished it before, but I've seen very inexperienced anglers fish there and land carp every now and then. And I'm quite sure there is a good number of them in this venue.

Oh, and I like Thanksgiving. My family doesn't care that much about such US tradition, so this is a great day to go fishing for an expatriate like me, as everybody is at home stuffing themselves. Now will my baiting campaign work? Will I get fish from this swim I never fished? Let's hold until Thursday before wetting a line.

 

End of November, Thanksgiving day

 

This was the day. I dragged my gear to the prebaited spot, I threw some freebies, a few method balls, I cast my rods, let's wait and see. 

One hour later, nothing. Was my plan flawed? A sudden double run erased those doubts in a few seconds! I lost one, landed the other one, a low teen, nice. I recast, and action never stopped. I got around 15 runs in 3 hours. All fairly small fish, but no matter, it WORKED, I have a new Jan 1st plan! I tried again two days later, and enjoyed another solid short session. Cool.

 

December 11th

Man, this is a COLD December in MA. I noticed ice on a couple of local ponds, but I wasn't overly worried, it's only mid December, right? I was thinking to start prebaiting again, every other day until Christmas, then intensify. So I went to my new favorite fishing spot. What the f***? It's frozen solid, unfishable, unbaitable. 

Now that was a blow. I really had no idea where else to go. I mean, I fished the FFF for 8 years now, I tried HARD to find new winter venues reasonably close to home, and wasn't terribly successful. Plus if this specific venue was frozen, then what other water could be open? Back to square 1.

December 19th

During the week, I kept pondering what could I do. The weather wasn't exactly improving. I was starting to contemplate going out of state. I would have loved to go to Florida with Horace and friends, but I might have to travel in Europe the week right after New Year Day, so this didn't seem quite feasible. Plus... I travel a lot for work, I had to fly to California twice in December, so going once again in airport + cramped plane was not a very attractive option.

I started to wonder if I shouldn't go drill a few holes in a venue close to home if the ice would get thick enough, prebait through such holes, and ice fish on the FFF day! Well, ice fishing isn't exactly my idea of pleasant carp fishing, it's hard to play a fish without taking a huge risk of breaking the line against the hole (been there, done it) and I also wouldn't want to catch a fish too big to go through a 6 inches hole!

So I came back to the idea of the brackish water, and I drove to the September spot. Big patches of ice were flowing through the river, but as my swim was fairly sheltered, it was fishable. Yeah, well, three hours later, the only beeps were caused by some ice going up the river, due to the incoming tide. Morale wasn't high at this point. 

Friday Dec 24th

Snowy week. Finally, on Thursday, I was able to leave work for a long 4 day weekend. Christmas gifts were taken care of. I was considering ice fishing more and more seriously. I decided to go check my Thanksgiving spot, just for the sake of it, and... oh miracle... the venue was completely free of ice! Now that was unexpected. The snowy weather was actually much milder than the past week, and the ice disappeared. Half a bucket of maize went in the water faster than I can play a 20 pounder! 

I even started to think I could go record an underwater video in Boston (the corresponding swim was also frozen a week-end ago), but alas, the water was still frozen out there. I started to drive around, and re-discovered a boat club I had forgotten about. With free water around it. Because of underwater turbines aimed at keeping the water in movement, water doesn't freeze and doesn't crush the hull of the boats. Now that seemed like a perfect winter holding spot for carp. I actually tried it on an impulse at midnight a few FFFs ago, without luck, but I hadn't prebaited or done any homework. 

So I threw some leftover bait I had in my car in the water, and resumed driving around. And re-discovered another old spot, a dock I had completely forgotten about. I fished there for an hour, with no result, but I had no doubt that I could use my prebaiting theory and make it a winter hot spot, so that I have a backup option in case my Thanksgiving swim would freeze again. I came back to the boat club, fished for 45 minutes, to no avail.

No fish, but a good day, as I went from "no plan at all" to "3 possible swims". I felt much better!

Saturday Dec 25th

Amazing, the kids didn't wake up at 5AM for the gifts. Actually, I was the first one awake around 6AM, wondering what I would get myself for Christmas. Turned out my thoughtful wife gave me some special pants, thick and warm, special for outdoors workers! And hand warmers, and a couple of more items special "fishing in freezing weather on Jan 1st"! Nice!  

Around 9AM, I went to prebait the Thanksgiving spot, and noticed that the water level was suspiciously low, it actually dropped a solid foot from the level it was one month ago. Hmmm, this could become a problem. We'll see. Also some ice was forming near the shore, and I broke it (rather futile, I know!).

Then I drove to the dock, and threw another bucket of maize, plus some very old sweet feed which was decomposing in my basement! Man, this is quite some work to soak maize, boil it and go throw it, two full buckets per day! So I ruled out the boat club, as heavily prebaiting three swims was definitely too much! 

Sunday Dec 26th

I hate the New England weatherman. He was now claiming that we'll have a snow storm, with freezing wind chills, this would last 36 hours and bring 10 to 15 inches of snow. Could we send this guy to Florida ("somebody" taunted me describing a 75 degrees weather prediction out there! Some people don't seem to understand that one "F" in the FFF acronym is for "Freezing" - OK, NOT TRUE, BUT IT SHOULD BE!).

In the morning, I prebaited again, adding some spice to my maize. Some geese spotted me and I spent 10 minutes throwing rocks at those feathered stomachs until they left. The Thanksgiving spot was fine, except that the water level decreased again. Then I drove to the dock, the ice was getting closer, but it was still fine. The rest of the old sweet feed, plus another bucket of maize went in. I drove back, and guess who was having a feast at my first swim? Not the geese, but local swans. And better not throw rocks at them, or the local "swan police" will go at me in no time (a few old ladies who have 911 on speed dial for such occasions - been there, done it!). Oh well, hopefully, I should have thrown enough bait for both swans and carp.

I went to buy a snow shovel, a new part of my fishing gear (cf. I suspected the dock would need some work!). I drove my son Felix to an overnighter at a friend's house, and the much hated MA weatherman was right. Snow and wind chill started. My mind told me that snow might not be a bad thing, but I really wondered what I would find the day after...  

No matter, I stayed confident, and I decided to catch more fish than all of those comfy Florida anglers! Or at least, I'll try hard! 

Monday Dec 27th

I woke up at 3AM, the wind chill was blowing like crazy. When I finally ventured outside in the morning, we had a solid foot of snow and the wind chill kept going. Now I was sure that one of my swims would be frozen... We shoveled a good deal of snow with Valentin, I took the buckets of maize - hoping for the best. I drove out there, and YES, the water is still open, that was actually the first time I saw waves on this venue (cf. the 25mph wind). A bunch of geese were there, but luckily they took off when I arrived. Rather painfully, I have to say, carrying my bucket of maize while stomping in the snow!

The second swim was easier, the dock was clear (cf. the wind!) and it was easier to throw bait.

 
At this stage, I have to say I had little hope that the first swim would stay open till Jan 1st, as it was supposed to be 13 degrees F during the night, but maybe the wind chill (predicted at 40 mph!) will make the water move enough to not freeze while waiting for milder temps later this week... I was not too worried about the second swim, except that I knew I would not be able to prebait it any further till Thursday.

Tuesday Dec 28th

Air temp fell in the teens last night, and the wind chill kept going, even stronger than last night. I was completely convinced everything would be frozen in the morning. But no, miracle again, my Thanksgiving swim was still fully open. The waves hit the rocky shore all night, so the rocks were all wrapped in thick ice this morning, this was quite beautiful. And very slippery too. Another bucket of maize went in the water, no geese nor swan, nor swan police in sight. I didn't prebait the dock swim, as this wasn't at all on the way to work, and well, I had to show up where the green comes from... 

 
I was getting truly hopeful that with the coming milder weather, my plans would materialize. Now that would be a first! And I just jinxed myself... 

Wednesday Dec 29th

33. I love this number. Why? It was displayed in my car. This was the air temperature when I left work yesterday evening. And also the air temperature when I left home this morning. And IT IS ABOVE THE FREEZING POINT! YES! My fishing spots were still open, no freezing during the night now that the wind subsided. Now I was finally confident, with the weather getting milder and milder, I WILL catch a few snow carp, no doubt. 

Of course, I threw another bucket of maize in the water. Stupid ducks were waiting for me, they flew away, I have no doubts they'll be back for a lunch, oh well, this should attract carp too.

Plus I finally found a fishing partner. A young guy I fished with a few years ago. Who told me he was going to write an article about our adventure in the local press. Cool.

Thursday Dec 30th

WTF? The air temp was now squarely above the freezing point during the day, yet... this morning... I found my Thanksgiving swim completely frozen! AAAARG. Ok, it was pretty thin ice and it could still thaw, but just when I thought I was safe... it froze last night! And of course, I couldn't prebait this morning. As to the dock swim, it was still open (so I did chum it this morning) but surrounded by giant patches of ice, it wouldn't take much to make it unfishable too).

 
Lunch time, I couldn't resist, as I was working home today, I wanted to check again the Thanksgiving swim to see what happened this morning! Just don't tell my boss... 43 degrees F outside and... one solid inch of freaking ice on my first swim. AAARG. I threw some bait 50 yards downstream where the water was still open, although this is a very shallow spot and an army of swans/ducks/geese were watching me and salivating in advance... Did I mention I hate ducks?

Friday Dec 31st

Yes, the weather was fantastic, 51 degrees F near Boston, great blue sky with a few clouds, no wind, great to be outside. And I did think to buy my 2011 fishing license, so I would not get busted on Jan 1st by an overzealous warden.

That was the good news.

Trouble is my Thanksgiving swim was still frozen solid (actually even worse than yesterday), and even if it would unfreeze during the day (which I doubted), I missed the critical last 2 days of chumming... As to the dock, I went there to fish for a couple of hours this morning, just to be sure, thinking it would be a mere formality to catch a fish, and... I royally blanked!

Er... My plans weren't in terribly good shape any more. I tried to go check our usual midnight spot from past FFF years, it was frozen solid too. I couldn't even break the ice while throwing a big rock. 

So... desperate measures... I threw half a bucket of maize at the dock while leaving, still hoping to attract carp, without overfeeding them. I threw a full bucket of maize at the third spot I re-discovered a week ago, which is a very well oxygenated area. I hastily cooked another bucket of maize, as I hadn't planned to use that much today. And... we'll see.

January 1st, 2011

After a great lobster dinner prepared by my favorite cook (my wife Edith), it was hard to shake my booty and go fish near midnight...

I left a bit late, and I was rushing to set up my rods a few minutes before midnight at the dock, joined by my young friend reporter Willy. He took a ton of pictures, I felt like a professional actor in a show. Willy started his day at 2am, went fishing for cod, caught a good number of them and was joining me at midnight, now that's dedication! A nice couple joined us and shared some delicacies the girl had cooked earlier. It was getting a bit chillier, but way above the freezing point. Around 1:30am, we decided to go to bed as nothing was moving except big melting patches of ice.

 
In the morning, I was eager to test my backup plan at the yacht club. Seemed just perfect, with the sun warming the water. Willy joined me after a while, and we watched the rods. And watched the rods. And the rods were so mesmerized by us that they never dared to move by one inch in the next 3 hours. Willy is a very interesting guy, with all sorts of fishing adventures to tell, and he was nice enough to bring me some cod fillets, fresh fish he caught the day before!

 
On my way to the yacht club in the morning, I had noticed that my Thanksgiving spot was beginning to thaw. So I threw some bait downstream (where the water was open, albeit very shallow), and I had this idea of throwing some maize on the thinner ice. Point being that the swans would try to get at it and probably break the ice in the process. Cunning plan! Maybe this actually did work as early afternoon, when I came back there, the ice had indeed receded. I threw a few more freebies, then heard a guy behind me saying "this is a big day for you". Quite puzzled, I faced the guy, didn't recognize him, but he knew everything about me, the FFF, the kids events we had back in June, and so on. Mike is actually a new carp angler, and had been checking the CAG forum for a while. We agreed to meet a bit later in the day (I needed to go home to give the cod fillets to my wife, and get some coffee). We fished together mid afternoon, and had a very pleasant chat. The rods couldn't care less and refused to move once again.

Then Domm threw me on a goose chase, he spotted carp around an area in Boston where I almost never fished, I drove there, had a hard time to find it (too many one way streets!), all that to discover that there is absolutely no way to park in there. Still, this gave me the opportunity to check out another interesting area nearby, and to find another dock which might be convenient for video recording.

By then, I was getting seriously tired, and between fishing the dock again or coming back home and finish the lobster, I have to say I chose the lobster!

Bottomline: I caught as many fish as Bigbird today. None! But I met several really nice people. So this was a good day. Oh, and weather was gorgeous all day. Maybe that was the problem! 

Post FFF epilogue

I checked the Thanksgiving swim this morning. And guess what? It was completely open. Great timing, right? 

So I got all hopeful, thinking I could prove my heavy prebaiting theory after all, and have a silver lining to my story. I threw some leftovers (maize and method balls) in there, and went back home. After lunch, I was back, sure to catch a bunch of carp and show the CAG guys how it's done.

Three hours later, I had to acknowledge defeat. Not even a heron or a horseshoe, nothing. What can I say, 2011 can only get better! Look at those pics, I was getting all misty...

Epilogue 2: the spicy maize

By the way, here is how I prepared my maize for this baiting campaign. I soaked the maize overnight, mixed with 4 or 5 spoonfuls of this strange spicy paste I bought at a local H-Mart (Korean) store. Then I boiled the whole thing and let it rest overnight. Here is the composition of the Korean paste. This seemed prettyy good to me! You can click on those pics to see them in a larger format.

Now the question is... why didn't this attract carp? Ok, I got some troubles with the water freezing over. Ok, maybe I wasn't fishing an area where the fish were, maybe they moved elsewhere for the winter. But none of those explanations seem convincing enough to me. So maybe my bait was actually not that great, and they got fed up with it... I also find this hard to believe though. Food for thought!