Larry A. Smail's Blog

Buffalo Creek

   The carp is a fish common to our waters here in Pennsylvania. However, the carp is not a native fish. The carp was introduced many years ago and the specie has entered many waters. Buffalo Creek, where I was this morning, is one such stream. This stream is an approved trout stream.

A fun way to fish for carp for me is to stalk them. This method is to search them out by visually searching for them. I sneak along watching for stirred up mud or the golden-colored tail. When the carp feed they often tip with their head and mouth down at an angle stirring up the mud bottom. The tail is closer to the surface and can be visible if the waters aren’t too murky and glare issues can be overcome. Sometimes one can see the fish swimming along too.   

The Carp

Today, I caught two carp and one broke my line. I was hiding in the tall perennial vegetation that grows along waterways. I would cast near the carp when an opportunity occurred. I use no weight and often cast my spinning rig much like one would do while fly-fishing.

Heavy and strong!

When the carp takes the bait the usual reaction is for the fish to hit hard and move fast. Hang on! What a fight these muscle fish can do. The largest I caught this morning was, at least. twenty inches in length. the one carp took off up-stream with me trying to keep up with tension on the line. The carp went into deeper waters and became entwined among submerged logs. It took some effort and luck, but I eventually reeled him in.     

Swamp Milkweed