May 2008 Fish Report

What a strange start to the year !!!

Our part of Canada had one of the worst winters on record this year with record levels of snow. Consequently the water was very cold and stayed that way with the snow melt and the cold water from the Great Lakes coming through. Then in mid April we had a heat wave, and I have never seen so many early fish in the system. We had no customers out until May 12th but Colin and I were catching them for fun. Including some very big catches and a lot of big fish. (See the post on the forum)

I could make this fish report sound fantastic as we have had some exceptional fish and fishing in May. However the truth is it was strange!!! Big fish, just not enough of them.

We had slightly less than 80 people fish with us in May so as always I will just give highlights ( and lowlights) and apologies that I cannot name or shame you all.

The Saturday before the first 12 guys came out a strong Easterly blew in and stayed that way for 3 days. The temperatures dropped from 28/29 Degrees to 10/12 degrees and the water temperature dropped 8 degrees in three days. The weather pretty much stayed like that for two weeks. That kind of hit would close down a normal fishery but Long Sault is no ordinary fishery. We had to work bloody hard but we got the fish. As I said above, we got less fish than normal but a very large percentage of 30`s

Of the first 12 guys that arrived, 4 fished the first day and the last day of their holiday and sampled the delights of the bars, clubs and Niagara Falls in between. They still managed one 30 and 3 out of 4 got new PB’s. The Kent Boys and the two father and son teams from Dagenham actually saved my bacon a bit, fishing was tough. All 8 of these guys were very good carp fisherman (except perhaps Jack who was a bit of a wanker) they fished hard through the worse week of May. I forgot to give the Dagenham boys a fish report to fill in but I think 3 out of the 4 had at least 1x 30 each, and of course lots of 20’s. But as an indication as to what happens when it goes bad the 4 Kent boys had 3 x 30s, 57 x 20s and 45 x mid doubles between them. All of these guys were first timers and all have re booked, They are in for a treat next time.

The third week of May (usually one of the best weeks of the season) was also brutal, cold winds and cold water temperatures. Just my luck it was the week I had Geezer Grant and the Carpology boys out. Geezer had 3x 30’s out and Joe and Rob both had 30’s and as usual back up high 20’s. They all thought it was great but it wasn’t proper Canadian Carp Club fishing. As bad as it was we still had some great performances, like Jason one of our regulars who came up for two days and caught 3 x 30’s but it was tough.

The third week was all about low numbers of fish but all females so high average weights. Andrew on his yearly visit to the Island only had only had 46 fish to 34.4oz. A lot of my regulars had mixed holidays this week. Some said they actually preferred it that they caught few fish but big averages. David Haynes for example sat all day for 6 fish, but three of them were 30’s, and he followed this up with a couple more 30`s to round of his holiday. He actually counted his fish this year and had exactly 60 in his two weeks. A lot of new PB`s were set up; young James Griffiths has now moved up to 35lb. One of our favorites Crazy Carol had a 37 04. Big Louis sat all day with nothing, and then in 3 hours had 9 fish with 3 over 30. Mick Casse, a Long Sault Virgin had only 19 fish but 4 of then were over 30 and his new PB is 34lb, and so it went.

AND THEN LAST WEEK MAY THE SUN COME OUT.
Tony and Roy had 130 fish between them with 18 x 30`s.
Paul Williams found a little run of fish. He had 70 fish with 8 30’s this trip, he has upped his PB to 35:12 ( he had two 35.12’s this trip and I think he said he has had 13x 35’s since he has been coming but can’t get over it.) His friend Richard also had a 35, but his brother Tolan winner of a free holiday this year after last years biggest fish…… well, if you pay next year I will let the big ones into your swim again.

The Hamilton boys came up for three days and went through my shop like a swarm of locust (God bless them) Norm was top rod this year with a 35.4. but failed to be the biggest spender this time. Keith and Mathew had a quite year by their normal standards, but young Mathew still managed 3x 30’s to 36. Alain one of our regulars was up for two days and had a beautiful 35 mirror with a back up 33.4 common, his fishing partner Lawrence had a 33.08 This an exceptional performance as it was from a tricky swim and Lawrence is totally blind.

Really there were 30`s coming out all over the place and so it had to happen. Dixie was first with a 41. I was dancing on the rocks; we get a lot of big 30’s but not many 40’s. (He also had some back up 30’s) John Bradshaw was next with a 40.05. One of the locals who doesn’t fish with me had another, and as (I write June 10th) we have had another two this week.

WATCH OUT FOR THE JUNE REPORT IT IS FISHING ITS NUTS OFF. Anyone who fancies something special we still have some spaces after the 18th of June and the fishing is 3 or 4 weeks behind normal so end of June is going to be bang on