Wild Carp Club of Houston Event 4: Boomtown Overnighter April 13, 2013

Shiner Bock and Camping Shot

As the Wild Carp Club of Houston's 2013 season is in full swing, we recently held the 4th event of the season at Boomtown RV Resort in Vidor, TX. This was a new style of event for us, being the first overnight fishing event. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for an overnight event - jeans during the evening and shorts during the day. For this event we had four anglers fishing (Justin, Loren, Nick, and myself) and a few others that came to talk or hang out. Boomtown is an RV resort that allows us to camp and fish there but also has quite a few residents that live there. Setting up our euro gear attracted a bit of attention, and allowed us to talk to a lot of people about how to catch carp and smallmouth buffalo. We chose this event because it offered a chance at some larger fish that we don't normally see in Houston.

14 lb common carp from the margins

24lb common carp from the margins

 The event started at 9AM, meaning we could begin prebaiting at 8AM. Vidor is about an hour and a half away from Houston, so I shared a ride with Nick. When we got to Boomtown, Justin and Loren were already there and had laid claim to the beach/traditional tent camping area. There really was only room for two, so we decided to scope out around the lake. Ultimately we found one corner of the lake that looked amazing. It was designated as a fishing zone only. The lake is an old sand pit, and you could see a pronounced drop off about 10 feet off the bank, where it dropped from 7 to 20 feet very quickly. You could also see ridges between the pits and a channel off to the left. The water was a super clear color as opposed to the brown of normal Houston water. As we left the truck to do some scouting, we saw a few carp spawning in the shallows, and even saw a few cruising in the margins, some as a pod and some cruising alone. This gave us a lot of confidence, and I couldn't wait to put a rod in those margins!

 9 o'clock and the start of the tournament came and I immediately put a rod in that margin. Nick and I ended up setting up the rest of our swim, feeling confident having seen so many fish. We were also hoping that not all of the fish were spawning with "other things" on their mind =] than eating. I was fishing with my new spod mix, chicken scratch. This is a mixture of cracked corn and bird seed. I prepared it by adding boiling water to about 2 gallons of chicken scratch in a 5 gallon bucket and sealing the lid on it the night before. Overnight, this bait swelled to roughly twice the size. I like this spod mix because it is a lot of small pellets, and I feel it helps the fish get their heads down and feeding more aggressively. I put one rod in a channel that dropped from 7 feet on each side to 12 feet in the middle, one in the margins (my favorite spot), and one in 15 feet of water straight out. Nick set up a swim in the margins and one in 15 feet of water. He was going for buffalo, he claimed having caught a 30lber the last time to the lake. He was using his trusty Fox Armapoint LSCs, which ended up being very effective. Gotta get me some of these!

26 lb smallmouth buffalo

 Our confidence in seeing fish swimming in the margins quickly diminished as we weren't fortunate enough to have any runs straight away. So we set up the rest of the camp and settled in for the long haul. About 9pm things had gotten dark and the mosquitos had come out. Justin and Loren were fairing the same. Then, all of a sudden, my rod started going off. I had some trouble with my head light and ended up doing a dead sprint in the pitch black, luckily not falling or hurting myself along the way. By the time I got to the alarm it was a solid scream and I lifted into a hard running fish. Nick came over to help and we realized the fish had run into the rushes between two pits. Luckily, with some pressure, I was able to ease it through and netted a nice 14lb common! This was the first time I had ever been in the lead in a WCC Houston event, and I was stoked! And guess where it came from? The margins!

21 lb smallmouth buffalo

 We had until noon the next day to fish, and we were hoping things would pick up with fish coming in. Unfortunately, the rest of the night was uneventful, except for a few small catfish for both Nick and I. This actually kept me from sleeping much, as I was having tweaks and pulls and ended up with three small catfish. To make things worse for me, I woke up to a text message from Justin who landed a 24 lb common. Boo! At about 530AM I woke up to Nick's alarm screaming off. He struck into a fish and I came over with the net. After a good fight, he landed his first real fish, a 26lb smallmouth buffalo that catapulted him into the lead. After a few pictures, we let that fish go and settled back to sleep. Around 6:30AM I saw my rod bouncing a bit and struck it. I had a good fight on my hands with the fish not running much but shaking its head. Nick didn't know I had a fish and didn't wake up, so I fought it a good while and netted it myself, quite a feat with a 12ft rod! I woke Nick up and we weighed the fish in at 21lbs - back in the lead baby!

26 lb smallmouth buffalo

 But it didn't last long. Nick let me have the lead for 5 minutes before his rod started bouncing again. He set the hook and landed another 26lb buffalo, to put him in the lead with just over 53 lbs. Things were looking up as we had caught 5 fish overnight plus some catfish. Sadly though, the carp started spawning again in the shallows and disappeared, just as they had done the day before. The event ended at noon with no more fish caught. Nick was first, I was second, Justin third, and Loren fourth.

 However, as the carp fishing slowed down, we saw mullet tweaking our lines and eating our method mix. My method was made from a

5lb 4 oz striped mullet

combination of salt, oats, and the chicken scratch I discussed before. I took my spod off my spod rod and put on a small float and #8 hook. I had a school of four or five large mullet destroying my method in the margins. I took a very small ball of method and molded it around the hook. I saw the mullet circling and sucking up the method, until they finally go to my little tiny ball. One sucked it up and I struck him good. He gave me an awesome fight until Nick netted him. He came in at 5lbs 4 oz and was 24 inches long...AN UNOFFICIAL TEXAS STATE FRESHWATER RECORD STRIPED MULLET! I decided not to certify my scale, but it was a cool feat. We kept trying to catch a few more, but they're surprisingly hard to hook and we ended with just the one.

 Overall, it was a very fun overnight camping trip and a success both personally and for the Wild Carp Club of Houston. We generated a lot of interest among the locals, and had a lot of discussion over rigs, baits, etc. That's the whole idea of the club. Most importantly, we also caught a few good fish and had a lot of fun. Thanks for reading and leave your comments

Jet Ski: How to Build A Cooler Rack - 1.5" PVC

As you may know, I am venturing into the world of off shore jet ski fishing.  As I learned today on my first trip out, a jet ski is a very versatile and fun fishing machine.  But, like any fishing platform, it has to be set up first.  One of the biggest challenges of a jet ski is how to carry your rods with you.  A secondary challenge is storage.  Since my fiance won't let me permanently modify my jet ski, and due to budget restraints, I decided to make a removable cooler rack/rod holder rack.  I built this using an example off the Jet Ski Sportfishing website.  Below you will find my measurements and materials list so that you can follow this example and build the exact same model.  These are step by step instructions and plans and I hope you find them helpful.  This would have saved me a ton of time from measuring twice and then cutting.

These instructions will help you build this rack!  It can hold up to 6 rods/accessories and also has two trolling positions - perfect for my SeaDoo which goes 2-3 mph in forward gear.

 Step 1: Gather Materials

Also need safety glasses, a  marker and a measuring tape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parts List
All PVC is 1.5" diameter - fits an Igoo 54 qt marine cooler
Fittings:			PVC Pipe Sections
Elbows -	10		#1 -	3 x 9 in
Crosses -	8		#2 -	8 x 6.5 in
Tees -	4		#3 -	12 x 7 in
			#4 -	6 x 2.5 in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Cut PVC Pipe Sections to Spec and Label with Numbers.  

Using a measuring tape, measure the 1.5" PVC Pipe and mark where you are going to cut.  I used a miter saw, which was very easy and I recommend it.  Make sure to wear your safety glasses.  After you've made your cuts, label each pipe with the appropriate number (1-4 based on the parts list).

Step 3: Become familiar with the layout 

Take a look at the finished product pictures.  You need to be comfortable using the diagrams below to see where each piece fits and how it fits together.  I DO NOT recommend dry fitting, as I made this mistake and it can be very difficult to get the pieces apart.  Just be comfortable with the way these go together and if you have any questions post a comment for me.

This is a picture of the basic layout. Note paint will chip off from time to time with use, its OK!

Step 4: Begin Gluing

READ ALL THESE TIPS BEFORE PROCEEDING:  When you feel comfortable with the assembly of the rack, start gluing.  If you've never glued PVC before, you simply need to put the purple primer on the inside of the fitting up to where you can see the pipe would seat flush inside.  Do the same on the pipe.  I like to prime multiple parts at once.  Once you've completed that, you can then use the PVC cement and spread it on the inside of the fitting first and then on the pipe.  This makes it easier so you're not trying to hold onto a pipe wet with cement as you can usually put the fitting so the cement won't run out.  Push the two pieces together, and if necessary hammer in with a rubber mallet until the pipe is flush with the fitting. 

PAY ATTENTION TO THE ANGLE OF THE FITTINGS WHEN YOU ATTACH THE PIPE!  They must be at the correct angle in order for everything to fit correctly.  Read the captions on the pictures, as I tried to explain to the best of my ability.  Double check the finished picture and be very comfortable with it. 

I assembled THE BOTTOM PIECE FIRST and then assembled the top right and left halves of the rack separately.  When it came down to it, PVC Pipes  #1 were the last pipes that I had to install.  In my rack, I actually had to cut them a bit shorter because it is a tight fit.  The result is they are not flush in the crosses.  You may know a better way, and if you do please share it in the comments.  Another way may be to assemble  front and back of the top half and then put the cross with PVC Pipes #2 in last.  If you try this let me know - I don't need two racks so I'm not going to test it out.

OK, glue away.

This is the top section of the cooler rack showing how the numbered pipes and fittings fit together.  Use the finished pictures if you need more detail.  The Crosses all point vertical and the Tees that come off the front for trolling should be angled to your preference.

This is the bottom portion of the rack.  The Elbows should be facing vertical with Pipe #3 facing vertical as well.  These will match up to the Crosses on the top section of the rack. 

Step 5: Drill Drain Holes

After you've allowed the cement to set (doesn't take long, read the instructions and it will tell you how long), flip the rack over.  Drill holes in the bottom of EACH of the elbows - I drilled two in each.  One in the bottom and one a little higher.  You want to allow water to escape if it goes down into the rod tubes.  I drilled a 1/8 " pilot hole then came back with a 3/8" hole for quick draining.  

Step 6: Spray Paint

Take your rack to a place you don't mind getting spray paint on.  For me, that was the grass in the back yard.  Put it on the card board and spray paint your rack.  Allow to dry to the touch (for me an hour) and then flip it over.  Make sure to get full coverage.  This is a cosmetic step but will make your rack look awesome.  It will cover over any exposed cement, primer, and the numbers that you numbered your pipes.  You did number your pipes, right?

The finished product on the card board spray paint.

Step 7: Padding

After you've painted your rack, flip it over and measure each of the tubes on the bottom that the rack will sit on the back of your jet ski.  I eyeballed this, and then cut pieces of noodle to the correct length.  Cut it to match the length, then cut one side lengthwise to the middle of the noodle.  This will allow you to fold the noodle around the PVC pipe.  Secure using zip ties so that your rack is sitting all on noodles and no pipe will be touching/rubbing the padding on the back of your ski.

Add some kind of padding to the bottom of your rack to protect your ski.  Notice the zip tie ends are inside the rack, not outside so as not to damage the foam on the back deck of the jet ski.

Step 8: Test It Out

Side view of the rack on the jet ski

Rear view of the rack on the jet ski

Place it on the back deck of your jet ski so that the trolling holders are facing you.  My ski, a 2007 Seadoo GTX has a ski hook.  I bought two 24" rubber bungees with galvanized hooks on them to secure it to the ski.  The first bungee is wrapped around PVC Pipe #1 twice (on the front) and then each hook goes to the ski hook.  The second bungee wraps over the back side of the rack and attaches to my tie down hooks on the back of the ski.  This setup is very sturdy.  Place your cooler in, test out your rods/accessories, and modify as you see fit.  If you have any cool modifications, be sure to submit them in the comments.

I secured the front part of the rack by wrapping a bungee around the tube and securing the hooks to the ski hook.

I hope this helps you make your rack for your ski.  It is a very affordable way.  I took the ski out for the first time this weekend and held my rods and my buddy's rods, who didn't have a rack yet.  He was very jealous! 

Using rubber bungee and hooks to secure the back part of the rack