CARP-O-RAMA 2009® 6/14/09 THIS SUNDAY!

[Nick Pionessa]

OK FOLKS- IT'S TIME! WE WILL MEET AT RICKS HOUSE AT 9 AM FOR COFFEE AND BS AND BE HITTING THE RIVER AROUND 10. BRING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SOME SUNSCREEN AND YOUR FAVORITE 8WT AND JOIN US FOR SOME FUN.

if anyone needs directions please pm me.

Here it is i'm sure you have all been waiting anxiously for the announcement. the fourth annual Grand Island NY CARP-O-RAMA 2009® will be held on Sunday June 14th. the event has grown quite a bit in it's first three years and has been deemed an outstanding, international success. the event is open to anyone, but guests will have to be approved by the BOD Grand Island NY CARP-O-RAMA 2009®. apply by sending me a PM or e-mail. this a a mere formality but will give us an idea of the number of Carp-0-Rammers®.

designated as flyfishing only with flies and only the waters wadeable from Grand Island are fishable. bass is open as well but the 5 lb smallies just want you to lose the Grand Island NY CARP-O-RAMA 2009® so don't be distracted. the only award is for longest carp. if you ain't first, you lost.

RECOMMENDED GEAR- 7-9 wt rods floating line and at least one spare leader. 8-12lb tippet. polarized glasses. small crayfish flies, hex type nymphs, clouser swimming nymphs, damsel/dragon nymphs, merkins and buggers are all good choices for flies. the water will be chilly still so waders are highly recommended for wading and tick protection for the state parks (Tick Island) areas. this is a serious note- there are LOTS of ticks on GI and participants should be aware and inspect themselves afterward(or use it as an excuse to have a "friend" help). sun screen wouldn't hurt either and bring a good supply of water.

exact details to follow but we will meet at 9 am on GI and be fishing by 10.

the Major Award


previous years winners




don't forget to bring your carp shaped toasting glass for the awards ceremony!

[fishon]

I have been really looking forward to this. I have caught some HUGE carp, However, never on the fly. I am so up for this. I guess I need to start tying "Corn-Flies" ;D

[Chris C Crane]

A couple of Hoser's from the great white north will be crossing the ditch for Carp-o-Rama again this year!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BFPt001PYU&feature=PlayList&p=1A3BDBE3A5125340&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=37

[Vince Tobia]

Sorry I am not there this year to defend my title--just got back last night from Cape Cod striper fishing. Hope you guys are having fun. Have a few beers for me. And remember, forget the bass! It's carp-o-rama.

[fishon]

Just got back home from the Rama! Fantastic time, thanks to all. I am HOOKED on catching carp. That was the best time I had in a long time. Coach is working on the Photos.

[Chris C Crane]

Another great Carp-o-Rama event. Thanks to the hosts Nick,Rick et all

A great day perfect weather and great company

No Carp for me...several of these

[fishon]

Infamous "Green Carp"

[Nick Pionessa]

heading back out so no time to do a write up. pics will have to do till tonight. thanks to all who attended.

[SteveKowalski]

Team P.

Timbo & Shane harass bass in the lagoon (no carp)

Larry and the Cruisers (I count 5 in close)

Rick hooks up

GOING...

GONE... headed to Larry's side.

A little pod 4 out of 4 THOUSAND that swam by

[Charlie Dickson]

The great day dawned on Sunday morning. I got up feeling good and ready to go do some carp fishing. Carp-O-Rama is the brain child of my friend Rick Kustich of Grand Island, NY. The rules are simple. You have to fish from Grand Island on foot with a fly rod and the biggest carp wins. We had thought of some other rules, such as mandatory drug testing, but it was pointed out that some of the contestants don’t do drugs and it would not be fair to single them out. Anyway, we gathered at Rick’s house in the morning to wait for the horn to sound and start the 4th annual Carp-O-Rama fly fishing for carp tournament.
Nick and SBFC arrived shortly after me and I immediately had this feeling of dread and impending doom.


The rest of the morning crowd did not seem to have any problems with it so I grabbed some coffee and a chunk of the great doughnut and got over it. Nick did get a good sized carp later in the day that could have been a winner. So those shirts must have brought him some good karma.

Below the contestants gather in preparation for the tournament.

At about 10am the great horn sounded (Ricks Subaru) signaling the beginning of Carp-O-Rama 2009. So we all got in our cars and fanned out across the great expanse of Grand Island.
Chris, CCC, got a jump start on everyone by putting on his waders and putting his rod together at the same time.

My buddy Don plods off across one of the better carp flats on the island.
The bass were plentiful, both largemouth and smallmouth but they were not our intended quarry.


On this particular flat you can see the City of Niagara Falls in the background

Andy, Brookiesrule, gets into a nice smallmouth.


In the mean time I searched franticly for a carp that would eat my fly. There were plenty of them on the flats but they did not seem to be hungry this day. Finally I cast my fly to a small pod of them and was rewarded with a jolting take. Would this be the carp to win me the prize? .... Er…. No….. He looked more like a construction pylon. I thought perhaps some kid had flushed his pet goldfish down the shitter and that is what I caught. Well at least I got on the score board. I lot of people didn’t catch any carp this day.

Meanwhile on the other side of the island Coach was getting busy with this big slob that would eventually win the prize.


Other people got some nice carp as well as some other species.

How often does someone get a Musky on a carp fly?

This puppy was also spotted at one of the parking spots.

At about 3 or 4 pm the fishing broke up and we headed back to Rick’s for the award ceremony.

The Coach with his prize! This trophy is similar to the Stanley cup in that the winner gets to keep it for a year and then has to bring it back to next years tournament.

The award ceremony is then followed by celibration!