Austin, Jamie, Greg and I along with one of Austin's co-workers set out for an early morning float trip on the New just below the dam. Between the 5 of us we caught 56 fish. Most were a mixed bag of smallmouth and red-eyes; however one was whopper of a carp. I was throwing an in-line spinner below the first bridge on the opposite bank from the state police station in an effort to catch a big smallie, or perhaps a muskie, when something started swimming off with my lure. It wasn't a real hard hit. In fact I thought I was snagged on a log at first. As it became more clear that it was a big fish I set the hook hard and then it was on. I immediately knew it wasn't a bass by the way it fought. Swimming deep and peeling drag I thought I had a musky or possibly big catfish. I was a little under equipped with a medium light rod and 8lb. test line. It was mildly amusing as the fish pulled me and my kayak around a deep pool in the river. It looked as if I was propelling myself along with a trolling motor. After several minutes I was able to land the 13 pound fish; a carp. Not the biggest of this species, but plenty big enough to give me all I could handle. It was definitely
the highlight of the trip and a memory I'll hang onto for a while.
Austin and I got up before the Sun to beat the crowds and get the best bite on a Memorial day weekend. The air was a little cool for this time of year; in the upper forties, but it warmed up quite a bit throughout the day and the water temperature was near normal so the bite was good. We caught 46 fish between the two of us and were off the river as most people were just getting started. The high point of the trip was a near 25 inch musky I caught throwing a white G-Tail on the upper Greenbrier side of the of our Bellpoint to Southside float. It's the first musky I'd caught in a couple years. Unfortunately we dropped it back in the river before we could get a picture but it was still a blast to catch and a real boost to the ego.
