Lake Elsinore CARP

[Dark_Knight_9C1]

8/23/2025
I adjusted my sight, sharpened my aim with a little practice. and set out before sunrise for another try at a 30 fish day. With my dolly with a trash can in tow, I got to the water about 5:15 which was about 30 minutes before Grey light. I could still see the reflection off the glassy water surface so it was enough to be able to see to shoot. I just needed a head lamp on low to see my sight.

Walked the first half mile with little more than the bait fish making any motion on the surface.
Then as Grey light started, I saw the first carp swimming off like a torpedo as I walked by. Looked promising.

Walked my second half mileage managed to find two groups of fish scavenging the shoreline with their backs breaking the surface. First shot of the day was a little low, trying to hit the fish midsection instead of dorsal fin. Second shot had two fish swimming side by side, looking to possibly hit both. Drew back, Lined up my sight an inch our two low, and let it fly. Arrow hit the water right as targeted. There was an explosion of the two fish and probably 3 or 4 others right next to them. Started pulling in the line and it came tight but there was no pull or line streaking sideways. The line was stuck in the base of bushes which had the tops chopped off and were all along the shoreline. They were my nemesis. Getting my line caught pulling in almost every time but I accepted it and would walk out to pull it out. This time though, my arrow was stuck in the base of one. First time one made me miss a shot, at least that I know of. I guess that's why I do better shooting further out. Shooting in six inches of water, I'm basically shooting through these plant stumps.

Walking the third half mile had my shadow cast out into the water. Couldn't sneak up on anything unless I walked along 20 ft from shore.

The last half mile I saw one more group of fish. My shadow cast about 45 degrees behind me at this one section of shoreline, so I was able to get closer to them. Picked one which was under the water in the shallows but I could now see it without its back sticking out. Pulled back, aimed lower, and let it fly. Must have been deeper than I thought because the arrow went over it and the fish was still there. Tried pulling it in quickly for another shot or at least to get the pleasure of dragging the arrow over its back to scare it. But, of course it was stuck in the stumps again.
Started heading back at this point. Covered more ground this time since there were less fish. Made it to the other end of the shoreline that Bowfishing is allowed.

The first half mile back it was pretty barren. My shadow was ahead of me but getting shorter.

The second half mile back, now about 8:00, was getting ideal light wise. I started seeing the fish further out where I like them. Was able to take a few shots but missing them. A few fish swam off slowly as I was readying to shoot.
Now while I was starting to see them I'm hearing thunder way off in the distance. The cloud had been blocking the sun now and then all morning but usually not for long.

The third half mile back the clouds were starting to become bothersome and I could see lightning hitting the mountain across the canyon.
I kept at it and was finding more fish when the clouds broke enough. Had a couple shots at fish which I had hopes but missed. Finally had one presenting broadside. Drew, aimed about 6 inches low, and let it fly. Arrow hit the water where targeted, but no splash. Started pulling in the line and saw it streaking sideways across the water as it loaded up. Fish on! Pulled it in carefully and saw I hit it an inch below the dorsal fin, a good solid spot. I was happy to get rid of the strip and it was a decent size fish.

Easily 5 lbs.

The last half mile back got interesting. Not good interesting unfortunately. The clouds had moved in and I could see sheets of rain moving toward me. I kept on looking and maybe saw one more before it started raining. Out of curiosity I stayed along the shoreline and kept an eye on the water as I walked back the last half mile. I was looking to see if I saw any backs of fish out of the water. It wasn't possible to see them under water because of the rain hitting the surface. Didn't see anymore so made a mental note, don't bother in the rain.
The rain got me wet but it was 75 degrees out so it wasn't bad. In fact, I enjoyed it. I don't remember the last time I walked in the rain in the summer.
That was it, but now I had a single fish again to dispose of. Well I had a tangerine tree which I had in a barrel, so I decided to plant it in the ground on top of the fish. It was two feet down and the base of the rootbal was one foot down. I can't wait to see what it does for fruit next winter.

-Keith

[Latimeria]

No rain here, but that sounds fun right about now.  lol

Can't wait to see the tangerine harvests and now go dig a big hole to bury that thing.  A trip to the dump is worth bringing 10.

[Dark_Knight_9C1]

9/13 Took a last trip to Elsinore before the water cools down and things start getting busy at home.
Got to the lake about 45 minutes before sunrise. Grey light started around 6:00 AM.
Didn't see slot of activity on the surface to start with, but did see a couple torpedo away as I walked along the shoreline. Seemed promising.
Right around 6:00, I started seeing the carp along the shore with there backs out of the water. It was game on. Started taking shots at fish and my average 1 in 15, or so, wasn't improving. Luckily it's more the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going.
The carp were showing up about every 50 yards this time between 6:00 and 7:30.
I managed my first one about 6:15. Took a good shot and the line started peeling off to the side so I knew I was on. Good size one right thru the underbelly.
A little further down, I setup on another group. I saw some people watching so I wanted to make sure to hit it so they could see I wasn't just shooting at shadows. I took careful aim, remembered not to shoot low to avoid the stumps, and let it go. The arrow hit the water, there was an explosive splash, and the line started peeling straght out. Started pulling it back and saw I had a good size one but the arrow had gone all the way thru just under the dorsal fin. There wasn't a lot of meat there and the string could easily cut thru. I played it slowly and worked it around the stumps to keep the arrow, which was dangling behind it, from getting caught. Finally got it on shore and used my new tool on it. I brought a sledge hammer handle to use as a billy club to keep the carp from trying to flop back into the water. One good rap on the back if the head quickly immobilized it.
I found new ways to loose arrow this trip also. For whatever reason I broke two sliders, a plastic piece which the string attaches to and slides on the arrow shaft. I managed to recover the arrow on the first one but when I lost the second arrow I had to walk back to my truck to get another one. I decided to leave the two fish at my truck instead of lugging them to the lake again. It was then I noticed my billy club wasn't in the bucket. I figured I had left it where I got the last fish. But it would be like finding a needle in a haystack amongst all the debris on the shoreline. I figured I'd try to backtrack the last half mile I walked.
I mostly kept my eye out for fish as I looked for the club. I figured it would be almost impossible to see. I stopped a couple places to shoot at fish along the way. Then I stopped and put down my bucket to target another fish which ended up being a stick. Went to grab my bucket and the club was right there next to it. What are the odds! I need to buy a lottery ticket. So that made my day.
Then I had a couple more firsts while bowfishing. One was skipping an arrow off the back of a fish like skipping a rock on the water. The other was hitting a fish and having it immediately float to the surface. Hit it straight thru the skull, backbone and likely the heart. Luckily I was using a $20 arrow which someone lost and I had found. The tip was very sharp and had a long taper to penitrate better. It was stuck in about 6 inches and didn't even poke thru.

Was a good day to end the season with. The biggest fish was 25 inches and 5 lbs. Followed by 3 and 2 pounders.


- Keith

[Latimeria]

"I brought a sledge hammer handle to use as a billy club"

I've heard of wood shampoo and aluminum shampoo as billy clubs, but a sledge hammer is another level!

Nice season boss!