I headed down to my parents' lake on Sunday with a buddy. We caught about 25 fish in total - mostly bluegill and crappie (one of which was probably close to citation size), but the big excitement of the day was the carp I hooked.

We were fishing from a small pedalboat, and I tossed a small Blue Fox inline spinnerbait out only to see it begin a long slow pull to the right. I knew it wasn't a bass because the strike was too light. In fact, I didn't really feel a strike at all, the line just started moving off to the right. At first I figured I hooked into a big catfish, but then the fish came close enough to the surface that I could see the big scales on it's side and I knew it was one of the giant carp in the lake. I was really surprised because I've never known these carp to go for lures.

I've accidentally hooked into one before a couple years ago, but I was fishing an ultralight spinning setup with 4 pound test and it quickly snapped my line. This time I had a 6 1/2 foot light rod with braided line on it, so I knew I could hang in there for the duration.

The fish actually pulled out small boat around and it took me over 10 minutes to tire him out enough that I could get him close to the boat. I finally managed to grab him, but my fingers slipped, the hooks on the inline spinner bent straight, and I watched my fish disappear into the murky water.

Definitely the biggest fish I've ever caught in that lake. I estimate him to be over 3.5 feet long and around 35-40 pounds. My buddy got a shot of him in the water with his cell phone, so hopefully he'll send it to me and I can post the proof of my fish story.

The other amazing thing about the day was how quickly the bite turned on when it began to rain. We had three squalls blow through while we were out and with each one, it was like a lightswitch turned on and we both started getting fish on almost every cast. In between the rain squalls, we got very little action.

that sucks man but i bet it was a cool fight just go out and get him next time lol i cant imagine how big that was i want to see that pic

nice story man, same thing happened to me with a hybrid striper.  I thought it was a HUGE bass

actually did the same thing with a grass carp that went 47 pounds

I should have the photo soon.

Got it! It's hard to judge the size of this beast by the pic, but look at the 1/4 ounce spinner in it's mouth.

loooks pretty darn big to me!

About the rain...I've had the same thing happen to me.  Like you said it's like flipping a light switch.  

That is a grass carp, and it is extremely rare for them to hit a spinner. Common carp will take artificial if they are fished right, but grass carp are called grass carp for a reason... I have only caught one and that was using a dough ball. I have shot several while bowfishing though. They do put up a fight... From the looks that grass carp goes close to 30 lbs.

          SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL!!!! Do not get in the water! Thats a biggun' !  Where was this?

wow that must have given you a surprise lol

Where was this?

It was in a private lake just north of Fredericksburg. I wouldn't get in the water there either now-a-days (although I did all the time as a kid). Not because of the carp, but because the snapping turtle population has grown considerably.