The ice has finally broke near me so I go to my local pond to try for a bass bite.  The pond is still half covered with ice. I'm throwing a jig with a full skirt and big paca trailer.  I've worked the bait through the zone and pick up and start reeling in fairly quickly.  Out of the depths comes a biggun chasin the jig .  I kill the reeling and the fish turns away.  I pick it up, start reeling again and here comes this fish and its a giant.  Get the bait close to the bank and the fish turns away.  Doesn't look like a bass and I know at least one northern pike is in this pond.  I throw out again but now start working the bait fast.  On the next cast I'm reeling fast and the bait is just under the surface when this behemouth comes a charging this time breaking the surface with a terrific splash but misses the bait.  I get a good look at its side and this thing has scales like a carp and that yellow/biegh color.  Does this make sense, that a carp would be chasing a jig like that in that cold water? It really didn't look like bass or pike...I've caught quite enough to know the difference.  But hang on.  I think this thing wants something moving so I tie on a chatterbait (I just had my jig box and keep a couple chatterbaits in there).  Toss out the bait and don't you know this thing hits it.  I set the hook on what feeks like a concrete block, I see the fish turn, then nothing :'( its gone.  I only weep cause it would have been the first fish of the year.  I just can't believe a carp would be that active in such cold water.  Fact is I've never seen or heard of a carp act like that but that's sure what it looked like.  Thoughts?

 Never actually fished for them myself. I did foul hook one once with a Mepps 3, he jumped twice and the hook pulled loose. I now know why folks fish for them. The way you described it, sure sounds like a carp. Have never heard of one acting that way though ...

                                  As Ever,

                                   skillet

                                   

It may have been a Drum, they can look like carp and get big. They are much more likely to hit or follow a lure than a carp. I catch a couple every year while fishing for bass.

A drum which have much smaller scales then a carp

I never caught a carp on any thing but, food baits though I believe I have had hits on other things...

I wish I had seen the fish!!!

It may have been a Drum, they can look like carp and get big. They are much more likely to hit or follow a lure than a carp. I catch a couple every year while fishing for bass.

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