Coventry Lake 8/8 Green and Gold

Our Yorkie,Luna,was sick last night so I was up with her at 4. After she settled down I decided to hitch the boat and head to Coventry lake. I was the second trailer in the lot.I brought a top water rod and 2 drop shot rods as plan A. If that plan failed I brought a can of corn and some egg sinkers as Plan B to go after some of the carp that I had seen spawning in the shallows earlier this spring.
My walking top water bait produced nothing so I moved out to 15 to 20 feet with a drop shot and caught two little Smallies and a rock bass.
I came to a fallen tree and pitched my drop shot with a green pumpkin shad shaped worm on it next to a limb and my braid started swimming off. I swung on it and it turned out to be a very respectable fish for Coventry at 3.22 pounds.
The sun was getting hot so I went to Plan B and broke out the corn and chummed an area in 20 feet of water out in front of the tree.
I set up the two drop shot rods with Slip sinkers and corn. I had a run rather quickly but it dropped it before I could set on it but I was encouraged nonetheless.

Probably 10 minutes later one of the rods started dumping line and this fish is screaming off into deep water.I came tight on the fish and it was a heck of a battle, probably close to 10 minutes before I was able to bring the fish to the boat and net it.
The fish weighed 10.02 pounds and, while not huge, it was a respectable fish and I had accomplished my mission.
I stayed for another hour or so but the lake started to get rough with jetskis and boats towing tubers and the sun was getting hot so I called it a day.

Not a bad way to start the day for sure!

Great job getting out there this year Jon!

Way to go on the nice bass and accomplishing your mission to get carp!

Only one rock bass, something must be off with Coventry Lake

Lol

I was intentionally staying deeper than 10 feet because otherwise it’s like piranha on a steak with those rock bass.

Another outstanding report. Man, I can’t remember the last time I caught one of those gold things.

I tell you what, setting into this thing felt great! As good as a striper fight, pound for pound, and on a DS rod it was a hoot. I ended up with 2 boats stopping to watch me do battle and I got some applause and cheers when I finally slid it in the net.
Very fun and definitely an under appreciated fish.
I’ll be back.....

Excellent! Sounds like a fun trip. I’ve caught some Carp, and it’s always a blast...sometimes a let down when you see it’s not a trophy Pike or something, but they are fun.

Keep those reports coming.

Carp pull like a freight train, even 3 and 4 lb. fish. Once while Crappie fishing at Lilly I hooked into one that was over 15 lbs. using a Crappie tube and 4 lb. line, chased it for 45 minutes before landing it, what a ball.

Nice trip Jon. That place can be feast or famine for size. Big or small and tough in between. We did a club T there years ago. First was 6 lbs 10 ounces for one fish and second was 1 pound. I came in 4th tied with someone else with 11 ounces. I caught over 30 shorts.

Were they doing inspections at the launch?

Yes they are always there doing inspections. I had mine done back in May.

I find Coventry has a lot of fish, of different species, but most are stunted rats or 2-3 year olds whatever it is. A 3 there is noteworthy.
It’s a trophy management lake but you’d never know it.

Nice work Jon !

Very nice Jon! Love the carp. This a great time of year to take the hint when bass are shut down and try for carp, catfish, and other species.

Great trip! Super carp. Coventry would be a fantastic lake but for the water and jet skies. You have the right idea to fish early and get out when the place starts getting churned up. I find even in late fall when it is cold, some numb nut will put on a wet suite and proceed to churn up the entire lake. I am guessing you regularly take carp in the CT River. I always amazes me that I regularly see carp that look like beer kegs with fins all over the river. I will make a dedicated cat/carp trip one of these days.

Tight lines,

MikeV

Nice fishing, thanks for the report! I always shy away from that place because how busy it can be, maybe you just encouraged me to give it a go! That launch can be a sh!t show on a warm summer day though.

I really like Coventry Lake with my multiple trips this summer, main target here in the future will be to load the ice chest with rock bass 8" and up, good eating size. Great fishing and fun for kids with plenty of action using worms and bobbers over the two rock fields described in my posts. Launch problems? S**t show? I have no idea what that is all about at this lake, never had a problem. Of course I need to use a flashlight to prep the boat before launching and the dawn/sunrise fishing is fantastic, off the water when the tsunami generating, teeth-rattling power boats come out and the launch not mobbed so much yet.