Chicago Carp Classic 2000

Chicago Carp Classic 2000 - Chicago River

The 7th annual Chicago Carp Classic took place on Saturday, September 30 2000 on the scenic Chicago River in Downtown Chicago.  The day started off cool and hazy, but warmed up to the upper sixties by afternoon.  The event was hosted by the Carp Anglers Group, an international organization based in Illinois, dedicated to promoting carp fishing and teaching specific angling methods, as well as appreciation for the carp as a worthy, sporting fish.

CCC 2000 T-shirt

CCC organizer Paul Pezalla goes over the rules and draws the pegs...

The South side of the River was divided into 108 pegs spanning from Michigan Avenue, past Columbus Drive and on towards Lake Shore Drive.  The end pegs are the coveted positions, as the lucky angler only contends with one other fisherman, and they might be within key holding structures like bridge abutments or the like.

Let the chumming begin...CAG member gets ready to hurl a spod full of chum for precison feeding.  The line is clipped at a specific length so the feed is laid out at the same distance every time.

Match fishing expert Mick Thill plummets his peg, checking the precise depth in the immediate area.

Midwest Editor Tommy Riley sets up his rod pod...

...and finishes off the terminal end with a bolt rig

The anglers battle for several honors including:
The North American Carp Champion - determined by the heaviest 4-fish total
The Chicago Carp King - for single heaviest fish
The Fox International Classic Carper - heaviest total bag weight
Michigan Avenue Section Champion - heaviest bag weight
Columbus Drive Section Champion - heaviest bag weight
Lake Shore Drive Section Champion - heaviest bag weight

Anglers came from all over the States, as well as from out of the country, including the United Kingdom and South Africa. 

Frank and Narda Walters of Nevada The couple has been embarking on a cross-continental journey with the goal of catching a carp in all 50 states.  So far they have 25!

Craig Clayton of England battles an 8 lb. fish, one of three he caught for the day.  This one actually snagged itself on the bottom - Craig patiently waited for the carp to work itself out of the snag.  Naturally, the fish was brought up after I left (that's what I get for stewarding a different section)