Davy Davenport from Billingsley, Alabama invited me on August the 1st to join him and his son Charlie (not even 7 years old) to one carpfishing in Alabama river at Cooters pond near Prattville. I joined them with my camera and my knowledge on topfishing. I showed him how to make self hooking system for those bigones! He put a pice of brown'n serve roll on small hook and let the float go down the river. A few moments later - slurp - and a huge (3 - 4 feet) fish showed his back out of the water, but drag was not set for such a monster and baaang, line was broken! After that, young and perspective angler Charlie caugt catfish on that floater, another catfish on the bottom of this enormously rich river and a 4 pound smallmouth buffalo on the bottom again. We were about to go and Davy cast the floater for the last time and pass the rod to his son Charlie - not long after that - floater sank in to Alabama river. Promising Charlie was not strong enough to fight this bigone. His happy father Davy gave him a hand and helped him to fought for 20 minutes before we even recognised it was not a carp but magnificent grass carp. After 35 minutes of fight and countless escapes of this best fighter, this beautiful fish was scaled and then released. A brand new digital scale showed 24,36 pounds. I believe that this, Charlie's first topfishing grass carp will live in his mind for ever. And I have to thanks my host Mr. Davenport so much for giving me an opportunity to join him and his son on this fantastic fishing afternoon on Alabama river.

Many anglers don't know for this method, and many anglers ignore it while others avoid it as they see it as cheating.