Carp anglers compete through Thursday downpour

MASSENA — Growing up outside of Manchester, England, Stuart J. McKenzie was lucky to catch a few carp in a day.

Over the last five days on the St. Lawrence River, Mr. McKenzie has reeled in more than 80.

Mr. McKenzie and his teammate, Patrick M. Kerwin, were in third place in the 2011 Carp Angling World Championship by the end of Thursday.

The tournament, which has drawn anglers from as far away as Eastern Europe, began on Sunday and ends this morning. Ian Chilcott and Lee Jackson of England led with 92 fish caught, followed by Alan St. Cyr and Jack Curry of the United States with 86 carp, and Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Kerwin with 81.

After a threat of rain throughout the week, the clouds finally gathered and the skies opened on the last full day of the tournament, drenching the teams up and down the river.

“Monday, they said it was going to rain tomorrow. Tuesday, they said it was going to rain tomorrow. Then it finally rained,” Mr. McKenzie said.

The two anglers didn’t seem to mind. Even as heavy rain fell and thunder rumbled overhead, the teammates emerged from their soggy tents and raced over rocks to their stationary fishing poles at the shoreline each time a beeping alarm alerted them of a catch.

There is no place quite like the St. Lawrence to go carp angling, Mr. McKenzie said.

“The St. Lawrence is sort of one of those mystical places every carp angler has to experience,” Mr. McKenzie said. “It’s so wild and unique here.”

Now a Virginia resident, Mr. McKenzie came in second when the tournament was held here in 2005. He wanted to see if he could return and take first place.

It wasn’t hard for him to pick a spot to compete. When he and Mr. Kerwin stopped by a spot just north of the Massena Water Intake, fish were actually jumping out of the water, he said.

“Luck of the draw, we picked the one we wanted,” he said. “It hasn’t disappointed.”

The constant anticipation of reeling in another fish left the duo sleepless for days and altered their diet. On the first two nights, they ate steak and sausage for dinner. From Tuesday onward, they have been on a steady diet of granola.

“We haven’t slept. We actually caught most of our fish during the night,” Mr. McKenzie said. “We’re living on Red Bull and adrenaline.”

The two appreciate the support shown by area residents who stopped by to say hello and brought over food.

“All the local people we’ve met have been really nice and enthusiastic,” Mr. Kerwin said. “It’s been a really good time.”