Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Exploring another weed line one of the guys spotted a large golden glow in the water. It was a gigantic Mahi swimming near the surface which appeared to have something in its mouth. The bull wouldn’t take any bait so David grabbed his spear gun and dove in determined to catch the monster. Captain Jeff circled the boat around to keep an eye on the Mahi. A few moments later team mate Chris DeLeo was shouting and pointing towards David. I looked just as David speared the Mahi perfectly and then joined the shouting “SHARK”! An enormous Brown shark was investigating the now bleeding Mahi which he was holding. Time slowed down; the next few seconds were crucial. The shark swam towards the speared Mahi, David’s head still underwater and all I can think of is we need to get him in the boat quick!

Thankfully the Advanced Roofing team is more than capable, Jeff quickly maneuvered the boat right to David. The team helped pull him out of the water and gaff the Mahi before the shark could get to it. It was an intense moment because if we were literally 2-3 seconds later, I’m pretty sure we would have had a different outcome. That shark was way too close for comfort for me and I’m glad we got to David and the Mahi before the shark did! Later at the scale the Mahi weighed in at 69.5 lbs, a new spear fishing record. We also discovered what was in its mouth, another 5lb Mahi!

Time had flown by with all the excitement and it was now Tuna time. Our eyes went to the sky scouting birds. We found some nice flocks and landed 5 and a ½ Tunas. The largest Tuna came up after a long fight with only the head remaining… Maybe that brown shark was following us and finally got the snack he was after. Katie and I were thrilled to each catch our 1st Yellow fin Tuna.

The sun started to set and it was time to head in after an amazing day of fishing. A big thank you to the Advanced Roofing Fishing team from Katie and myself for inviting us on an incredible Unleashed adventure we won’t soon forget. My family and friends also thank you guys for the delicious Mahi Mahi and Tuna I brought home to share. As Katie says, “I’m reminded of our amazing fishing trip with Advanced Roofing every time I open my freezer!”

Two prominent names working in both the fishing and hunting industry, Larysa Switlyk and Ken Keene will be pairing up this year to compete in the Austin Team Championship; one of North America’s longest running carp fishing competitions located in Austin, Texas.

Hosted by the Carp Anglers Group, the Austin Team Championship(www.CAG-ATC.com) has a rich history and over the years has produced many 30+ lb fish, several 40’s and countless personal bests by the competitors. There have also been captures of Smallmouth Buffalo exceeding 60 lbs which is another reason why Larysa and Ken are very excited to attend.

Although it’s officially their first event competing as a team, this carp angling duo have more than just “winning” on their minds while attending the Austin Team Championship. With a common goal of “raising carp fishing awareness” in North America and abroad, Larysa Switlyk and Ken Keene will be working in conjunction on different carp related projects to help further grow the sport. Having founded the world’s largest FREE online carp fishing competition (www.BigFourCarp.com), Ken says, “We couldn’t think of a better event to attend than the Austin Team Championship for helping launch our efforts promoting carp fishing worldwide.”

Establishing quite a name for herself within the outdoor industry, Larysa Switlyk has been hunting and fishing for several years now with many of her ventures taking place all over the world. Since accepting the North American ambassador role with the world’s largest FREE online carp fishing competition, Larysa has big plans of introducing carp fishing to a much broader audience through her new and exciting network show entitled, “Larysa Unleashed(www.LarysaUnleashed.com)” which debuts July 2013 on NBC Sports.

For More Information on Ken Keene, Larysa Switlyk or the Austin Team Championship visit:

www.BigFourCarp.com – www.LarysaUnleashed.com – www.CAG-ATC.com

In recent years, Larysa Switlyk has become a name familiar to those active within the outdoor industry. Larysa has been hunting and fishing all over the world but, it’s carp fishing that has become the focal point of her outdoor activities.
After attending this years Meet Carp Romania and World Carp Classic competitions, Larysa has been bitten by the “carp bug” and is now suffering from “carp fever”. The person to blame for all of this would be carp angling icon and TOKS Panel of Expert, Frank Warwick whom Larysa partnered with during the 2012 Meet Carp Romania competition. It was at this event Larysa would receive a healthy dose of the methods, bait and tackle used by Frank. The time spent fishing along side Frank Warwick and his partner Jason Cann would prove to be a tremendous learning experience for her which would be the official start of her “carp fever”.
Her developing passion for carp fishing would eventually land her in Italy to represent the United States while competing in the 2012 World Carp Classic. Having competed against some of the best carp anglers in the world while attending an event of this magnitude opened her mind up to how just incredible this sport really is.
With a new found respect and passion for the sport, Larysa see’s the potential carp fishing has in North America and is now focused on raising carp fishing awareness in her own country and abroad as well. To show just how serious she is, Larysa has recently filled the North American Ambassador role with the Worlds Largest FREE Online Carp Fishing competition, better known as the TOKS Big Four International(www.BigFourCarp.com). Larysa says, “the concept behind the TOKS Big Four International makes sense to me and it’s one that will support my efforts in reaching anglers of all different backgrounds, especially women and children.”
TOKS Tournament Director, Ken Keene says, “the concept behind the TOKS Big Four International is to include everyone and exclude no one which basically means everyone can now be a part of a high profile carp competition without having to pay any entry fees, worry about outrageous traveling costs or deal with the less than favorable peg draw format. The TOKS Big Four International will support all of Larysa’s efforts raising carp fishing awareness in North America and plans of working in conjunction on different projects taking place in the future. Also, in the coming weeks we will release the names of two North American carp anglers joining the TOKS Staff, whom will consult for one of the most reputable carp bait companies in the world.” – brought to you by www.BigFourCarp.com

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Fresh off a Top 10 finish at the “World Catfish Classic”, Larysa Switlyk, representing Team USA, is headed to Italy to compete in the “World Carp Classic”.

“I’m eager to represent the USA, JRC, Berkley, Gulp Carp, and Easy2Hook in this years competition.” remarked Switlyk.  “I’m new to Carp fishing, and am looking forward to the challenge of competing against the worlds best Carp anglers at the same time representing female anglers world wide! I was fortunate to get a crash course in Carp Fishing 2 weeks ago in Romania fishing a 100 hour straight tournament and learning from one of the best, Frank Warwick and Jason Cann of Frank Warwick Baits as my teammates! ”

The “World Carp Classic” is a unique event with 160 teams, representing 30 countries, competing in the 24/7, six-day event starting September 2-8, 2012.  This year’s tournament is being held on Lake Bolsena, Italy located on the borders of Tuscany and Lazio, Lake Bolsena is formed in the crater of an extinct volcano.  Its crystal clear waters team with giant carp, and lap against fine sandy beaches.  Tournament organizer, Ross Honey, thinks this year will be the best ever.

“With the team we have assembled for 2012 including JRC and our other partners, we have all the ingredients to make this an unforgettable year.” Remarked Honey.  “There are very few international carp events with the history, reputation, competiveness, and purse featured at the World Carp Classic.”

In its’ 14^th year, the World Carp Classic has morphed from a 48 hour event into 144 hours straight.  Prior to lines in the water, teams will draw for the “peg” spot, which will determine their fishing and camping location for the duration of the event.  Teams are competing for nearly $50,000 USD in cash and prizes, with the winners being determined by the total weight of all carp caught during the tournament hours.

Switlyk, the 27-year old Florida native, will be the USA’s sole representation at the international fishing competition.  It’s a spot she’s familiar with.

“I was the only American competing in the World Catfish Classic.”  said Switlyk.  “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to once again represent Team USA and am looking forward to fly the American Flag high and proud during the opening ceremony parade.”

James Vincent “Vinny” will be bringing his tremendous experience and knowledge of carp fishing to Team USA fishing alongside Larysa Switlyk as her teammate! Vinny’s feelings on the event, “I feel it’s important to understand and work for each other, be if sharing a joke or helping to hold a 25kg carp for the camera. It’s about getting the best out of whatever swim we draw and being a team from the start.”

Visit www.WorldCarpClassic.com for daily results posting and to follow the action from Team USA.

Rewind quickly.  I met Frank Warwick in Spain while competing in the World Catfish Classic earlier this year.  I was struck by his intimate knowledge about fishing in Europe and told him I’d love the opportunity to fish with him someday. We’ve stayed in touch and in one of our email exchanges he mentioned he was fishing a tournament out in Romania in August.  Coincidentally, I was invited to fish that same lake.  Frank asked if I was interested in coming to Romania to fish with him. I jumped at the opportunity and Frank arranged for me to join his fishing team and compete during the tournament. The adventure has official begun.

The Meet Carp “Best 5” tournament is a 5-day event held on “Two Lakes, Two Brothers” in Tancabesti, Romania.  The winners are determined by the aggregate weight of five Carp.  The 28 teams competing in this year’s 100 hour straight event were vying for over $20,000 in cash and prizes.  This was unlike any tournament that I had fished before.

After a long journey, of three separate plane flights, I arrived in Romania where I was greeted by my teammates.  From the airport in Bucharest, we traveled 25 minutes to the lake and lodge.  I had almost no time to recover from the flight before the kickoff dinner; the 100 hour fishing competition started the next morning!

The team let me draw our peg, which determined our fishing location and camp on the lake for the next 5 days.  The cards we got dealt were tough.  Our spot was not ideal, but we were going to have to make due.  Our peg space was small and the trees that hung above made it difficult for casting. There was a floating island about 100 yards to the left of our swim.  After assessing the situation, the plan was to get the baits as close under the floating island. That’s where we felt the fish were held up on these 104 Fahrenheit/40 Celsius degree days.

The weather made the first 48 of 100 hours of fishing miserable.  You could not escape from the 100+ degree heat.  It didn’t matter that I got a chance to sneak away from the swim for a shower because the second I walked back outside the humidity hit me and I was immediately drenched with my own sweat.  There was no way out.  I knew the fish were feeling as lethargic during the day as we were, and that our chances of getting bit would be relegated to the hours during the night.

Once I learned how to use the baiting stick correctly and the boilies actually flew out further than 3 feet, it was time to get to work and bait around that floating island.  Since Frank owns his own bait company with Jason, Frank Warwick Baits, we had an array of baits and different flavors, which no carp could resist!  We were pretty much putting out chum around the island to draw any Carp that are hiding up from underneath the island to come out for a feeding and hopefully come across the bait with the hook attached!

Frank taught me how to tie one of his favorite carp rigs, which he said could catch carp all over Europe. I was definitely not familiar with the baits we were using and was intrigued about the snowman rig!  We were using high attract food bait slow sinking wafters with a bottom bait under it with a long shank hook which created it looking like a snowman, hence the name! With 45lbs mono shock leaders with a 5 oz casting

lead to help carefully place those baits perfectly snug next to the island without getting caught up in it. That definitely required some casting skills and I can say Frank was a master. The one major down side to the floating island is once the fish hooked, it was very easy for the fish to get snagged up while we tried to get the fish away from the island.  In the end we lost some good carp because of it.

I landed my first carp in the middle of the 2^nd night and it was an incredible fight.  The fight was different from other fish I’ve fought, but with the same concept applied.  Tire them out before they tire you out!  A special feeling came across me when I got to hold my first carp.  It was surreal.  I had flown half way around the world for this exact moment, and to be able to hold such a prized fish.  The official weight of my carp was 10.2 kilos/22.5 lbs. It was a good fish and put us on the board.  This competition was all about quality, not quantity.  The bigger the better, and size mattered.

 The weather cooled down and the bite turned up. It was great to watch and observe Frank and Jason discuss carp strategy on our swim and be able to follow along.  Besides the fishing being a challenge, the competition itself was challenging both mentally and physically!

A strong cold front came through which brought one of the worst thunder & lightning storm I have ever experienced. I live in Florida, and am accustom to bad storms.  What made it worse was being in a tent under a bunch of trees!  My heart jumped out of my chest when I heard the crackling of lightning that hit a tree nearby and the thunder shake the tent.  During this storm, the lines were going off and I watched from inside the tent as Jason reeled in a fish in the pouring rain!  Awesome fish but it was a Grass Carp and didn’t count towards are Best 5 which have to be common carp. What a disappointment because we caught about 4 total that night.

My favorite fish we caught was towards the end of the competition Frank reeled in a beautiful Mirror carp, which is a mutation of a common carp, with fewer scales that give off a mirror look.  The sight of this fish literally took my breath away! I am grateful to be able to fish for such unique fish.

PVTV, a European hunting/fishing network came to my swim to interview me. The last question they asked me really stood out.  They asked, “How does it feel to be fishing among so many men with you being the only female?”  It didn’t take me long to answer because I didn’t feel anything different about it.  I was definitely in my element, and everyone treated me with respect.  A little teasing and joking was to be expected, but I’m use to hanging out with “the boys” growing up with brothers and never felt out of place.  I was there to fish and enjoyed spending time with people who share a common interest! Extremely grateful to be able to fish along some of the best carp anglers and wouldn’t have it any other way!

The conclusion of the tournament was just over the top! During the ceremony announcing the winners, happy tears where flowing, accomplishment filled the room and pride, everyone full of emotions and uniting over one common thing…carp fishing!  Oh I also forgot to mention the unbelievable firework display over the lake and the top Romanian pop band performing a private concert for all of us! Good food, great people, drinks flowing, rocking music created the perfect atmosphere to enjoy at the end of such a grueling fishing competition!

It was truly an honor to fish alongside Frank Warwick.  I absolutely adored the time we spent together and appreciated the time he took out to teach me his take and experience on carp fishing.  Learning a whole new skill set and followed along as they talked carp strategy.  I shared a lot of laughs with Frank and Jason, caught some outstanding fish, learned a ton about carp fishing but most importantly, made some long lasting friendships and have lifetime memories! I am truly blessed!

This was a perfect way to get ready for representing Team USA at the 2012 World Carp Classic in Italy on Lake Bolsena. I got to learn tips and techniques from the one and only Frank Warwick during a 100 hour straight carp tournament, ideal way to get my feet wet in the Carp Game! I definitely learned if I could spend 100 hours straight with Frank Warwick and Jason Cann, I can pretty much do just about anything! Larysa Unleashed is officially hooked on Carp Fishing!  xoxo

I am headed to Romania to fish the “Meet Carp Romanian Awards”, a Carp fishing tournament, taking place August 6-10^th, at Tancabesti Lake, also known as Two Brothers, Two Lakes.  I’ll be fishing with Frank Warwick and Jason Cann, one of the best Carp fishing teams from the United Kingdom!  In last year’s event, the team lost the lead in the last hour, and ended up 4^th overall.

I’m excited about setting up camp by the lake and fishing for 100 hours straight.  The field of competition will be tough.  There are 28 other teams fishing for the grand prize of $10,000 Euros.  Winners are determined by the aggregate weight of five carp! I’m looking forward to this experience, and learning Carp fishing techniques from one of the greatest, Frank Warwick. 

I plan to put the tips and tricks to use next month in Italy, when I compete in the “World Carp Classic”.  I’ll be representing Team USA, JRC, Berkley and Easy2Hook fishing with James Vincent “Vinny”.  Vinny is well known in the Carp and Wels Catfish Circuit.  I’m grateful to have the opportunity to fish and learn from two of the best.  My Carp fishing adventure and the tournaments are being filmed by Hungarian based hunting/fishing network, PVTV.  The footage will air throughout Europe on their network!  PVTV played a huge part in bringing me to Romania to fish. I will also be airing the footage from this tournament on my show, Larysa Unleashed, which will start airing in 2013 in the United States.

Since I am flying in the day before the tournament and we are fishing 100 hours straight, I kid with my other team mates that I can take the night shift at watching the rods since I will be awake from jet lag!

I’ll have a full report for you when I return from 5 days/4 nights of non-stop carp fishing at the best 5 Meet Carp Romanian Awards!

xo

~Larysa Switlyk

 Spain was a success! Switlyk was blessed with the chance to represent Team USA and Easy2Hook in the World Catfish Classic. Fishing for Wels Catfish, which is the 2^nd largest catfish in the world.  The trip was action packed with three full days of fishing on the River Ebro outside of Chiprana, Spain.  She fished 9 hours a day trying to capture the Catfish Classic Cup and 7,500 British pounds! (about 11,726 dollars).

55 teams of the best angles from around the world, fished hard for three days.  Representing their country, flying their flag high and proud during the opening ceremony, they paraded through the streets of Chiprana.   PV TV, a Romanian TV channel for anglers and hunters, covered the whole event as it was happening!

Before the start of the tournament, Ross Honey, the founder of the World Catfish Classic, put in place a major environmental campaign called “Friends of the Ebro”.   This initiative combats bank side litter in the Chiprana/Caspe area. A few days before the tournament he and his team picked up truckloads of litter from the River Ebro.  All the competitors joined after the tournament to ensure the river was left in prestige condition.

Each team rotated fishing different sections of the River Ebro.  “Our first day of fishing was slow!  We weren’t in the best section of the river and it was one of those days where everything was going wrong – we even lost 2 good fish.  Our spirits were high and we knew tomorrow was a new day of fishing!  We were put at the worst section of the river on day 2, but managed to pull in 3 fish.  What a change of luck!  These were the only fish brought in the entire section, which lead us to win that section for the day!  With no other teams catching in our section this shows how knowledgeable my teammate Gary Sheridan is who owns CarpDreamFishing.com. He knows his Wels catfish and how to fish for them which helped put Team USA on the board! We were excited for our final day because we would be fishing the best part of the River where most of the fish were brought in. “ States Switlyk. Don’t count out team USA! They still had a chance and the tournament wasn’t even close to being over!

Day three was a make or break day and the pressure was on.  Today would determine if Team USA would make the top ten and be eligible for the prize table.  “We set out four rods with different baits to see what these catfish were in the mood for.  They took fancy to a mixture of squid and pellets.In an instant we had two rods going off at once! That was the type of action I was hoping for!  I barely had time to pull in the first fish, tag it and let it go before the second rod was bending under the weight of another catfish!  It felt good to be covered in Catfish slime! I was here to catch fish!” states Switlyk.  Not knowing how the other teams were doing that day, there was no knowing where Team USA stood in the rankings.

Larysa Switlyk adds, “My goal was to at least make top ten.  Our standings going into day 3 was 32^nd place. I knew we just needed one or two more fish and we could be close.   However, as luck would have it the fish didn’t get the memo.  We would get a little teaser bites but no takers! It was driving us all crazy!  The rod would bend quickly and then nothing.  Especially when we could see the catfish in the distance slap their tails on top of the water! Last hour of the tournament was torture; especially knowing all we needed was one more fish to get us in the top ten.”

“Every time I heard the alarm go off on the rod, my heart would skip a beat and my adrenaline would start flowing. Waiting to see if the fish took the bait and coming up with nothing felt like heartbreak. Time was standing still.  I was trying to keep negative thoughts out of my mind but things were not looking good.  The clock showed 15 minutes left.  What were the odds of hooking a fish right now and it count in the running.  Low and behold, time stopped – one of our rod alarms went crazy and a fish was definitely eating. The moment Gary set that hook, the rod was bending steady, my heart started racing.  It’s not over yet!  This was the fish I was praying for!” says Switlyk.  Talk about cutting it close! Team USA brought that fish in with 2 minutes to spare! The fish weighed in at 28kilo.  Was it enough to help them gain a few spots?

“After getting tossed in the river by Gary ( I of course had to get him back and throw him in as well!) I reeked from the smell of the river and the catfish slim.  After getting clean it was time for the closing ceremony. I had no idea where Team USA stood in the rankings and my stomach was in knots!  My mind was racing, Did we pull it off?”  states Switlyk.

The announcer started with the team events. Team USA was also fishing under Berkley Team 2.  “In third place they started announcing my name and Gary’s name. I was so confused?   We won the team event? I didn’t even think we were in the running!  We were in last place yesterday.,” says Switlyk.   How things can change overnight!  They came in third!  “That was so unexpected; I was still in shock when I went up to the stage! It felt good to show our hard work paying off! “

“When the announcer began reading the top ten finishers I might have been a little overly excited when they announced Team USA taking 10^th place in the World Catfish Classic. You might not think 10^th place is anything but to us, it proved our hard work and Gary’s experience paid off.   It was impressive because of the obstacles we had to overcome.” says Switlyk.  10^th place awards free entrance into next year’s World Catfish Classic.  “ Guess I will be back on the River Ebro fishing next year for Team USA!  I hope I made Team USA Proud! We worked out all the bugs this trip so next year my eye is on the top prize!” says Larysa Switlyk.

Berkley will be sponsoring Gary Sheridan and Larysa Switlyk along with Easy2Hook to compete for Team USA in the World Carp Classic on Lake Bolsena in Italy (outside the Pope’s summer house) this September 2^nd-8^th.  “Looks like I will be Unleashed in Italy after Carp in a few months!  Go Team USA!!” shouts Switlyk!

All of these fishing tournaments are being filmed and will air on Larysa Switlyk’s television show called Larysa Unleashed in 2013.

For more information or questions, Please use contact page!

Sarasota, FL- Team USA is excited to announce the sponsorship of Easy2Hook for this year‘s World Catfish Classic! One of 56 Competing teams from around the world, Team USA is represented by Larysa Switlyk and Gary Sheridan. Switlyk hosts her own female hunting and fishing reality show called LarysaUnleashed. Sheridan has plenty of knowledge and experience in catfishing and owns a fishing business called Carp Dream Fishing. For more information, check out Larysa’s website at LarysaUnleashed.com and Gary’s website at CarpDreamfishing.com. The competition takes place in Chiprana, Spain, May 23-25 on the famous Ebro River. The Wels Catfish will be the prized catch of the day for the opportunity to raise the winner’s national flag and compete for the World Catfish Cup!

            Easy2Hook produces a revolutionary knot-less fishing hook! The time wasted tying a knot on your line with your old hook (average of 45 minutes per day in tournaments) is replaced with a simple wrap method, quick and easy, that provides 100% line strength that matches quality, penetration, and sharpness of any other hooks out there! This amazing product is approved by the North American Fishing Club Members and is a perfect fishing component for virtually anyone from age 6 and up!  Team USA stands behind this product and is proud to have them onboard as sponsors for this exciting event.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the entry of two fantastically talented anglers in both Gary Sheridan and Larysa Switlyk, who will be representing Team USA in this year’s World Catfish Classic. Everybody involved with Easy2Hook wish them the best of luck.” – Paul Smith, Easy2Hook

“I am extremely excited for Easy2Hook to join Team USA for the battle out on the Ebro River! I can’t thank them enough for their support and I know using their hooks will enhance our fishing experience and bring in the monster Wels catfish!”

- Larysa Switlyk, Team USA

“Easy2Hook is a new and innovative company with a great concept for what the angling market needs. No more hassles! The Easy2Hook state-of-the-art idea, concept and design will allow us to make great headway in the World Catfish Classic World Cup!”

- Gary Sheridan, Team USA

For More information about Easy2Hook and their Products,

visit www.easy-2-hook.com or www.outdoorspecialtyinnovations.com

For Exciting & Up Close Coverage of Team USA in the World Catfish Classic, visit www.LarysaUnleashed.com  or www.CarpDreamfishing.com !

Established in 2007, the WWIA is the nation’s leading nature-based non-profit charity providing world-class outdoor sporting opportunities to our nation’s combat wounded Purple Heart recipients. The WWIA focuses on our heroes’ healing processes, welcoming them home, and repaying a debt of gratitude for the great sacrifices they’ve made.

According to the WWIA founder, John McDaniel, “We are very excited about this tremendous opportunity and Alabama is the perfect venue for us. Lady Purple Heart Recipients are very special and very rare. We wanted to do something that focused exclusively on them as they represent the very unique portion of the combat wounded population. We’re helping heal the wounds doctors cannot fix.”

This first time event is also being supported by Larysa Switlyk, a professional Huntress volunteering her services for this activity, “It gives me a great deal of joy to be able to take someone out on their first hunt and provide them the opportunity to experience something new. I’m excited to be able to share my passion with these ladies who have done so much for our country and help them get their first turkey down!”

The WWIA is exceptionally grateful to Mr. Steve Lambert and his family and friends; the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation; and the Tampa Bay Lighting Hockey Foundation for making possible this amazing event.

The WWIA’s primary goals are to empower our heroes by: increasing self-reliance; bolstering self-confidence; promoting spiritual healing and wellness; instilling a sense of belonging; and providing employment opportunities for our heroes.

For more information about the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation (WWIA), please visit them online at wwiaf.org by phone 888.308.9942 or email info@wwiaf.org.

Written By: Nichole Robinson, Staff Writer, Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation