Syracuse.com - Fishin' musician: Radu Georgescu is a concert violinist, competitive carp angler

[HuntingNY-News]

Georgescu was among the competitors in the JGB Triathlon, a series of carp fishing contests during Wild Carp Week in Baldwinsville Watch video Radu Georgescu sat in a camping chair and with a sling shot, flinging bait ball after bait ball into the Seneca River in front of his assigned fishing area. “They’re made of corn, oats and all kinds of secret ingredients. I make my own,” he smiled. Georgescu, 56, was among the anglers fishing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the JGB Triathlon, a series of individual, day-long, carp fishing contests on the tail end of Wild Carp Week in Baldwinsville. He did not fish in the 50-hour Wild Carp Classic earlier last week, the first time he hasn’t since 2008. He said he was too busy with work. “I had concerts. We had a tour at Carnegie Hall. I was very busy,” he said. Georgescu is a violinist with the Nashville Symphony, a position he has held since 1996. Music is his life. But where does carp fishing come in? “I grew up in Romania,” he said. “I’ve been fishing since I was 12. My father would take me carp fishing every weekend. I love it. I’ve been fishing competitively in Europe and this country for more than 20 years.” He explained that carp fishing, or any fishing for that matter, offers much for musicians.Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-StandardRadu Georgescu is a concert violinist who is also an avid fisherman. Georgescu fishes on the Seneca River as he competes in the JGB Triathlon on Wednesday. “Musicians use their hearing on a regular basis. Fishing is quieting, relaxing. It gives our hearing a rest,” he said. Having fished for carp for years, he has a great deal of respect for them. “It’s a big fish, a big fighter,” he said. “Many of these other fish, they’re small. You hook them, pull them on to shore with little or no fight. They end up on a grill and that’s it.” He added that carp are smart. “You have to compete with his smartness. We live here, he lives out there,” he said, pointing out to the river. “You have to kind of understand what’s going on. Why he’s biting? Why he’s not biting? Let me try this. No, that didn’t work. Let me try that. There’s always something to do.” He said he’s been playing violin since he was 7. “It’s the most beautiful instrument. The sound, it’s very edgy... and of course, there’s the music,” he said, adding from an early age his mother and others noted he had perfect pitch. He remembers singing with his mother when he was 3 and 4. But back to carp fishing. Georgescu said his best competitive finish to date was sixth in last September’s world championships on the St. Lawrence River. His biggest carp ever was a 39-pound, 7-ouncer he caught during a tournament in Texas. Most competitive carp tournaments are run with a catch-and-release format. Has Georgescu ever eaten one? “Today, no. But while I was a child, my father would occasionally bring one home, put it on the grill, put some tomatoes on top. It was very good. It was sold in the local markets (in Romania),” he said. This past week, Georgescu teamed up with 16-year-old Michael Cummings, of Waddington, who last year won the International Junior Carp Tournament on the St. Lawrence River. He said he likes to mentor young carp anglers, sharing his years of experience. “Many youngsters are staying inside, watching TV or in front of a computer,” he said. “This way, they’re spending time in fresh air, catching a carp or two... or five or 10. It’s much more interesting.” David Figura can be reached at 470-6066 or [email protected].

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog