A carp to the jaw hurts
Bumps, bruises, cuts and slime are all part of boating trips on the Illinois River these days. Spend enough time on the Illinois and you’re bound to have at least one close encounter at least one flying Asian carp.
But your odds of a collision go way up when you are actively trying to make the fish jump so you can shoot them with a bow and arrow.
Few people know that better than Jodi Barnes of Bartonville, fiancee of carp-slayer Chris Brackett. During a carp-shooting outing earlier this summer, Barnes had her jaw broken when a large silver carp slammed into the side of her face.
The collision occurred within view of Johnny’s Hideaway along the Peoria riverfront with Driven TV hosts Pat Reeve and Nicole Jones in the boat.
“We were going really slow because that seems to get them to jump really high,” Brackett said. “Jodi had shot at one and was leaning forward to reel in her arrow when another fish came out of nowhere to her right and then hit her in the jaw.”
Photographer Bill Konway actually photographed the moment of impact. Click here to see the rest of Konway’s pictures and to check out some of his other cool outdoors-related photographs.
Hours after she was hit Barnes had her jaw wired shut. She still has four more weeks of eating instant potatoes and smoothies until the broken jawbone heals.
The experience left Barnes with a vendetta against flying carp. Moments after her collision, she sent a text message
with three simple words: “Kill ‘em all!”
Incidentally, film crews will be on the water with Brackett Aug. 22-23 to shoot footage for an upcoming episode of
Hooked, which airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on the National Geographic channel.
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“Kill ‘em all!”
“Exterminate the brutes”—Colonel Kurtz
Let me see, first thing out of Brackett’s mouth was probably “But baby, it makes for great video footage and its part of the whole experience”. Second sentence “This is gonna make us money”. I feel sorry for Jodi and not just for getting hit in the face. She has to put up with “Hollywood” 24/7.
What I would like to see about Chris Brackett is his explainations on his 2008 game violations. Anybody out there old enough to remember one of the first Illinois resident celebs whom thought he was above the law? Noel Feather
Sorry to hear about the injury and hope the healing is going well.. Dodging those things is a trial to say the least and dodging while photographing or filming AUUUGH!
I’ve always wondered how I would explain to Canon’s warranty department that a flying carp smashed and slimed my gear…
Hey someone emailed the answers to my questions on Brackett. It goes like this. “The deer I failed to check in officer was because I had no cell service”. Duh, drive down the road till you get service. Next question.. “But gee officer I really didn’t know there was a limit on frogs and nowhere in the Illinois regulations does it say I can’t shoot a turtle with a bow”. Now in my book that is called “game violations”. I guess in Brackett’s book thats called “stupidity”. What else has this guy gotten away with? Game violators have NO respect for the law and as far as I am concerned they should have their hunting and fishing priveledges revoked!!!!! Sorry, I have no respect for people that think they are above the law…....
One of my hunting partners took a flyer upside his head. Result: broken neck, surgery, plates and pins, and no shotgun shooting this year for sure. Bad deal
i talked to chris a few days ago and he showed me the picture on his phone and jodi had her jaw wired shut. it look bad but he said she wasent mad at him tho hahaha
ilbowhunter . ok we heard enough . do you have something better to do then bash everybody on here?
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