The Truth About Carp

I remember reading about the history of Bass fishing - Bass used to be
considered garbage fish also a long time ago.



"Super_Duper" wrote in message
ink.net...
http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ub...1;t=008041;p=1

The "Trash Fish Label" is a bit of mistaken Cause and Effect.

Back during the industrialization of America, natural water ways were
being diverted, dammed, drained, and polluted. This coupled with
freshwater commercial fishing lead to the not so surprising situation of
declining natural fish stocks. The US goverment was well aware of the
problem. After much research, they decided that one solution to the
problem was to import and stock Cyprinus Carpio - aka Carp.

There reasoning was that carp were hardy enought to survive the less than
ideal conditions men had created. Additionally, carp could produce plenty
of protein on very little sustenance. Finally, the large immigrant
communities were hungry for a taste of home.

So, the US government set about on one of the most successful stocking
programs in history. In the 1890's German fish were imported and stocked
as brood stock in ponds near Washington DC and MD. From there shipments
were made upon request to virtually every congressional district in the
USA. People asked, and the gov't provided.

Then a couple of things happened. Water quality due to pollution,
fertilizers, and altered water ways continued to decline. People began to
notice that in some cases the only survivors were carp. Instead of
admiring the carp's tenacity and mending our own ways, Americans began
blaming carp for the problem of declining native fish stocks. Not too
logical since carp were a response to the problem rather than the cause of
the problem.

A second event deepened the perception. The invention of refridgerated
shipping. Before this event, fish were mostly a local fresh food item.
After this invention, salt water species could be caught hundreds of miles
away and provided to the country's interior in an edible state. Needless
to say, the freshwater commercial fisheries took a huge hit as diets
turned from local fresh water fish like carp and buffalo to tasty
sal****er products like salmon, flounder, etc.

It was not long before a stigma was attached to carp. Being nearly the
sole survivor of man's abuse, they were blamed for displacing more
desireable species. It mattered not that the waters in question were often
incapable of now supporting the favored species.

Those who could not afford fancy fish shipped from the sea, would continue
to eat local fare like carp. It was not long before folks began using carp
consumption as yet another racial stereotype.

Politicians being quick to recognize a scapegoat, were more than happy to
decry the evil carp, especially since it helped avoid blame for industrial
pollution, agricultural run off, excessive irrigation, channelization,
etc. etc.

Without an advocate to defend her, the Queen of the Rivers (as noted by
Izaak Walton) came to be regarded as a scourge, a pest, a "TRASHFISH."

Once ingrained in the culture, such labels are hard to shed. I see it
continuing yet today...
A man and his son are enjoying a warm spring afternoon fishing worms for
bass or catfish or walleye or whatever. Suddenly, the little boy's pole
doubles over. For about 10 minutes all is joy. Dad smiling, Jr. squealing
with glee. Then a large golden flank roles near the surface and a pair of
fleshy orange lips poke above the water.

Father's face falls. F'ing carp. Too bad. It's so ugly. Junior now doesn't
know whether to be happy or sad about this, the grandest fish he has ever
caught. Taking his cues from dad, he spits on the fish and curses it. Dad
tells him to throw it in the bushes and they get back to catching their
intended, smaller fish. Lesson Learned.

Scroll forward a few years and Jr. signs on the a place like the TFF. Carp
are mention and Jr has a visceral negative reaction.

Such a scenario will not quickly change. However, there are an increasing
number who have discovered that all is not as it appears. Join the fun,
become a part of the "Carp Brigade."

--------------------
Brian "Carpaholic" Nordberg

Illinois Fisherman wrote:
I remember reading about the history of Bass fishing - Bass used to be
considered garbage fish also a long time ago.

There are some trout snobs who still consider bass to be
garbage fish. The Rapid River in Maine is becoming infested
with bucket biology smallmouth from downstream and some
of the local trout guys want to poison the whole shebang
to get rid of them.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Illinois Fisherman wrote:

I remember reading about the history of Bass fishing - Bass used to be
considered garbage fish also a long time ago.


There are some trout snobs who still consider bass to be
garbage fish. The Rapid River in Maine is becoming infested
with bucket biology smallmouth from downstream and some
of the local trout guys want to poison the whole shebang
to get rid of them.


*******s!

I went fishing the other day and caught 2 bass and 9 carp. The bass were
too small to keep, so they went back in the water. The carp ranged in
size from about 2 pounds to one that was probably close to 10. Guess
where they ended up? On the bank, where they belong. The only good carp
is a dead carp. I've never thrown a carp back in the water, and I never
will.

Super_Duper wrote:
http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ub...1;t=008041;p=1


The "Trash Fish Label" is a bit of mistaken Cause and Effect.

Back during the industrialization of America, natural water ways were
being diverted, dammed, drained, and polluted. This coupled with
freshwater commercial fishing lead to the not so surprising situation of
declining natural fish stocks. The US goverment was well aware of the
problem. After much research, they decided that one solution to the
problem was to import and stock Cyprinus Carpio - aka Carp.

There reasoning was that carp were hardy enought to survive the less
than ideal conditions men had created. Additionally, carp could produce
plenty of protein on very little sustenance. Finally, the large
immigrant communities were hungry for a taste of home.

So, the US government set about on one of the most successful stocking
programs in history. In the 1890's German fish were imported and stocked
as brood stock in ponds near Washington DC and MD. From there shipments
were made upon request to virtually every congressional district in the
USA. People asked, and the gov't provided.

Then a couple of things happened. Water quality due to pollution,
fertilizers, and altered water ways continued to decline. People began
to notice that in some cases the only survivors were carp. Instead of
admiring the carp's tenacity and mending our own ways, Americans began
blaming carp for the problem of declining native fish stocks. Not too
logical since carp were a response to the problem rather than the cause
of the problem.

A second event deepened the perception. The invention of refridgerated
shipping. Before this event, fish were mostly a local fresh food item.
After this invention, salt water species could be caught hundreds of
miles away and provided to the country's interior in an edible state.
Needless to say, the freshwater commercial fisheries took a huge hit as
diets turned from local fresh water fish like carp and buffalo to tasty
sal****er products like salmon, flounder, etc.

It was not long before a stigma was attached to carp. Being nearly the
sole survivor of man's abuse, they were blamed for displacing more
desireable species. It mattered not that the waters in question were
often incapable of now supporting the favored species.

Those who could not afford fancy fish shipped from the sea, would
continue to eat local fare like carp. It was not long before folks began
using carp consumption as yet another racial stereotype.

Politicians being quick to recognize a scapegoat, were more than happy
to decry the evil carp, especially since it helped avoid blame for
industrial pollution, agricultural run off, excessive irrigation,
channelization, etc. etc.

Without an advocate to defend her, the Queen of the Rivers (as noted by
Izaak Walton) came to be regarded as a scourge, a pest, a "TRASHFISH."

Once ingrained in the culture, such labels are hard to shed. I see it
continuing yet today...
A man and his son are enjoying a warm spring afternoon fishing worms for
bass or catfish or walleye or whatever. Suddenly, the little boy's pole
doubles over. For about 10 minutes all is joy. Dad smiling, Jr.
squealing with glee. Then a large golden flank roles near the surface
and a pair of fleshy orange lips poke above the water.

Father's face falls. F'ing carp. Too bad. It's so ugly. Junior now
doesn't know whether to be happy or sad about this, the grandest fish he
has ever caught. Taking his cues from dad, he spits on the fish and
curses it. Dad tells him to throw it in the bushes and they get back to
catching their intended, smaller fish. Lesson Learned.

Scroll forward a few years and Jr. signs on the a place like the TFF.
Carp are mention and Jr has a visceral negative reaction.

Such a scenario will not quickly change. However, there are an
increasing number who have discovered that all is not as it appears.
Join the fun, become a part of the "Carp Brigade."

--------------------
Brian "Carpaholic" Nordberg

Chautauqua Lake, NY we've been hit with a Coy Virus that has killed an
estimated 42,00 carp in the lake. The county has to date spent over $30,000
clean up the dead fish. The virus only affects the carp but I wonder what
all the rotting fish will do to the bass fishery here. Bill P.
================================================== ==============================

"Jay C" wrote in message
link.net...
I went fishing the other day and caught 2 bass and 9 carp. The bass were
too small to keep, so they went back in the water. The carp ranged in size
from about 2 pounds to one that was probably close to 10. Guess where they
ended up? On the bank, where they belong. The only good carp is a dead
carp. I've never thrown a carp back in the water, and I never will.

Jay C wrote:
I went fishing the other day and caught 2 bass and 9 carp. The bass were
too small to keep, so they went back in the water. The carp ranged in
size from about 2 pounds to one that was probably close to 10. Guess
where they ended up? On the bank, where they belong. The only good carp
is a dead carp. I've never thrown a carp back in the water, and I never
will.
http://store.mojolures.com/

In some states it's illegal to throw a crap back

--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Long Shot "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread
Boomerang Fishing Pro. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, Decoy Activator
and the EZKnot http://www.ezknot.com

Bill & Sue wrote:
Chautauqua Lake, NY we've been hit with a Coy Virus that has killed an
estimated 42,00 carp in the lake. The county has to date spent over $30,000
clean up the dead fish. The virus only affects the carp but I wonder what
all the rotting fish will do to the bass fishery here. Bill P.

Man we just need the virus,, does NY State sell it ?

--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Long Shot "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread
Boomerang Fishing Pro. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, Decoy Activator
and the EZKnot http://www.ezknot.com