From Deseret News archives:
Carpe carp? Thanks, but I'll stick with bass, trout
Here, in Utah, I wrote, the carp is a fish no one wants, let alone even touch, or, heaven forbid, eat.
I received several e-mails telling me how wrong I was.
One woman wrote that her grandmother's recipe for carp would delight even the most particular diner, and I was missing out on one of the world's finest meals.
Several more said they'd sooner catch a carp than any other fish, mentioning trout, salmon and walleye.
The clincher was an e-mail from David Moore, director of the American Carp Society and "X-bassfisherman."
He wrote:
"I grew up in Oklahoma and lived for bass fishing. Once I got the 'carp fever' I never looked back. I guess if people like catching fish that are pretty and don't put up a fight, carp fishing isn't for them.
"I've been on both sides of the fence, and bass fishing doesn't come close to touching carp angling. Carp fishing is coming to the States, so you may want to be a bit more open-minded."
He then gave addresses for a couple of Web sites: www.americancarpsociety.com and www.carpanglersgroup.com. And, he wrote, equipment used for carp is far more advanced than tackle used for bass.
I had to see this for myself and went online to the American Carp Society. There were lots of pictures there of men holding big carp ... and smiling.
The introduction claims the carp is one of America's hardest-fighting fresh-water fish.
In a brief history on the carp, it is noted that because of rapidly declining numbers of game fish, such as the trout, in 1877 the newly formed U.S. Fish Commission came up with findings that said that the carp would contribute to the strength of the nation.
And, if you can believe this, it reported that the carp promised a greater return and held advantages over black bass, trout, grayling and other fish, "because it is a vegetable feeder" and could attain large size in small ponds.
Apparently, so the story goes, that's how they got into Utah Lake. Trout were fished out and someone suggested carp as a great replacement.
I can't argue the fact that carp do get large and will put up a good fight when hooked. A favorite of the grandkids is to catch five-pound carp off the back of a houseboat at Lake Powell.
I was surprised, too, to find out there's actually a carp-fishing league and an on-going tournament.
Rules are simple enough: Only carp caught in the United States weighing over 10 pounds count. Also, the fisherman must use a single hook, cannot snag or foul hook a fish, and all fish must be released alive.
And the winner is: Scott Osmond of Massachusetts. He has, this year, caught enough carp to weigh in at 9,000 pounds ... 9,000 3/16 pounds to be exact. Second is Andy Phinn of North Carolina with 6,353 5/16 pounds. Now that's a lot of fish to catch and release. You've got to love it, and they obviously do.
Needless to say, I've gained a lot more respect for the carp, but I think I'll stick with bass and trout for a while longer, thank you.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com
