Ignoring most of the "Internet tough guy syndrome" flying through this thread I will add my useless, carp loving two cents...be prepared to bash away.
The reality for me is simple. NOTHING should be to done to regulate or attempt to increase the populations of non native fish. No limits should be set for bass, carp, brown trout etc. Debating the "value" of various non native species is why we are IN this mess. Carp were valued, bass were valued, etc and on and on, resulting in the pollution of our waters with species that do not belong. So, treat all non native fish the same...don't try to propagate any of them. Focus on our few remaining native and precious resources.
Seems pretty simple to me.
I would also make reasonable attempts to return what waters we can to self sustaining native fisheries. Truthfully, this is basically impossible in most cases. The bass ain't coming out of the john day river and will continue to decimate the smolt. The carp ain't leaving the Columbia either...not unless we bombed the entire river.
As a labelled and lonely "carp lover" here in Oregon I can agree with drew that the ridicule gets old as does the constant misinformation listed as fact (carp probably eat less fish eggs than whitefish, trout etc...they mostly eat nymphs, clams, worms, vegetive matter and a ton of crayfish). I can understand and appreciate the exasperation in his replies and see through that to a young fisherman genuinely excited about learning and going one step farther than most of us...teaching. While I might not agree with all of drew's replies (primarily the tone) I 100% applaud his desire to share his passion and pass it on to others. We are lucky to have such a passionate steward for any fishery in my mind.
The more reading I do and the more involved I get with carp (specifically on the fly) the more I am amazed at the stark similarities with the origins of bone fishing. When that first started everyone laughed...called the originators trash fisherman and debated the total lack of value bonefish bring (I hear they taste worse than carp). Fast forward 15 years and entire economies hinge on the dollars those fish bring in...while I am not saying carp will get there in America (I hope not...I like my lonely flats) I can say that the next time all the Internet tough guys are getting to you drew, just think of yourself as a pioneer...and be happy you get the water to yourself. You could be sitting below a hatchery on the sandy instead.
