O
OnTheFly
In the book I mentioned above it does indeed tell that carp are the smartest fish that swims and the book explains the testing done to determine that apparent fact.
Most folks think common carp (yellow/orange) eat only algae but that is not the whole truth. A common carp's (not grass carp, White Amur) first preference for food is the same nymphs, crustaceans, and small bait fish that all native fish feed on. But, when preferred food sources are not available common carp can survive on a wide variety of foods including, fruits and berries, as well as algae. Carp have been observed eating blackberries falling into the water from overhanging bushes. Common carp are true omnivores.
If USA anglers could ever get past the learned, traditional prejudice about carp they would find a tremendous fishing resource right under their noses nation wide! :lol:
Help me obewan, Jim has crossed over to the dark side.
Help me obewan, Jim has crossed over to the dark side.
I don't disagree, in fact I totally agree with you. If I had my way every last multi-million of them would be eliminated from all America's waterways. But the fact is the fish are here and they "ain't" going away so why not look at them as a fishing resource? You can be angry about them or you can utilize them to bend your rod and pull your drag!
When John was first learning carp flyfishing he emailed me numerous times asking for advice on waters that might be suitable for flyfishing large carp. Now, several years later he is probably the most knowledgeable guy in Oregon on flyfishing for carp.
For example, did you know the average adult carp has 2-million eggs per spawn?
They also are incredibly destructive and compete with the native fish.
It's not a question if people would enjoy fishing for them, it's a question of what are they doing to ecosystems they are living in here in the U.S. Who the hell cares if they're fun to catch! They are destroying our waterways!
...A common carp's........first preference for food is the same nymphs, crustaceans, and small bait fish that all native fish feed on.....
At any rate, they are nothing more than an INVASIVE specie. For example, the bastards completely choked out and overtook; my favorite stretch of bass fishing water on the Long Tom River. I used to catch buckets full of smallie's and bucketmouths. But, now all there are in the whole dam stretch (about 2 miles long), is nothing but those frickin carp. I HATE them. I want them ERADICATED from our game waters!!!
If the frickin things would NOT take over territory like they do, I would have no problem with them at all. But, I repeat...they are INVASIVE (and I might add, NON native to most parts of the world). I don't give a dam if they taste good or not. And it's all because some idiots transplanted them in our part of the world. And they thought it was a GOOD idea??? MORONS all!
Incidentally, carp are among the easiest fish to catch. All you need is a worm. Or, now on my former classic bass water...a floating rapala, a Lucky 13, or a frog popper. They'll hit ANYTHING. So, I am sorry, but you can't convince me that they are a "challenging" target. I have caught hundreds of the dam things. And they have all been left on the bank.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. My respects to anyone who likes carp. I'm not picking on you personally. I am only expressing my feelings about the fish; and the pinheads who brought this blight to our corner of the globe.
But, I guess that I don't really have an opinion to state. LOL