My nephew is battling a powerful fish, and both boy and fish are getting tired. Kevin is learning the subtle art of playing a fish - when and how to apply pressure, ease up, hold the rod and reel, and use his body. He has been smiling since the hook was set four minutes ago. He has discovered the joy of carp fishing.
I used to be a conventional fisherman. I traveled across the Midwest to fish for bass, walleye, and catfish. In 2016, I read the book Fishing for Buffalo: A Guide to the Pursuit and Cuisine of Carp, Suckers, Eelpout, Gar, and Other Rough Fish and began to more fully appreciate diversity in fish.
Soon after that, we took a family trip to northern Wisconsin to fish the Namekagon River and discovered how much fun it can be to catch suckers. We were officially fishing for smallmouth bass, but we kept catching different species of suckers, and they fought just as hard as the bass. My kids enjoyed catching these beautiful native fish. They did not know that most people see them as "trash fish."
When we returned home, I went birding at a local park and saw a good friend fishing nearby. He is a serious fisherman, and we started talking about this lake - a former gravel pit converted to a lake in a park adjacent to single-family homes and duplexes. I told him about my recent experience with suckers, and he said, "You should fish for carp. It's a blast! It's the most fun you can have fishing around here."
He described a special hair rig setup that uses sweetcorn as bait. He said you have to be very careful and meticulous with your presentation in order to fool the fish. I was intrigued, but the very idea of carp fishing went against so much of my conditioning. Carp are seen as undesirable rough fish in the eyes of most fishermen. They are bony and often taste like the turbid polluted waters they inhabit. All of these prejudices made me reflect on what other people would think of me if they saw me carp fishing with corn. It was hard to commit, but I eventually lightened up and decided to give it a try.
I am now a convert and carp enthusiast. I have joined the ranks of countless Asian farmers and Europeans who have revered carp for thousands of years. Farmers in Asia were the first to notice that some carp had colorful, shiny scales, and they started selectively breeding for different colors. That led to the development of colorful carp that are tended to by people around the world.
Carp are called Koi in Japan, where they are celebrated in ancient myths and modern ceremonies like the Koinobori, or carp streamers, that are used to celebrate the power and perseverance of carp. During children's week in Japan, people fly kites to symbolize the great inner strength of carp. The kites are meant to bestow the prosperity of the golden carp onto the children.
Ancient Chinese myths tell the story of carp that struggle against strong currents for centuries to swim up the fabled Dragon Gate waterfall. The fish that make it to the top are transformed into immortal golden dragons that possess great and benevolent magical powers.
I am just beginning to get to know carp, even though I have observed them my whole life. I've spent the past six years taking friends and family carp fishing at our local gravel pit. It turns out that my friend was right when he told me that carp fishing is a blast. The powerful, golden fish fight like mad. They make long runs, pause, then run again. Everyone involved, kids and adults alike, laughed and smiled the entire time. The world falls away when a carp is on the line.
I have come to see carp fishing as a gift that I can give to people. A gift that helps us extend kindness to each other and to the downtrodden and unappreciated. Few things are as unappreciated as a carp. Let’s lift them up and revel in their beauty.
My favorite trips are with young kids. I talk them through the entire process and tell them we must focus and work together to outwit the powerful and wily carp. We go to one of our favorite spots on the north side of the lake and begin by throwing handfuls of sweetcorn into the water to attract the carp. Then we set up our rods. This requires fine motor skills. You have to use special tools to thread three kernels of corn onto a short length of line tied to a hook. Then, you must slip a stopper through a tiny loop to hold them in place. This setup separates the corn from the hook. Carp have sensitive lips; they are more likely to pick up the corn this way.
Once we get our poles ready, we gently cast them out, and then we wait. The waiting is the hardest part for kids. It can take 5 to 30 minutes to see that first tantalizing twitch in the line. But here's the thing: unlike gamefish, carp always show up. We catch 3-6 pound brawny carp on every trip.
Sitting together, listening to the rhythmic lapping of water on the shore, is peaceful. Birds come close. We see shorebirds walking nearby, geese and ducks all around us, and on occasion, we catch a glimpse of a Least Bittern in the cattails. We are hypnotized by the scene. We watch the rising waves ripple across the water. But our imaginations dive below the surface to where golden dragons cruise the depths. We wait for the opportunity for kids to rise to the occasion and pull a fish to the surface where they shine in the sun. The shining fish and shining kid are entangled in a dance that stretches back across our evolution as a species.
When we get the first bite, we all leap into action. Other lines are quickly reeled in. Someone grabs the net. Tension builds. I set the hook and hand the pole to a lucky kid, and the battle begins. This is one of my favorite parts of the experience; I love seeing kids light up when they realize a powerful being is on the end of the line. This is not a bluegill. This is a nascent dragon!
The angler's job at this point is to hold on with both hands as the carp strips line off the reel. After 5-10 yards, he pauses, and now the dance begins. The trick is to apply some pressure, but not so much that you pull the hook out. This requires discernment and skill. The ideal rhythm is to slowly lift the rod tip, then pause and start reeling in line as you lower the rod. The goal is to maintain an even, moderate pressure on the fish. You repeat this until the carp makes another run accompanied by the satisfying whine of the drag. This goes on for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the kid and the fish, both of whom are getting tired.
If we persevere, we start to gain an advantage, and the golden fish gives us our first look as he rolls on the water's surface. This golden roll elicits shouts of delight and much laughter. Eventually, the carp comes in close to check us out. He usually thrashes the water and runs out again, dashing our hopes of landing him. And now, the battle is more tangible and intense. The spray of water from the carp’s tail has anointed us, and a certain determination and focus set in.
The kid with the net now moves up to the water's edge or, in some cases, into the water. The tired carp seems ready to relent, and he is sliding toward the net. But carp are tough, and they have great perseverance. We are usually treated to more golden explosions and near misses before a kid is straining to lift the net. Everyone is smiling, laughing, and filled with a sense of accomplishment. Then the fish is released, irritated but largely unharmed, waiting for another chance to steal corn from the angler’s hook.
All the commotion often attracts a crowd. There's a walking trail around the lake, and people stop to watch the spectacle. When the carp is in the net, people gather to admire the fish and praise the young angler. You can see him swelling with pride as he recounts the story of dancing with the fish.
The same scenario plays out with teenagers and adults. Carp fishing brings people into the moment and makes them happy. Even recalcitrant teenagers smile. The other nice thing about carp is that they are egalitarian. They are everywhere. If you live in the United States, you are probably not far from a carp. This represents a good opportunity to get kids outside, away from screens.
Appreciating carp is an exercise in positive thinking. It is easy to lament the altered hydrology and low water quality that reduces or eliminates native fish and creates space for durable, exotic fish like carp. But it is more interesting, challenging, and helpful to embrace what we have while working to restore habitat. You do not need to consider yourself an angler to enjoy carp. I have taken out first-time anglers; they have as much or often more fun than seasoned anglers.
When we pack up to leave, I feel content and happy. Back at home, these feelings persist, and I realize how this dance with the golden fish is really a healing ritual. To be present in the moment with a group of happy people is a beautiful experience. Especially when we are helping kids stretch a little and learn a new skill in the company of caring adults.
I now realize that the upside to carp fishing is so great I tell everyone that it is a wonderful experience. Instead of running from my initial discomfort at pursuing “trash fish,” I have learned to embrace this hobby and parlay it into goodwill and community building.
My hope is that we are helping kids learn to be present so that they are able to live in the moment, minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. They are inheriting a world in need of love. Their task is to transmute mud into gold, just like a carp. May our time with the golden fish set them on their path.
Sit with your friends; don’t go back to sleep
Don’t sink like a fish to the bottom of the sea.
Life’s water flows from darkness.
Search the darkness don’t run from it.
Night travelers are full of light,
and you are, too; don’t leave this companionship.
Be a wakeful candle in a golden dish,
don’t slip into the dirt like quick silver.
The moon appears for the night travelers,
be watchful when the moon is full.
Search the Darkness by Rumi
This past summer, I saw a simple bamboo rod and reel at a yard sale for $10. I almost bought it hoping to visit the old watering hole by my childhood home where I also ice skated in the winters. Your article took me back again to fond memories of outdoor living. Catch and release fishing with you is one of my favorite adult memories. For me, these simple pleasures are much preferred to actual vacations. Oh…Great Pictures!!
Hi Bill I love reading your posts but the last one that came to my inbox was the tawny streak of wildness. Have you decided not to email them?