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!!
Really nice piece Bill. I haven't fished in years and this brought back good memories. Carp were always present and lurking about while fishing for other fish. I spent some time in Korea and there too Carp are represented in symbols at some Buddhist temples.
I really like these lines: "Their task is to transmute mud into gold, just like a carp. May our time with the golden fish set them on their path."
Is this a catch and release fishing story? It has been many years since I can fish and find any joy in the battle. Perhaps taking non-natives out of lakes and ponds we are restoring can work. I am conflicted.
I remember fishing for carp in the South in the fifties and my father catching one from the green brown waters of a slough and hauling it up onto the muddy bank. He loved fishing and thought I should learn it.
Later in the sixties in the hill country of Texas, my squeamishness took over and I could no longer bear to impale the wriggling nightcrawlers on those barbed hooks we used nor to remove those hooks out of the mouths from the fish, especially when the hooks were deeply buried. We practiced catch and release, but I was just too squeamish. I don't think Dad found me odd, but he kept fishing for another thirty years. My own Zebco and tackle box went with him.
Great memories of "fishing" below the Dam @ Lake Overholser in OKC as a kid. Free range childhood...
The raising / lowering of the Reservoir 🐟 would leave Buffalo, carp and sucker trapped in isolated pools. We would chase them to one end, kick them up on the sand and sell them for a dollar or two to the regular cadre of TRASH FISH eaters. They used huge poles and warned us never to stand behind them when they went all in↩️ Setting the Hook (I'm sure some were 'snaggin'✔️) Bow Fishing 🏹 for Carp is legit fun too, Boomer Sooner!
I have heard of smoking CARP up Wisconsin 🐄🧀 way, but i have never had properly prepared carp except, most probably, 😋🥠 at the local Chinese Buffet. Asian people love carp fishing and they catch plenty. 🇺🇸🕰️
Great essay as always, but I want to highlight the glee that Bill experienced upon finding the first piece of art for this essay. He thought it reminiscent of a rock band t-shirt of the 1980s, whereas I thought it could have been painted on black velvet (also a la the '80s). As someone who has accompanied Bill on the carp adventures (and who did not fish as a kid), I can attest to the delightfulness of it. You'd be hard pressed not to smile when fighting one of these lunkers. And when it's over, they practically roll their eyes at you before swimming away. It must be worth it for that little bit of sweet corn.
I know now what I’m going to create in my next painting. I’ve been trying to come up with ideas.
Your exposé’s often inspire my artwork with your pictures and love of nature.
I have not fished since living in Florida when I would take my children surfcasting. We would stop at the bait and tackle shop, purchase a couple dozen shrimp—they were a dozen for a dollar—then spend a good part of the late morning fishing—usually for whiting—If we caught nothing by noon, we would take home what was left of the shrimp, boil them up and have them with lunch.
Perhaps it’s time for me to fish out my dad’s old rod and reel and purchase a fishing license. Living in Maine, there are plenty of bodies of water everywhere. In fact, you cannot get into Maine without crossing a bridge no matter where you come in.
I remember catching my first carp. Such massive fish. I was so upset when a fellow tried to help by netting it only to have it jump out and swim away. Now I realise that was a blessing. I had that same joy you describe with the added bonus of recognising now that it hadn’t been hurt too much by the experience. Something common the world over (as I’m Australian.)
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?
Really nice piece Bill. I haven't fished in years and this brought back good memories. Carp were always present and lurking about while fishing for other fish. I spent some time in Korea and there too Carp are represented in symbols at some Buddhist temples.
I really like these lines: "Their task is to transmute mud into gold, just like a carp. May our time with the golden fish set them on their path."
Is this a catch and release fishing story? It has been many years since I can fish and find any joy in the battle. Perhaps taking non-natives out of lakes and ponds we are restoring can work. I am conflicted.
I love this. Thank you. I'm in the UK and carp fishing is a big deal. I'm sure they take way too much gear with them though. It's a thing.
I remember fishing for carp in the South in the fifties and my father catching one from the green brown waters of a slough and hauling it up onto the muddy bank. He loved fishing and thought I should learn it.
Later in the sixties in the hill country of Texas, my squeamishness took over and I could no longer bear to impale the wriggling nightcrawlers on those barbed hooks we used nor to remove those hooks out of the mouths from the fish, especially when the hooks were deeply buried. We practiced catch and release, but I was just too squeamish. I don't think Dad found me odd, but he kept fishing for another thirty years. My own Zebco and tackle box went with him.
One man's TRASH is another man's treasure. 🎣
Great memories of "fishing" below the Dam @ Lake Overholser in OKC as a kid. Free range childhood...
The raising / lowering of the Reservoir 🐟 would leave Buffalo, carp and sucker trapped in isolated pools. We would chase them to one end, kick them up on the sand and sell them for a dollar or two to the regular cadre of TRASH FISH eaters. They used huge poles and warned us never to stand behind them when they went all in↩️ Setting the Hook (I'm sure some were 'snaggin'✔️) Bow Fishing 🏹 for Carp is legit fun too, Boomer Sooner!
I have heard of smoking CARP up Wisconsin 🐄🧀 way, but i have never had properly prepared carp except, most probably, 😋🥠 at the local Chinese Buffet. Asian people love carp fishing and they catch plenty. 🇺🇸🕰️
Great essay as always, but I want to highlight the glee that Bill experienced upon finding the first piece of art for this essay. He thought it reminiscent of a rock band t-shirt of the 1980s, whereas I thought it could have been painted on black velvet (also a la the '80s). As someone who has accompanied Bill on the carp adventures (and who did not fish as a kid), I can attest to the delightfulness of it. You'd be hard pressed not to smile when fighting one of these lunkers. And when it's over, they practically roll their eyes at you before swimming away. It must be worth it for that little bit of sweet corn.
Wow! Loved this story!
I know now what I’m going to create in my next painting. I’ve been trying to come up with ideas.
Your exposé’s often inspire my artwork with your pictures and love of nature.
I have not fished since living in Florida when I would take my children surfcasting. We would stop at the bait and tackle shop, purchase a couple dozen shrimp—they were a dozen for a dollar—then spend a good part of the late morning fishing—usually for whiting—If we caught nothing by noon, we would take home what was left of the shrimp, boil them up and have them with lunch.
Perhaps it’s time for me to fish out my dad’s old rod and reel and purchase a fishing license. Living in Maine, there are plenty of bodies of water everywhere. In fact, you cannot get into Maine without crossing a bridge no matter where you come in.
This is a beautiful, hopeful post. Thank you!
I remember catching my first carp. Such massive fish. I was so upset when a fellow tried to help by netting it only to have it jump out and swim away. Now I realise that was a blessing. I had that same joy you describe with the added bonus of recognising now that it hadn’t been hurt too much by the experience. Something common the world over (as I’m Australian.)
Thanks for describing this adventure about carp. Kids certainly do enjoy fishing. I had no idea carp could provide so much fun!