| Carp fishing has long been looked down upon in | | | | time to catch on. |
| the U.S. but this is a trend that's rapidly changing. | | | | While carp fishing doesn't enjoy anything close to |
| This fish, often scorned at by bass anglers as | | | | the popularity of bass fishing. The official bass |
| "trash fish," are gaining popularity among many | | | | fishing organizations in the United States enjoy |
| anglers for their large weight and the quality of | | | | nearly one million members, while the carp fishing |
| fight that these large fresh water fish put up. | | | | organizations only have a couple thousand. |
| Carp are slowly gaining a positive reputation in as | | | | However, that's a couple thousand more than |
| one of the fiercest freshwater fighters, which can | | | | even a decade ago. |
| offer a challenge to the best of anglers. Though | | | | Publications and new pro-carp angling groups have |
| they were once considered bottom feeders, it is | | | | helped to raise the profile of the carp among |
| now known that carp each much of the same | | | | many American anglers who previously would |
| diet as trout and bass. In more states than ever | | | | never have considered them a sport fish. In fact, |
| carping is becoming a more accepted form of | | | | the push to recognize carp as a legitimate sports |
| fishing, much as it has been in Europe. | | | | fish has resulted in some major gains in |
| In many places in the United States, carp is a | | | | perception even to the point where the world |
| catch and release fish. There are a couple of | | | | carp championship will be held in the St. Lawrence |
| major reasons for this. Carp tend to have a very | | | | River area. This is almost surely going to gain a lot |
| long life span, which is part of the reason they | | | | of positive press for carp fishing in the United |
| grow to such large sizes. As a negative, these | | | | States, and encourage more anglers to come out |
| fish are also prone to soaking up any toxins in the | | | | and give it a fair shake. |
| water in which they grow, meaning they can be | | | | While there is still a long way to go, carp fishing |
| found in really polluted water - but carp from | | | | has definitely gained ground in the United States. |
| polluted waters shouldn't be eaten. Many large | | | | Whether or not they will ever gain the respect of |
| carp are found in areas of the United States | | | | bass has yet to be seen, but at least in the short |
| where water might be polluted, which is part of | | | | time carp fishing looks like it will continue to grow |
| the reason they have taken a longer period of | | | | in popularity. |