There are many good things happening stateside when it comes to carp angling. CAG is a very good example. I'm a past BOD of CAG and they do a lot of good work. Most of the new attitudes towards Carp have been rooted in the British/Euro treatment of Carp. Will the guys in the states treat Carp as our Euro brothers any time soon?? Some will, in time more will, but the honest truth is that it will not come to pass in my lifetime I'm affraid.
There is one small pocket of the USA that has evolved into a Carp Angling mecca over the past 50 years. In the foothills of North Carolina, Paylakes have been around for many years. I'm in my fifties and I've been doing it since I was 12, as did my great grandfather. Making baits that catch carp consistantly with the pressure of up to 100 men around a pond with only 10 feet between them for and eight hour session makes for some baits that would tempt the devil. We fish for up to $250.00 for the largest Carp landed each 15mins for an eight hour period. Not a childs game for sure. These paylakes are where Packbaits have their roots and have been doing many good things for our wildwater brothers too.
There is no comparison between a Paylaker and any other stateside carp angler, unless he is a Brit/Euro transplant. I have a Brit partner because of CAG and I have yet to meet a carp angler with more grit, intensity, and all out love of the sport other than the local paylakers I was raised with. As I travel over the States fishing Events with my Brit partner, I can't help but notice that the only guys that come to really compete are the Euro guys. 95% of the rest of the guys don't have a clue. Not because they don't want to, but just because they have not got the background nor had the chance to evolve into what the average Euro guy or Paylaker has. jmho
Tom.
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