Leigh

I’ve been reading some of the online fly fishing mags and came across US Carp Pro.  Although I have not tried carp fishing, I enjoyed the online magazine and forum.  For those new to the sport, US Carp Pro is packed with stories and information.

I wrote to David Smith, the founder of US Carp Pro, with 4 short questions.  His answers appear below.

1) What inspired you to develop US Carp Pro and how long has it been in existence?

Leigh USCARPPRO magazine evolved from a chance meeting with another Brit carper on the bank here in Southern California. Jason Green was a carp angler and photographer in LA and we got to thinking about how we enjoyed the buzz of picking up our monthly carp fishing magazines in the UK. We wondered if it would provide a way to help popularize rough fish here in the USA. Along came Yudu a great, and at the time free, platform to publish magazines online, bingo USCARPPRO mag was born. Jason is back in the UK now but with the help of dedicated band of helpers I’ve put out 15 issues over the past 24 months.

2) How do you describe it in relation to other fly fishing magazines?

USCARPPRO magazine isn’t about a style it’s about a fish, a hard fighting, much maligned fish that frankly is here to stay. What I want to do is bring together all the anglers that chase down these monsters and highlight them in one place. The brownlining scene has latched onto carp as the Hillybilly Tarpon or Golden Bonefish. This scene has explode in the US and has the best chance of introducing large numbers of anglers to the carp fishing experience as their arricles start to appear in the mainstream angling media. Our fly fishing contributors are committted not only to carp, but other rough fish that can be targetted on the fly and also preach catch and release, an important aspect of what we do.

3) Who is the typical subscriber?

I’d say the typical subscriber is now someone who has discovered carp and is looking for all the information he can get. He’s probably scouring the internet and is absorbing the stuff he can glean from Europe but wants to see how it can be applied here on his own waters. There are some very important differences. We’re getteing more and more subscriptions from people who have nothing to do with the carp specialist groups here in north America, but rather have latched onto this ready supply of great sport fish and have discovered that they can be targeted selectively and with a great deal refinement. These are serious anglers looking for a challenge and an extension of their angling experience.

4) What is one of your favorite fishing stories/memories?

As an angler growing up on the crowded waters of England were fishing is a combat sport and peace is hard to find, heading to the wilds of Idaho to catch mirror carp on a deserted reservation lake was by far the most memorable carp experience yet and highlights what this counry has to offer the carp angler. 30 miles from the nearest person, eagles souring overhead and night sky like I’ve never seen will stick with me for a while and I plan to have more of those experiences in the Pacific Northwest and the states like the Dakotas.