Etiquette is defined as a code of behavior that fits within commonly accepted norms and ethics within society or a group. It might not be such a popular term as it once was but its meaning and purpose helps to create an environment for people to interact without the need for written rules or policing.

The quest to catch big carp is nothing new and neither is the apparent desire to do this at all costs. Unfortunately the need for recognition or lucrative sponsorship deals has not surprisingly lead to some fierce competition both on-line as well as on the water. Here in North America an outbreak of “Mirror Mania” has not only created some ill feelings but at times outright hostility & unsavory threats. So perhaps its time to consider what constitutes reasonable behavior in pursuit of your fishing goals…

Measuring Up?

In the first instance there is the question of accurately determining the size of individual carp captures and especially if they are going to be entered for competitions ( TOKS, CAG Big 4 etc) where significant prizes might be involved. Several anglers have been exposed in recent years for over ‘estimating’ fish weights and rules tightened to help eliminate blatant cheating. These on-line competitions rely on the fundamental honesty of most anglers, but what about the many honest anglers who may not even realize their fish weights are overly optimistic? Even though they might carefully zero and diligently record the displayed pounds and ounces how many have actually checked the accuracy of their scales? And just because a scale weighs correctly at 10 or 20lb does not mean that it will continue to do so at higher weights. Digital scales, in particular, are renowned for being ‘non-linear’ and can vary by as much as 15 – 20% out (both high and low) in their displayed weights. Even high end spring scales like Reuben’s should be checked initially and then periodically to ensure they have not ‘slipped’ over a period of time. In some States you can get your scales ‘certified’ on a regular basis or simply check yourself.  A gallon of water weighs 8 lbs 6 oz so it is quite simple to ‘zero’ a five gallon bucket and then add an accurately measured gallon of water at a time. All being well you will be able to confirm the accuracy of your scales up to and past that magical 40lb mark with the result that you can be totally confident your next PB truly merits the recognition it deserves.

When it comes to weighing your fish it’s important to ‘wet’ your weigh sling before ‘zeroing’ your scale. This is not only important to protect the fish but also to ensure you get an accurate weight. I’ve seen too many folk zero the scales on a ‘dry’ sling then wet it before adding their fish which will easily ‘add’ another couple of pounds to the real weight.

It is also important to support your scales correctly. Holding dial scales except by the hanging hook can result in readings that are anything from a few ounces to perhaps a pound or more over or under the true measured weight. A tripod or weigh bar makes it easier to get a steady reading and an accurate measurement.

“Guesting”

It was none other than carp legend Rod Hutchinson who coined the term ‘Guesting’. It was widely known that many, including several well known, carp anglers  visited waters where reports of big carp captures had been published or even just rumored. The fact that these ‘Guests’ were neither invited or actually paying members of the angling club or syndicate that owned or had rights to the fishing was generally glossed over in the pursuit of what ever monsters swam beneath the surface. This somewhat genial term rather hides the harsh reality that those who indulged in ‘guesting’ were, in the eyes of the law, nothing more than poachers & trespassers. It’s also why many of the top club and syndicate waters now have strict ‘publicity’ bans to avoid over exposure and reckless posting of big fish captures. They do not want to be overrun with unwanted ‘guests’ or worse still find that some of their precious stock have been ‘moved’ to other waters.

One of the key aspects that separates carp fishing in North America from Europe is the free access to a vast array of unpressured waters. While this effectively eliminates ‘guesting’ in terms of illegal access it does still leave open to discussion the ethics of simply ‘dropping in’ uninvited to an area where you know someone else has clearly achieved some considerable success.

If you are enjoying some first class fishing it is natural to want to share that experience with a few friends. Sadly this can sometimes lead you to discover that your friends also have other friends and so on and so on… in no time the swim that you have put so much effort into developing is no longer such a closely kept secret. While I am certainly not advocating the levels of secrecy that once soured many friendships in the UK carp scene of old it does make sense to at least agree some simple ground rules with friends before sharing any big fish locations.

Show some respect…

When you choose to share your catch reports (especially photos that have revealing backgrounds) via the internet on open access forums or websites such as Facebook and TOKS don’t be surprised or upset if you arrive to find someone else sitting in your swim. Its one thing to find a serious carp angler ‘sharing’ in your hard earned success but it’s quite another to find the filleted remains of one of your prized captures or a group of bow fisherman prowling the shoreline. If you can defer the admiration from your fellow carp fishermen by posting the photos a few days or even weeks after the capture it not only gives you some breathing space to enjoy your ‘secret spot’ undisturbed but sometimes means the fish have dispersed before the swim is invaded.

If you are lucky enough to be invited to fish or ‘accidentally’ come across an area that someone else has discovered you should not expect to be warmly received if you then camp there for days on end or publicize the location with indiscreet photos and fishing reports. No matter how clever you think you have been in eliminating or disguising the background a bit of detective work plus the use of modern technology usually has a way of revealing the location… smart phone photos for example can share encoded GPS data – duh!

It is also important to respect local rules and regulations. In many cases over night fishing is only tolerated because only a few anglers are involved and they have often worked hard to build a relationship with local wardens and authorities. If camping is prohibited then putting up a bivvy or lighting fires could result in a fine or worse a ban on fishing being imposed. Even where there are no specific regulations the thoughtless parking of cars, excessive noise or careless littering will usually come to the attention of local residents and ultimately the authorities.

The sheer size of many North American waters and the relatively (compared with heavily stocked UK venues) small numbers of big carp can seem like a daunting prospect – especially to the newcomer. It takes time, effort and water craft skills to get to grips with fishing any new water, especially to consistently catch the larger inhabitants.  Simply “dropping in’ on a known big fish swim and then highlighting your captures is not a measure of your angling credibility or skill but more an indication of a total lack of respect for someone else’s hard work.

If you truly want to gain respect then it helps if you have some swims of your own that you too have worked hard to develop and when you are prepared to share those in exchange for a visit to a fellow angler’s water then it seems everyone wins!