The Importance of Catch And Release

Dear Readers,

The upcoming season has got the grip on me. No hope of going ice-fishing, as I think only carp. A sad story, yes, but still it's nice to be obsessed. Obsession is way better than depression. A summer person can't be too happy in Finland, so just thinking of summer gets me going.

Anyways, I have something to say. Every now and then someone catches a carp by accident. I mean here in Finland, almost all of the carp are caught without intention. Sometimes by foul-hooking on lures, on gill-nets, etc. Way too many of these carp are killed, usually just to be photographed for a local newspaper. And that is a pity, as people should know better. Carp is not the best fish for consumption anyway. We have zander and perch for that.

My message is actually a competition. Carp Of The Thousand Lakes will give (to be precise, I will) a prize for the best Catch&Release Finnish carp for 2013. The best C&R is not determined merely by the carps weight. The "competition" will be called "COTTL Let It Go".

Just Let It Go...

One beautiful mirror carp on its way back home.

Obsessive Behaviour

This year I had a definite plan. I was going to catch an eel over 3 kgs (ca. 6½ lbs). It shouldn't have been impossible, as I live next to a lake that is known for it's gigantic eel. So, the summer came and I started fishing for carp as usual. Then the summer went on and I still fished for carp. Suddenly I realized that summer was over and the autumn was here. Yet, I hadn't spent a single session after the leviathan eel, as I had planned so cunningly.

What was my big insight to this "not-fishing-for-eel -phenomena" was that I am completely and utterly obsessed with carp. Firstly, I have ALWAYS considered myself as an all-rounder with appetite for all sorts of fishing with rod and line. I have spent countless days chasing pike, perch and trout with lures. A few years ago match angling was my cup of tea. But now, these things are just quite blasé. And it's quite frightening.

I tried to fight my habit but I soon found out that it was useless. I could only enjoy carp fishing. Then, after several nights of mind-games I decided to just be obsessed. As I know now that as obsessions come, someday they will go. Then I can go feeder fishing for roach as a happy man. Until then I will remain obsessed in the realm of Cyprinus carpio.