Penza, 7 June 2012. PenzaNews. The discussion of possible creation of a local Carp Fishing Club will take place in Penza on Friday, June 8. Captain of Penza-RS carp fishing team Igor Shafran announced this during a press-conference at the press center of news agency PenzaNews on Thursday, June 7.

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“This club will admit everyone interested in carp fishing. In addition, we plan to organize a joint fishing expedition,” Igor Shafran noted.

According to the representative of Penza-RS team, there are over 1.5 thousand different ponds, lakes and rivers in the Penza region, which can be found practically in no other region of Russia. However, local residents lack the culture of treating fish properly while the key principle at the heart of carp fishing is “Catch and let go.”

“Traditionally people in the Penza region engage either in fish farming or in commercial fishing taking as much fish as they manage to catch. Many think that carp fishing is extremely expensive. We do not conceal the fact that sports fishing costs big money but amateur carp fishing is accessible to all,” Igor Shafran noted.

In his words, carp fishing is now a dynamically developing sport in Russia. However, members of the Penza-RS team have not managed to attract many of its fans so far.

“Many think that during the tournaments carp fishers sit in armchairs, smoke and wait around for the fish to bite. But those who went along with us understand that there is no time for sitting around there. You literally drop by the end of the competition. And when we were back with one medal and then another, fishers whom we are always ready to tell and show everything for free started treating us differently,” the captain of the team said.

On the issue of organizing ratings competitions in the Penza region, Igor Shafran stressed that, at a minimum, a protected lake or pond with plenty of fish was necessary for that.

“People who provide ponds and lakes for sport fishing earn a lot of money. The only downside is that it takes several years from the start to the realization of the project as fish needs to be raised to the sizes applicable in carp fishing. If there is a ready pond like that its owner can get a huge return on his investment. But here nobody usually wants to wait,” the carp fisher concluded.