The high esteem Europeans reserve for common carp has been well-documented.

In the old countries, some anglers pay for the right to catch carp from carefully managed private lakes. And while carp are considered a delicacy by many, true “carpophiles” release their catches so they can grow and fight again.

But this sure isn’t Europe.

In Nebraska, we fail to understand an affinity for a fish we call rough. Then again, most of us don’t get British sitcoms or French arrogance, either.

Put simply, most Nebraska anglers wish common carp were far less common.

We covet walleye and will stay up all night to catch catfish. We’ll make it a life-goal to land (and release) an 8-pound largemouth, post photos of our biggest wipers on Internet forums and apply artistic license to tales of how many crappies we caught on consecutive casts that time they were really hitting.

But quiz anglers for a two-word synonym for “carp” and you’ll most likely hear, “trash fish.”

Tell someone you’re fishing for carp and you’ll get a look of pity or puzzlement. Release a foul-hooked carp in Nebraska at the risk of being dope-slapped. On the other hand, show up at the fish cleaning station with a stringer full, and the guys gutting their walleyes might point and whisper.

Several years ago, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission launched Carp-O-Rama, essentially an attempt to make lemonade from the lemons swimming in Salt Valley lakes. The free, annual event teaches people how to catch carp. More importantly, it also teaches carp cleaning and preparation for the table.

The events have annually drawn crowds numbering well over 100, which indicate carp do indeed have a following in Nebraska.

If the crowd were a club, Stanley Krause, Richard Turpin and John Cariotto would proudly carry cards. Turpin and Krause have both helped out with Carp-O-Rama and are unapologetic carp apologists.

Try to consider their reasons objectively.

For starters, carp can be a challenge to catch. Many anglers mistakenly think carp fishing requires little skill.

Turpin put it this way: Catching fish such as bass and walleye generally is a function of finding them. Once you do, landing them often can be simple.

Conversely, finding carp is relatively easy, considering their abundance. Sometimes, carp bite aggressively. But sometimes, for reasons that are hard to tell, carp won’t bite at all. And sometimes, they’ll bite (or suck) so delicately, they’ll keep cleaning the hook until they swim off with their fill.

Krause loves the fighting ability of a carp, especially on light tackle. They’ll pull drag, wear out forearms and truly test an angler’s ability.

They’ve got more carp praises.

For example, the best bait for carp doesn’t squiggle, stink, leave dirt under your fingernails or cost a lot. If you are what you eat, carp are as clean as an ear of sweet corn.

Turpin once caught a bunch of carp from the Missouri River by slipping a hook in wadded pieces of cinnamon roll left over from breakfast.

Finally, as Cariotto, Krause and Turpin all insist, carp are perfectly good eats. Yes, they’ve got more bones than a cemetery. But learn a few techniques that help minimize the bones and you’ll find carp taste good fried, smoked, canned or even chowdered.

And hey, for those of you who have never caught a fish you could release, carp are perfect. Keep your limit, please. Wait a minute, there is no limit.

Just imagine a day in Nebraska when we keep and eat every carp we catch.

No, we won’t be Europeans, ’cause our sitcoms will still be funny.

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.