Relating Carp Fishing to Scientific Complexity Theory

I have been reading the novel Shantaram since early 2014. It's an interesting novel based on an Australian's travels and experiences in India. In a recent chapter the author went to great lengths to equate lives becoming more complex to good and suspension of complexity to evil. I barely understand the philosophy behind it, but a few Google searches later and the fog is beginning to clear.

This theory equates to carp fishing, just hang in there with me a while longer.

Science has proven that as cells evolve they absorb more energy to sustain life. Wall Street has proven that in order for corporate stock values to continue increasing over a number of years, companies have to continue to grow; and growing often means merging with other companies, adding innovative new products, etc., which adds complexity to operations. Having children adds complexity to a household. Entertaining visitors for a few days in your home adds unforeseen complications in day-to-day household activities including meal planning and entertainment.

When I started carp fishing, I used one fishing pole, one net, and one basic bait. Then I added other rods, reels, nets, equipment, and other nice-to-have, but not absolutely necessary equipment like bank sticks, alarms, etc. Adding all this extra complexity to carp fishing, adds cost to the hobby.

In my quest to find the perfect rod, reel, bait, etc. I have spent significant amounts of money on items that I rarely if ever need; and rarely if ever actually use while fishing.

I have 8 rods, 6 reels, 3 nets, 7 alarms...you get the idea. I have spent about $2,000 on carp fishing supplies, equipment and trips in two years.

A popular bait company I purchase items from periodically used to have only a handful of products, but they continue to add new items annually. Their product line of ground baits, flavored corn, additives, dips, boilies, etc. has expanded significantly in the last 2 seasons and numbers more than 100 individual items at this point.

Another carp fishing equipment provider I shop with occasionally has 15 or 16 kinds of nets, 20 kinds of alarms, 5 kinds of bank sticks, and on and on...

All these newly developed choices each year might help us all catch more carp, but do we really know for sure? Or are these new products and choices just confusing us and enticing us to spend more money on a relatively simple endeavor - catching carp?

This is an oversimplification to be sure, but there are guys and gals across the country catching plenty of carp on a consistent basis using basic rods, reels, and cheap corn from Wal-Mart for way less than the $2,000 I have spent. They don't use $300 rods, $200 reels, remote alarms, $150 nets, $100 carp cradles, etc.; but they still hook and land carp.

Purchasing the latest-and-greatest is the American way of doing things and it's the epitome of capitalism, but other than stimulating the economy and pocket books of various bait companies and equipment retailers; what does it really accomplish?

• Make us feel more confident when we fish?
• If I outspend my bank mate, am I guaranteed to catch more carp? 
• Make us look better on the bank when our friends see all the new stuff we bought?
• Impress new comers to the sport?
• Or does it overcomplicate the issue at hand?

Here's an example of what I'm referring to:

A popular carp equipment retailer in the U.S. is currently selling a carp rod for more than $700. That is ten times the cost of an entry level carp rod from another popular carp tackle retailer.

• Is the premium rod going to catch 10 times the number of carp? I am confident the answer is no. (
• Are there people who will buy that rod to have the latest and greatest rod on the market? I am sure there are a few that will.
• Can you imagine the mark up on that premium rod compared to the entry level rod? I think I can.

Buying the entry level rods leaves plenty of money to buy everything else you need to go carp fishing. The counter argument is that if you spend $2,100 on three rods they might be the last carp rods you ever purchase. But I might be able to fish the rest of my life with entry level carp rods and never spend $2,100 on them. I can probably buy new rods every 2 years and still keep it under the $2,100.

Complexity theory might make sense for science, stock investing, brain surgery and the like; but the theory doesn't hold water for me with regards to carp fishing. I am going to keep it simple and keep it affordable.

As I plan purchases for the upcoming fishing season, shunning complexity theory will probably save me $100's of dollars this year and several $1,000's in future years.