The boy who loved to go fishing with his father never imagined that he would become a world-renowned devotee of the ancient search for the "Queen of Rivers." His pleasure was simply to spend uninterrupted time with his dad, who was away a lot, and with his brother.

But the brilliant and illusive Carp that has tantalized and tormented sportsmen for centuries, was destined to live long in Mark Metzger's legend.

Today, the proprietor of Middleburg's Highcliffe Clothiers is a passionate aficionado of a sport that requires supreme patience, deep knowledge of the discriminating Carp's devious intelligence and a considerable investment in some very special fishing gear.

Mark caught his first carp in Lake Michigan in 1973 while fishing with his father, Frank, and his brother, Peter. Born in New York Hospital, Mark and Peter grew up in New Rochelle, NY, before they moved to Glencoe and Winnetka, Illinois. Eventually the family moved back to Rye, NY where his parents live now.

It had been decades since Mark had fished for carp when, walking along the Potomac River's Tidal Basin, he watched a sous-chef at Gerard's Place named Christian land a carp.

"It brought back so many memories of fishing in Illinois, so I went to the web and found that there were many people devoted to carp fishing in this area," Mark explained. "So, I joined the Carp Anglers Group in 2004 and was delighted to find they were unfailingly generous about teaching me the European way to fish for carp."

Carp fishing is a multi-million dollar industry in Europe, and a formal outing in search of the wily bottom feeder is a major social event with impeccable rules, regulations and traditions that haven't changed since Izaak Walton wrote The Compleat Angler.

Most exceptional, however, is the extraordinary respect with which this stately and subtle fish is regarded by its anglers. And, there is plenty of time to form one's regard for the carp, because patience is a necessity if you are to lift this fish from the water.

Carp anglers are not, however, all alike.

According to Mark, a major attraction of carp fishing in Europe and in the United States is that it is a social event.

"Because carp are bottom feeders and very, very smart, a serious carp angler will set three graphite rods on the bank at the same time. The rods are, of course, matched, and they are set in four-legged rod pods that are equipped with beepers so you'll immediately know which rod has a bite and whether the fish is running away or coming toward you.

"You may program your beeper to play Beethoven to avoid the beeps, and you will want to have several large 'brollies' as well."

Mark described serious carp anglers who regard their kit as an integral part of the hunt as Tackle Tarts who are very serious about their equipment. Whether one fishes in overnight outings or for an evening, special carp bed chairs and "bivvies" (carp tents) are essential.

"When you recline for the evening in your carp bed chair, I assure you you'll be as comfortable as you would be in the bed in a five-star hotel.

They're like cots on steroids! We also need special carp fishing outfits in camo. One doesn't want the carp to see the angler!"

Not all American carp anglers subscribe to the necessity of special kit for their fishing outings, but, according to Mark, it is very seductive once you've fished with others who do enjoy all the accoutrement.

"When I go out with my 'good' equipment now, I arrive on the bank with thousands of dollars of equipment."

In England, where carp angling is high sporting art, private lakes are stocked with carp who are micro-chipped and named. One pays to fish a specific swim, the rules are abundantly clear, a bailiff surveys the activity to be sure everyone is playing fair with the fish, and, most often, the angler loses the competition.

"Even if there are 200 carp in one English pond, they become very smart about where anglers stand on the bank at specific times of day and an angler may fish for a year before he catches three carp. In America, one might catch hundreds of carp in the same period of time."

As in many angling pursuits, bigger is better, and, in America, one may eat your catch. This is out of the question in England and old carp who eventually die have detailed journals about their genealogy and the baits they preferred. These revered carp are given elaborate funerals and have distinguished gravestones in many English graveyards.

Winning at a carp angling competition can net you thousands of dollars. If you were talented enough to land a carp larger than the New York state record of 51 pounds, you could capture a $1 million prize at the 2005 world championships.

Mark fished at the World Carp Championships in 2005 with 110 12-man teams from all over the world.

"There were 30 countries represented, Japan, Russia, Serbia, England, Spain and on and on and lots of prizes of $100,000 or more with new pick-ups and lots of gear and equipment to motivate the anglers."

Some believe that carp from Europe and housed in Baltimore ponds fed the workers who built the infrastructure of the early United States of America. A prized and preferred fish by Asians workers, as the railroad moved west, carp were sent ahead to be raised in ponds before the workers arrived.

"Every state in the Union requisitioned federal authorities for carp to feed their infrastructure workers. The fish grow rapidly, they were very hardy, and Europeans and Asians were accustomed to eating them."

Pay Lakeing a truly American version of carp fishing, is prevalent in the South. Mark calls it "gamble fishing."

"Small private ponds are divided by a line down the middle, stocked with carp and you pay to fish by the hour with the biggest fish caught being the winner. This is a very old way to fish for carp and one can win thousands of dollars. You can also lose your thumb if you look into another anglers bucket!"

Mark's respect for the carp is palpable. Whether he's on a bank with all his gear, or sitting in his Middleburg shop for discriminating gentlemen, he believes that the carp is the World's Greatest Sportfish.

Whether you hope to hook a 44-pounder or simply to spend some quiet time with good friends who share your appreciation, Mark is the ideal resource to answer your questions and help you get started.

All you need is patience, respect for tradition, and fascination with a fish who may just be considerably smarter than you. Aristotle, Pliny, Sir Francis Bacon and Mark Metzger share tremendous respect for the "Queen of the River."

You'll definitely be in very good company.