B.A.S.S. Article, Invasive Carp 2024
Spankey reply :
I hope this is the correct area to post this, but if not sorry.
I just read an article in BASS about these invasive Asian Silver Carp that are reeking havoc in the mid-west and Tennessee watershed. It appears they have an expensive but doable plan that is in place at present time and an upcoming plan that is suppose to kick off for the destruction of these invasives. State and Federal are at least recognizing it. Hope it works out.
Out east here there are Flat Head Catfish and Snake Heads that are causing issues. River issues. Being an angler who feel this has impacted their area. Thought it might be an interesting read for you. Just a thought.
Koz reply :
Simple solution: Move a few thousand of the alligators in our South Carolina waterways to Tennessee!
But seriously, I believe that if you come across an invasive species in your waterways you should kill it and not catch and release. I know that goes against what some people think, but I'd hate to see our local species die off.
Steveo-1969 reply :
I read that same article and can attest to the Asian carp problem in Kentucky Lake. My family has vacationed there for the past 8 years and we've seen the Asian carp numbers steadily get worse and worse. They are literally EVERYWHERE in the lake. And the water is noticeably clearer than it has ever been because they eat the plankton in the water (or something like that?). It's started to affect the crappie and bass fishing and will only get worse unless they can decimate the Asian carp population. The owner of the resort we always stay at is very concerned. He told us 75% of his business is fishing related and if the fishing gets worse and people stop coming he loses his livelihood and a resort that's been in his family for generations. Darn shame!
greentrout reply :
Alligator Gar...sic 'em...
WRB reply :
Sand Hill lake Alaska reports invasive species found and should be killed if caught.
The poster identied Black bass with a picture as the invasive species and efforts to net the lake to remove this unwanted species.
Tom
Spankey reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 1:55 AM, Koz said:Simple solution: Move a few thousand of the alligators in our South Carolina waterways to Tennessee!
But seriously, I believe that if you come across an invasive species in your waterways you should kill it and not catch and release. I know that goes against what some people think, but I'd hate to see our local species die off.
I've caught a few Flat Heads while Smallie fishing. There are a few Rapala patterns they seem to hit. As crazy as that sounds. I'll release a Channel Cat. The Flat Heads were killed. Mexicans fishing down toward the boat ramp take them. No dis towards Mexicans intended, was told they were better to eat than channel cats. Could be, I'll never know. Giving them the Flats is the least I can do for humanity.
TnRiver46 reply :
The only way to stop the Asian Carp in the Tennessee river is in the locks, and so far whatever they are doing isn’t working. I would guess that just like every other invasive species, it will run it’s course and things will eventually level back off
Choporoz reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 3:06 AM, Spankey said:I've caught a few Flat Heads while Smallie fishing. There are a few Rapala patterns they seem to hit. As crazy as that sounds. I'll release a Channel Cat. The Flat Heads were killed.
Funny....I almost welcome the flathead bite here. I have no clue what they're doing to the local ecosystem, but I don't catch a lot of them; they're generally bigger and better fighters than other catfish. It's the blues that bother me the most. Those will hit ANY lure; slime three feet of line, lure and leader and bury a barb into the hardest fish mouth surface known to man.
On 9/19/2018 at 3:16 AM, TnRiver46 said:The only way to stop the Asian Carp in the Tennessee river is in the locks, and so far whatever they are doing isn’t working. I would guess that just like every other invasive species, it will run it’s course eventually and things will eventually level back off
You could be right -- everything I've ever seen/read appears pretty scary. But, then again, the really scary stuff about the Mississippi, Chicago River, Great Lakes risks, etc....those articles were jumping out at you many years ago...now I imagine they're still a huge risk, but can't be the Armageddon we were warned about because I just don't hear about it all that often...maybe it is and people are just numb to it...IDK. Snakeheads here were similar when first arrived, but we've managed to coexist with them pretty well up to this point.
Russ E reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 3:06 AM, Spankey said:I've caught a few Flat Heads while Smallie fishing. There are a few Rapala patterns they seem to hit. As crazy as that sounds. I'll release a Channel Cat. The Flat Heads were killed. Mexicans fishing down toward the boat ramp take them. No dis towards Mexicans intended, was told they were better to eat than channel cats. Could be, I'll ---never know. Giving them the Flats is the least I can do for humanity.
all three catfish are native here. Monster flatheads and blues are highly prized by fishermen here.
they actually stock the blues in most reservoirs.
they readily hit bass lures.
I don't personally fish for them, but hooking into a monster catfish, on Bass tackle, can still be a lot of fun. I definitely don't kill them.
I can't see them being invasive.
I suppose if they are introduced into waters that don't have the big predators they could do damage.
On 9/19/2018 at 2:50 AM, WRB said:Sand Hill lake Alaska reports invasive species found and should be killed if caught.
The poster identied Black bass with a picture as the invasive species and efforts to net the lake to remove this unwanted species.
Tom
aren't those monster bass you catch in California considered invasive?
Spankey reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 3:16 AM, TnRiver46 said:The only way to stop the Asian Carp in the Tennessee river is in the locks, and so far whatever they are doing isn’t working. I would guess that just like every other invasive species, it will run it’s course eventually and things will eventually level back off
Exactly what the state and feds said they were working on. Hope everything works out. Commercialized fishing they are trying to step up to make a big drop in total precentage of them.
I had a post the other week about how I've pulled myself away from the river which I've fished my whole life due to rains, floods, bad spawn years, invasives and on and on. Bummed me out to see this decline. Bottom line switched over to a lake and I'm fishing with a lot less stress and a new breath of fresh air. Anyway, one of the guys who responded to my post went on to say that Rivers in the country are in a decline as a whole. I guess so. Something to his reply had a bit to my posting of this article. After reading the article sensed there are alot of river guys feeling some type of impact to their rivers on the decline. It sucks! Bottom line.
On 9/19/2018 at 5:08 AM, Russ E said:all three catfish are native here. Monster flatheads and blues are highly prized by fishermen here.
they actually stock the blues in most reservoirs.
they readily hit bass lures.
I don't personally fish for them, but hooking into a monster catfish, on Bass tackle, can still be a lot of fun. I definitely don't kill them.
I can't see them being invasive.
I suppose if they are introduced into waters that don't have the big predators they could do damage.
aren't those monster bass you catch in California considered invasive?
I believe here in PA they want those Flat Heads destroyed. In my case in giving them away. I'm satisfying two groups. I really don't fish for catfish. I'm good for a few while bass fishing. Gets the heart pumping until you realize what you have on.
soflabasser reply :
Florida is well known for having the most introduced species out of all the states yet we still have a phenomenal native fishery. Our Florida strain largemouth bass fisheries are extremely healthy which goes to show exotics are not as bad as some people might try to make you believe. I often catch 6 pound bass or better in South Florida and many other South Florida fishermen are doing just as good or better. Northern Florida has ''invasive'' Flathead catfish and lots of people enjoy fishing for them.
WRB reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 5:08 AM, Russ E said:all three catfish are native here. Monster flatheads and blues are highly prized by fishermen here.
they actually stock the blues in most reservoirs.
they readily hit bass lures.
I don't personally fish for them, but hooking into a monster catfish, on Bass tackle, can still be a lot of fun. I definitely don't kill them.
I can't see them being invasive.
I suppose if they are introduced into waters that don't have the big predators they could do damage.
aren't those monster bass you catch in California considered invasive?
All bass west of the Rocky Mountains are transplants. The California Delta is trying to remove bass because the bass are considered invasive species.
The Alaska bass caught in Sand Hill lake was the 1st reported bass caught in that state and panic seams to be the result by the states DNR.
Tom
Bluebasser86 reply :
Asian carp make great cut bait for big catfish. In the last few years, they've gotten to where they seem to prefer it over shad or cut common carp. I think it might be because of the obvious numbers of them, but also they have very small scales, no large, sharp spines, they grow much larger than shad, and don't have as thick of bones as regular carp. For whatever reason, they've been in the Kansas and Missouri rivers for several years now and haven't gotten as bad as they are in the Illinois river.
FishDewd reply :
The silver carp are tasty.... if they want them gone, do a good ole catch and cook!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 12:21 PM, FishDewd said:The silver carp are tasty.... if they want them gone, do a good ole catch and cook!
I'd really like to see them netted in mass and given to homeless shelters. Seems like it would be a good win-win. Remove a bunch of unwanted fish and give a bunch of protein to homeless shelters.
Vilas15 reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 2:49 AM, greentrout said:
Alligator Gar...sic 'em...
I always like this idea of reintroducing them to the Illinois River, bring back a native species to help with an invasive species. Google search shows they've actually just stocked some. Hopefully it will work out and the bowfisherman don't shoot all of them ????
EDIT: Just read an article from Illinois DNR that says “Contrary to some reports, the IDNR is not stocking alligator gar in an attempt to control Asian carp. They will have no effect on Asian carp, but they are a large, interesting, unique species that once swam in southern Illinois waters."
Spankey reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 12:21 PM, FishDewd said:The silver carp are tasty.... if they want them gone, do a good ole catch and cook!
I believe you on that one but I'll never know. I'm not gone there on that one.
On 9/19/2018 at 12:26 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I'd really like to see them netted in mass and given to homeless shelters. Seems like it would be a good win-win. Remove a bunch of unwanted fish and give a bunch of protein to homeless shelters.
They went on to say in the article that some of the ones being harvested are going to school districts in California. I found that odd. But I'm ignorant to what all that is about. There were four or five uses for them on the commercial side. They went on to say this wound bring numbers down quicker but needed to make the processing part quicker. The Chineese want them. Cripes that's where they came from along with the dang snakeheads.
Arlo Smithereen reply :
Flatheads are more sought after and prized more than even bass here in Iowa.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 6:31 PM, Arlo Smithereen said:Flatheads are more sought after and prized more than even bass here in Iowa.
Flatheads are eating machines, capable of eating most any other species of fish in a body of water. In the cases where they're being considered invasive, they were not native to the body of water and someone introduced them illegally and now they're eating the local fish out of house and home. I believe the Redbreast Sunfish is one fish that is getting hit really hard by them, and when a fish isn't use to a type of predator, they're not as cautious of them, making them an even easier target.
I love catching flatheads, but I've also seen what they can do when brought into the wrong environment, like when someone foolishly puts a few in a pond. They're designed to be apex predators and they fill the roll well. Even bass aren't safe. I had a 20ish pound flathead dump it's stomach (a common escape attempt where they literally throw their stomach up and it comes out of their mouth), and a 4-5 pound partially digested largemouth floated to the surface. Once they reach 20-30 pounds, anything up to 10 pounds is fair game.
Spankey reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 6:31 PM, Arlo Smithereen said:Flatheads are more sought after and prized more than even bass here in Iowa.
I believe that to be true in my local area of river. They make nice catches for sure.
I'm fishing smallies. Do get a few catties on crankbaits and over the last few years have been nailing some Muskies.
If I was to purposely fish for Muskies or big cats I probably could not catch one.
Spankey reply :
Blue, my thoughts exactly. Thanks. I believe this is true to my local home spot. I've moved on fish differently and think differently when it comes to my bass fishing. I've fished this one area for so long that I had seen a condition that was a no prize Smallie fishery get to be a decent smallmouth section. Saw smallies get to a respectable size. Have caught down right trophy size smallies there. Rains, environmental impact and Flat Heads have ruined it. I've had to turn my back to what was home to me. Moved on to a place that I feel better at. I dealt with a frustration level there longer than I should have.
BigAngus752 reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 3:16 AM, TnRiver46 said:I would guess that just like every other invasive species, it will run it’s course and things will eventually level back off
I grew up in Peoria, IL and now live an hour away. Let me assure you that this is absolutely a "NOPE". You can no longer take a bass boat or small pleasure boat up on plane in the Illinois River near Peoria. At least not without wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet and risking damage to your boat. When I was a teen (30+ years ago) we used to water ski all day long on the river. That's when the carp were just starting to show up and we'd catch them and laugh about it. We started seeing them as a problem when I left 27 years ago. Perhaps "run it's course" will happen eventually but 27 years hasn't been long enough so maybe 100 or so?
the reel ess reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 3:06 AM, Spankey said:I've caught a few Flat Heads while Smallie fishing. There are a few Rapala patterns they seem to hit. As crazy as that sounds. I'll release a Channel Cat. The Flat Heads were killed. Mexicans fishing down toward the boat ramp take them. No dis towards Mexicans intended, was told they were better to eat than channel cats. Could be, I'll never know. Giving them the Flats is the least I can do for humanity.
They eat live baitfish. They're more of a "gamefish" than the blue cat.
Big Rick reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 1:55 AM, Koz said:Simple solution: Move a few thousand of the alligators in our South Carolina waterways to Tennessee!
But seriously, I believe that if you come across an invasive species in your waterways you should kill it and not catch and release. I know that goes against what some people think, but I'd hate to see our local species die off.
While this sounds like a good idea sadly it doesn't work. My favorite lake has plenty of both gators and carp. The carp are out-producing the gators ability to eat them. I've also found that where the carp are all gathered up the bass are GONE. If I fish into an area that carp has infested the bite dies off quickly.
Also, for what it's worth, that gar pic isn't a gator gar, LOL!! Gator gar have a short ROUNDED snout, not the long pointed one in the pic...... Being reared in La all my life and ruining many baits with the toothy critters gives me a little street cred, I guess....
TBAG reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 2:29 AM, Steveo-1969 said:I read that same article and can attest to the Asian carp problem in Kentucky Lake. My family has vacationed there for the past 8 years and we've seen the Asian carp numbers steadily get worse and worse. They are literally EVERYWHERE in the lake. And the water is noticeably clearer than it has ever been because they eat the plankton in the water (or something like that?). It's started to affect the crappie and bass fishing and will only get worse unless they can decimate the Asian carp population. The owner of the resort we always stay at is very concerned. He told us 75% of his business is fishing related and if the fishing gets worse and people stop coming he loses his livelihood and a resort that's been in his family for generations. Darn shame!
Yes, very sad seeing what they're doing to KY Lake.
Where do you stay? I'm looking for new places to try out when I do my annual fishing trip to KY lake to kayak fish.
WRB reply :
Being bass anglers we tend to consider the bass a superior fish, trout anglers in the Northwest consider bass a trash fish and invasive species no different then carp species.
I mentioned Alaska because it's the only State that doesn't have a bass population in the USA. 1 bass caught in Sand Hill lake started the all out campaign to eradicate it.
Asian Carp were intentionally introduced by fishery biologist to control aquatic plants, it's their responsibility to control the carp, if that is possible.
Gefilte fish is a recipe for carp that someone would have nearly unlimited supply of Asian carp to start up a business and ship the carp back to countries that eat them.
Tom
Tennessee Boy reply :
There are a number of different asian carp. In the 90s people were introducing grass carp into Guntersville in an attempt to get rid of the grass. The fishermen (including me) were freaking out about it. The carp have muliplied and the grass is still there. The carp that are in Kentucky lake are not grass carp. They are the ones that eat plankton and compete with shad for food. I know the number of threadfin shad in the lake has plumited and this can't be good for the bass. I think the fishing has been worse over the last few years and many people are blaming it on the carp. I personally think the fishing is still better than it was twenty years ago and it's much better than most other area lakes. I'm concerned about the carp but I'm not freaking out yet.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 12:30 AM, WRB said:Being bass anglers we tend to consider the bass a superior fish, trout anglers in the Northwest consider bass a trash fish and invasive species no different then carp species.
I mentioned Alaska because it's the only State that doesn't have a bass population in the USA. 1 bass caught in Sand Hill lake started the all out campaign to eradicate it.
Asian Carp were intentionally introduced by fishery biologist to control aquatic plants, it's their responsibility to control the carp, if that is possible.
Gefilte fish is a recipe for carp that someone would have nearly unlimited supply of Asian carp to start up a business and ship the carp back to countries that eat them.
Tom
The Asian carp (bighead carp and silver carp) were not introduced on purpose. They were brought to US for food purposes in ponds. Floods in the early 90s washed them into the rivers and they boomed
greentrout reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 2:16 AM, TnRiver46 said:The Asian carp (bighead carp and silver carp) were not introduced on purpose. They were brought to US for food purposes in ponds. Floods in the early 90s washed them into the rivers and they boomed
believe the same scenario for the snakehead in Arkansas...my state MDWFP is really worried about 'em...
the carp is loved in japan...the lmb is seen as a trash fish and many want it eradicated...go figure...
Choporoz reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 2:50 AM, greentrout said:believe the same scenario for the snakehead in Arkansas...my state MDWFP is really worried about 'em...
hope they're worried unnecessarily .....really seems as though they've settled in here around the Potomac without hurting LMB's.
I was always somewhat upset when I hooked anything other than a bass, but I'm kinda enjoying the snakeheads -- same lures and environs, better fight. And even better for those that keep to eat
Koz reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 9:01 PM, Big Rick said:While this sounds like a good idea sadly it doesn't work.
I was just joking because of all of my gator run ins this summer. Some of our lagoons have grass carp in order to keep the invasive aquatic vegetation at bay.
The other day I was fishing in a small lake / big lagoon and I saw a big, dark shadow under the water that I first thought was a small alligator. Turns out it was a really, really big grass carp.
greentrout reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 3:08 AM, Choporoz said:hope they're worried unnecessarily .....really seems as though they've settled in here around the Potomac without hurting LMB's.
I was always somewhat upset when I hooked anything other than a bass, but I'm kinda enjoying the snakeheads -- same lures and environs, better fight. And even better for those that keep to eat
have read, not fished, that bass fishing in the potomac not what it used to be...maybe the snakehead...maybe not...me...want nothing to do with the sh or carp...respectfully...
good fishing
Steveo-1969 reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 9:24 PM, TBAG said:Where do you stay? I'm looking for new places to try out when I do my annual fishing trip to KY lake to kayak fish.
PM sent
Logan S reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 3:08 AM, Choporoz said:hope they're worried unnecessarily .....really seems as though they've settled in here around the Potomac without hurting LMB's.
I was always somewhat upset when I hooked anything other than a bass, but I'm kinda enjoying the snakeheads -- same lures and environs, better fight. And even better for those that keep to eat
Key here is Potomac. The Potomac is a massive watershed what has had influxes of new predator and prey species from the bay/ocean for it's entire existence. The point is, the Potomac is sort of used to this type of thing so if there is any bass fishery that could handle it, the Potomac is probably it. Even so...It's still probably too early to tell whether they will have a long term effect.
In a closed off river or lake, especially a small one they could have a very different effect....And since our local DMV snakehead transporters seem hellbent on stuffing them in every lake/pond/river they can find, I'm sure we'll find out before long.
I personally have no interest in snakeheads but I can see why many like them...Big and aggressive. They need to just leave em in the Potomac though and quit moving em around.
On 9/20/2018 at 3:21 AM, greentrout said:have read, not fished, that bass fishing in the potomac not what it used to be...maybe the snakehead...maybe not...me...want nothing to do with the sh or carp...respectfully...
good fishing
The quality of bass fishing on the Potomac goes up and down with the grass. More grass for longer time periods equates to great fishing...Declining grass leads to declining fishing. For several years the grass was a fraction of it's normal levels and fishing got much tougher. The last two years we saw excellent grass until the flooding this spring and summer ripped it all out.
I think blue cats around here are worse than snakeheads...But either way, invasive species suck...
BoatSquirrel reply :
Kentucky Lake in the past 5 years have gone from a top 5 bass fishery to an eco-disaster. The article in BASS is the sad truth. A local tournament took 12 lbs to win last week. 2nd place was 8 lbs.
A warning to everyone upstream— catch every bass you can because they will not be there for long. Every lake on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers is in deeeeep trouble.
greentrout reply :
https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Asian-Carp-Information.aspx
They have a big big challenge...hope they win...Charlie Brewer is turning over in his grave...
everythingthatswims reply :
I am good friends with a fisheries professor here at WVU who has done extensive work with Asian carp. Unfortunately, commercial fishing doesn't have a strong enough impact on the carp, the phrase "kill one, 10 fill it's place" really applies here, they are prolific spawners.
The best shot we have at stopping Asian carp, is to figure out how to interfere with their spawning success. As far as I have heard, that is the only legitimate possibility. They are bad news 
Though I know nothing about Asian carp and their spawning habits, I do know TVA is very good at manipulating water levels in whatever way they need to, so I wouldn't be surprised if we end up seeing a form of carp combat having to do with that.
Spankey reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 3:08 AM, Choporoz said:hope they're worried unnecessarily .....really seems as though they've settled in here around the Potomac without hurting LMB's.
I was always somewhat upset when I hooked anything other than a bass, but I'm kinda enjoying the snakeheads -- same lures and environs, better fight. And even better for those that keep to eat
I'm a bit north of you. I know they are in my area. I have not caught one. I'm not enthusiastic about the idea of them one bit. I hear they like bass lures. Just hope they like death.
If if I catch one it will be killed and it will be posted at the PA fish and boat board down by the ramp. It will be nailed to a mounting post with a galvanized spike.
TBAG reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 9:07 AM, BoatSquirrel said:Kentucky Lake in the past 5 years have gone from a top 5 bass fishery to an eco-disaster. The article in BASS is the sad truth. A local tournament took 12 lbs to win last week. 2nd place was 8 lbs.
A warning to everyone upstream— catch every bass you can because they will not be there for long. Every lake on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers is in deeeeep trouble.
This makes me sad.
Tennessee Boy reply :
Let's keep the Kentucky Lake carp disaster in prospective. Tournament results aren't the best way to judge the health of a fishery but the numbers are readily available. Here are the winning weights of all FLW Tour events on Kentucky Lake. *2018 and 2016 were the top weights of all tournaments for those years.
5/17/18 = 101-9 *
6/09/16 = 97-2 *
6/26/14 = 88-10
6/07/12 = 77-3
6/16/11 = 73-3
6/11/09 = 82-10
5/10/06 = 71-5
5/12/04 = 61-14
5/14/03 = 75-13
5/06/98 = 66-5
5/28/97 = 77-9
4/20/96 = 57-9
TnRiver46 reply :
Looks like the tournament weights are steadily increasing. Perhaps the sky isn't falling. If you want to help, gloom and doom won't do any good. There are dozens of locks and the fish HAVE to use the locks to get upriver. The locks are the only hope for halting migration . They can't jump over a 100 ft tall dam
YoTone reply :
Dont be fooled by the FLW weights. Big bass are still there but the real problem is the younger population of bass which has been dwindling down. the future generations are in jeopardy.
opening up and trying to artificially create a market for the carp to be used as food will do little to help.
there arent that many jews in this world to be eating that much gefilte fish.
like swim says the real solution is interfering with the carps ability to spawn. we need bill nye to step in to create a carp aids or change their spawning areas.
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 10:43 PM, YoTone said:Dont be fooled by the FLW weights. Big bass are still there but the real problem is the younger population of bass which has been dwindling down. the future generations are in jeopardy.
I can say for sure that I'm still catching small bass on KY lake. In the areas that I fish, the bass are still spawning. Most of the carp horror stories seem to come from the northern part of the lake so maybe I haven't seen the worst of it.
I am certainly not suggesting that it's not a big deal. It's a big concern for me and I encourage authorities to do what they can to fight the problem. I do think a lot of people are overreacting. These fish have been in some public waters for over 20 years. Can anyone name a body of water that used to have bass but doesn't anymore because of asian carp? I'm no expert and I welcome any new information that can help me better understand the problem but I'm seeking facts not myths.
everythingthatswims reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 10:43 PM, YoTone said:Dont be fooled by the FLW weights. Big bass are still there but the real problem is the younger population of bass which has been dwindling down. the future generations are in jeopardy.
opening up and trying to artificially create a market for the carp to be used as food will do little to help.
there arent that many jews in this world to be eating that much gefilte fish.
like swim says the real solution is interfering with the carps ability to spawn. we need bill nye to step in to create a carp aids or change their spawning areas.
Fishing isn't an accurate measurement, but when I was there this year in march, I was catching 5-10 under 15" for every 1 over 15", and most were under 12". That was on a 1/2oz weight with a beaver, which usually discourages smaller fish!
YoTone reply :
On 9/21/2018 at 8:25 AM, everythingthatswims said:Fishing isn't an accurate measurement, but when I was there this year in march, I was catching 5-10 under 15" for every 1 over 15", and most were under 12". That was on a 1/2oz weight with a beaver, which usually discourages smaller fish!
oh okay, i was only going by what Mark Menendez was saying about his experience during an B.A.S.S event there.
BoatSquirrel reply :
Agreed, YoTone. Mark Menedez says he will give $1000 for anyone who brings him a bucket of threadfin shad. Nobody has taken his money yet. I have not seen schooling bass jumping this year. Instead, the carp come up in schools the size of football fields. It is bad and not getting any better anytime soon.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I hope someone can find a silver bullet that will get rid of the carp for good but I think that's a longshot. If we have to learn to live with them, I think commerical fishing can make a big difference. They are being caught and shipped frozen to China. They say the chinese prefer the wild caught from the US to their local ones that are farm raised. Apparently, they are endangered in their native habitat...go figure. Everything I've read says they are delicious. If they catch on here in the US, there could be considerable demand for them.
Maggiesmaster reply :
A friend recently cleaned and ate silver carp. Said they were excellent tasting fish. Only problem is that they are extremely hard to clean; they’ve got a lot of small bones.
TnRiver46 reply :
So there was recently a big meeting or 3 concerning new regulations for transporting live bait from one lake to the next in West Tennessee . The concern is that a small silver or bighead carp could be mistaken for a small shad and taken from one side of a dam to the other, for instance a striper catfish or bass fisherman netting shad below pickwick dam in Kentucky lake and then fishing with them upstream somewhere in pickwick lake or elsewhere. In TN there are several people that transport live shad, mainly striper and catfishermen that have nice bait tanks capable of keeping shad alive for days even weeks . These fishermen were obviously concerned about not being able to continue thier practices so they went to all the meeting and reported all that was said and presented , etc. One interesting thing that I read was that TWRA chief of fisheries Frank Fiss says that the agency has been unable to identify and reproduction of Asian carp in Tennessee waters. A few in this thread have suggested interrupting thier spawning habits as a means of population control. So far they don't even know if or where they spawn so I guess there is more to learn or they are being transported from lake to lake by humans
Tennessee Boy reply :
Interesting info @TnRiver46. This is an informative video by the TWRA staring Bill Dance. It shows a gizzard shad and a young silver carp side by side. They look a lot alike as you can see.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/28/2018 at 2:39 AM, Tennessee Boy said:Interesting info @TnRiver46. This is an informative video by the TWRA staring Bill Dance. It shows a gizzard shad and a young silver carp side by side. They look a lot alike as you can see.
I would totally go Asian Carp fishing with Bill dance! With a fish fry to follow
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