B.A.S.S. Article, Invasive Carp

[Spankey]

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]

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]

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]

 

Alligator Gar...sic 'em...

[WRB]

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]

1 hour ago, 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]

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]

1 hour ago, 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. 

1 hour ago, 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]

1 hour ago, 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.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, 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]

1 hour ago, 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.

14 minutes ago, 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]

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]

4 hours ago, 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]

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]

The silver carp are tasty.... if they want them gone, do a good ole catch and cook!

[Bluebasser86]

4 minutes ago, 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]

10 hours ago, 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]

6 hours ago, 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. 

 

5 hours ago, 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]

Flatheads are more sought after and prized more than even bass here in Iowa. 

[Bluebasser86]

9 minutes ago, 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]

10 minutes ago, 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]

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]

16 hours ago, 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]

17 hours ago, 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]

18 hours ago, 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]

18 hours ago, 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.