straw hat

Asian Carp Grass carp, black carp, bighead carp, and silver carp are native to Asia, and in North America are referred to as Asian carps. I will address each species seperately. Grass Carp Ecology This species occurs in lakes, ponds, pools, and backwaters of large rivers, preferring large, slow-flowing or standing water bodies with vegetation. In the wild, grass carp spawn in fast-moving rivers, and their eggs, which are slightly heavier than water, develop while drifting downstream, kept in suspension by turbulence. The eggs are thought to die if they sink to the bottom.Typically, spawning occurs in the spring when water temperatures reach 59-63°F, and under rising water conditions. The grass carp tolerates cold water and also flourishes and grows at rapid rates in warm waters such as those found in Florida. These herbivorous fish may grow at a rate of 2 pounds (0.91 kg) or more per month when sufficient vegetation is available. The young fish grow at a much faster rate than older, mature fish, and females grow faster than males. In Florida, some fish have grown to 40 pounds (18 kg) with an apparent life span of approximately 10 years. Their feeding habits make them ideal as vegetation control agents, as they are capable of consuming 40% to 300% of their body weight per day in plant material. Each female lays 500,000 eggs per brood on average. Adults of the species feed primarily on aquatic plants. They feed on higher aquatic plants and submerged terrestrial vegetation, but may also take detritus, insects, and other invertebrates. In the United States, the species was first imported in 1963 from Taiwan and Malaysia to aquaculture facilities in Alabama and Arkansas. The first release is believed to have been an accidental escape in 1966 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish Farming Experimental Station in Stuttgart, Arkansas, followed by planned introductions beginning in 1969. Subsequently there have been widespread authorized, illegal, and accidental introductions; by the 1970s the species had been introduced to 40 states, and it has since been reported in 45 of the country’s 50 states. In 2013 it was determined to be reproducing in the Great Lakes Basin. It is still stocked in many states as an effective biocontrol for undesirable aquatic vegetation, many species of which are themselves introduced. Grass carp require long rivers for the survival of the eggs and very young fish. The species was introduced in the Netherlands in 1973 for overabundant aquatic weed control. The release into national waters is controlled and regulated by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Because grass carp mainly reproduce in water of 25°C (77°F), which is much higher than the water temperature reaches during the mating season in the Netherlands, grass carp populations must be maintained by artificial means, which is done by the person responsible for the water body in which the fish were introduced. Where grass carp populations are maintained through stocking as a biocontrol for noxious weeds, they should be returned to the water alive and unharmed. When used for weed control, often the fish introduced to the pond or stream are sterile, triploid fish. The process for producing triploid fish involves shocking eggs with a rapid change in temperature or pressure. This process is not usually 100% effective, so the young are usually tested for triploidy before being sold. Grass carp grow large and are strong fighters on a rod and reel, but because of their vegetarian habits and their wariness, they can be difficult to catch. Chumming with corn adds to success. They will eat canned corn, cherry tomatoes, and, despite their primarily herbivorous habits, will also sometimes eat other animals. Chumming with white bread, and a piece of bread pinched on a hook and floated on the surface works well, especially for pond grass carp. The fish are popular among bowfishers where bowfishing for them is legal. Detrimental Effects -Their herbivorous feeding can dramatically reduce aquatic vegetation and they can harm water quality by increasing phosphorus levels. Impact of Introduction: Various authors (e.g., Shireman and Smith 1983; Chilton and Muoneke 1992; Bain 1993) have reviewed the literature on Grass Carp; most also discuss actual and potential impacts caused by the species' introduction. Shireman and Smith (1983) concluded that the effects of Grass Carp introduction on a water body are complex and apparently depend on the stocking rate, macrophyte abundance, and community structure of the ecosystem. They indicated that numerous contradictory results are reported in the literature concerning Grass Carp interaction with other species. Negative effects involving Grass Carp reported in the literature and summarized by these authors included interspecific competition for food with invertebrates (e.g., crayfish) and other fishes, significant changes in the composition of macrophyte, phytoplankton, and invertebrate communities, interference with the reproduction of other fishes, decreases in refugia for other fishes, and so on. In their overview, Chilton and Muoneke (1992) reported that Grass Carp seem to affect other animal species by modifying preferred habitat, an indirect effect. However, they also indicated that grass carp may directly influence other animals through either predation or competition when plant food is scarce. In his review, Bain (1993) stated that Grass Carp have significantly altered the food web and trophic structure of aquatic systems by inducing changes in plant, invertebrate, and fish communities. He indicated that effects are largely secondary consequences of decreases in the density and composition of aquatic plant communities. Organisms requiring limnetic habitats and food webs based on phytoplankton tend to benefit from the presence of Grass Carp. On the other hand, Bain reported that declines have occurred in the diversity and density of organisms that require structured littoral habitats and food chains based on plant detritus, macrophytes, and attached algae. Removal of vegetation can have negative effects on native fish, such as elimination of food sources, shelter, and spawning substrates (Taylor et al. 1984). Hubert (1994) cited a study that found vegetation removal by Grass Carp lead to better growth of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) due to increases in phytoplankton and zooplankton production, but it also lead to higher predation on Rainbow Trout by Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) due to lack of cover, and changes in diet, densities, and growth of native fishes. Although Grass Carp are often used to control selected aquatic weeds, these fish sometimes feed on preferred rather than on target plant species (Taylor et al. 1984). Increases in phytoplankton populations is a secondary effect of Grass Carp presence. A single Grass Carp can digest only about half of the approximately 45 kg of plant material that it consumes each day. The remaining material is expelled into the water, enriching it and promoting algal blooms (Rose 1972). These blooms can reduce water clarity and decrease oxygen levels (Bain 1993). In addition to the above, Grass Carp may carry several parasites and diseases known to be transmissible or potentially transmissible to native fishes. For instance, it is believed that Grass Carp imported from China were the source of introduction of the Asian tapeworm Bothriocephalus opsarichthydis (Hoffman and Schubert 1984; Ganzhorn et al. 1992). As such, the species may have been responsible indirectly for the infection of the endangered Woundfin Plagopterus argentissimus (by way of the red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis) (Moyle 1993). Wittmann et al. (2014) performed a meta-analysis of ecological effects of Grass Carp, finding an overall negative impact to biota (primarly through negative effects on macrophytes, with mixed results in other taxonomic groups) and an alteration of water quality (primarily change in conductivity and salinity) in stocked areas. Details of the effects of grass carp in... http://apms.org/japm/vol44/v44p01.pdf http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/ansrp/ANSIS/html/ctenopharyngodon_idella_grass_carp.htm http://www.apms.org/japm/vol47/v47p001_2009.pdf Next post....Black Carp 　

They can grow up to 4 or 5 lbs per year. A large female of some species can lay up to 4 million eggs at a time. They are scatter spawners laying their eggs where they fall. There eggs are adhesive and stick in place and very tough. They are very adaptive and all efforts to develop an effective control plan have had little success as it usually effects the "good" species as well. There is a large number of commercial fisherman who harvest these species for use in dog and cat food among other things. They do spoil slightly faster than most fish and should be processed soon after harvest. They can occur in schools of 10,000 or more with fish frequently weighting up to 40 lbs. This requires special gill nets and seines to handle the power and bulk of these fish. Anyway, that is what I have been taught and seen over the years. More info to follow as I dig it up.

https://news.yahoo.com/asian-carp-invasion-could-empty-lake-erie-fish-190433583.html An interesting read on the Asian carp problem. It is only a matter of time.

Just curious Riverman, but was there any parking or was the whole parking lot covered? Did it flood the toilet? Thanks for any info.

I just spoke to Bree at the Corp office at Stockton Dam. (Tel: 417-276-3113 ) and she confirmed that the new America the Beautiful Senior Pass is $10 if bought at the office, $20 if bought on line and will cover all day use boat launches, day use fishing fees and beach uses. In other words free, You must be 62 or over. Be sure and bring your driver's liscence.. The Disabled pass is free this year and provides the same benefits as the Senior Pass. However, proof of disability must be brought with you. and at this time they have noguidance on what proof of disability they are to have.. I would call and get your name on the list as soon as possible.

I followed MoPanfisher's link. Found out how to buy a senior pass ($20 on line/$10 at a designated point of sale such as the Corp office on Stockton Lake). It covers all day use charges which includes boat launches (per the site). Must be 62 or older to apply. I am going to call the Corp office later and verify the info and then make arrangements to pick up a pass.

Good points Al. And to throw this in the mix....The stream habitats have changed drastically in the last 60 to 70 years. Stream volumes are way down, gravel has collected and choked a lot more streams and in some areas the increase in phosphorus and nitrogen has markedly decreased oxygen levels, esp in late spring and summer. Much of this helps the spots better compete with the smallies.

Great to see a post from you Bob. I hope all is well with you and yours. Happy New Year.

Nice fish!! Thanks for the pics. As far as the eye color is concerned I don't know if that shows anything or not. I am color blind. lol All I can tell is they all have eyes!! lol And now you know why I don't have an opinion on this subject!!!

You could be right Al. What surprised me is the lack of research on eye pigments in bass. A lot of articles on vision but not on pigments. Hammertime, I am in complete agreement with your principals but would add that the bass populations created in the lake are artificial and man made. With the exception of oxbow lakes, swamps and a couple other exceptions bass occur in running water (streams, rivers, etc). When man makes a dam it drastically changes the habitat and the fish population shifts accordingly. A man made population change if you will that is not natural.

Well it is strange. I looked at several of the California forums and found no reference to red eyes bass BUt in the western bass fishing forum There were many references including California. http://www.westernbass.com/forum/search.php?keywords=red+eyed+bass&sid=6993018aa610427036a9e30a77962985 Many of these fisherman also related to this being more common in the spring spawn.

I looked everywhere I could think of and could find no specific research on eye pigments in largemouth or smallmouth bass BUT here is what I found. http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.27.1.543 There are four main pigments found in the eyes of fish. Each pigment is known to mutate easily. So there may be many shades and tones of red for example. Rock Bass and Redeyed Bass are the only two species of Centrarchidae to commonly have red eyes. These have been shown to be dominant when the species cross with largemouth or smallmouth bass but the resultant hybrid looks considerably different than either the largemouth or smallmouth. I also red many bass forums where I did a search for bass with red eyes. I noticed that many people note that the red eyes are more common during the spawning season. Any angler is familiar with the fact that hormonal changes that time of year can greatly effect skin pigmentation as well. I also noted that this phenomena was most common east of a line from Minn to Texas. I never found any mentions in the bass forums in the west (as of yet). I will look into that more closely though. More to follow.

"Genetic and in vitro molecular hybridization of malate dehydrogenase isozymes in interspecific bass (Micropterus) hybrids". Wheat This article is similar to the one above. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is an enzyme that reversibly catalyzes the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate using the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. Again this process relates to energy activity within cells. The one thing to note in this article is that half the enzyme produced in smallmouth/largemouth hydrides are the same as for smallmouth and the other half the enzyme is the same as for the largemouth. This is the first time that "molecular hybridization" has been found in bass hydrids. While this enzyme is not related to eye color it could certainly be that the gene for eye color in smallmouth and largemouth may act the same way with the resultant pigment in a hybrid chemically half way between the pigment for largemouth and smallmouth.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00485797#page-1 The inheritance of tissue-specific lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in interspecific bass (Micropterus) hybrids. I looked into this article. It deals with the genetic source for the development of lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in the fishes eye. Lactate dehydrogenase isozymes are used by cells to convert lactic acid to pyruvic acid. These two help to control the NADH cycle. NADH is part pf the energy transfer mechanism in the cell and is part of the driving force of many of the cells function. These isoenzymes, while occurring in the eye (as well as other body parts, is not related to eye color.

"Genetic and in vitro molecular hybridization of malate dehydrogenase isozymes in interspecific bass (Micropterus) hybrids." Translation - When species crossbreed they get half their generics from one parent and half from another. If one parent has blue eyes and the other has yellow eyes then the offspring will have the color eye which is dominant, say blue. BUT biologists are discovering that in the case of inherited genetics there is always a chance that a particular gene may be half developed from one parent and half from another. This split gene is called 'molecular hybridization". So while a fish with blue eyes may be dominant genetically over a fish with yellow eyes (all off spring will have blue eyes) there is always some cases where the gene is a hybrid and you occasionally get a fish with green eyes. Easy as pie.

This is all I could find WCB. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1577/A03-021.1 Ploidy of Backcross Hybrids of Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass Gomelski One of the concerns of biologists is that many species hybrids do not produce the appropriate number of chromosomes in there eggs and there for fertilazation, hatch rate and survivability are all negatively effected. The study found no such effect in the LM/SM bass hydrids. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1445895?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Whitmore, D.H. and T.R. Hellier. 1988. Natural hybridization between largemouth and smallmouth bass (Micropterus). Copeia 1988(2):493-396. http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/CG-09-186 Molecular Genetic Confirmation of Hybridization between Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus) in the Wild. Barthel Documents natural occurance of LM/SM crossbreeding. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00485797#page-1 The inheritance of tissue-specific lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in interspecific bass (Micropterus) hybrids. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2052.1971.tb01190.x/abstract Genetic and in vitro molecular hybridization of malate dehydrogenase isozymes in interspecific bass (Micropterus) hybrids. Wheat

By the way...Don't look at the dates and comment on my age. I already now know how old I am. lol

fishinwrenchs post from the in-fisherman was dead on. I was actually in college getting my Master's in Fishery Biology when Dr. Childers developed a smallmouth/largemouth hybrid that feed so aggressively his workers coined the phrase "meanmouth". These hydrids actually occur naturally as well and have caught a number of them over the years as I am sure you all have as well. I will see what scientific articles I can come up with dealing with this hybrid WCB.

Thanks CT

The batch my wife and I hit was running 3 to 5 lbs.

Anyone know what the water temps are now on Fellows. Tx.

The channels have stacked up on the bluff drop offs. Running around 30' deep. Have to hunt for a school of them but they are there.

Excellent!! I am familiar with your Table Rock site and a job well done. Thanks so much.

Thanks WCB. May you and your family have a great and blessed holiday.

Managed to hit the lake today for several hours fishing from the bank on steep drop offs. Mid-lake Temp was 49 F. Only caught a few crappie. They were 27 to 32 ft deep holding tight to the bottom. Also managed two nice channels ( 4 and 5 lbs). Stopped by CC but didn't have time to fish. For those who want to know....water temp was 47 F.