CAGI

[gonefishin]

Sam: You are saying the same think as I was but, you sure make it sound better. Guess I better stay out of politics huh?

[Wayne SW/MO]

- and upper Bull Shoals is certainly doing that for some reason.

Upper Bull Shoals is a poor example to use in trying to understand a lake. The temperature fluctuates constantly, crossing ideal temperatures for both warm water species, and cold. The area from the dam to past Barker is a transition zone, and doesn't stabilize long enough to develop any reasonable theory.

A certain cubic volume of lake water, depending on its nutrient content, will support a certain weight of living things - always.

If the temperature change isn't enough the volume also changes constantly.

[MoCarp]

JUST A NOTE: common carp where introduced in the 1880's and where in the white river BEFORE the lakes where built..

[MoCarp]

anyways THE CAGI is a way to introduce folks to eurocarping but mant do well with paylake and good old fashion ways....we catch and release all the fish we catch..we are not in it to rid the lakes of carp...they will be there no matter what a handfull of fisherman do-- we are showing folks some untapped fun....besides what can you catch everytime you go thats over 10 pounds and strips drag like a bonefish?

[gonefishin]

I just figure it this way. Common Carp were a horrible practical joke China played on the US. IMO they are not natural to the US and never will be. That is not to say I don't catch carp for fun from time to time but like almost everyone else I just throw them back because they aren't worth the hassle it takes to prepare them and once they are prepared they have too strong of a flavor to appreciate.

Carp are not fished for much here in the US and because very few of the smaller fish are thinned out the big fish will never reach size proportions as they do in Europe.

One good use for them is in a compost bin. A few carp mixed with grass clippings makes some great compost to add to your flower or vegetable garden.

[MoCarp]

I just figure it this way. Common Carp were a horrible practical joke China played on the US. IMO they are not natural to the US and never will be. That is not to say I don't catch carp for fun from time to time but like almost everyone else I just throw them back because they aren't worth the hassle it takes to prepare them and once they are prepared they have too strong of a flavor to appreciate.

Carp are not fished for much here in the US and because very few of the smaller fish are thinned out the big fish will never reach size proportions as they do in Europe.

One good use for them is in a compost bin. A few carp mixed with grass clippings makes some great compost to add to your flower or vegetable garden.

our carp came from germany not china..infact carp are native to the carpatian

mtns of eurasia closer to paris---than to peking.....another myth common carp are not "asian" carp where brought to england by the romans over 1000 years ago

..anyways Texas has "trophy" waters for carp now I guess it all depends on what "worth" someone puts on a fish...back east they say the same things about brown trout----still lots of myths about what "damage" they do--yet folk still toss 18 inchers under the bushes..old ideas die hard

cheers

mo

ps this thread was to invite those inclined to--go carpfishing

gf--you sound alot like a nativefish pundit I know

[gonefishin]

I always heard carp came from China or at least Asia. No matter where they came from they would have not gotten here through natural migration so I see no reason to call them native. Wild yes, native no.

Sorry Mo I don't mean to rain on your parade. In fact I don't mind fishing for carp from time to time. I have even gave serious thought to participating in your Cagi event.

I am not necessarily a native fish pundit. I just don't see making common carp something they aren't. Right now I don't see any advantage in having common carp in our streams and lakes. The reality of carp in the US is in general people don't care to eat them and they aren't considered a sport fish so not many people target or harvest them.

According to MDC carp of all types are over populated and do damage to our lakes and rivers. Common Carp are natural shufflers and their habit of wallowing destroys vital habitat needed by other fish and cause a lot of silting problems. Because they are extremely over populated they take up way more than their fair share of biomass.

What would be good for carp is if they could grow to their potential size. If this were to happen I can see where they would become popular as sport fish. The problem is since there is no generally accepted use for them and because they are so under-fished and over populated this is unlikely to ever happen.

[Wayne SW/MO]

What would be good for carp is if they could grow to their potential size.

Many do GF, and as far as a sport fish, whats that? If its "Fun" then any fish that can be caught on flyrod, casting or spinning should qualify, right?

[Grandpa Tom]

I certainly agree, Wayne. If it's fun to catch, I consider it a "sport fish". Catching a good sized bluegill on a flyrod is a good example. And, I spent many a day as a kid on the banks of McDaniel Lake watchin' rod tips and rollin' Wheaties dough balls. Interestingly, I've heard several fishermen in other parts of the country call trout "trash fish". Guess it's whatever floats your boat.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Guess it's whatever floats your boat.

My kids and grandkids are at TR for a week, an annual thing, and between them they caught 6 Golden Ghost up to 20 lbs on Thursday. It was fun for them, and so were the Punkinseeds.