O/T: 79 Pound Carp

[Nahmie]

Lew, Don't know about "shallow", but some 45yrs. ago, my BIL used to fish carp in Chautauqua Lake here in western NY using a bow rig with 100lb. test line. This was when they were spawning and would come up to roll in the weed beds. I helped row the boat and pull them up. When he hit them, they'd head straight for the bottom and try to tangle in the weeds, so it was a matter of literally hoisting them up. Don't know the weights, but I know we hauled out a lot of 5' ones, and more than one that exceeded 6' long. His Dad would skin them, cut out the mud- streak, soak them in salt brine overnight, then smoke them in an old refrigerator, then sell them to guys in the bars for $1/lb, guys who normally wouldn't touch Carp on a bet, considering it "ni**er" food.

Norm

[Robatoy]

You're not feeding me a line?

[Robatoy]

Before I can spawn any more puns, I would have to get pissed to the gills first.

[Upscale]

Actually, I was hoping to lure you into giving me more information and net myself some facts.

[Lew Hodgett]

My error.

I stated it was considered a predator, WRONG.

"is considered an invasive species in Iowa" is the correct terminalogy per local newspaper article.

Jack, the carp you describe is probably what comes to mind when probably more than 90% on this list think of carp, including myself.

Small soft mouth that will allow a hook to rip right out if you pull too hard when you set the hook.

The 79 pound fish in Iowa weas called a "big mouth carp". The picture of the fish sure didn't remind me of the carp you and I seem to know.

Lew

Our rivers are loaded with Bass, Pike, Catfish,

[Lew Hodgett]

Lew, Don't know about "shallow", but some 45yrs. ago, my BIL used to fish carp in Chautauqua Lake here in western NY using a bow rig with 100lb. test line. This was when they were spawning and would come up to roll in the weed beds. I helped row the boat and pull them up. When he hit them, they'd head straight for the bottom and try to tangle in the weeds, so it was a matter of literally hoisting them up. Don't know the weights, but I know we hauled out a lot of 5' ones, and more than one that exceeded 6' long. His Dad would skin them, cut out the mud- streak, soak them in salt brine overnight, then smoke them in an old refrigerator, then sell them to guys in the bars for $1/lb, guys who normally wouldn't touch Carp on a bet, considering it "ni**er" food.

Spawning in the weed beds sounds about right.

As far as shallow is concerned, unless the fish is in relatively shallow water and breaks the surface now and then, you're not going to have much of a chance with a bow and arrow.

Where I grew up those weed beds were shallow, maybe 2'-3' at most.

My dad learned at an early age how to dress out carp.

Cut 1/2" on either side of the dorsal fin to get rid of the mud vein and 1/2" above the belly fins, again to get rid of the "gamy" taste.

You basically end up with two fillets.

He never learned how to smoke them and preferred fish no bigger than 5 pounds.

Can still remember he would bake them in the oven with a strip of bacon on each fillet, pinned in place with tooth picks.

Lew

[Lew Hodgett]

OK, been to the Quad Cities several times.

Wonder if the Holiday Inn in Moline still has the stuffed polar bear in the lobby?

He was starting to look a litty ratty in the early 90s.

At one time there was a funded project to find a commercial use for rough fish and that's about all I remember.

Lew

[Tanus]

I think he got ya, hook line and ... oh hell....you know the rest.

Tanus

[Nahmie]

Sorry, I forgot that he filetted them. The weed beds I'm talking about were 8-10' or more deep, and when the Carp were spawning, they would often come to the surface and roll, frequently staying up 10 to 15 sec. FIL would make a "hot" smoke to bake the fat out, then a slow corncob/apple smoke to finish. Turned out almost the color of ham, but very flaky & tender. Most around here would subscribe to the "planked carp" baking method - - nail the Carp to a plank, bake it, then throw the fish away & eat the plank.

Norm

[Lew Hodgett]

carp" baking method - - nail the Carp to a plank, bake it, then throw the fish away & eat the plank.

Same where I grew up.

Lew

[Joe Brophy]

We used .22's to shoot the carp in irrigation lakes in summertime. During the hot weather they would drift just under water 15-30' offshore and "slurp" air, at least I think that was what they were doing. They would overpopulate these lakes, crowding out the trout. bass and walleye. Suckers and chubs were also a non native intrusive fish. I was told the "junk" fish like these got their start from fishermen dumping their remain live minnows at the end of the day in the ponds or lakes they were fishing. Joe.

[Lew Hodgett]

================================= We used .22's to shoot the carp in irrigation lakes in summertime. During the hot weather they would drift just under water 15-30' offshore and "slurp" air, at least I think that was what they were doing. They would overpopulate these lakes, crowding out the trout. bass and walleye. Suckers and chubs were also a non native intrusive fish. I was told the "junk" fish like these got their start from fishermen dumping their remain live minnows at the end of the day in the ponds or lakes they were fishing. ==============================

What part of the country?

Lew .

[Lew Hodgett]

Saw a rerun of a piece on PBS describing the Asian carp situation in the Illinois River.

They have installed a curtain of electrodes in the water with low voltage electrical currents flowing between electrodes.

Fish will jump out of the water to avoid those electrical currents which is probably where my thoughts about "flying carp" came from.

As of now, those electrodes are the only thing keeping those carp out of Lake Michigan.

Lew