01-14-2011, 06:14 AM
I know this is an old thread but I found it interesting enough to comment. I agree that carp are harmful to other fish species and are a huge problem not just in Idaho but all over the country. However I don't think anglers killing them would even put a small dent in the population. They are trying to put a dent in the population at Utah Lake because of the endangered June Sucker. Here's a link showing the efforts last winter: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9567765. Anyway I think it's the feds that are fitting the bill otherwise the Utah DWR would not be able to afford it.
Like others have mentioned fly fishing for carp can be an absolute blast. So you can either look at it is as a nuisance or as being blessed with one of the best carp fishing places in the country. If you go to my blog you can see some of the fat carp I caught in SE Idaho this past summer.
However, maybe the fishing for other species could be improved in Alexander by dumping a few tiger muskies in there. Maybe Utah would give them a discount now that they have their own tiger muskie hatchery up and running. I know that Pine View reservoir has some carp along with a billion perch and tiger muskies so maybe the muskies help keep the carp numbers under control. I have to mention that I got a chuckle out of some of the posters worrying about tigers getting into Bear Lake. Everybody relax, the tiger muskie is a sterile hybrid created by crossing a muskellunge and a northern pike. Even if a few did slip down into bear lake they would just eventually die of old age. That is why they work so well for controlling panfish in Pineview, they stock just enough of them to thin out the other fish.
Another lake that would be interesting to study is Yuba Reservoir. It has carp, northern pike, walleye, and perch in it. I'm not sure what % of each fish are in it but I know the perch had a big die off there two years ago. I've heard that there are big pike and carp in there now with a bunch of smaller perch.
Bottom line is enjoy the great fishing you have while you have it cause you never know how things might change in the future.
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Like others have mentioned fly fishing for carp can be an absolute blast. So you can either look at it is as a nuisance or as being blessed with one of the best carp fishing places in the country. If you go to my blog you can see some of the fat carp I caught in SE Idaho this past summer.
However, maybe the fishing for other species could be improved in Alexander by dumping a few tiger muskies in there. Maybe Utah would give them a discount now that they have their own tiger muskie hatchery up and running. I know that Pine View reservoir has some carp along with a billion perch and tiger muskies so maybe the muskies help keep the carp numbers under control. I have to mention that I got a chuckle out of some of the posters worrying about tigers getting into Bear Lake. Everybody relax, the tiger muskie is a sterile hybrid created by crossing a muskellunge and a northern pike. Even if a few did slip down into bear lake they would just eventually die of old age. That is why they work so well for controlling panfish in Pineview, they stock just enough of them to thin out the other fish.
Another lake that would be interesting to study is Yuba Reservoir. It has carp, northern pike, walleye, and perch in it. I'm not sure what % of each fish are in it but I know the perch had a big die off there two years ago. I've heard that there are big pike and carp in there now with a bunch of smaller perch.
Bottom line is enjoy the great fishing you have while you have it cause you never know how things might change in the future.
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