Reelfoot carp

[neaslabber]

Are there any plans in the works to try and get rid of the carp??? Do you guys think they hurt the lake?

[BigDfromTenn]

Talked to a old timer this afternoon, he called me to see if I had been catching any fish on the foot. He has been several times and said he hasn't done any good. He told me he talked to a guide today that told him he thought the asian carp were eating the eggs and hurting the population. He said he thinks that is why most people are catching bigger fish for now. He doesn't think the population of little fish is as great as it has been in the past. So from that info I think yes they are hurting the lake...

[neaslabber]

Talked to a old timer this afternoon, he called me to see if I had been catching any fish on the foot. He has been several times and said he hasn't done any good. He told me he talked to a guide today that told him he thought the asian carp were eating the eggs and hurting the population. He said he thinks that is why most people are catching bigger fish for now. He doesn't think the population of little fish is as great as it has been in the past. So from that info I think yes they are hurting the lake...

Well I caught 15 at Kirby today and none of them were over 9 inches....I threw em back before I left. I've spoke to alot of "ol timers" saying the same thing. Sure isn't the same lake it was last year

[tcounty]

Not sure, but I don't think they eat eggs. I believe they eat the same stuff shad eat. 1 carp can probably eat as much as 1000 shad.

Was there Saturday and didn't see any carp, didn't catch a single crappie either.

Don't know if any of y'all fish Cole Creek in Lauderdale County or not, but they are really bad there. It's almost dangerous out on the Chute now.

[Tennessee Trey]

From what I understand the silver carp require moving water to spawn and the fertilized eggs must continue to flow in moving water until they hatch. If they settle to the bottom they die. SO maybe they will not reproduce well in Reelfoot and will eventually die out.

[crappie4me2]

I may be total wrong but I think it has hurt the crappie. I have not caught any of the small (4 to 7") crappie and that is alarming to me. I have fished the foot the past two days and have not done to good at all. Jigged trees in walnut log yesterday and brought 14 home. Trolled in swain basin and little caney today and landed 8 fish, now I missed several but this time of year we should be wearing them out. I talked to one guide today and he said the fishing was bad. I talked to several guys around me and they only had a few fish. I did speak to one guy who jigged the trees in Champy's pocket and he said he had 25. I'm not the best fisherman but I know the past several years I have done pretty good and had a lot in the freezer and it has just not happened this year. I did not mean to hijack your post but I would like for more folks to chime in on what they think.

[kingkrappie]

I haven't had any jump yet this year, but I saw one dead that had to be close to 100 lbs. I haven't caught any white crappie under 10 inches this year, caught plenty of short specks. I dunno. Water is falling fast right now, not ideal for the fish that spawn shallow

[tcounty]

I also fish the Hatchie River a good bit. Fishing there a has went south in the last few years. Now I couldn't ever go down there and limit out, but I used to go for 3-4 hours on a Saturday morning and catch a mess of fish. Saturday afternoon I caught 1. Saw plenty of carp though. Will get my bow after them real soon.

[slayer51]

These carp do not feed on eggs but they do destroy the spawning areas for crappie. The lily pads are good right now. Caught alot of nice crappie and bluegill in the pads Monday. Culled about 10 crappie under 9-1/2". I know of 2 boats that limited out in 6 fow trolling on Sunday.

[crappiehoarder]

I don't know if they are hurting the lake for sure or not, but I'm thinking that they are. Normally I can catch a limit this time of year but it just ain't happening for me this year at the foot.I was there friday and the carps were jumping all around my boat when I motoring across the lake. I wish that I could go out there and get some shotgun practice in on them without getting in trouble.I think that would be a blast.But I guess it could be considered dangerous?