Carp and other Rough fish pics

[Scott M]

Note to self: white out the backgrounds of my good carp spots

In all seriousness and not to make fun, why do that for rough fish? I could understand if it was a gamefish that might be subject to overharvest or it's great spot that you don't want to give up, but you're talking about the biggest specialists of all anglers, rough fish anglers. There just aren't that many out there, at least not an amount that could find your spot and deplete it or even steal it from you. If it's a legitimizing the sport thing, okay, fine, but otherwise I'm missing the logic...Can somebody help me out? Come on DEADhead, be my voice of reason!

Nice fish all. Won't be long and the white bass will go nuts and the suckers will spawn, the next month the dogfish and buffalo will be in spawning colors and top fighting form, and flip one more month and the carp will be spawning. Plenty of action as the ice gives way to spring.

[Mudcatman]

We do things like this to protect our spots from the bow-fishing crowds. No one here wants to see their favorite species being decimated by bow-fishermen, then thrown on the bank to rot, or brought home to be used as fertilizer. See, most of us on this roughfish forum love these fish much like you love your Walleyes and Bass.

[bobbymalone]

how can you tell the difference between a carpsucker and a quillback?

[bobbymalone]

Note to self: white out the backgrounds of my good carp spots

In all seriousness and not to make fun, why do that for rough fish? I could understand if it was a gamefish that might be subject to overharvest or it's great spot that you don't want to give up, but you're talking about the biggest specialists of all anglers, rough fish anglers.

I don't think many of us are worried about other bowfish ANGLERS, but we are worried about overharvest:

[DEADhead]

dachise, just like mudcatman said, even though I know many bowfisherman cover many of the areas I fish, I still don't like to just giveaway many of the spots. I know those guys frequent these types of forums and blogs looking for spots to kill. I call it killing because I can see the bloodlust in many of their eyes when shooting, and their laughs and utter disregard for the fish after they've stuck a hole through them.

For the same reason those cat-guys and walleye river rats won't give up their honey holes, I'm not set to do it either. It's a dang shame when I come across 50 year old buffalos over 30# covered in flies and maggots because some cowboy didn't want to grow up and bring their catch home.

[Scott M]

For the record I'm an equal opportunity angler, I don't target roughies, but I'm happy to catch them. So it's not a fish respect or legitimacy thing for me.

Sorry to be the gadfly, just curious. I guess if there was one fish where a little bit of harvest wouldn't change the population, I would point to carp. Other indigenous nongame fish would be hard to say. During my time on the water in the last two years I've seen a bowfishing crew twice, and that's in south central Minnesota where we have gar, carp, buffalo, dogfish...Forget I asked the question, I'm not trying to rain on the parade.

Keep the nice pics coming.

[Mudcatman]

Your type of attitude Da_chise31 is refreshing to say the least, in reguards to our roughfish or underutilized fish. Alot of folks think Bigmouth Buffalo are overpopulated in bodies of water. Thats why they are a popular bow-fishing target. The thing is about Bigmouths, Quillbacks too, is that they tend to sit and feed in the mid water column, sifting algae and micro-organisms from the water, which makes them much more visable to people, compared to a bottom related fish like a Walleye or Bass. I think this may be why folks think they are overpopulating their favorite body of water, and need to be eradicated. Fish like Bass and Walleyes, Walleyes especially, are much less visable to the sight fisherman, thus making them seem less abundant. Fact of the matter is this, species such as Shortnose and Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Bigmouth and Smallmouth Buffalo ect. are native species, all part of a native food chain, and are supposed to be here, and are important to an ecosystem that needs their balance.

I'm an equal opportunity angler myself, always chasing the hot bite, weather its Flathead Catfish in May, Longnose Gar on a hot, sticky summer night, or Walleyes in the late fall, even love catching suckers and redhorse in the spring. I find all fish to be cool and unique in their own certain ways, and enjoy catching just about anything that swims. Most of us here under this category probably think like this, we just love our "roughfish", or our target species, whatever that may be for the day. I mean, look at Flathead catfishing, 10 years ago hardly anyone did it. Now, its like everyone and their mother is slinging bullheads out for bait. I believe roughfishing and multi-species fishing is starting to head in the same direction. But getting back to the topic, yeah, I hate seeing the bow kills laying on the shore, or the wounded fish swimming around that the bow-fisher shot and let go, or to pull up to your favorite spot just to see bowfishermen killing fish you "were" gonna fish with a rod and reel. But I think what bothers us the most are the pictures like Bobby Malone posted, the big smiles and the huge kill piles. Just so waistful in my opinion...

Sorry for the rant, back to the pictures!

[bobbymalone]

I call it killing because I can see the bloodlust in many of their eyes when shooting, and their laughs and utter disregard for the fish after they've stuck a hole through them.

I call it killing because that's what it is. Many use the fertilizer argument as their justification. Most dairy farms don't mind parting with some fertilizer, but you'll never see these guys going out there.

Can't fault someone for doing something perfectly legal, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Personally, I think bowfishing should be carp only.

/rant

[roughfish29]

here is a carp i caught (2009) with an arrow hole in it. just to be clear, i didn't shood this fish, it was still alive and it picked up my bait.

the sad part is, bowfishing on this part of the river is illegal. now, i know carp can migrate over large distances, but that would mean that this fish would have to jump over dams, and swim through water under an inch deep to have come from legal bowfishing waters

ok, for real now, lets get back to up-to-date photos

[Born2Fish]

Cool pictures everyone! I have to say I am with everyone about wanting to protect your spot. There really is nothing worse for myself even coming across a mess of rough fish that have been thrown on shore to rot. I do not think anyone likes the smell or sight of rotting fish on their favorite fishing spot. Keep those great pics coming!!

[pikestabber]

It seems bow-fishermen are getting as bad a rap with us rough-fishermen as spear-fishermen do with the muskie crowd... I am NOT trying to hi-jack this thread, but since its been breached, I just want to put my two cents in for whatever they're worth... I am for the ethical, legal harvest of game fish (they are ALL game fish to me ) in any way recognized as a legal method in the state of MN. I cannot throw out percentages, because I have none, but there are many bow-fishermen and spear-fishermen that harvest selectively, utilize their catch appropriately, and maintain the delicate balance between harvest and over-harvest with complete regard and respect for the species involved, myself being one of those multi-species, multi-method fishermen. I have never been a part of wanton waste, I do not have a use for more fertilizer than my neighboring farmers can provide, and I have never taken more fish than I felt was right (which is always less than what I am allowed). AGREED 100% that there are far too many "anglers" with blood-lust and childish immaturity as motives to kill and overkill, but there are responsible fishermen that suffer for their actions, as well. 95% of my fishing is done with a rod and reel, but I just want to be a voice for the other 5% of me and others like me that harvest fish (ethically) in other ways. There's a place for all of us if we respect boundaries and adhere to smart and conservative practices.

[DEADhead]

well said pikestabber, that's exactly the kind of mentality we'd like to see here on this forum. I appreciate the voice of reason.

now back to more fish porn. a few more from the other week:

not a big carp by any means, but my first for 2010.

[CarpKing921]

Ddhead blurs his background because he doesn't want the rest of us getting into them Buffs he probably worked hard to find and learn how to seduce. I say They are one of the hardest to fish with regular success and he knows how to do it. Congrats. With a little more work this year i plan on posting the whited out background picks also of some huge Buffs that I found but haven't quite figured out though.

I did manage my first open water Carp of the year yesterday. I seen lots but not very active the one i caught sure didn't put up a fight. I think this may be the earliest one for me yet but don't keep track.

Good Luck

[itchmesir]

where do you target carp right now? im definitely getting one on a fly this year

[CarpKing921]

Shallow dark bottoms with moving water to free up the ice.

[LOTWSvirgin]

Felt good to use the long rod finally!!!

[roughfish29]

looks like a good day.

crawlers?

i was out for a while today on the 'sippi but with no luck

[tjbassmaster]

First open water fish of the year. Came on a flu flu jig tip with a waxy. Measured 33 inches and 17#s.

[roughfish29]

nice fish tj. bet it put up one helluva fight on that little rod!

[carpmanjake]

It's starting guys!

[tjbassmaster]

Jake, what are you using to catch them? I have tried almost everything and have only been able to catch one

[mrfish1991]

Here is my little rough fish, only open water fish so far this year. I have no clue what it is, so any help ID'ing would be greatly appreciated.

[Mudcatman]

Looks to me like a Siver Chub.

[Roman_K]

good bait

[mrfish1991]

thanks guys