An Open Letter to all Fishermen

[bobbymalone]

Cripes! Ease up on the guy. If someone wants to legally harvest a carp and plant it in their garden is that really a big deal? I think there is ample carp in our waters for anyone who wants to legally harvest. As long as I don't see them thrown on shore, I don't care if you eat them, plant them or mount them.

[itchmesir]

one of the guys that posts here on HSO put carp as the first ingrediant in the holes before he planted his apple trees. he has plenty of apples to this day. i will do that this year as i will plant two apple trees. i have eaten carp, but from lake superior and it was fine [smoked]. but these will come from the big M river. dont eat those. good luck.

.... you do realize Lake Superior too is dirty right? you may just not be able to see it as easily.. all those asbestos particulates thanks to mining industries such as the one in silver bay that just dumps all their waste rock directly into superior.. rock that is highly contaminated...

All the carp i use to eat came from the Mississippi back when Ramer's Fish Market was still in business.. best smoked carp i've ever had.. like with almost any other fresh water fish.. moderation is key.. trace elements of this and that here and far in between won't hurt you

[Mike89]

great post, some of those fish I have caught and released. Some I have caught and eaten, including dogfish, which are great smoked!

[Matt C]

What about Largemouth Bass? They are a -2 on the fish count. Should they be released in to the wild to repopulate?

[TooTallTom]

bundt2k, I don't think you're right. I think it's rock bass at -1, smallies at -2 and largemouth at -3...

[Matt C]

Ahhh, yes sir. I stand corrected. ty.

[TooTallTom]

It's a common mistake. Guess how I learned?

[reinhard1]

i'll take my chances on lake superior any day. just dont like to shine in the dark from eating the m-river fish below the coon rapids dam. good luck.

[DARK30]

It wouldn't do any good to throw a few carp up on the bank..... we need to throw ALL the carp up on the bank. Ok, dig a hole and plant a tree I guess.

Somebody likes carp. What do they do with the ones they net through the ice anyway? McFish sandwiches out east?

[Brad B]

i'll take my chances on lake superior any day. just dont like to shine in the dark from eating the m-river fish below the coon rapids dam. good luck.

actually fish out of the mississppi are not that bad. I have ate some channel cats from the river that I caught with in a 1/4 miles of the monticello nuke plant. It really blows my mind how people think the fish glow because of the nuke plant. in fact the water is probably cleaner then most lakes since it is always moving and also Excel have to monitor water quality coming out of the plant. If it wasn't for the nuke plant the river wouldn't have the larger small mouth like it does. why else would the DNR put the special regs in place. it also gives people the chance to fish open water in the dead of winter.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Great post. Can't believe how many times I hear people say "Yeah there are Carp and Bowfin in that lake...if you catch one you gotta throw it on shore".

[Religion_Of_Fish]

Well put, plus roughfish are so photogenic.

[OnAFly]

As we can see from your avatar

[Bluegill1510]

Invasive carp I really don't care much about, but throwing native fish in the garden is only slightly less dumb than throwing them on the shore to rot. Go get some composted manure or legitimate fertilizer if your garden soil needs amendments.

Geez guy....it was just an idea!! I guess I was thinking of on the lines of sucker spearing and/or bowfishing, so next time I will just be more clearer. At least the fish aren't on shore or tossed in the ditch, and put to use.

[Ed Carlson]

Total agreement form me on this topic. #2 biggest fishing related peeve...wanton waste of fish and game.

Why would tossing fish up on shore to contaminate the fishing area for yourself and others to fallow with fly's and then maggots be a good plan...plus the stench? Can't think of any reasoning behind it or a viable justification to do so anywhere.

I run into river fisherman, both new and initiated, who are in the belief it is illegal to toss rough fish back so they toss them up on the shore. In that case, I inform them it is illegal to do what they are now doing and releasing them unharmed is the best policy going forward.

If you will not utilize it, let it go. It is the right thing to do.

[reinhard1]

i was talking about fishing below the coon rapids dam not up by monticelo. glowing in the dark was an attempt at humor. never had the nuke plant in mind. i agree the strech of that river up there is great for smallmouth. good luck.

[Finlander]

I've caught carp on Rapala's, crawlwer/spinner harness, lindy rigging, all the time fishing for walleye's!

You can also catch carp on fly's!

[Iambjm]

I can remember my uncle slamming perch back in the water because he thought they were pesky little buggers. And largemouth bass out of colder northern lakes are a +8 in my book.

[Chode2235]

Best fishing memories as a kid are catching huge carp, redhorse, and even a sheepshead or two on my UL trout equipment while fishing the rivers and streams of SE MN.

Nothing like casting a worm out into a deep corner hole in the river, and hearing that little drag sing!

[PurpleFloyd]

so to be clear if you hook a bighead carp or one of the jumping type that are making their way here are we to throw them back in so they can complete their northward migration? If I find a zebra mussel attached to the boat does it need to be thrown back into the water it came from?

[Sonicrunch]

so to be clear if you hook a bighead carp or one of the jumping type that are making their way here are we to throw them back in so they can complete their northward migration? If I find a zebra mussel attached to the boat does it need to be thrown back into the water it came from?

no. you keep it and give it to the DNR.

Read the rulebook please.

[bobbymalone]

Geez guy....it was just an idea!! I guess I was thinking of on the lines of sucker spearing and/or bowfishing, so next time I will just be more clearer. At least the fish aren't on shore or tossed in the ditch, and put to use.

I think the spirit of this thread is to practice catch and release with roughfish in the same manner that you would do with gamefish.

If I posted about burying walleyes in the garden, my head would be put on a stake - and rightly so. Although, I'm pretty sure i can put them to "use" in any way I want.

Nobody goes out to harvest carp or roughfish because they want garden fertilizer. Garden fertilizer is just an easy way to dispose of creatures you killed but don't want to eat.

[DTro]

We did not sign the letter.

Sincerly,

Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Round Goby, Ruffe

PS. We are not a fish, so leave us out of it,

Eurasian Watermilfoil, Zebra Mussel, New Zealand Mud Snail, Spiny Water Flea

[mrklean]

haha nice

[ozzie]

We did not sign the letter.

Sincerly,

Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Round Goby, Ruffe

PS. We are not a fish, so leave us out of it,

Eurasian Watermilfoil, Zebra Mussel, New Zealand Mud Snail, Spiny Water Flea

classic!!!!!