New Species of Carp?

[brian6715]

Hey Guys,
I was just wondering what the heck these fish are I am catching. Getting them in Wells Lake (connected to the Cannon near Faribault) They are a silver carp with a white belly. They look like a Tuna or something. Also the mouth is up more in the front and it is actually "mouth-like." They jump a lot and fight great. They are not your standard yellowish ugly carp. I have never seen them before but i have caught tons this year, all in the 8-12lb range. Maybe a form of Buffalo? I have no idea. So if anyone has an idea on these things, thanks.
Brian

[fiskyknut]

Sounds like they might be freshwater drum, [sheepshead}.

[vern]

Hey Brian, according to the DNR netting reports, Wells Lake has both sheepshead and bigmouth buffalo in it. I would guess that you are catching buffalo from your description of the mouth and the average size of the fish. I get a few on the Mississippi every year. What are you catching them on? It sounds interesting. Vern

[vern]

Yeah,I guess you're right. The silver description should have given it away. But an 8-12 lb. average is big for sheepshead. I've caught plenty of both species and they're very easy to tell apart. Here's a picture of a sheepshead. Vern http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/fwb/fish/iafish/drumfam/card/fwd-card.htm

[vern]

Here's the bigmouth buffalo just to compare:
http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/fwb/fish/iafish/sucker/card/bmb-card.htm

[hydro]

Here's how you can tell the difference. If the fish has a body shape similar to a carp and has big scales it is a buffalo. Buffalo are a large fish and 8 to 10 lbs would be a typical size. If it has more of a humped back and smaller scales than a carp, it is probably a sheephead. Sheephead are typically about 1 to 2 lbs in size, but sometimes do get very large.

To learn more, go to the library and look for a book titled "Fishing for Buffalo" it gives great descriptions of these fish.

[vern]

Hey Hydro, "Fishing for Buffalo" is a great book. I wish they would reprint it. I lost my copy years ago. Does anybody know how to reach the author? A couple of years ago I heard that he had a few copies available. Thanks, Vern

[Guest]

Those are definately sheephead

[brian6715]

Thanks guys. Ok the picture of the bigmouth is right on. They are not sheephead, i know what them dumb things are. These fish are great fighters, and you'll catch them on a glob of worms. I snag a lot of them when i am fishing for stripers to. Thanks for the replys guys. Brian

[hydro]

Vern,

Fishing for Buffalo was written by J. Robert Buffler and Thomas J. Dickson, and published by Culpepper Press of Minneapolis in 1990. Judging by the content of the book, these guys were probably from somewhere around the metro area and might be locatable in the phone book or other "people finder" on the internet.

[Guest]

Does anyone know if white Amur carp were ever stocked there? That could be what is being caught. At least the color fits the description -- more so than buffalo or sheepshead.

If they are sheepshead, someone might want to try for a lineclass world record. Check the records -- there are at least four line classes in which the record is under 10 lbs.

[Crawlerman]

Could be Grass Carp-- altough I don't know if they live this far north; I've just read articles about them in Fishing magizines.

If it's less streamline and a tad blackish/brownish too then it's a Buffalo. But if it's more of a silverish, and shaped identical to a Carp it could be grass carp.

[vern]

Thanks for the info Hydro. Hey Crawlerman, I thought about grass carp too. I have never seen one personally, but have wondered if they are anywhere in the state. I've posted questions about them before, but received no answers. Vern

[Guest]

Crawlerman --
Isn't grass carp another name for white Amur carp? The description fits.

[vern]

Hey Clayton, I believe that is correct. I'd like to find out more about those fish. I hear that they are heading this way, and that there might be some in the southern part of the state already. We'll probably hear more reports of grass carp in a few years. Vern

[brian6715]

Hey guys,
These are very silver in color. Anyways, next one I catch I will take a picture of and e-mail to you guys if I can figure out how. Thanks
Brian

[Guest]

I was looking at the fishing special from the Star Trib a week or so ago, and they mentioned an exotic called a Silver Carp, but they had no reports of them in MN waters yet. Maybe these are the first?