By Chad Love

A team of fisheries experts looking for evidence of Asian carp in Lake Erie has come up...empty.

From this story on cleveland.com: 
Using electrofishing and nets to probe Sandusky Bay, Maumee Bay and Western Lake Erie, fisheries experts this week from Ohio, Michigan and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could not find an Asian carp. The team of researchers, responding to four positive DNA samples collected in August 2011, took more than 500 water samples last week. Those samples will be analyzed for Asian carp DNA, with the results expected in a month.

According to the story, the team found lots of common carp, but no evidence of bighead or silver carp. Of course, the $64,000 question is: How long will that last? How long do all you Great Lakes area anglers think it will be before the invasive hordes storm the Great Lakes? Is it a question of not if but when, or do you hold out hope we can keep them from the lakes?

Comments (6)

from achrisk wrote 44 weeks 2 days ago

It looks like industry will defeat sportsmen in this showdown, with the fisheries taking the brunt of the loss. sad times for us here.

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from TM wrote 44 weeks 1 day ago

Just last week I found no evidence of walleye in Lake Erie. No evidence of perch or bass either.

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from hikelive wrote 44 weeks 21 hours ago

According to MI DNR they did find DNA in the 500 water samples, if I recall, in like 138 something of the 500? I could be wrong on the number though. In any case, i'd say they just came up short on their selective 'fishing' around for the asian carp. I hope that just means the numbers are so low they will not be overtaking our Great Lakes anytime soon!

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from RockySquirrel wrote 44 weeks 6 hours ago

We don't need less asian carp; we need bigger Muskie. Lets start development of a SUPER TIGER MUSKIE around 100+ pounds (Tigers cannot successfully breed). Call it the TERM-MUSKELLUNGE of the PIKE-INATOR. That will give the asian carp a reason to jump. Release a few of the PIKE-INATOR in that water and in a few years it will be clean on asian carp. Restock the natives and we are back in business.

I am only 1/2 joking. If they can create frank in-food corn; creating a tiger muskie to giant size can’t be that hard.

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from silentdark22 wrote 43 weeks 6 days ago

I am not sure what to think. I've seen videos on Youtube of asian carp jumping out of the water to the sound of the boat. I honestly hope that something can be done to stop them from spreading to other water. It would hurt fishing in many areas. Will hurt the economy as well.

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from redfishunter wrote 43 weeks 6 days ago

Don't believe these 'experts' they are either already there or they are coming quickly. The things are funny. They'll be so thick one day you can't hardly drive a boat, and the next you won't see any. At least in my neck of the woods.

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from TM wrote 44 weeks 1 day ago

Just last week I found no evidence of walleye in Lake Erie. No evidence of perch or bass either.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from achrisk wrote 44 weeks 2 days ago

It looks like industry will defeat sportsmen in this showdown, with the fisheries taking the brunt of the loss. sad times for us here.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hikelive wrote 44 weeks 21 hours ago

According to MI DNR they did find DNA in the 500 water samples, if I recall, in like 138 something of the 500? I could be wrong on the number though. In any case, i'd say they just came up short on their selective 'fishing' around for the asian carp. I hope that just means the numbers are so low they will not be overtaking our Great Lakes anytime soon!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from RockySquirrel wrote 44 weeks 6 hours ago

We don't need less asian carp; we need bigger Muskie. Lets start development of a SUPER TIGER MUSKIE around 100+ pounds (Tigers cannot successfully breed). Call it the TERM-MUSKELLUNGE of the PIKE-INATOR. That will give the asian carp a reason to jump. Release a few of the PIKE-INATOR in that water and in a few years it will be clean on asian carp. Restock the natives and we are back in business.

I am only 1/2 joking. If they can create frank in-food corn; creating a tiger muskie to giant size can’t be that hard.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from silentdark22 wrote 43 weeks 6 days ago

I am not sure what to think. I've seen videos on Youtube of asian carp jumping out of the water to the sound of the boat. I honestly hope that something can be done to stop them from spreading to other water. It would hurt fishing in many areas. Will hurt the economy as well.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from redfishunter wrote 43 weeks 6 days ago

Don't believe these 'experts' they are either already there or they are coming quickly. The things are funny. They'll be so thick one day you can't hardly drive a boat, and the next you won't see any. At least in my neck of the woods.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.