Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF Recent Comments

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-10 15:09:59

posted by: Sportsman.

HUNTNFISHND Said:
Yeah OK, I guess I'll just have to take it from the source then and FORGET ABOUT IT!

I know what I caught. And you were NOT there and don't have a fricken clue. And That is a FACT.

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-10 15:06:13

posted by: HUNTNFISHND. Yeah OK, I guess I'll just have to take it from the source then and FORGET ABOUT IT!

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-10 14:38:35

posted by: Sportsman.

HUNTNFISHND Said:

Sportsman Said:
I don't care what G&F has to say about it. I HAVE caught them at Ulland Dam and I definitely know the difference between a sucker and a carp.

OK Sporty,

Then explain to me why Ashtabula isn't crawling with the damn things?

If they were carp, Ashtabula would be lousy with them. Probably worse then bullheads!

I don't know why it isn't crawling with them. I am just saying that a couple years ago I did snag one at Ulland dam, and that I do know what a carp looks like. I am not an armchair biologist like yourself so I don't know why it was there and why there was only one but it was a carp. I just love people who can ID a fish that was thrown in the trash years ago while they are sitting at thier computer being a fisheries expert.

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-10 11:16:59

posted by: permo. I am already scheming on where to try out my dough ball slip bobber rigs in the timber...horsing those 20# carp out is going to be a battle!

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-10 11:13:34

posted by: archer.

Lycanthrope Said:
Theres already carp in Sak and Oahe and they are great fisheries (depending on water levels). I dont think carp will have the HUGE negative impact some people seem to think they will. It wont destroy the fishery.

I agree with you. it will however be a terrible thing to see carp get into the lake system but I bet its not as drastic as percieved. Now, Asian carp would be a different stroy. One has to belive that its only a matter of time before carp enter the water system at DL.

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-10 08:27:01

posted by: HUNTNFISHND.

Sportsman Said:
I don't care what G&F has to say about it. I HAVE caught them at Ulland Dam and I definitely know the difference between a sucker and a carp.

OK Sporty,

Then explain to me why Ashtabula isn't crawling with the damn things?

If they were carp, Ashtabula would be lousy with them. Probably worse then bullheads!

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-09 21:46:26

posted by: Sportsman. I don't care what G&F has to say about it. I HAVE caught them at Ulland Dam and I definitely know the difference between a sucker and a carp.

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-09 19:21:44

posted by: HUNTNFISHND.

For those who still believe there are carp above Baldhill Dam. This is straight from an email I recieved from the GNF. Their response is in blue.

I have a question pertaining to the Sheyenne River system, specifically from the headwaters to the Baldhill Dam.

First, are there any carp species found in this part of the river? No. We have never documented the presence of common carp above Baldhill Dam although they are present throughout the river system south of the dam. White suckers are a common native species in the lake and river and are often misidentified by anglers as being “carp.” In fact, during a recent creel survey at Cooperstown Dam (a.k.a. Ueland Dam), an angler reported catching carp. Unfortunately, the creel clerk did not observe the specimen, he just had to take the angler’s word for what he caught. Anglers also observe migrating schools of suckers in the river and erroneously think they are carp. Again, we have zero documented evidence of carp above Baldhill Dam.

Second, if there are could you tell me which ones and how prolific they are and why Lake Ashtabula does not seem to have any? Thankfully this is still hypothetical. Carp are not present but IF they were, they’d find optimum environmental conditions, not the least of which is the hypereutrophic (extremely rich) nature of the lake. Like all reservoirs, Lake Ashtabula functions as a nutrient sump, and has been trapping nitrogen and phosphorous since impoundment. Turn carp loose in this situation and I hunch their reproductive and growth performances would be nothing short of phenomenal!

Third, if there are what affect if any would they have on Devils Lake if or when it naturally overflows to the Sheyenne? What plans if any do you have to stop this? Another hypothetical combining several worrisome scenarios. First, in order for carp to get into Devils Lake from the Sheyenne River, they’d have to get past Tolna Dam. Unfortunately, Tolna is not a “high” dam in the same category as Baldhill, Jamestown or Pipestem, which effectively stop all upstream fish movement. At best, Tolna would serve as the first line of defense and would likely only retard upstream fish movement until such time as the spillway was overtopped or breached by inordinately large volumes of water. If that happens, carp are tremendously strong swimmers and would have no trouble getting into Devils Lake. I’ve not been apprised of any Department discussions addressing the issue of upstream carp movement, imaginary or not, or plans to prevent same. Infinitely more urgent however, is downstream colonization by carp. Despite Herculean efforts the last couple of summers to stop carp movements via chemical eradication and construction of a permanent barrier near Landon, the process has been painstakingly slow. Wouldn’t it be ironic, if the worst case scenario occurs, that the Sheyenne River and Lake Ashtabula were infested by carp from the … north?

And finally, from a fish ecology perspective, Devils Lake, like Ashtabula, is an extremely productive ecosystem where carp would thrive. There is not much good to say about carp unless you’re a bowfisher or commercial fisherman. Carp compete with other fish species for food and living space, disrupt vegetative habitat, increase suspended sediment and recycle nutrients, which cumulatively result in reduced game fish production and deteriorated sport fisheries. In my humble opinion, it would take a 1930’s type drought to rid the Devils Lake Basin of carp if they become established. Take an old fish manager’s advice – keep them out!

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-05 08:43:42

posted by: Sportsman.

eyexer Said:
If they get too many carp in DL why can't they just net them out. They do this in MN all the time in winter.

Jamestown Resivoir. A commercial fishery nets out truckload after truckoad of carp every spring and has done so for many years. The population has never been dented. Still probably the most carp infested water I have ever seen.

re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

2010-03-05 08:42:10

posted by: Sportsman.

southpaw21 Said:
really?? no carp above baldhill dam? i bet there are a ton of cougars in cooperstown that would tell you there are plenty of carp at ulen dam every spring!

I have seen tons of carp at ulen dam. They are definitely above the dam - no doubt.