Article: Fish Chokers may be coming back to our Lakes

Mike,

While I don't disagree that any form of netting should be closely controlled to limit by-catch, it is going to soon be a necessary evil to protect the game fish species of the TN river. While industry may be the current argument, the movement and proliferation of the big head and silver carp in the TN river is reason enough to support such legislation given that strict processes and controls are put in place.

The big head are taking over taking Kentucky Lake and the silver are right behind them. These fish can be found in all TN river impoundments at some level. I had my first experience on Kentucky Lake of a 20lb. silver carp jumping several feet in the air and nearly landing in my boat directly behind me. I was only idling, but even at that speed it would have done damage at that weight from the height it made. In fact, if it impacted the old melon it probably would have knocked me out. I'm not too keen on taking my little girls out on the water with the risk that they'll be struck by an object half their weight. Pleasure boaters won't take this risk either.

Kentucky allows netting by permit during the off season. It is very much controlled and has not seemed to impact the sport fish population over the years. However, every body of water the carp enter, they eventually replace most or all of the biomass and make boating hazardous.

In a March 2013 event on Kentucky Lake, 42 tons (yes tons) of carp were netted during over two days (yes two) and removed by commercial fisherman in a state conducted tournament. By-catch was monitored and recorded. I recall only a single 4lb largemouth was reported. A single bass vs. 42 tons of carp.

IL has commercial fisherman working full time to net carp from the IL river to help prevent their movement northward. These are areas where only a very small percentage (if any) of the biomass is something other than carp.

Don't think this problem is "over there" and "won't effect us in north AL" because it is moving fast. These fish are hardy, prolific and grow fast. I've fished some of my favorite ledges on Kentucky Lake and watched as acres of big head carp swirls moved through the bay as a gull passed over head.

In order to protect our way of life on the water and the economy that comes with it, the states of KY, TN, MS, and AL need to work together to help control them in the TN river.

I'm an avid sport fisher, but I recommend we contact our state representatives in support of controlled netting for the control of these invaders before our whole way of life on the river is forever changed.

Regards.