[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-25-06 AT 05:57PM (EST)[/font][p]Panfish

My understanding of the fisheries management folks’ position on that issue is that an additional predator might be introduced at some later point. The current rapid growth rate of Largemouth Bass and the excellent fishing opportunities that is presenting, are likely to go into decline at some point due to the Shad population. The same Shad that are providing the food source to fuel the Bass growth rate are also competing with the juvenile Bass for resources farther down the food chain. As the older Bass die or are harvested, and are not replaced by young Bass, the great Bass fishing will slow drastically.

As long as the Bass are making good use of the Shad for recreational fishing, it is not seen as desirable to introduce another predator to compete directly with them. Later, when the Bass fishery plunges, another predator might be brought in the make some additional use of the shad and thereby provide another fishing opportunity. This would probably be a temporary situation as well, as at some point the lake would need to undergo a complete renovation again; if and when funds are available for that.

The new presence of Carp in this mix may alter the timelines for all these factors, but will probably not change the final outcome.