My family owns property on a small private lake just down the road from Lake o Pines @ Eagle Landing.
Just a few days ago, the board voted to introduce grass carp into the lake. This lake is only 240 acres and the only cover in the lake is coontail and hydrilla. The lake is just loaded with bass and crappie. The cover stretches from the bank out to about 7 ft and the rest of the lake is totally devoid of cover.
What can we do to prevent this from happening ?? I would hate to think that our lake could become another Cypress or Town lake.
Any and all recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Steve

Nothing really. I also fish in a private lake out in East texas that my Dad owns some land on. Some of those people just don't like grass getting in their pontoon boat motors haha.

The best thing to do is to join the lake committee and make your vote count.

Try catching those ugly suckers yourself. I doubt that they will remove all of the grass in there but will keep some of it down.

Good luck.

Hey Bankbeater,

all you have to do is put together a little group of friends with some big red and wheaties and catch them before they do too much damage. LOL Just call anytime.

Jody

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got bow?
will kill!
give me a call!

Hold a Bow fishing tournament every night at the lake.

Austin local fishermen are battling the same issue in Lake Austin.

Go to our local site and see the talk: http://www.gitbitfishing.com/fishing/viewtopic.php?t=739

Nothing comes out good for fishermen, when Carp are introduced to lakes. Look at Lake Conroe!

make sure they only used sterilized carp.

Yep Kingbingo I was going to say that!!!!

so who wants to have a day at his lake with a bow? when?

Well guys, hopefully I found a loop hole. In order for these nasty creatures to be released into the lake, a " drift fence" must be constructed to prevent the carp from finding their way downstream. Hmmm, I wonder why ???
According to the community by laws, no fence can be constructed within 50 feet of the water. Secondly, only 5 members of the board (out of 7) attended the meeting. Though there was a majority, the other 2 board members did not recieve notice of the meeting therefore breaking the rules in the by laws.
Hopefully, this will be put to bed but if not, all are invited with their bows and I'll buy the beer !

I'll be there. Free beer and get to shoot fish! Dang, the trip of a lifetime! Maybe you should start makin' your own cover. Willow trees are great and a friend of mine used wooden pallets stood on end and anchored to the bottom. I'm no biologist but I don't think those carp eat wood.

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Do you know CPR ? I do! Catch, Photograph, Release.

For fear of being curcified, I don't think its a bad idea. I was at A&M (I know, enough said) when they were conducting studies on Conroe's introduciton of Grass carp. Even got me one of those wildlife degrees while helping with the study part time. What they found was that there were at least as many, if not more game fish. The problem was there was no structure for the fish to orient to. Bass fisherman loved the weeds cuz they'd fish the edges where the fish oriented to. When the hydrilla was gone, they just spread out evenly across the lake....makin it harder to find them. I guess the point I'm making if its a forgone conclusion is to sink some trees and make some structure. You'll find fish soon enough.

Grasshopper, I understand what you are saying as for as learning to find the fish. But what happens when the grass is gone is not just about the bass. It is about the baitfish and small fry having a place to hide. With no grass to hide in the baitfish and fry become easy prey for the other fish. This will affect the lake in years to come. Do some research on Lake Conroe as to what kind of fishery it was before the introduction of grass carp and what its like now. There is no comparsion, the average weight of fish are down plus the tournament weight is down. What this means is that less people will fish and thus less money will be taken in by the county leading to higher taxes. This lake was considered to be one of, if not the best lake in the U.S. at one time. It is just a shame that no one did there home work or cared to think about the future. I guess the water skiers were happy and local home owners. But how many skiers stay the night and spend the money that we fisherman spend. Allright I'll get off my soapbox and quit ranting.

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rangerkev

Hey bankbeater. I,m fighting the same problem
in a small lake about an hour and a half south of you. Just because they voted to put grass **** in,there has to be a permit by the parks and wildlife issued. Also a public meeting has to take place also. I would suggest contacting the lake manager at Lake Cherokee, and let them tell you how this has ruined their lake.When they have their meeting, get all your fishing buddies together and make a big fuss. Thats what I'm doing,and this lake board I'm dealing with Tabled this action until Fed. meeting where
I'll be there again.Contact me if you need any info. Emai-gwdw1976@hotmail.com

Another example of Grass carp would be Lake Martin Creek. Before the carp it would take 20 to 24 lb to win a tourney there. Now the tourneys that are held there are proud to get a 12 to 15 lb stringer. It is sad.


Jody

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