Carp removal pilot begins

CELINA - The rough fish reduction pilot program has begun on Grand Lake despite a setback.

A mostly frozen lake in February forced JR Commercial Fish employees and local volunteers to get creative when it came time to tag a handful of carp, which the company plans to track to find larger schools.

Milt Miller, Lake Restoration Commission director, told Lake Improvement Association members at Saturday's meeting the workers were able to harvest carp from the feeder canal, which was free of ice.

Miller explained tagging fish from that area raised two concerns. One issue is if the fish were hatched in the canal, they might not school in the lake. Anticipating this, only 15 fish were tagged and this week 10 more will be harvested from the lake.

Another concern was whether the fish would survive the process. After the fish are caught, they were anesthetized and implanted with a tracker before being stitched back up. Holes were then drilled in various spots in the lake and the fish were placed in nets to revive. Fish do not always survive the process but Miller said all had since migrated from the hole sites.

Miller asked local fisherman to release tagged carp if caught. The fish will have a noticeable antenna from the implanted tracker.

In two-three weeks, harvesting will begin after the tagged fish join the larger schools of carp. Miller noted any gamefish caught will be separated so they aren't harmed in the process.

The LRC is paying JR Commercial Fish $35,000 to harvest carp from the lake.

When asked if the rough fish reduction project would mean lower numbers for the Get the Carp Outta Here Tournament, Miller replied, "I sure hope so." He explained experts believe the lake's ratio of rough fish to game fish is 9:1, which poses a threat to natural and constructed wetlands as carp root in the vegetation.

He acknowledged it would be impossible to eliminate carp entirely.

"It's about getting them in balance," he explained. If the carp population is reduced, game fish have a better chance of keeping the ratio balanced.

LIA members also,

• learned from Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager David Faler dock invoices have been sent out. New this year, bills can be paid online. Instructions will come with the invoices.

• learned Grand Lake will be part of the Crappie USA Tournament Trail. The tournament will take place April 15. Children who participate in the event's Crappie Kids Fishing Rodeo will be eligible to win one of six $1,000 college scholarships. More information can be found at www.crappieusa.com.

• learned from trustee Stan Wilker the Motown on the Lake event raised $10,600. More than 400 people attend.

• learned Casino Night will be at 7 p.m. March 19 at Romer's in Celina.