Years Later.....What is the Prussian Carp Status?

[Zip-in-Z]

This was on the Town of Sylvan Lake's - Facebook Site – Oct 21st.

We've received a few inquiries about draining the storm pond up in Lakeway Landing. So here is the deal with what we're up to! We're draining the water to eliminate a growing & thriving goldfish population. We have a number of reasons why the goldfish are cause for concern, but one really stands out: they can destroy native habitats. Since storm ponds drain towards, and into Sylvan Lake, crews are draining the water to remove the goldfish to prevent further risk to our lake ecosystem.

We've pulled out 700+ gold fish from the storm pond. It's not a pleasant job, and a much more effective way of protecting natural habitats, and waterbodies, is to not release domestic or aquarium species into them.

Finally a good NEWS story .....700+ won't get into Sylvan!

Z-z

[the11fisherman]

I respect all people, including animal lovers, but when they refuse to kill their pet fish , and instead go and release it into a pond trying to help it survive.....they should be dumped in the pond with their pet fish to drown. They just don't get the consequences of their actions.....while they are the ones that criticize fisherman and hunters for the "damage" that we are supposedly causing to the ecosystem......

[RavYak]

Holy crap, those are some huge goldfish lol.

[THERICARDO]

Originally Posted by RavYak

Holy crap, those are some huge goldfish lol.

Cant believe how fat they are , wow

[Redfrog]

Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z

This was on the Town of Sylvan Lake's - Facebook Site – Oct 21st.

We've received a few inquiries about draining the storm pond up in Lakeway Landing. So here is the deal with what we're up to! We're draining the water to eliminate a growing & thriving goldfish population. We have a number of reasons why the goldfish are cause for concern, but one really stands out: they can destroy native habitats. Since storm ponds drain towards, and into Sylvan Lake, crews are draining the water to remove the goldfish to prevent further risk to our lake ecosystem.

We've pulled out 700+ gold fish from the storm pond. It's not a pleasant job, and a much more effective way of protecting natural habitats, and waterbodies, is to not release domestic or aquarium species into them.

Finally a good NEWS story .....700+ won't get into Sylvan!

Z-z

On the west coast I had a landscaping business. I did a makeover on a yard and found a half dozen carp about 1.5 inches long in a bird bath.Ii took them home and put them in an old fibreglass satellite dish I had set up as a pond with plants etc. as art of my landscaping.
I did nothing as far as feeding or removing in the winter. In spring i just cleaned out the dead vegetation. Within three years we had a couple hundred up to 6 inches. They went into the pond a typical carp brown, but developed into various colour combinations. The breed easily and there wasn't much winter kill.

[huntsfurfish]

Henderson Lake in Lethbridge use to be full of them too.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by Davey Boy

i want to continue fishing for them as they are fun and hit all day long and keeps you very busy but i don't want to keep anymore for table fare. until i can figure out a way to get rid of them (not waste them like tossing them in the bush or trash) i stopped fishing for them.

If you have a garden or know someone who does, bury the fish 6 - 8 inches down and they act like fertilizer. Early natives used to do this for their corn that they grew. Fish fertilizer is some of the best, touch smelly until in the ground.

Good place for all those carp.[/QUOTE]

Native ermine would love to find them in the bushes as would mice and shrews and foxes etc.

Won't go to waste and better than leaving non natives to out compete natives.

Heard Mahogany has them now. Reproducing at 2 inches.

[the11fisherman]

The other problem with Prussian Carp and Gold Fish is that they literally eat continually. Those of you that may have some background in biology will know that they have no true stomach and are able to eat at incredible rates without ever really stopping. They aren't like our pike friends that get full and stop eating for a bit to digest. These fish just keep eating and eating and that is why they can cause so many issues. They can eat and eat other fishes eggs all day. They can prey on fish fry all day non-stop. This is one of the many reasons why they are such a danger to our native fish species.

This is also why they grow so stinking fast.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by the11fisherman

The other problem with Prussian Carp and Gold Fish is that they literally eat continually. Those of you that may have some background in biology will know that they have no true stomach and are able to eat at incredible rates without ever really stopping. They aren't like our pike friends that get full and stop eating for a bit to digest. These fish just keep eating and eating and that is why they can cause so many issues. They can eat and eat other fishes eggs all day. They can prey on fish fry all day non-stop. This is one of the many reasons why they are such a danger to our native fish species.

This is also why they grow so stinking fast.

This Spring we will need to do an experiment to see if Prussians will eat Perch eggs.

[slingshotz]

Best quote from the Simpsons for this issue:

Our top story: The population of parasitic tree lizards has exploded and local citizens couldn't be happier.
It seems the rapacious reptiles have developed a taste for the common pigeon also known as the feathered rat, or gutterbird.
For the first time, citizens need not fear harassment by flocks of chattering disease-bags.
For decimating our pigeon population and making Springfield a less oppressive place to while away our worthless lives I present you with this scented candle.

Skinner: Well, I was wrong. The lizards are a godsend.
Lisa: But isn’t that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we’re overrun by lizards?
Skinner: No problem. We simply unleash wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They’ll wipe out the lizards.
Lisa: But aren’t the snakes even worse?
Skinner: Yes, but we’re prepared for that. We’ve lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat.
Lisa: But then we’re stuck with gorillas!
Skinner: No, that’s the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.

[Newellknik]

The size of the pike I could catch on those fat Goldie's .....

Yeoooow . An Asian guy asked me if I had any of those golden fish
they were using for bait ....at Travers .....actually it was live golden fish .
I said I didn't ,they said to bad for you . They drove off , we were in the
No service area ......so it was good for them ....
I see a lot of Prussian carp being used for bait this winter .
Check out the big pike thread ......

[idaman]

Here is what happens when goldfish are put into the wild. Simply disgusting...

https://youtu.be/FMTG4xLD6Ek


Here is hoping one of my favourite BC trout lakes isn't in for to much trouble.

[Dewey Cox]

That's crazy

[pinelakeperch]

They've been in Blood Indian for a few years now and the only difference I've noticed is that the rainbows are much fatter

[AK47]

A lot of them grow to nice 1-2LBS size. Smoked or fried they are good eating despite bones.

[AK47]

I did my part decreasing their population last summer

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by AK47

I did my part decreasing their population last summer

Keep up the good work.

[the local angler]

man thats a very nice haul of big ones there well done ak47, man i haven't seen you for a while dude.

[panaroma]

Originally Posted by the11fisherman

It is great to see and hear that other people are starting to clean up on the little suckers. I imagine that the 14 inchers that I was catching would be a lot easier to debone than smaller ones.

The way that I look at it, is that everyone should be doing everything in their power to catch and kill all the prussian carp that they can catch. They should be here and need to die. Even if you just bash them on the head, make sure they are dead and then throw them on shore, you are being a literal hero to the future of fishing here in Alberta.

Don't stop fishing for them just because they are a lot of work to debone. Catch them, kill them, and secure a brighter future for the future fisherman that come along.

I will continue to catch them and kill them. I will throw them on shore (away from where people normally go, so it doesn't make a foul odor for other people) and create food for skunks, raccoons, coyotes, magpies, and more creatures while saving the native fish.

Go kill em everyone!

You did your own job. Lots of fishmen could do more if you tell em where those hot spots are.

[panaroma]

Originally Posted by AK47

I did my part decreasing their population last summer

lots of fishing guys would do much more if you made the carp fishing hot spots public.

[JareS]

Originally Posted by panaroma

lots of fishing guys would do much more if you made the carp fishing hot spots public.

Calgary to Lake Diefenbaker. In the rivers. No secret.

[TROLLER]

Originally Posted by the local angler

i think they are here to stay. when i first heard about them i was so interested in them. one of my buddies spent some time with his buddies and figured them out fairly quick and i followed suit.
day 1

day 2

day 3

third trip average size

i kept the fish from the first trip and second trip to see what they are like for table fare, very tasty fish but boney as hell is an understatement. after trying to pick the tiny bones out i gave up and tossed them in the trash. the bigger ones in the 10" + are better as bones are easier to pick out. i want to continue fishing for them as they are fun and hit all day long and keeps you very busy but i don't want to keep anymore for table fare. until i can figure out a way to get rid of them (not waste them like tossing them in the bush or trash) i stopped fishing for them.

Nothing wrong with tossing them. Sign at Blood posted by F&W states if you catch them kill them. Take them home or dispose of fish but do not put back in the water.

[jungleboy]

Originally Posted by Northwinds

There is a device called the Wunder Boner that might work well on these fish.

What does a viagra knockoff have to do with carp?

[chucklesthe3rd]

I'm not really the one to share carp spots but its always good to get people to help get rid of these carp

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2842.../data=!3m1!1e3
The canal and pond are both good places to catch carp small skinny floats 3-4 of leader and size 12 hook with a quarter inch of worm on the hook. Corn also works. There are also a lot of chubs you can catch for jackfish and walleye bait. If you really wanted to you can bring a crayfish trap to catch minnows and crayfish

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3545.../data=!3m1!1e3
Both sides of the road are good the right side I found more productive same set up as said before but shrink the leader to around 1 and a half to 2 feet.

[Supergrit]

Catching and killing them is definitely a good idea but I would think it is just a drop in the bucket once they are established only drastic measure could get rid of them or maybe some miracle method of extermination.