Grass Carp, an Asian Invader

[@Juanelo1946]

They're extremely tough to catch, Mike. I've hooked a couple on wax worms, a couple on soft plastics, and one on a Rapala. They were young and more curious then. They fought so hard that they got away by breaking the line or straightening the hook. Some guys use fly rod equipment with bread balls or cherry tomatoes, but I've tried dozens of thing and couldn't get a strike. Thanks for checking out the video and especially for commenting!

[@Juanelo1946]

MrFishermen, Thanks man! I really appreciate your checking it out, and especially for taking the time to comment!

[@cloutmaster965]

lol i wish i had a lake like that, i would fish for them all day everyday, they put up a better fight than any bass in the world would

[@Juanelo1946]

Alfredo, several times I've had them hooked, only to loose them at the shore. They leap out of the water like sailfish. If you were a neighbor, you would be more than welcome to fish for them. Thanks so much for watching and for you great comment!

[@kamilabdullayev2118]

😍

[@kamilabdullayev2118]

😍

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@Juanelo1946 i dont know if you read the comment anymore but try hooking some yellow corn kernel on a #6 hook with a sliding sinker.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Francois! Thanks for the advice, but I and my neighbors tried just about every vegetable in the grocery store, especially kernels of corn even with a slip sinker as you suggest. They never bit! But I can now say that most of the grass carp have died off from natural causes. The weeds are back! I'm very happy. Thanks again!

[@Juanelo1946]

Thomas, thank you for watching the video and thank you especially for your flattering comment! An update is a great idea. I'll try to give you all one next year.

[@Juanelo1946]

Thank you D SB for watching and especially for commenting. I wish I could answer your question. As I mentioned in the story, scientists say they live only between 10 to 15 years. The fish here are at least 24 years old! As you can see, many are still around. For me, if they died tomorrow it wouldn't be soon enough! :-)

[@Juanelo1946]

Bill, I'm so glad you watched the video! Yes, the Europeans love their carp! These grass carp are a bit tougher to catch than the common carp because of their vegetarian ways. We're very slowly gaining the upper hand on the mischievous guys though. I'll keep you all posted on any progress next year. I really appreciate your kind comment! -- John

[@sparky6086]

All you need to do is fish for them. Grass Carp won't usually go after artificial lures, but you can easily catch them with a nightcrawler. Also, if you go out everyday for a week or two at the same time of day in the same part of the pond & throw out some cereal, french fries, dry cat food, or bred crumbs, by the end of the week or two, they'll be expecting you & will congregate in that area, when they see you walk up. Just have some people ready to fence them in, then you can sell them, dispatch them, or whatever you want. Maybe keep 2 or 3 in there, and maybe they'll get rid of just enough vegetation, where you have enough cover for the bass, but not enough to be a hassle when fishing. I've had Grass Carp in my pond for 15 years, and I know this works.

[@jimschowe2770]

Great series you are doing. I have a small one acre pond and put a dozen grass carp into the water. I was also disappointed at the results. The bigger they got the less they seemed to clean up the weeds. They were a total waste of money. About three years after 'seeding' the pond with the carp I decided to treat the water with copper sulfate. I was told by the professional applicator that I would probably see the carp die, which made me glad. He was correct. All the carp died. They were close to 45 pounds and almost four feet long. Digging up their graves took quite a while but it was well worth the effort. Now I aerate the pond with both windmill driven air pumps and an electric pump with two aerator stones attached. Yes, I have some American pond weed and some brittle naiad but the water is clear and the fish are healthy even in the dog days when there is no wind to stir up the water. In the winter no matter how cold it gets large circles about 45 feet in diameter remain open and free of ice. The money spent on the aerators was well worth the expense. Keep up the videos, I like viewing them. JIM

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Jim! I do know that grass carp are sensitive to copper sulfate. I hesitate to use that stuff though because it can build up in the pond sediment. I wonder why your grass carp didn't do the job for you. It sounds like you stocked enough. Glad to see that you're well on your way to having a nice healthy pond! I have a little 3/4 acre pond up hill from this one. I have a windmill with aerator there. A large circle area never completely freezes in winter! The water is clear and inviting. There are weeds but the balance is perfect! I am starting to get the big pond under control too. We found an expert bow fisherman who has rid us of a dozen carp in the last two years. Thanks so much for your very interesting and enlightening story! Thanks for watching my videos my friend!

[@mrpush2855]

Jim, after reading you story I am not finding I do not understand it completely. You added 12 grass carp your pond, and they did not clean up the weeds sufficiently in three years, so you treated it with chemicals to kill the weeds. So basically it appears if anything you did not have enough grass carp to handle the weed loading. Now you may be aware that other factors are important. If you left the carp and added aeration, then you may have had success without the chemicals. I know I do not want to these chemicals in my pond. My family and I swim and catch fish from it. How deep is the pond? How old? How deep is the muck on the bottom? Is there runoff from farms or livestock fields? All these things have an effect on weed growth, especially nutrient loading on weed growth. When you added the carp, did you notice a change in the other fish species in that 3 years? I'm asking as I intend to add grass carp to same size pond, as Brazilian elodea (and invasive) have taken over our pond making fishing and swimming not much good. I understand and don't like the idea of using "invasive" but it may take an invasive to rid me of an invasive. I can kill the invasive fish, I can not kill the invasive weeds without harsh undesirables in the water or MAJOR LABOR. Heck I'd stock ducks or geese to help eat some of these weeds, but the Red Tails Hawks go after all those! I do question the author on his "Triploid" carp purchases. Back in the 80's, I am not aware that they even had STERILE grass carp for sale. Mr Juanelo, can you confirm this for me please? And possibly these fish were not tested to be sterile properly back then as the process was likely new and maybe you got some "normal ones" in your purchases? Maybe a hatchery not following protocol to save a buck comes to mind? Also Mr Juanelo, I can understand how the grass carp *could* effect the other species. If they eat all the "cover", then I would expect the LMB and other species to get possibly bigger at first as the fry have no place to hide and get eaten more readily. However, if the water then turns cloudy green, and visibility drops below 24", then the LMB (and maybe other species) will struggle to eat well. They appear to need 24" water clarity to hunt pray well. That LMB pic you showed in the video has sunken belly, showing it was malnourished. In my situation, I already have brown green water most of the time from blooms of something. I have some large LMB (20+ inches), and my blue gill average 7-8" with a max of about 9". In three years I have noticed a significant change in the water weeds. First year curly leaf, 2nd year duck weed, 3rd year Brazilian elodea, EVERYWHERE. And a boom of water lilies getting larger and larger each year. Do grass carp eat water lillies? I will note that may specialists do state that these normal grass carp are not able to reproduce in lakes at all as their eggs require moving water or they will not incubate properly and die. They state that if they get into rivers, THAT is a problem. Frankly, I do not know the truth. However, I am going to try a dozen and if they eat too much, My kids and I will enjoy hunting them. Good stuff, Good day, MP

[@mrpush2855]

@Ben Jackbag Mank inpain about $20 each for 10 to 12". It about the going rate here in states.

[@Juanelo1946]

Outdoorsman, putting the video together with iMovie is a labor of love. It's just plain fun. I'm very glad that your parents weren't impatient like I was. A few grass carp are fine. Who knows if they died by now. Thanks a million for watch this and especially thanks for your nice comments!

[@Juanelo1946]

Midwest, I'm sure chumming is fine in Ohio. In general, Ohio encourages taking carp of all kinds by angling or bow fishing. I have tried chumming with sweet corn but it seems to sink too fast. I've also tried cherry tomatoes, celery, lettuce, bread and a few other foods. The best attractant seems to be the commercial fish food from the automatic feeder. However, getting a shot at one with his head out of water is really tricky. Thanks so much for your kind words! I appreciate them immensely!

[@Juanelo1946]

Rebel, yes, you're correct. I readily admit that my impatience was the cause of the damage to the lake. We learn from our mistakes, and that is the whole point of the video. In my defense, each time I complained of the lack of weed reduction to the fish supply people, they always advised me to buy more grass carp. According to many sources, I've learned that stocking the correct number is extremely difficult. It's often a case of all or nothing. Thank you very much for watching and commenting!

[@Juanelo1946]

Gonzo, yes my friend, it's a pretty lake which would be gorgeous if I hadn't overstocked it with grass carp. Actually in the last two years there has been an improvement in the bass health. I caught one of 4 3/4 pounds at last this spring! 6 pound bass used to be routine back in the 80‘s though. Slowly but surely, they'll get there. I wish you were my neighbor too, you'd blast those guys! I feel i know you pretty well now. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@muddyrivercatfishing]

Excellent video a always my friend. I have a question for you. Do you have any recommendations on how to cut or remove bull rush? The area that I fish is being overtaken and I know I can't get rid of it completely but I would like to keep the banks that I fish open enough to fish. The only method that I have found is to cut them by hand with my pocket knife but I'd very time consuming.

[@Juanelo1946]

Kris, other than throwing in grass carp, which is a difficult balancing act as you can see, I don't have any ideas for you. I think fish hatcheries and pond service places sell mechanical cutters for zapping weeds, if you can get up close to them. I need something like that for my little new pond where cattails are becoming a problem. If I see a good device on the market, I'll let you know my friend. Thanks for watching my video. It's the only one I've done where I tried to be serious! LOL!

[@jerumd]

Juanelo1946 Back at those times, am guessing weedless life like baits wasn't invented yet ain't it??

[@Juanelo1946]

Creekmaster, Thanks, friend! It was a challenge and a joy composing it.

[@Juanelo1946]

Chef, my friend, you're so right about the environment changing down there in the Gulf! I never thought about that as I was putting this video together. To watch the BP commercials you're led to believe that everything is just hunky dory in the Gulf. I hope like anything the damage stops and reverses. Probably it won't in our lifetimes. Thanks a million for watching and for your comments!

[@Juanelo1946]

Neofishaddict, I've had a couple of different Directv service guys out here in the past couple of years so you must be one of them! Small world! Thank you kindly for your good words! You're welcome over to try your luck catching grass carp anytime. I'd be very interested in seeing your fly rod methods!

[@oldefishnvids254]

You should fish for them. Those 30+ pounders will give you more of a fight than those little bass you used to catch. These carp are not the same carp that are invading the great lakes. Those are big head and silver carp they are filter feeders and would get rid of the plankton problem you are having.

[@Juanelo1946]

Beer Gutt, I've tried every sort of bait imaginable in an effort to catch the grass carp. I've hooked a few over the years and they fight like marlin, jumping high out of the water. I even dragged a couple on shore and released them, but that was before I realized that they would denude to the lake of plants. As far as grass carp not being the same carp that are invading the Great Lakes, I have to disagree based on the experts. Grass carp are now confirmed to be in Lake Erie (just up the road from me). There is great concern that their voracious appetite for plants will destroy habitat for native fishes. Below are a few articles, based on scientific research, which illustrate the concern scientists have about grass carp specifically. Thanks so much for tuning in and leaving the interesting comment! www.upi.com/Science_News/2014/03/11/Grass-carp-threaten-Great-Lakes/6261394546761/ minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/03/10/study-grass-carp-pose-dangers-for-great-lakes/ www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3714#.VEcZLr6r820

[@oldefishnvids254]

Try these on a hair rig and chum with oats and corn. Works for me. store.worldclassicbaits.com/grass-carp-pop-up-boilies

[@Juanelo1946]

Beer Gutt, wow! Just what I've been searching for! I've never seen boilies or other bait specifically targeting grass carp before this! I'll order a couple of jars for next spring. Thanks a million!!!

[@knobster6402]

Tommy Twotoes. Wrong. My friend's father caught a 40lbs grass carp around Cornwall in the st-lawrence

[@eddievazquez7403]

Juanelo1946 do you own this lake

[@Juanelo1946]

Rubadux, charge money? LOL! I'm so determined to eliminate the grass carp that I actually pay money! The neighbors all know that I have a $25 per head bounty on every grass carp killed. Even with that, only 4 have been successfully killed. I've watched a lot of YT videos of carp being caught, even grass carp, on fly rods. I know that carp fishing is a very popular and involved sport in Europe, but here there is less interest. Thanks immensely for watching and commenting, my friend!

[@Francois_Dupont]

i wish you great luck and success about your carp problem.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi again Francois! As I said in another reply to you, the problem is no more. Most of the grass carp have finally died off and weeds have returned to the lake. You can see the weeds in my last two years of videos. Thanks again for your good wishes my friend!

[@MrFishermen98]

I dont understand why you said you cant shoot them with an arrow. It seems if you stand on that dock with your crossbow drawn you could get a few right?

[@BigMike315Fishing]

are grass carp tough to catch, they look like they would fight well then just use them for fertilizer or something.

[@dsb8214]

that is a very interesting story, thanks for posting it. How old do grass carp live to?

[@peterdelapena2880]

Do you know if common carp are just as bad? Many of our lakes in central Arizona have a lot of common carp and don't have any vegetation. The bass also rarely get over 2 LBS too.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Peter! I'm no expert on common carp. I know that they can muddy the water, thus blocking sunlight for plants. Lack of vegetation could be the problem with the bass being small. It sure sounds familiar! I wish I knew more. Thanks for watching! Good luck fishing!

[@superdiamond9652]

why dont you try gillneting the lake especially in the spring when they come up into the shallows

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Super! The gill net idea is great. I would need a crew of guys though to help with it because I'm too old and weak to do set it up myself. Since this video was made we have found a guy who is an expert at bow fishing. He has taken out about a dozen in the last couple of years, most weighed around 40 pounds! I like this solutions since I don't have to do anything but sit back and watch! LOL! Thanks a million for watching my videos! Thank you especially for the nice comment my friend!

[@michaelnazerian]

Can you do a cooking video on one of these carp this coming spring or summer? I'd really like to see how you'd like it or prepare it

[@Juanelo1946]

Michael, I haven't been successful at catching one in years. Only a neighbor who bow fishes can catch them regularly. Since he does me a service, I let him keep the grass carp for his family.

[@Juanelo1946]

I totally missed your video of Grand Lake St Marys but really enjoyed watching it just now! I did find references to that big carp tournament but I'm unable to verify if there are any grass carp in that lake. However, I think common carp can cause some problems too by routing in the sediment to feed and to spawn. In any event, the topic of invasive species and water quality is intensely interesting, at least to most fisherman. Thanks for your comments and video reference!

[@Juanelo1946]

MrFisherman, It certainly does look easy doesn't it! To film them from the dock, I had to duck behind the feeder. When I make the slightest movement with my head or hand, they take off and kick up huge muddy swirls. I've had a couple of bow fisherman try on a few occasions, but they were too fast, and the water deflected the trajectory. You are more than welcome to come give it a try! :-)

[@Juanelo1946]

Hahaha! It was you and your great videos that inspired me! Thanks for checking it out and thanks especially for your kind comment!

[@dynamis8381]

Hey what's about number for the grass carp in lake ketchabigwon? And how's the vegetation now?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Carter! No way to count them, but there were definitely fewer grass carp this year. One guy who bow hunts bagged several of them! Some water lilies are growing OUTSIDE the fence now. But, nothing else. The water turned ugly green again this summer and fall. It's a slow process! Thanks for stopping over my friend! All the best!

[@TheWolfePit]

Wow John what an awesome video and lesson to all pond owners. You do such a magnificent job telling stories and narrating!

[@Juanelo1946]

Larry, it's so good to see you visiting my old videos! This was the only one in which I tried to be totally serious and authoritative, like my hero, Walter Cronkite. That isn't me! LOL! I'm naturally a goof ball. These grass carp are a worry to scientists who now see evidence that they're reproducing in Lake Erie. Ugh! So, thanks a million for watching and leaving the kind words my friend! I'm always tuned in to your channel and waiting for your next video!

[@GreatCoveAdventures]

If you remember that video that I did about Grand Lake St Marys... that lake has a big problem with algae because of excess nutrients. A while back they did a big carp tournament to remove carp from the lake as part of the clean-up efforts. I never quite understood the relationship of carp to the problem until watching this video.

[@devinmcqueen490]

Try taking the carp fence down then let the carp get there then put it back up to push the carp in that small area to kill them and u can let weeds grow in the main part of the lake

[@Francois_Dupont]

all my local lake are always brown with floating particulate and have algue too. do you think we have a carp invasion?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi again Francois! I'm not sure what's going on in your local lake. If the water is muddy, maybe your lake has common carp. They tend to make the water brown by their rooting. If you have lots of grass carp, that could be it too. They will eat the nice soft leafy plants, but not plankton (floating particulate). Floating algae is way down on their list of preferences. They'll eat that last, only when the good plants are gone. You need an expert out there. Or, you can check with the forums here: pondboss.com. It's a great website, and they publish a great magazine! Thanks for watching my friend!

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@Juanelo1946 thank you again for the reply. i wish you good fishing in the future! sadly i have no control on this lake because its a big public one (Lac Aylmer) in Quebec Canada, here the "state" isnt moving much and dont want to act before its too late. have a good night!

[@Juanelo1946]

Francois, thanks a million for your good wishes! I doubt very highly that the unsightliness of Lac Aylmer is caused by grass carp. Grass carp are illegal in Quebec, whether they're sterile or not! Even so, pondboss.com is a cool website to explore where you can find answers to your questions. All the best to you and yours! Stay safe and well!

[@enderlynxwilloze7935]

We bought a batch (12) of them but the turtles that invaded my lake (we recently refilled the lake) killed every last one of them A few months later, we bought 12 more larger ones and the weeds have gone down a ton. I used to have a koi pond, until the turtles found it. Do you know how to control turtles? Oh and the carps are sterile

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Enderlynx! I'm surprised because I've never heard of a turtle problem before. They must be snapping turtles you're referring to. I don't have any ideas on how to go about ridding your lake of them. You could check with pondboss.com. They've been a huge help to me. They have an online forum in which experts and very experienced pond management people weigh in on your problem. Good luck with your grass carp! Thanks for watching!

[@enderlynxwilloze7935]

Juanelo1946 I’m sure they are sliders, short snout, yellow lines,

[@Juanelo1946]

How interesting! Those sliders can grow to be over a foot long. I would definitely run this past the experts at pondboss.com. Good luck!

[@charliegarrison1116]

will the bass ever grow big?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi LFG! I can only hope! I think in a few years we'll see some big ones! Thanks for watching!

[@kevindunseoutdoors26]

today, how many grass carp would you guess still live in Lake Ketchabigwon?

[@Juanelo1946]

Kevin, it's just a wild guess, but I'd say two dozen. There are just a few weeds growing today, which is better than no weeds at all. Thanks for watching!

[@TosTinManEasyCooking]

That was interesting! I just happened across this video John. Are there many carp still in there?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Jim! My grass carp population has been slowly declining thanks to natural die offs. Since this video, I have found their bodies a few times floating, and I cheer! In addition, I became aquatinted with a guy who is an expert at bowhunting for carp! He has bagged about a dozen of them over the last couple of years. Finally, this year, weeds are starting to appear all over the lake, not in enough abundance yet, but it is a very hopeful sign. We did manage to remove the fence guarding the water lilies, and the grass carp have barely even touched those tough plants. Thanks for stopping over and leaving the good comment my friend!

[@doctorxring]

180 grass carp in 6 acres. OMG !! So sorry you had this happen to your lake. Don't be too hard on yourself as you did it in trusting your "scientists". In Texas our own Fish & Wildlife department TOTALLY SCREWED up a number of lakes here in Texas with grass carp. And this was in 2013 !!!!

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi doctorxring! Too bad that the "scientists" I relied on worked for the fish hatchery selling the grass carp! LOL! I should have realized they had a conflict of interest going on! Some time ago I found a news story where the Texas F&WD messed up Lake Austin: www.kvue.com/news/local/city-anglers-work-to-remove-excess-carp-from-lake-austin_20160425084708886/152507629. It made me feel a little better! LOL! The good news is that weeds are starting to emerge in Lake Ketchabigwon, a few more every year! Thanks again for watching this old show and for the supportive words my friend!

[@apbiggins8mm]

how is the lake coming along since this video

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Andrew! The grass carp are not gone yet. Their numbers have been greatly reduced by a local guy who is an expert bow fisherman. He has bagged about a dozen of them. Natural mortality has helped too! They are actually a little difficult to find these days! Weeds are starting to reappear! We have a long way to go, but the signs are promising, and the fish seem bigger this year! Thanks so much for watching and for the great question my friend!

[@apbiggins8mm]

glad things are starting to get better

[@fuerstmetternich9227]

I remember u from ur panfish on artificial video. what kind of gun do u use to get rid of them?...btw, very educational vid...

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Fuerst! I don't even own a gun, although my neighbors do (I don't know the kind) and they have successfully shot a few grass carp. Lately I found a guy who loves bow fishing for them at night using LED lights. He got 6 last spring and I'm hoping he'll be back for more! Thanks so much for watching my videos! Thanks even more for the good words my friend!

[@fuerstmetternich9227]

+Juanelo1946 thank you so much again

[@alnagy1700]

Stumbled upon you while watching blue gill videos, pretty cool to find out your in Northeast Ohio also. Seeing this video was from 2013 has your carp problem improved? Have you been able to remove the majority of them?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Al! Fellow NE Ohioan! The grass carp problem is nearly solved. An expert bow fisherman who lives nearby has removed over a dozen of them, and natural mortality is finally taking it's toll. The lake is getting a little weedier every year, and best of all, the size of the bass is trending upward! Thanks so much for watching my videos and especially for the good words my friend!

[@codyodom6114]

I saw on Mythbusters once where they tested how far different firearms penetrated through water and they found out that a shotgun with buckshot penetrated the water column significantly further than other firearms. As a matter of fact, most other firearms became non-lethal after only a couple feet or less. You could give buckshot a try if you're having trouble hitting them.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Cody! I remember the episode of shooting in the water, but didn't remember the conclusion. I'm glad you did! You are on to something! Shotguns don't require such precision aiming! Thanks for watching and the great comment my friend!

[@tylershaffer7332]

how is the water now

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi FADF! Weeds are popping up! Thanks to the thinning out of the grass carp by a good bow hunter I found. The water is much clearer this year. I could still use more weeds, but it looks like the lake is recovering! Thanks so much for watching the video and for your concern my friend!

[@angelasheppard7197]

How is your lake now? Do you still have these carp?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Angela! I'm sorry it's so long but, I've composed an answer to this because so many people ask: "The lake is coming back, but slowly. I do expect it recover fully. There are far fewer grass carp today. Some died off naturally, and about a dozen were removed by an expert bow fisherman who uses lights at night to spot them. Vascular plants like water lilies are spreading. In fact, we were able to remove the protective fence to allow the lilies to spread around the lake, and they are doing just that. They are not the favorite food of grass carp. Other valuable vegetation like chara and curly pondweed are gaining a foothold all around the lake. The more of those the better, as they are great users of nutrients. The water is a bit too green though, and more grass carp need to die. This will allow certain pond weeds to flourish, and to clear the water and provide fish habitat."

[@zest6542]

We got one of these in the pond across the street from our house. Doesnt do much damage but I can easily see how 180 of them can devastate your lake.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi DD! I hope my experience has kept others from making the same mistake. Would you believe I actually saw some native pond weeds sprouting this week! They are the first weeds I've seen in the lake since 1995! I think we're over the hump! Grass carp are actually hard to spot now. Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment!

[@stephenmellis9423]

Can we get an update? How many more did you get and how many do you think are left? Maybe time to use those electric shockers

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Stephen! Here is the update: I once hired a crew to make an electroshock survey of the pond, but we were unable to shock even one grass carp up. But that is now moot. The problem is now solved. An expert bow hunter took out over a dozen grass crap in a period of three years. Also, natural mortality has finally taken its toll. I've spotted several dead grass carp over the years. The past two summers, weeds have returned and grass carp are almost impossible to find. I'm very pleased! Thanks for watching and for the good question!

[@dylansieben5783]

is it possible to plant more weeds ?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Dylan! That is exactly what I did behind the protection of the fence that you see at 4:18. I planted many water lily which have spread very well. Now it is almost 4 years later. The grass carp population is greatly reduced, thanks mostly to a couple of expert bow fishermen. Weeds are finally reappearing and the water is a bit clearer! Thanks for watching my videos and the great suggestion!

[@Trashboat1979]

Just doing my job back then, I'd imagine being as careful and cautious of the customer led me to where I am today, being the boss now, and it helps fund my fishing habit. Good luck fishing out there.

[@fishydigits8069]

I'm not sure if you're still having problems with them but if you are trying to get them within shooting distance you can throw cattle cubes or horse feed into a certain area and they will show up fast. They will also be feeding and a little more preoccupied. May get a bead on more of them. They put them in our lake in East Texas and they ate everything. We bow fish for them when nothing's biting. Great video and love the old pics as well as the history behind the lake. Have a good one. P.s....they say out of all the carp that grass carp taste the best... I I think I'll take thier word for it lol

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi again Fishy! The lake is much improved. The grass carp population has dwindled down to probably fewer than a dozen. Many were killed by a local bow hunter, many more just died by way of natural mortality. Some valuable plants can now be found around the lake, although, still not enough. I already have something like you suggest in place. It's an automatic fish feeder. As you can see near the beginning of my video, grass carp did make an appearance to eat the fish food. I just started the feeder up again last week after one year off, and I'll monitor it to see if it still attracts grass carp. Grass carp are highly prized for their food value in Asia. I've never tried eating one though. Filleting them would be a real ordeal. They have those dread Y bones. Thanks so much for your terrific suggestion! I'll look into cattle cubes!

[@outdoorsmanohky8842]

Just wanted to make a quick comment on a past video. Have you tried to have the biologists with the electrical fish shockers come to the lake and try to remove them that way? I believe you could remove a bunch of them that way.

[@Juanelo1946]

outdoorsman, 3 1/2 years ago I had biologists out here from Jones Fish Hatchery with an electroshock boat. We could see the grass carp in shallow water but they could see us before we could get the boat close enough. We shocked up a lot of fish that day, but not even one grass carp. The biologists informed me that grass carp are very difficult to shock up. Maybe I'll be able to see some weeds growing this summer. I say that every year lately. But I have hope.

[@Juanelo1946]

PS. Thanks for watching my friend!

[@BaJampants]

Juanelo I did not know this about your lake! This video was posted some time ago, were you ever able to eliminate enough carp to find a balance for vegetation, fish, and humans alike? It makes me so sad to see the GIANT bass in those older pictures as compared to the bass you pull out of the lake in your current videos. I certainly hope your current cull of the smaller bass will help. We have Asian carp in the Sangamon River where I kayak and fish a lot. One time a big one jumped into my kayak! lol All the best and Happy New Year!!!

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi BaJampants! Wow! Be careful of those jumping (silver?) carp! They can hurt when they land on you! It's best not to be in a speeding boat when they're jumping, as you know! Here is an update: since I made this video 4 plus years ago, a dozen or more grass carp were taken by a bow fisherman, and several were spotted dead from natural causes. Vegetation has started to reappear all over the lake. Water lilies have established themselves all around the lake. There isn't an abundance of weeds yet, but the situation is far better. I used to catch 5-pound plus bass every weekend. Let's hope the lake continues to make a comeback! Thanks so much for you interest! Thanks for your great comment my friend!

[@davejeon02]

Lake 'Catch a big one'? Ha! Was the naming intentional?

[@Juanelo1946]

David, it's actually Lake Ketchabigwon, named by the Native Americans who lived on its shores. ;-) Thanks so much for watching!

[@mathewwalworth5236]

I heard carpet pretty good to eat but I hear it's better if you smoke it what are your thoughts?

[@Juanelo1946]

Yes, I heard that too. My neighbors took the one here. I've never tried carp.

[@SebastianDavidPB]

+Mathew Walworth the amur or grass carp is ok to eat, least fatty of carps, but it can be a real pain in the butt to catch, usually common carp gets so fatty that only the younger ones are edible, the grass carp on the other hand is much leaner, the taste is ok if the water is not all muddy, can be fried, smoked or boiled

[@mathewwalworth5236]

Szeba86 Thanks for the info because I wouldn't mind trying to smoke carp

[@Juanelo1946]

Szeba, thanks for the great comment my friend! Very informative!

[@MadhunterGamez]

When shooting them set up blinds all around the lake early in the year and when they get used to it blast em

[@OutdoorsmanByDesign]

Looks like you spent some time putting this one together, Juanelo. I'm impressed with both your knowledge, as well as your video production skills. My parents used to have some pretty big carp in their one acre pond, but I'm guessing they died, because we don't see 'em, anymore. Catchy name for your lake, too!

[@fishen4crabs679]

are they gone now?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi again Fishen! Not gone yet. Their numbers have been greatly reduced by a local guy who is an expert bow fisherman. He has bagged about a dozen of them. Then there is natural mortality that has helped too! They are actually a little difficult to find these days! Thanks again my friend!

[@docoluv9]

Thats crazy... Are they good to eat? Can u fish them out?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Doc! Overstocking grass carp causes a lot of problems. They are very difficult to catch with hook and line. I've tried just about every bait recommended for them. They can be taken by bow fishing at night with bright lights. A neighbor got six last year that way. They are definitely good eating, although hard to fillet because of their "Y" bones. Thanks for watching!

[@Juanelo1946]

It takes an amazing amount of stealth to get close enough to toss a small hook with bread at them. The slightest movement and they take off! But thanks for the good tip! I might give it a try this summer, if I see them near shore.

[@tommyboyscalemodeling4988]

Wow. Fantastic video. Please give some updates on the lake down the road.

[@undergroundchuckeytennesse2526]

oh my John......reading some of the comments were fun, but was surprised at some of the negative ones.......those were and are some very old fish....had no idea they lived that long....thanks for sending me the link to watch....have a great day sir......getting ready to go pick up a close friend and do a little trout fishing in a place called Dillards ponds. Beautiful day in NE Tennessee today.....good day for a couple of friends to wet a line and see if Mr Rainbow is in a fighting mood. Wish you guys lived closer you could join us......have a great day sir.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Bill! There are a lot of people who think I shouldn't be killing grass carp. But these are invasive species and can ruin the ecology of our waters. There are still several carp alive in my lake, and they have to be at least 29 years old! I wish you great success trout fishing! Thanks so much again for watching this video and for the great comment my friend!

[@jayj3402]

Where is this place

[@Juanelo1946]

NE Ohio

[@55wy]

@juanelo1946 are those carps eatable

[@Juanelo1946]

Fredy, yes, you're correct! They are highly prized by Asians! They are a challenge to fillet though as they have an extra set of bones (called "Y" bones). Thanks so much for your comment!

[@55wy]

ah so the are similar to the chads right ... and ur welcome

[@youngbuck3535]

I have a 2 acre pond..with LOTS of grass carp. tons of tiny bass and tiny bluegill and they should be huge. but there's way to many grass carp in there

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi YB! If your water still has weeds, you'll be OK! If no weeds at all are in there, ugh! That will stunt the growth of the fish I think. And the water may turn all green in midsummer. Good luck!!

[@youngbuck3535]

+Juanelo1946 thanks for responding! there is absolutely no weeds in there. I love to bass fish but it's not as fun when I'm catching little dinks and the largest fish i caught out of there was about a pound and a half. so should I consider getting the carp out?

[@Juanelo1946]

If you have no weeds at all, the grass carp have MORE than done their job! If you can somehow catch them and remove, do it! They are probably the reason the other fish aren't growing. Another tip is to remove the small bass. Eat them or throw them in the woods or something. Sounds like they are stunted now. Here is a site you should join. I get their magazine, but I think the forums are free! Experts are there to answer your questions. pondboss.com Check them out! Good luck!

[@bernardsaucier2062]

Juanelo1946, this is Bernrd1942 and I hear you loud and clear. Well done ! I live in southern Mississippi and have a 5-6 acre man-made lake circa 1920 and it has a lot of the dollar size pads, however my missus won't allow me to purchase a weed razor so I use (at times) 2-4-D weed killer which works. However, since I don't like the use of herbicide , I just let nature take it's course. Of course my bass are between 6 to 8 lb. and all one has to do is use a weedless lure!!

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Bernard! I wish I had let nature take its course. Before introducing grass carp, the weeds were a little troublesome, but the huge bass made them tolerable! Every blue moon I catch a bass of 6 LB. I don't think they'll ever reach 8 LB up north here. But at least the weeds are slowly coming back and the average size bass are bigger since I made this video 7 years ago! Thanks for watching! Take care!

[@OtterEmperor970]

Where is lake catchabigwon

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Turtle! It's in northern Ohio.

[@buffaloborn1953]

I just caught my first grass carp today, I certainly agree with the fact that you had too many grass carp. However, due to the size of your lake, it is certainly beneficial to keep a good amount in there.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi BB! Congratulations on the big grass carp! I was never able to catch grass carp, no matter what kind of bait I used. But the problem is now solved. An expert bow hunter took out over a dozen grass crap in a period of three years. Also, natural mortality has finally taken its toll. I've spotted several dead grass carp over the years. The past two summers, weeds have returned and grass carp are much harder to find. I'm very pleased! Thanks so much for watching my videos!

[@buffaloborn1953]

Juanelo1946 No problem! The bait to use is usually bread and corn, and it also helps to throw corn and bread in to the water before you fish to attract large grass carp to that area. I recommend you keep a good amount in there!

[@Juanelo1946]

I've tied corn several times but no bites. Chumming the water ahead of time with bread and corn is a great idea. Thanks again my friend!

[@buffaloborn1953]

Juanelo1946 of course! I recommend you also roll some Italian Bread into balls and bury the hook into it and you’ll catch some for sure!

[@ScuffedThumbZFishing]

Is there any grass carp left these days

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Scuffed! Yes, there are still quite a few left but we can't know exactly how many. I now have a guy who is a deadly bow fisherman. He has removed about 10 to 12 of them the last couple of years. We are starting to see some weeds again! Today we removed the fence protecting the water lilies. They had over grown the fence anyway and the grass carp are pretty much leaving the lily pads alone. The situation is getting better! Thanks so much for watching and commenting my friend!

[@randylee4329]

Try make a video about catch and cook grass carp

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi John! These grass carp are almost impossible to catch. They bite on nothing I've ever offered them, not even vegetables. What's more, they're almost all died off now since this video was made. Thanks loads for stopping by my friend!

[@stevecoty104]

So is the lake your personal lake? Great video. Love all of your videos. By far one of my favorite channels

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Steve! Yes! It's a 6 acre lake on our property. Thanks so much for watching my videos! Thanks even more for taking the time to write the nice comment my friend!

[@theapodan]

I've had grass carp take popping bugs off the surface using a fly rod. I've kept every one I've caught in hopes of giving vegetation a chance. I've found that they taste like catfish, but the bones can be a pain to deal with. Fish cakes and small nuggets, where the bones are cut up into short lengths, are the easiest way I've found to prepare them.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi FFF!! When these grass carp were young, they would sometimes hit my Rapala floater. But they never touch any offering these days. If I had stocked fewer, I wouldn't have had this problem of no weeds. If they taste like catfish I know they're tasty! Yeah, they have the Y bones. The Chinese love this fish. I read the other day they are setting up processing plants in the USA to process and pack the fish to sell in China. Thanks so much for watching and leaving the kind comment!

[@Dclagg1]

Hey Juanelo- I hate to hear about the misfortune at Lake Ketchabigwon...did you build Lake Ketchabigwon?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Dane, the owner of the property next to me originally owned the land. He built this 6 acre lake. About 10 years later, he partitioned off the land, including the lake and sold it to me. I proceeded to screw it up by overstocking grass carp! LOL! Some day they'll eventually be gone. I just wish it would be in my lifetime!

[@Dclagg1]

+Juanelo1946 if you were able to get rid of all of the grass carp, would Lake Ketchabigwon turn clear and produce big bass again?

[@Juanelo1946]

Dane, yes, I'm convinced of it!

[@sparky6086]

All you need to do is fish for them. Grass Carp won't usually go after artificial lures, but you can easily catch them with a nightcrawler. Also, if you go out everyday for a week or two at the same time of day in the same part of the pond & throw out some cereal, french fries, dry cat food, or bred crumbs, by the end of the week or two, they'll be expecting you & will congregate in that area, when they see you walk up. Just have some people ready to fence them in, then you can sell them, dispatch them, or whatever you want. Maybe keep 2 or 3 in there, and maybe they'll get rid of just enough vegetation, where you have enough cover for the bass, but not enough to be a hassle when fishing. I've had Grass Carp in my pond for 15 years, and I know this works.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Sparky! Thank you for the advice. I've tried fishing for them using dozens of different kinds of vegetables and live bait. I've hooked a couple of them on mealworms, but they got off as I tried to beach them. Finally, enough grass carp have died off over the years that it's rare to even see one. The weeds have returned! Fishing is much better. I appreciate your watching, and I thank you especially for your good comment!

[@sparky6086]

@@Juanelo1946 Just academic now, but Grass Carp love McDonald's french fries (they complain, if they're not McDonald's). Some bread crumbs or corn flakes make good chum to get them going too. They also will go for red worms too. My neighbor's 10 year old kid was catching them so often, that I had to restrict him to just artificial lures, so he'd just catch bass & bluegill, so I'd have a few Grass Carp to take care of the cat tails. I don't really see Grass Carp as a problem, when used in the right numbers. The real problem carp is that Silver Asian Carp which is often used in water treatment systems. They wreaked havoc, when Mississippi River flooding washed them out of the water treatment ponds and into the Mississippi.

[@Juanelo1946]

I wish that boy were my neighbor. I would have hired him to catch the grass carp. I couldn't chum very effectively as Lake Ketchabigwon is only a weekend getaway for me. I tried fishing with corn, bread, all sorts of vegetables, (never french fries) but the only luck I had was on the mealworms. The fish my neighbor shot weighed between 30 and 40 pounds. We weighed a couple using a human bathroom scale. 😊 The scientists say that grass carp, although not as harmful as silver carp, could harm the Great Lakes by destroying the native fish habitat. I've saved dozens of articles on the subject... anyway, as you say, the subject is just academic at this point. Thanks so much, again!

[@MrMegaFredZeppelin]

When I was a child visiting family in Idaho one of my uncles would throw the carp he caught into the bushes. I did not understand why he did that, I thought you caught a fish why are you doing that? He explained to me they were bad fish. That was back in the later 1970's, now I feel old lol. Thank you for this Juanelo :) A "BIG" thumbs up :) ROCK ON!!!!!!

[@Juanelo1946]

Mr. Fred, so your uncle probably did the right thing. All species of carp found in this country are native to other countries, even the common carp. Grass carp are among the more recent imports, along with bighead, silver, and black carp. They never should have been imported here. Now I read where they are threatening the native fish of the Great Lakes. I hope they die out in my lake soon. I want to catch big bass again, like in the old days. Thanks so much for watching. Thanks a million for your very kind words my friend!

[@chairmedia1046]

Have you ever caught them with a rod? Heard they are hard fighters

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi JackOnReel! I landed only one, long ago. It had not reached full size of 30 to 40 pounds. I have hooked them several times accidentally while casting for bass. They are nearly impossible to bring in. They leap high out of the water like marlin! Thanks very much for watching my videos!

[@chairmedia1046]

Juanelo1946 that's awesome! I'm still waiting to catch one down in south Florida. I've seen groups of them in my canals. Any tips making them come up to eat your bait?

[@Juanelo1946]

Jack, I have no clue!! I've tried every vegetable imaginable! Once I hooked a couple on mealworms! Both times they got off! Wish I could offer more help! Good luck!

[@chairmedia1046]

Juanelo1946 thanks!!

[@mercurythunder3927]

Where I used to go fishing with my ex husband, we, actually, used, "moras" or mulberries from the trees surrounding the area. They do work so maybe looking for the mulberries at a grocery store would help. ^^* Sounds strange but they worked for us. They do put up a grand fight, but to me that was fun. They get really big, but I don't know of any other way of watching them on a fishing pole. And, you do need to put a sinker on the line for more weight since they are bottom feeders and go something different like the moras that ripen and fall from the trees.

[@sailawaybob]

how interesting i was talking to a gentleman the other day while fishing a local pond ( maybe 10 acres) and it has very little aquatic plants either and he informed me that there are grass carp in the lake also some 30#. interesting the water is the same green tint too. i've yet to catch any bluegill only bass and nothing big.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi again, Bob! This was the first summer that I've had a good number of weeds in about 25 years. Finally the grass carp population has dwindled to a mere dozen or so. For all those years, the size of the bass has suffered, due to lack of weeds to use in ambushing their prey. This may have happened to the lake owner you talked to. I hope he can get his lake back in balance so you can catch a lot nice bass and bluegill. Thanks again for watching my friend!

[@Lemurai]

Looks so nostalgic, honestly all these lakes looked so much better back then, I can look at many of these lakes 35 yrs later and the overall fish count has gone down as well as the size of the large and small mouth bass. Very few lakes I see these days have natural 6-7 pound largemouth that were not stocked.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Lemurai! I'd have to agree with everything you said. But the good news about this particular pond is that it's almost completely back to its former self. The weeds are back along with big bass (4 to 6 LBS.) and bluegill. The grass carp have finally died out. Thanks much for watching and commenting!

[@Lemurai]

@@Juanelo1946 oh man I’d pay to fish that pond and and STILL volunteer to help clean up. I always like the private lakes as they’re much more well kept. Keep doing what you’re doing, that’s a mighty fine lake to pass on to future anglers, take care!

[@Juanelo1946]

I've been consulting with professional pond management experts. They advise me on all sorts of matters, and twice during the summer, they treat the pond to eliminate excess weeds. When I made this video it seemed that I would never have excess weeds again. The service is expensive, but it's worth every penny. I'm hoping our grand kids will take more to fishing. I'd love if they could enjoy the place for many years to come. Thanks again! Ms. Lulu and I wish you and yours all the best!

[@BillGoudy]

John, This is an excellent and very informative video! Thank you! I have many European friends that fish for carp like we do for bass! They have a totally different perspective. I like the fact that you show the before and after.... I hope that in time the lake will return to what it once was! ;-)

[@Offishal_Lifestyle]

Juan, Some how I stumbled upon this and I had no Idea. 1) wow you have owned lake Katchabigone since the indians gave it to you....LOL Kidding brother. 2) I am blown away that this species is doing the damage it is. I am taking up bow fishing as a hobby this up coming spring (after hunting season) to keep myself in tune. If you seriously wanted to plan a dual vlog I would come up there (all expenses paid on my end) and help you harvest a few. We could come up with a carp recipe (there has to be an edible one) Shoot I'd even do it to help a fellow angler out without the vlog if you want. Sorry for your struggles I will pay as much attention to the Asian carp infestation as I do the lion fish infestation of our gulf/Caribbean from now on. tight lines my friend!

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Fuzzy! This is the only time I tried to be serious in a video! LOL! I had to pay a lot of wampum for this Lake Ketchabigwon property. They wouldn't accept the glass beads I offered. Since I made this video 3 years ago, much has changed for the better! I found a guy who lives close by and who is an expert bow hunter. He comes with a large boat rigged with LED lights. He fishes at night into mid July. After that, the water is a bit too murky to see the carp well. He bagged at least a dozen in the past two years. Now, it has been hard to locate any grass carp these days. They no longer come to the feeder. So things are looking up! With the grass carp so difficult to even spot anymore, you would be disappointed to travel this far for nothing. I didn't realize that you live down there in the Gulf region! I've heard of lion fish, but now i'll look them up to learn about them. You've got my interest up! Thanks loads for the GREAT offer!!! I just know you would be disappointed to make the trip of probably nothing. THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN my friend!!! Tight lines!!

[@Offishal_Lifestyle]

Yes Sir. I'm so glad you have had better luck. I loved the video it was super informative but just love your normal videos. keep it up!!!

[@Juanelo1946]

Fuzzy, what fascinating but sad information! Now that you mentioned the reefs, it reminded me that I had heard of these invasive fish on TV before. Maybe PBS or the Smithsonian Channel? It's very unfortunate and I don't suppose there is too much people could do about it now. Thanks so much for explaining the problem!

[@chefbourque]

Thank you Juanelo for sharing the video with us. I love to fish and so I know how it is to see the environment change. Don't forget I live by the Gulf and BP really screwed up things along our coast line. Our wetlands are all we have left to survive on, we already have lost most of our forests and our wild game are finding it hard to find refuge and prey. Take care old friend and thanks again.

[@Drewskimac1]

I love all of your videos buddy. There is a pond at my grandparents house that used to be filled with many bass and bluegill of great size as well. (never as good as lake Ketchabigwon, of course!) Sadly, my grandfather's neighbor has taken it upon himself to start putting the carp in the pond. I have tried to explain to him why it is a good idea, and he refuses to listen. I may just have to show him this video. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done there too.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Andrew! Yes, show him this video! I'm not alone in overstocking grass carp. I've learned that even departments of natural resources in some states have totally eliminated all vegetation in huge lakes by overstocking. They are sorry now. See the comment by Ratdog below. Thanks so much for watching and for the really kind comment my friend!

[@Trashboat1979]

I have been there for sure, it was cold, wet, and dark or really early. I remember the large post and the description of how deep it is buried and how it was done. At least 2 years ago, anyways small world. Sweet corn and patience are a carp fishers best friend. Never tried fly-fishing in still lake for them. The deal with fly-fishing carp is I need to see them to catch them.

[@creeperreport7732]

did you eat the fish after?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Derp! Thanks for watching! No, we didn't know how to fillet it. Since then though, we have a guy who lives nearby. He takes them home for food.

[@yaseennewaz9448]

Where do you live I really want to fish with you

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Yaseen! Thanks so much for the kind words! I am honored you'd like to fish with me! You are the 19th one this week alone to ask about fishing with me. So rather than turn our lake into a public park, I have to keep our location in Ohio private. I sure hope you can understand my friend! Thank you very much!

[@yaseennewaz9448]

+Juanelo1946 ok I understand, but can you come fish with me please?

[@Juanelo1946]

No now, Yaseen, but maybe some day when I'm retired from making KZbin videos! LOL!

[@Juanelo1946]

Neo, great going! Congratulations! Feel free to stop by and say hello someday.

[@miguelbanuelos5151]

Great lesson and GREAT video to get the message out! Love the vintage photos. That lake is in good hands with such a judicious owner, who is willing to try things and correct mistakes. Good job my friend!

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Miguel! I did this old episode straight up with no jokes. I was wondering if I could make a 1-man documentary! LOL! I'm just an amateur at lake management, but I see some improvement since I shot this back in 2013. The grass population is down, and weeds are appearing again. Let's hope the improvement continues! Thanks so much for stopping by to check out this old video! I sure do appreciate your support and good words my friend!

[@bountychasingx5782]

Excellent video. I love all of your videos but this one is my favorite, this story needed to be shared. Good job my friend.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi BCX! This was an early video of mine where I tried telling my experience in a documentary format. It's the only video where I tried not to act silly. 😊 I'm happy to say that the lake now has weeds in it as most (not all) of the grass carp have died off. Thanks so much for watching and for the really nice comment my friend!

[@AQUANUT]

This is a great video sir, first of all i want to thank you for posting this video and sharing your story.. I would really like to use this story and some of your footage in a video i am working on. As you may know, grass carp have been found in our great lakes. This is a great example of what these fish can do even without the ability to breed. I think we have an interesting road ahead after watching this video. If you choose to let us use some footage we would fully credit you in the description and link your video. Thanks for posting this again and you have yourself a great day. Mike

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Aqua Nut! A lot of people who saw this told me I was being cruel for trying to kill the grass carp. But I had to be in this case. I made a mistake of overstocking them. Little did I realize that they would consume all the fish habitat in the lake. Now these carp are reproducing in Lake Erie as you said. I hope our worries are overblown, but it's scary after seeing what they can do! You are more than welcome to use any of this video you would like. Thanks a million for watching it! Thanks even more for the very insightful, good comment my friend!

[@AQUANUT]

I agree with you Juanelo, removing the fish is the only thing you really could do at this point to preserve the lake. That is a lot of damage that was caused in 25 to 30 years. I was very happy to see that you were able to restore vegetation to a small area of the lake. Maybe one day you will get to see that clear water as you remember. I have seen that we have found some in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. It would be very difficult to stop the spread between the two lakes due to the canal that connects them. I really hope we can come up with some creative ways to keep these guys at bay. I would really like to thank you for your time and permission to use your footage. I am subscribed and i would love to hear any updates on your efforts. I will also be sure to let you know when we put out our video as well. Have a great day.

[@Juanelo1946]

You're more than welcome, my friend! There is a bit of good news, in that since I made this video 4 years ago, a dozen or more grass carp were taken by a bow fisherman, and several were spotted dead from natural causes. Vegetation has started to reappear all over the lake. Water lilies have established themselves all around the lake. There isn't an abundance of weeds yet, but the situation is far better. Thanks so much for you interest!

[@AQUANUT]

Strange.. i know i replied to this message Juanelo. I am very happy to hear that, i really hope we did some justice with your story. I just wanted to let you know that the video is out,.Thanks again for the footage and story, i think it will ave some impact for those who see it. I wont add the link because this message will go to your spam folder.

[@Juanelo1946]

You did an excellent job on your video! I left a comment as you know. You have a future in video production!

[@rubadux]

Quite often, I'm in Belgium, the fishermen there are really fond of catching carp, using special methods and strong tackle. You can watch them on YT, too. Alas, your pond isn't in Europe, you could even charge money to get the problem solved! I don't know, however, if grass carp are caught just like common or mirror carp. Anyway, what a valuable lesson taught about messing with habitats, I put in in my ecology playlist. I hope you get rid of this pest soon.

[@Juanelo1946]

Neo, yep! I remember who you are! You were very conscientious about covering your shoes so as not to soil the carpet. LOL! Those grass carp don't seem to want to bite on anything these days except the pellets from the feeder. Good luck stream fishing!

[@patrickshinaltar7751]

Had a similar thing happen with my uncle's lake he added the recommended amount of 4 grass carp per acre in his 10 acre pond full of weeds and algae but after 1 year of stocking he didn't have patience and added probably around 100 more and of course the weeds and algae naturally disappeared in a few months but just like what happened to yours it's been 5 years and I have not seen a single weed in that lake.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Patrick! Wow, that's an interesting story! It parallels my experience here at Lake Ketchabigwon. Weeds can sometimes be a nuisance, but they're also important for fish growth and water clarity. We live and learn. I won't be overstocking grass carp in the future, and I'll bet your uncle won't be either. Thanks for watching and especially for the great comment!

[@gxtmfa]

Takes a big man to admit his mistakes to pass on an important lesson to the youth. Thank you for your candor.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi gxtmfa! My hope is that others will see this and use discretion in stocking their ponds and lakes. Thank you so much for the very nice comment my friend!

[@sawhill729]

I just found this video, which I've never seen before. This is like having my weekly Juanelo back. Thanks much.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Chico! Aww, man, you're too nice! This is the only video I made where I tried to be totally serious. 😋 Thanks a million for watching and for leaving the kind comment!

[@Tightanium]

Hello, do you still have problems with the carp? I assume they have died down now due to their age and you hunting them?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Tightanium! Here is the answer I composed recently in reply to others who ask your same great question: "The lake is coming back, but slowly. I do expect it recover fully. There are far fewer grass carp today. Some died off naturally, and about a dozen were removed by an expert bow fisherman who uses lights at night to spot them. Vascular plants like water lilies are spreading. In fact, we were able to remove the protective fence to allow the lilies to spread around the lake, and they are doing just that. They are not the favorite food of grass carp. Other valuable vegetation like chara and curly pondweed are gaining a foothold all around the lake. The more of those the better, as they are great users of nutrients. The water is a bit too green though, and more grass carp need to die. This will allow certain pond weeds to flourish, and to clear the water and provide fish habitat."

[@axmanvideos6967]

Is this still a problem

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi AxMan! No, finally most of the grass carp have died off and native weeds have returned. Thanks for checking in!

[@treythetruthufc]

Got rid of them grass carp yet?

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Trey! There are still a few of them left. I scare them up from time to time. But the weeds are back; so much so that I now have a service come out a couple times each year to treat them. I'm happy though. The water is much clearer. Thanks for asking!

[@nobodycares3900]

man i wish go to their and just fish for carp, my area doesn't really have corps especially the crap carp.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Nobody cares! I wish you were nearby so you could help me remove the grass carp from our lake! I bet you would be successful! Thanks so much for watching my video my friend!

[@peytonledesma7283]

Try pop up boilies carp bait and those fish seem to be eating of the top of the water

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi Peyton! Most guys in the USA don't know about boilies. You must be in the UK! The grass carp no longer come to the feeder. They are hard to find in the lake! I've tried catching grass carp with just about every vegetable in the supermarket.., never was able to catch one. Their numbers are going down due to an expert bow fisherman I found and natural mortality, thank goodness! Plants are coming back! There are more each year! Thanks so much for watching my videos, and for the good words my friend!

[@peytonledesma7283]

Juanelo1946 surprisingly i live in texas but used to live in Alaska and have become a big multi-species fisherman and lover to learn about every fish out there and know what they eat and have just recently learned how to fish for carp and catfish. If they are hard to catch i couldnt tell you but when you get to about 4-5 carp keep that many they can naturally feed and not kill all the plants and was wondering is that your own private lake if so really love its beautiful.

[@ZGADOW]

shooting bullets at the surface of water like that is extremely dangerous! they tend to ricochet and can even go right back the way they came.

[@Juanelo1946]

ZDG, my neighbor is very knowledgable of firearms. He assured me that this would be safe. I don't even own a gun myself. Since this was filmed, we have found someone who has take over a dozen out through bow fishing, so the issue is moot now. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@MadhunterGamez]

Or host a big carp tournament and have people use corn or bread as bait.

[@Juanelo1946]

I've tried dozens of times to hook them on corn and bread, and I can't even get close most times. When I have, they didn't bite. It was as if the bait wasn't even there. Thanks for the suggestion though!

[@damjanemersic]

Advice for everyone on how to catch grass carp.. Buy corn and tiger nuts. feed them for a couple of days and then fish at the bottom with corn or tiger nut. I've been fishing them like this in Europe for 25 years. They are most active at night. This is the best method.

[@Juanelo1946]

Hi damjan! That's very good advice. Thank you! Luckily the grass carp in this pond couldn't reproduce. I can finally report that 32 years after the last were stocked, very few are left, and weeds have returned.

[@michaelsalazar7331]

well you could get a fish spear, which is a long rod with a head like a miniature pitch fork and a cord on the end to attach to your wrist and when the carp get close you jab as hard as you can and spear them. but if somebody use any firearm make sure they use steel not lead so you don't poison the fish

[@Juanelo1946]

Michael, if I move my even my little finger, they scatter in a huge wake. I wouldn't be fast enough. A neighbor is an expert bow fisher. He got 6 of them last spring fishing with bright lights at night. I'm hoping he'll get more again this spring. Good thoughts you're having! I appreciate them!

[@michaelsalazar7331]

your welcome. i'll keep looking for methods

[@samvella3691]

have you ever tried bow fishing, it could be easier to get them in after you shoot one

[@Gonzo3780]

What a great story and beautiful lake...Sorry to hear that the lake has lost its size in fish and all but hopefully you get every last grass carp out of there and the lake comes back quick...With some good shooting and great friends you will get those monsters...I wish I lived close enough to help you out John...Take care, Gonzo...