Leon S Loc: Minnesota

I took these snap shots today of some commercial fishermen taking rough fish out of the beautiful St. Croix River as it enters the Mississippi very near Prescott, WI. They got a couple of thousand pounds of mostly native carp, but came up with the featured Big Mouth Asian Carp. Although it pretty big, it hasn't reached full size yet. The DNR said it wasn't fully grown yet. I don't know how much bigger it gets but we sure don't need them in our waters. As you can see, they don't use hock and line.

1maurydodie1 Loc: Branson Mo

Are you from Hastings?? Looks like Point Douglas Park area.
Regards, Maury

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

It is Point Douglas Park

Cooper45 Loc: Minnesota/Wisconsin

Nice photo's

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Thsnks. I just happened to drive by and see them setting up to empty their nets. Wasn't really prepared for pictures and they weren't interested in posing so I got what I got shooting through other interested guys. I watched a crew bring in their nets at the same location a couple of years ago and was really surprised by the number and size of the game fish they took out. This netting only captured a couple of saugers and one two+ pound black crappie. I don't think I will waste any time fishing in that area. Its still fun to watch them pull in carp.

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Could you please explain what "hock and line" is.
You also said they are commercial fishermen. Does that mean the carp end up on the dinner plates.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Sorry about taking so long to answer your question, my wife and I had tickets to a Queen tribute concert. My ears are still ringing. Hook and line refers to catching fish on a fishing rod and reel. Here since carp is not something we are proud of or want any more of, the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) allows persons or companies to take as many as you like by netting. Sometimes they get quite a few. Netting them keeps the population down. The English gave us the carp many years ago because some fool thought they missed them here. The carp have taken off like rats in a dump ever since. I suppose the same can be said for the Australians getting our rabbits and now , from what I see on tv they're taking over the countryside.

The only time carp are eaten here is if we smoke them and serve them with beer. Not too bad a combination. These fishermen sell them in the New York, NY area. Someone out there must have a hell of a recipe for them because they get pretty good money for them. Our waters are clean and cold here so they are better tasting than carp from other warmer water areas. I've had them as a kid and lived through it. You really have to know how to steak them out or they are oily. Just my opinion. Hope that answers your questions. By the way, in the spring I used to get them with bow and arrow and then smoke them. Although we could easily and often shot one up to 20 or more pounds we would smoke the smaller ones.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Thanks Cooper, the pictures are ok but I took what I could get. The fishermen and the DNR officers weren't about to pose for me. I got the one shot in when a DNR person wanted his picture taken with the Aaian Big Mouth Carp. That was brought into this country with the understanding it would only be in secure holding pens for use in the commercial market. Well you can see how well that worked. The darn things have made it all the way up the Mississippi to here now as are the Asian Silver Carp. I don't know which is worse. From what I've seen of the Silver Carp, if we run a boat with motor through a group of them, we can take them out with shot guns. Could be a new sport to watch on ESPN. Thanks again.

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Thanks for the explanation/s. I was thrown by the first one as you had a typo. error (Hock)
Over here carp aren't eaten but fresh water fishermen love catching and releasing them.

You really shouldn't have written about the Queen tribute concert. I used to be be a real fan of them. There was a programme on TV a couple of weeks ago about their history.
I can remember the day when Freddie Mercury died. What a talent.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Agreed about Freddie. I believe this group was from Brazil but obviously not of the caliber of the original Queen. The lead singer seemed to speak broken English and the three other members didn't seem to sing at all. They used a lot of back up recordings to fill in. As the concert went on, the lead's accent got worse and worse. He also didn't have the range of Feddie. He often missed notes. Since I use ear plugs to save what little hearing I have left, I could clearly hear his errors, others without them seemed to love the concert since it was so loud all they could here was the building vibrating. Now for the good news, They put on a good stage show. I enjoyed it overall because it reminded me of queen and they really tried to do an impossible job of imitating Queen.
We welcome anyone to come here and catch carp. Large and no limit. You can eat them or feed them to your chickens or hogs. Only if you catch them and throw them back, the DNR will site you, or the locals will hang you.

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I will have to tell one of my son's, he is quite a keen fisherman, mostly beach fishing but occasionally he does Coarse (Fresh water) fishing.