Asian carp are the most infamous aquatic invasive species of all time. As a result, there are many fallacies and conspiracy theories about these fish among the general public. Because of my profession as an aquatic ecologist, I have heard endless stories about this group of fish, not limited to, but consisting of the following: The government dropping them into the Illinois River via helicopter; Various DNR’s stocking them in hopes of producing a sport fishery; Eating all the eggs of gamefish species, or even eating gamefish themselves. Then there is the big question of what happens if they make it into Lake Michigan. This crisis then falls on “fish people” like me to try and keep these rumors from proliferating even further.

There are five species of Asian carp which include common carp, grass carp, the lesser known black carp, silver carp, and bighead carp – the last two being the species causing the most problems in the Illinois River.



Black carp for instance are a species slowly migrating their way northward, and soon could be causing many problems because they feed on mussels. They would be especially detrimental in Illinois, because many of the Illinois mussel species are threatened or endangered due to habitat degradation. Black carp could hamper our statewide rehabilitation efforts to restore native mussel populations such as the reintroduction of the northern riffleshell in Eastern Illinois.

Silver and bighead carp were originally brought over to the United States as a biological cleansing tool to improve water quality for catfish aquaculture ponds constructed in the floodplains of the lower Mississippi River Valley in states such as Mississippi and Arkansas. However, in the floods of the 1970’s these ponds were inundated and the fish escaped. They have spread northward ever since and were first reported in the Illinois River around 1993 by commercial fishermen. They remained off the general public’s radar until around 2000 when they began spawning successfully and rapidly, and their populations grew exponentially. Soon after, there were reports of fish jumping into boats. These fish were becoming a danger to boaters on the river, and it was only then as the public then began to take notice.



Many people have blamed Asian carp for the decline of our various sport fisheries of the Illinois River. In truth, sportfish had been declining in the river long before the Asian carp had established themselves. The decline in sportfish can be attributed to the loss of viable spawning and overwintering habitat. The Illinois River was historically one of the most productive fisheries on the continent. However, as a result of the various commercial transformations, the river has undergone man-made alterations such as channelization, and the construction of levees and dams. Consequently, the fluvial dynamics of the river have completely changed. Interestingly enough, the sauger fishery in the Peoria to Spring Valley stretch of the Illinois River is still world class. However, some of the effects of the carp are not as visible.

Silver and bighead carp feed voraciously on phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are at the base of all aquatic food chains. All species of fish depend on these resources at some point in their lives. Baitfish such as gizzard shad are planktivores and feed on plankton for their entire lives. Commercial species including paddlefish, which are already heavily pressured and threatened just about everywhere in the United States, have also suffered from unnecessary competition from the invasive carp. Also, young of the year sportfish depend on zooplankton early on in their lives before moving on to larger prey as they grow. This being said, the Illinois River is still very productive in the lower trophic levels. This may be what is sustaining native fish populations, and unfortunately, also creates the perfect storm for fish like Asian carp.



Peak production of zooplankton occurs during the spring season in the floodplains and this is very convenient for young-of-year sportfish. However if the region experiences several drought years in a row, floodplains become limited and many Asian carp overpopulate these types of habitats. This could possibly lead to less food sources for native fish in these nurseries, and result in lower recruitment of young of the year sportfish.

Knowing all of this information, the question to ask now is what happens if they get into the Great Lakes? There is no way of knowing the answer to this and is a very controversial subject.

As of now, there is an electric barrier in the Sanitary Ship Canal, a Chicago waterway. All signs are indicating it is effective as a deterrent. Over the past few years, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has received millions of dollars in funding, and they hand this money out the form of grants for various projects that universities in Illinois do to further learn more about the fish and possible modes that can be used to prevent further range expansion.

To date, the best solution that has been presented for completely stopping the Asian carp invasion is to fill in the shipping canal. Unfortunately, the shipping companies have rejected this idea because they rely on the waterway for transporting goods. If closure were to happen, these companies would lose millions of dollars.

Therefore, scientists have been forced to devise other alternatives. It is widely speculated that the salmon fishery in Lake Michigan could collapse if Asian carp make their way in, but there is no evidence to support that. Furthermore, there have been studies conducted for predicting how successful Asian carp could be if they expand their range into the Great Lakes. Studies have shown that the general water chemistry of the Great Lakes is very different than the Illinois River and spawning success would be very limited. Egg hatching is greatly reduced in softer water like that of Lake Michigan. In addition, increases in current flow are important spawning cues for Asian Carp. There would obviously be no flood pulses like the Illinois River system in a large lake. The larger problem might be if they make their way into other prominent fisheries such as many of the streams that run into the Great Lakes. There are also other important fisheries upstream on the Mississippi River such as Eastern Wisconsin’s Lake Pepin, and the Saint Croix River.

While fisheries biologists work toward solutions to prevent range expansion and the control of existing populations, there are things that, you, the avid fishermen can do to help. Lobby your local lawmakers to fight for the Illinois Department of Resources to continue to get money so that they can keep their doors open and continue to manage the great fisheries that the state of Illinois houses. Keep yourself educated about other invasive species such as the spiny waterflea and zebra mussels, and educate other anglers about these nuisance species. In addition, report new sightings of invasive species to local conservation offices. Last but not least, follow regulations regarding the transport of bait and emptying livewells. With the help of anglers, it may be possible prevent further range expansions of several of our waters invasive species.



Article as-seen in Issue-9 of Fishing-Headquarters Magazine

I have not been out fishing very much, due to longer hours at work and pure laziness which can be attributed to the lack of satisfactory fishing in the area unless you have a boat. However that still has not stopped me from seeing a few cool fish here and there.

Below is a very large Gizzard Shad taken in an electrofishing survey at Emiquon. It measured in at 17″, larger than the average bass in that body of water.

The asian carp are getting to be much more of a problem to deal with down there with the lower water levels. Below is a very large Silver Carp collected electrofishing at Matanzas Beach, a backwater of the Illinois River.



I have also made a point to take more photographs of fish I encounter, especially minnows and other smaller fish. The idea is get a photograph of each difference species of fish I encounter. Including fish I had pictures of previously from fishing and other things, I am up to around 60 fish. The next photo is that of a Spottail Shiner captured electrofishing in Matanzas Beach.



Also collected in the same survey was a Bullhead Minnow.


Several other fish were also collected including Smallmouth Buffalo, Bigmouth Buffalo, River Carpsucker, Golden Redhorse, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass.





In another survey in a backwater lake called Lily Lake, which is located by Beardstown, I had my first encounter with the invasive White Perch. They looks similar to a young White Bass, but they lack stripes on the sides and the 2nd and 3rd anal spines are the same length.


I have also taken some more random photographs of the outdoors. They aren’t world class, but they are pretty decent for a 170 buck point and shoot.








Back to more fish-pictured below is a Starhead Topminnow collected in a mini-fyke net at Emiquon, the first one that I have ever seen. Pretty cool little fish.


We also collected a Western Painted Turtle in one of the nets.


There is also a large asian carp reduction project going on which involves commercial fishermen going out and harvesting large quantities of the fish. We went out and did some pre-removal work by doing standardized electrofishing run and trammel nets to have data to compare to after the removal effort when there is a post removal sampling to see if commercial fisherman are having an effect on asian carp populations. This project also expanded to include zooplankton sampling which I have been in charge of for the past month. The idea is also compare zooplankton community structures before and after asian carp reduction efforts. During this work I also came across a couple of other fish in an electrofishing run by Henry, Illinois. The White Sucker was the first I encountered this year.





On another day I went on a AC shocking crew down south on the river to Meredosia. We shared the river for a bit with this dude.




I also saw my Blue Catfish in nearly 3 years since I had caught one at LaSalle Lake as well as my first Black Buffalo. After seeing it, it is really obvious to tell the difference between them and Smallmouth Buffalo.




This past week, we had extra time to run mini trawls at the tailwater of the Peoria Lock and Dam after running hoop nets. Young of the year Channel Catfish made up the bulk of the catch, although there were a few other fish mixed in including a couple of smaller Flathead Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Speckled Chub, Silver Chub, Bullhead Minnow and Round Gobies.





I have gotten to do a little fishing here and there. A few weeks ago I went to the Mississippi River on pool 13 for a two day trip targeting walleyes with a friend from work. We started trolling cranks on weedlines but that proved ineffective so we went to casting cranks at wing dams. I caught the only two fish with this strategy, a keeper Largemouth Bass and a Channel Catfish.



This past week I also got out for some bowfishing with a buddy from work for the first time ever. It was a new experience for me, because I have only shot a bow a few times previously, and never a compound bow without sites. I had difficulty at first adjusting and getting comfortable with shooting it, but eventually I did end up shooting a couple of fish. My first was a large Spotted Gar on a 15 yard shot. My second was a smallish Shortnose Gar on a 10 yard shot while leading the fish. Later we hopped down to a small river with silver and bighead carp in it. I missed my only shot on a carp, going over the top of it by inches.




The next evening I returned to the same venue with rod and reel and fished for gar with shallow running cranks. This turned out to be a good strategy and I went 6 for 9 in a little over half an hour of fishing before the Packers game, all shortnoses. I lost a 3 foot plus longnose that was pulling out drag on me, but I will back for that one.