Conference wahoo::fishing

    
    Since you said "thanks for any help", I will reply with what little
    I know.                    ---
                                  
    I have read a little about grass carp stockings in the US and what
    little I have learned would indicate that your prime concern is
    getting STERILE fish so that they don't overpopulate, eat ALL the
    weeds and leave your lake muddy and barren.  Because of this risk,
    they are not viewed positively by most fishermen (weeds = safe habitat
    for juvenile gamefish).  I have not heard of people catching them
    ... they're not there for that purpose and carpfishing isn't too
    common here anyway.  RE: survival in the UK; I believe they're native
    to the USSR and I've heard of them surviving summers in Florida. I
    would expect them to do ok most places based on that.
    
    RE: sterilization.  I read that hand sterilization is the more precise
    method; comes with a guarantee.
    
    Sorry I can't tell you more.  I recall seeing ads in the back of
    Field and Stream - you might want to check it out.
    
    -SSS- 
    

.0�    Does anyone have any experience of Grass Carp being introduced into
.0�    UK lakes as a natural inhibitor of Canadian pondweed ?

    Yep, I have fished many lakes/ponds which are reputed to hold them,
    and I've never even seen on let alone caught.
                                   
    
.0�    . Would Grass Carp have any effect on the resident fish population

    .1 is correct when he talks about making sure the fish don't
    overpopulate and crowd out the others, therefore make careful
    calculations based upon the size of the lake, amount of weed, and
    daily consumption of grass carp.

.0�    . Are they easy for anglers to catch ?

    I believe so, but since so few are required they are quite a rare
    catch, other carp, read common, mirror and leather, are easier,
    and can survive in higher population figures.
                                                 
.0�    . Would they breed in a UK lake ?

    Most certainly.

.0�    . If they were introduced how many would have an inhibiting impact

    Pass, you'll have to dig out a tame ichytologist (sp?)
    
    
    			:-)
    
    		Si
    

    
    Something else you may want to think about. Here in the U.S. or
    at least around New England it is illegal to stock/intrduce a "NEW"
    species of fish to a pond or lake. A local pond had the same problem
    and a few people got together and paid for I think 75 of these fish.
    They put them in the pond and somehow the State Fish & Game found
    out and started researching the sales of these fish. They traced
    a sale back to the persons address that got the delivery and made
    this guys life miserable. The papers had a few articles about it
    and the state was considering legal action against this person,also
    the others involved would not come forward and he wouldn't give
    their names either. But, these people would split the fine if it
    wnet to court. I don't know if it was ever resolved but it may be
    worth looking into.
    
    
                                                    Guy
    
    

    Wotchew need is som neutrals. Dey com bout as big as a big rat or small
    dog. Dey eat dere wate in floatin water weeds a day, but dey multiply
    lak rabbits!!! Den dey chew don de trees roun de water an de gators get
    dem. Den de gators multiply more an de weeds com bak.....De neutrals
    com from South America, or som dam place an de state brought dem op
    chere.
    
    Wun good ting...de trappers lak dem. If only de wimmen dat wear dem
    coats made from neutrals cud see wat wun looked lak I don tink dey wud
    wear dem...
    
    If chew want wun for a pet, or to try it out, jes let me know an I'll
    send chew wun...
    
    Coonass

    Yo Coonas,
          Wot is dem neutrals yous takin bout???
    
    Les

    Wall, I looked dem op in de book an de proper-lak name is "nutria", at
    least dats wot de redneks call dem.
    
    Sumtimes chew kin see dem in de daytime swimmin or jes sneakin bout in
    de onderbrush, but mosly dey feed at nite. De las time I went hontin
    for dem my son an me we got bout a douzaine. We don get dem after we
    shoot dem, we jes leave dem for de gar, turtles an gators.
    
    Now Phideaux, he laks dem......
    
    Coonass

                      
    The best thing you can do is to talk to the local water authority
    fisheries department, (numbers in the phone book) you don`t say where
    your lake is but if its local to Reading then Thames Water is your 
    local authority.
    
                 Colin
    
    By the way Coonass we don`t have gators over here all the pike eat
    them !
    
    

    We got de same problem ober chere. I bet Phideaux wudnt las a minit out
    dere on dat Mass Pike.
    
    Dem Peeterbilts wudnt no de difference tween a gator an a alma dillon.
    
    Coonass