Was fishing a lake directly adjacent to the Illinois River yesterday. Was just sitting in a spot for several minutes until I decided to fire up the (front) trolling motor to move.  All of a sudden, I hear a racket (clattering) in the back of the boat.  My first thought was that my buddy had started the back trolling motor (too) and it was hitting something.  Comes to find out, my trolling motor must have startled an Asian Carp as it LEAPED into the boat (barely missing my friend).  It flopped around in the back until I dispatched the nasty thing with a pair of needle nose pliers.  It would be funnier if it wasn't an invasive species.  I hope they don't ruin this lake.  : (

19 minutes ago, Ratherbfishing said:

I hope they don't ruin this lake.  : (

Amen brother.  I hope they don't ruin all the lakes.  They are a major concern on the Tennessee River lakes.  They eat the same plankton as the shad and if the shad go there will be A LOT fewer bass in the Tennessee River.

I hope someone figures out a way to put plankton on a circle hook.

 

Interesting article: http://www.sj-r.com/x417564708/Asian-carp-Clean-taste-bad-image

More interesting news: http://www.hartsvillevidette.com/sports/twra-spending-500k-to-help-keep-asian-carp-at-bay/

My niece got hit in the head by one of those things  while paddling a canoe .

They are UGLY with those eyes squarely centered in their heads thataway.  

lots of alligator gar

Everything eats them in the Kansas River here. The catfish actually prefer them over shad. Anytime I fish shad, all I can catch are white bass and gar. I've been seeing more big catfish and they're fatter, have to imagine it's because of the carp. There's very few bass in the rivers around here though. They're a hoot to try to shoot out of the air with a bow though.