In some lakes that are covered with grass carp that eat most of the grass in a area. Where do the bass move to and how does it change where you fish?

Chris,

My experience around grass carp is limited to 2 lakes so this may not apply everywhere. I also don't know what species of carp they were, or if that matters. Keep in mind that these 2 lakes are 84 and 105 acres,have little structure and cover now consists of boat docks and a few planted brush piles. (I fish larger public waters with carp but I suspect the carp were there before I fished them and can't really comment on their impact.)

When the carp were first introduced, fishing remained the same with one small exception; we did not catch bass where the carp were feeding. In others words find a good weed edge that produces daily and during the hours carp were eating that edge we didn't get bit at that location. As time passed and the amount of grass diminished, the fish began to relate to other forms of cover, primarily dock pilings & brush piles and structure became more productive as grass was eaten.

We experienced a transition period of almost 2 years from when the grass was gone. Once the grass was gone we rarely (during this 2 yrs) saw schooling or active chasing by the bass. I would guess that since these fish had always lived in grass it took them a while to re-aclimate to the lakes. After that period of time passed the fish were much easier to find... hit any available cover and fish structure in the appropriate depths and you found lots of fish. The fish seem to live generally deeper now, except the fish in and around the docks. Our success on the point was further out than it used to be, from 0-50yds became 50-100yds in the after.

The jig bite has never returned and it was always a favorite of mine. All in all, the fishing quality seemed to suffer much more in the long term than the short term. I guess subsequent years the forage had fewer places to hide and spawn. The large schools of shad are no longer present and the panfish populations aren't as appearent as they used to be. I don't live out there any more but keep up with a few friends. Fishing is still excellent compared to 99% of the public waters but pales in comparison to how this place was before the carp. The most notable difference in quality is the large bass... we semed to get at least one 6-8lb fish every trip out when there was grass, but that changed to every 3rd or 4th trip once it was gone.

All it takes is a handful of skiers and swimers to cry loud enough... I tried to convince people that it is a lake, not a pool, but in the end lost out. Sidenote, they stocked almost twice the recomended per acre rate of carp and now you see large carp floating every day. (I wonder how they like dead fish in there pool!)

Sorry to rant, I'm still mad about it and I moved away 2 years ago.  I hope that your waters fair better than ours did.

-keith

Usually I still catch bass in the areas where the grass carp are cause there is still carp on the grass. Once time I got about a 80bl carp on a dropshot rig in the fin. Thing was at least 5  feet long

Fishie,

That might have been a gar.

It had to be a gar. I never saw a 5 ft carp yet.

just catch the carp club them over the head and toss them away   i hate carp

I have one problem with the carp on our home lake(Kentucky and Barkley).In the spring they tear up some cover in the shallows.But I catch bass all around them.I beleive the bass are the more dominant species.I heard a old-timer once say a 2lb. bass will chase a ten pound carp out of the lake.

In my area in Washington, We have Lots of Carp, Lots of them in every lake except, 1 lake that is 110 feet deep and has no flats for carp to roam.  

1. Carp are a less dominent Species, They are scavengers and vegiterians. Once on a lake i was bed fishing and a carp came over, 20 lbs, and a small male darted out for it and it swam away. even in some lakes, baby carp or practically goldfish are some type of forage.

2. It depends on the situation, In small shallow Lakes, such as 8 feet deep or less, Grass Carp are a usually a problem if overstocked, such as seen above. They eat way at any weeds and virtually all weeds. and bass fishing declines ONLY if they are overstocked.

3. My experience with carp in shallow lakes, The BEST Largemouth Lake in WA is controlled by grass carp. But they put in a good amount to where it would nt impact bass fishing, the lake is 8 feet deep at the most and all milfoil is gone but there is still sparse cabbage, and lilly pads, and any other cover.

Overall Annaylisis: Carp are not a BIG Problem, Unless they are overstocked

Oh Yeah, That 5 ft. Carp is a possiblilty, my home lake is home of the 68 pound state record carp. it was about 4 ft. long. And i have Seen Carp that are bigger than that, but they are deep 15-35 ft. i can only see them 1 week after opening day until the water gets stained then i cant see them no more

Over here in Illinois they stock like 2 grass carp per acre or something like that in the lake. If I'm not mistaken these kind of carp are not fertile. They just put em in to prevent algae booms. (I'm not 100% sure so yah) The common carp is the real problem and when they are spawning there are MILLIONS!!!

Back in the 70's, the autorities stocked a few lake throughout Central Florida with carp to get rid of some of the vegetation. I understand that they have now decided that was a huge mistake and are now trying to get rid of them.

The Government sure can waste money.  :

At Santee Cooper I've seen schools of a hundred carp where the average

fish was 4 feet long. and the big ones were easily 5 feet and 60+ pounds.

check out these carp

http://www.carpecarpio.com/bigcarppics1.html

check out these carp

http://www.carpecarpio.com/bigcarppics1.html

Those are some funny looking bass!  

Ya, I fish the SanteeCooper, the lakes can get deep but for the most part a shawllow. I know Bass will chase a carp around, but where we fish it is a numbers game and the Bass aint winning. I will try going out a bit further like someone suggested.