Thread: Adam Martin, can you comment on Modified Method results?

Originally Posted by Greenwing

I wonder if the heavy current, lake conditions and weather hurt the numbers? I was talking to a commercial fisherman last fall, he was talking about how when there is current the carp usually leave the bays.

I kind of questioned that too. I know the time I run into Asian Carp the most is in the late summer or early fall when I start idling shallow waters for early wood duck and teal season, not uncommon to run into some really big schools in the backs of bays then. About the only thing I can think of for the trial to be in February would be due to more of the sport fish being out in deeper water, and/or lower numbers of recreational boaters on the water.

I too was disappointed in the KY Afield segment. A little birdie gave me some insight. When the feds (USF&W & USGS) are involved, information is only going to be allowed out when/what the feds say so. One issue the Modified Method folks didn't take into account was one we openly discussed here before they started. The issue was the numbers of man-made structures that they had to clear out before they could be successful.The areas they chose were some that were heavily saturated with stake beds and brush piles. More thought and scouting will probably take place before they try the Modified Method in other parts of our lakes. It was shown it would work in ideal situations.

Guess I’ll be cleaning out a lot of waypoints in those two bays.

You all have heard the story about the fisherman and game warden in a boat together when the fisherman pulled out a stick
of dynamite. The game warden was busy telling the fisherman how it was illegal to use dynamite to harvest fish. The fisherman kindly handed the game warden the stick of dynamite and asked are you going to keep on talking or are you going to fish. Maybe the state and federal people need to review this story and apply it to the carp. This may be the cheapest and most efficient method to remove large numbers of the carp !!! Are they going to keep on talking or fish?

QUOTE=crp4570;3973339]Guess I’ll be cleaning out a lot of waypoints in those two bays. [/QUOTE]

Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife
Asian Carp Information

New update posted on the KDFWR website concerning the Modified-Unified Method. (Located under the western Kentucky projects)
This wasn’t my project, but I was there for three weeks helping so I can answer a few questions and share my two cents. The information flow has been super slow, but the government is not known for speed. I think a longer write up is being prepared, but I’m not sure of the timeline.

P.S. redear and crappie are on beds right now. Not sure what this polar vortex is going to do to them, but it’s been an interesting spring to say the least.

Originally Posted by Amartinbio

P.S. redear and crappie are on beds right now. Not sure what this polar vortex is going to do to them, but it’s been an interesting spring to say the least.

Best news I've read in a while. Adam, thank you for being on here.

Do you think there is a need to better educate the general sportsman and angler in to the role of the commercial fisherman in this? I continually read sportfisherman voicing that commercial fishing should be banned on public waters, admittedly in connection with catfish, and that the commercial fishing is negatively impacting the "sport catfishing." Having read the studies from KDFWR hoop nets and blurbs on the KDFWR webpage about the findings from the ride-alongs with commercial fisherman I think that is a valuable narrative to get out there as to how the commercial fisherman are and will be an integral part of this "war on carp" equation.

Originally Posted by smashdn

Best news I've read in a while. Adam, thank you for being on here.

Do you think there is a need to better educate the general sportsman and angler in to the role of the commercial fisherman in this? I continually read sportfisherman voicing that commercial fishing should be banned on public waters, admittedly in connection with catfish, and that the commercial fishing is negatively impacting the "sport catfishing." Having read the studies from KDFWR hoop nets and blurbs on the KDFWR webpage about the findings from the ride-alongs with commercial fisherman I think that is a valuable narrative to get out there as to how the commercial fisherman are and will be an integral part of this "war on carp" equation.

In my opinion, in that particular case there needs to be more dialogue and interaction between biologists, commercial fishermen, and catfishermen. It’s been a huge topic of debate and there was a special committee appointed to sort out the issue, but there is still a lack of trust there and still a few topics to be decided. It’s a good example of one of the most difficult aspects of fisheries management. How should a fishery be managed when two or more user groups want different things from the same fishery? I’ve yet to discover a “perfect” management option in any fishery, but communication and openness builds trust and tends to reduce conflict.
I do agree that more education on the topic (how we collect data, what commercial fishermen catch, what harvest does to a fishery, etc) would be helpful for everyone involved. But without building trust, no one will believe what you’re saying in your education efforts (and rightly so).

Im always amazed at how understanding the sport anglers have been on ky and Barkley regarding commercial Asian carp fishermen. There have certainly been some issues and tangled props and cut nets, but I think everyone has realized how necessary these control efforts are.