Those Grass Carp 
What is BCIO's feeling on grass carp? Does BCIO feel that they are the best way to control weeds or is chemicals?Received September at Bass Chasin in Ohio.
Your fellow fisherman,
James F.
Dear James
There are two ways fisherman view weeds:
1. They are an excellent source of structure to allow bass to ambush their prey while giving smaller fish to hide as well.
2. Weeds are a menace!
It is obvious that the second view is obvious from a shore fisherman or one who hates to constantly pull weeds from their lure. The first view is from a fisherman who will improvise and is an opportunist.
Weeds can have an adverse on a very small lake or pond completely covering it and that makes it a menace. But on a lake that has deep water and sections of rocky bottom, weeds will not be as over taking.
Spencer Lake is a good example and I have fished it since the 70's. It was once a weed infested forty acre lake. In fact it was so overwhelmed with weeds that one would have a difficult time even rowing boat through it! Spencer was indeed a lake where the weeds were a menace BUT, the opportunists improvised like today and know that crank baits or lures with exposed hooks were useless so, a Texas rigged worm weightless or grub tail thrown into open pockets of weeds pulled bass out along with Moss Boss type lures. Those who fished from shore had a much harder time. Weed beds were only feet from shore limiting areas to fish.
In the early/mid 90's the state controlled the weeds by first introducing a chemical to prevent further aquatic plant growth followed by introducing White Amurs or Grass Carp. Today, there are no weeds in Spencer. The water clarity when weeds were present was very clear. Now, the water seems to always have a greenish brown look due to floating mater possibly from decaying plants or erosion. Note weeds are nature's filters in bodies of water. Findlay Lake is another example.
Equilibrium seems to me to be the key. Too many weeds - fishing can be difficult and too much cover allowing a greater amount of smaller prey to survive and making it difficult for bass to feed. No weeds - it's like a vast open field allowing prey to see their predator making it again difficult for bass to feed, efficiently. Note: In lakes or ponds with little or no weeds, one would have to rely on under water structure, down falls, standing timber, etc. Thus, lakes or ponds that have a decent amount of weed beds as well as various structures are ideal bass fishing conditions for both the shore and watercraft fisherman.
So, back to the original question: What is our feelings on grass carp?
BCIO would like to have neither provided that there is a natural balance. No one likes to hear the words "chemical treatment". A well thought out man made reservoir or pond will have the proper depths and bottom substrate to control weeds such as Nimisila or Mogadore. Grass carp can eat a lot of aquatic plants (1-3 cubic yards a day per fish). If the CORRECT number of Amurs were introduced, there could be a balance. But when both grass carp AND chemicals are used, the results could be devastating - NO WEEDS. BCIO feels that in lakes where weeds are devoid, the chemicals should stop being introduced and the grass carp slowly removed until there appears to be a control on weed growth, not depletion. Note: The state had spent a lot of "our" dollars stocking the Amurs (some cost close to $200 each) that removal or destroying the grass carp is out of the question. They are protected.
In conclusion I will take the weeds anytime.We have learned to fish them and when it heats up we are away from shore working deep. Most of the summer fish we caught were in 8 feet or better and over weed beds. You can run a full aray of lures and use weeds to an advantage.Just our humble opinion of course and thanks for writing!
Bass Chasin in Ohio We answered a lot of questions in 2001 by e mail and posting under our new format for Questions coming in 2002. E mail us your questions for 2002!
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