Carp are notorious for stirring up phosphorous on the bottom of area lakes. Recently, six to eight thousand pounds of these non-native “rough fish” were removed from under the ice at Lake Nokomis (the MCWD and the fishing experts anticipated as much as 30,000 pounds at the outset of the operation). The catch of the day was part one of the Blue Water Partnership’s efforts to reduce the phosphorous load in the lake. Phosphorous often causes nuisance algae blooms. The blooms, in turn, can reduce water clarity and quality.
In a rare display of an old Minnesota trade, the fish harvest was handled by a 10-person family crew with 2400-feet of net during very cold winter temperatures on January 24. The commercial fishing company from Waterville, Mn., known as the Geyer Brothers, first threaded its nets through select holes cut in the 16-inch-thick ice out in the middle of the lake. Like any good angler, they went to work well before sunrise that morning. The crew then carved out a staging area -- halfway across the lake from original holes -- at the northeast corner near the swimming beach. This open section of water was about eight by 12 feet, and served as the catch area where the haul would be pulled in using a rope line connected to the nets and a winch powered by a small generator on the back of a pickup.
By eleven a.m., the first fish was pulled from the rigging, a beautiful eight-pound pike, which was promptly returned to the lake. Next up, a tiger muskie, around 12-pounds. A keeper for anybody else….This prized game fish was also returned to the water so one lucky kid or adult might catch it this coming season.
Finally, around 11:30 a.m., the first carp emerged, followed 20-minutes later by a large school of about six-to-eight hundred carp, averaging around 10-pounds each, along with hundreds of small crappies, a few scattered walleyes, bullheads and suckers. Those fish were also put back into Nokomis. The carp, however, were eventually trucked off to become fertilizer or livestock feed. Carp on both Lakes and Hiawatha will soon be removed in a similar seining operation next winter. Soon, however, it won’t be long before fishing enthusiasts of all ages begin tossing lines in from the banks and docks of Lake Nokomis, while gentle warm breezes and a glaring sun play on their poles.
The pictures below tell the story of this commercial fish harvest, an old, rugged trade that is fast disappearing in Minnesota. The carp seining is just the first phase of the improvement process slated for the lake.
Meanwhile, construction of three nearby settling ponds to capture stormwater runoff and other sediments – plus the installation of two grit chambers and a new weir or dam at Minnehaha Creek and the Lake – is well underway now.
For more information details about the project, see the Project Description, FAQ's, and Updates.
Photos
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