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Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

Permalink: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Tim Sandstrom , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 03/03/2010 1:05 PM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Tim Sandstrom

Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND

I emailed the NDGF a while ago about carp. They got back to me something like two weeks ago but I forgot to share what they wrote me. Thought I'd take that opportunity now. A thanks to Randy and Greg.

Here's the email. My question in maroon and the answers in black.

I was forwarded your email concerning some Devils Lake/carp questions. I’ll take a stab at answering them, although the answers are not black and white and depend on a variety of factors, which is pretty typical for biology.

My question is over Devils Lake. Read some interesting things about Devils Lake the last couple days. Simply put, the water shows no signs of letting up and we’re talking for years to come.

With that said, is there severe danger of carp infiltrating the system? If the lake gets three feet higher is it even possible to fend them off?

In most cases, the level of Devils Lake is not as important as high spring runoff near the divide locations, which are many miles from the lake itself. That being said, it appears there will be high runoff this spring in those divide locations if the snow keeps coming and there is a quick melt.

Now, let’s say they get in. Would they eat shrimp Devils Lake is famous for? If so, would they have the ability to severely cut down the population of shrimp?

Yes, carp are omnivores, which mean they eat plant and animal matter. They do consume lots invertebrates such as freshwater shrimp. If carp reach high densities, they would likely impact freshwater shrimp densities. I have no idea as to how much, as freshwater shrimp numbers would still fluctuate over the years.

In other words, what would happen to the forage base (specifically perch) if carp got into the Devils Lake system?

Carp themselves, would be forage for about the first year or two of their lives but would then quickly outgrow being a potential forage item and then become a problem. Perch are not the only forage in Devils Lake. Young white bass, walleye, crappie, pike, etc. are all consumed by larger predator fish opportunistically. If freshwater shrimp densities are reduced, this will increase the predation on the young gamefish species.

In general, if carp become established in Devils Lake, they will replace some of the gamefish poundage per acre that currently exists. The more pounds of carp/acre that exists = fewer pounds of desirable gamefish/acre. There really is no way of knowing how quickly, or to what level the carp population would expand, but being a very adaptive species, it is likely they would thrive and degrade the current Devils Lake fishery.

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by walynut on 03/03/2010 1:14 PM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

walynut
Joined: 01/08/2003
Location: ND

Bottom line Tim, it would suck!!! Bad!!

Good Luck and Good Fishin'

Eric T

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by yelowjackt on 03/03/2010 1:16 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

yelowjackt
Joined: 08/31/2005
Location: ND

Tim Sandstrom Said:
If the lake gets three feet higher is it even possible to fend them off?

I see they failed to address this part of your question? Although I'm pretty sure the answer would be no there is not a way.

...you can't fix stupid...

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Jiffy on 03/03/2010 1:17 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Jiffy
Joined: 01/08/2002
Location: ND

"Bugle trout" are highly touted game fish in England......of course they also refer to a cigarette as a "fag" and have a type of cake they call a "spotted dick".

Go figure.....

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by catmechanic on 03/03/2010 1:24 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd

perhaps the Hmongs will have a new delicacy for their restaurants?

Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by bullheadmaster on 03/03/2010 1:39 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

bullheadmaster
Joined: 11/29/2002
Location: ND

I just threw up in my mouth a little....

Big J

Just a lil' Slap n Tickle, n Tickle n Slap....

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by LOV2HNT on 03/03/2010 1:43 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

LOV2HNT
Joined: 10/21/2009
Location: ND

bullheadmaster Said:
I just threw up in my mouth a little....

Big J

+ 1

PROUD MEMBER OF PETA: PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by pigsticker on 03/03/2010 2:48 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

pigsticker
Joined: 05/04/2005
Location: ND

Do I smell a world class carp fishery in the making??

Ya, it's going to happen sometime one way or another.

You can't shoot a big one if you shoot a small one!

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by IntroC on 03/03/2010 3:39 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

IntroC
Joined: 01/12/2008
Location: ND

I hope Sockajawea rebounds before the carp take over Devils.

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Farnorth on 03/03/2010 4:17 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Farnorth
Joined: 05/23/2002
Location: ND

yelowjackt Said:

Tim Sandstrom Said:
If the lake gets three feet higher is it even possible to fend them off?

I see they failed to address this part of your question? Although I'm pretty sure the answer would be no there is not a way.

It was answered. The level of DL has NOTHING to do with it. The concern is water levels at the divides (a major one near Langdon). There is basically a road dividing the watersheds. There is even a culvert there and a screen accompanied by a rotenone drip. They are working on a permanent solution but it isn't done yet. Some drainage issues that aren't easy to resolve.

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Tim Sandstrom on 03/03/2010 4:21 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND

Not as important I think is the point. Very interesting what happens if the lake continues to that 1458 mark like some are hinting could very well be a reality in X number of years. Is there carp in the Sheyenne? I don't even know.

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Goosefishmen on 03/03/2010 4:52 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Goosefishmen
Joined: 05/07/2009
Location: ND

I am sure there are some carp in the sheyenne, but if DL reaches 1458 carp will be the least of the concern in the state.

Imagine a quick spring and all the water from Canada between Edmore and Rugby? heading for Valley City with uncontrolled flow.............

. Ashtabula can't hold enough water to protect the water shed it supports now, add a little DL flow to the top and it will be one big saltwater toilet flush to the Red and North again.

And I will have a front row seat.

There is no limit on a Good Time!!

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Farnorth on 03/03/2010 5:10 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Farnorth
Joined: 05/23/2002
Location: ND

Tim Sandstrom Said:
Not as important I think is the point. Very interesting what happens if the lake continues to that 1458 mark like some are hinting could very well be a reality in X number of years. Is there carp in the Sheyenne? I don't even know.

Sheyenne is downstream from Devils Lake. Not an issue. Water will NEVER flow that direction. I think there are carp in the Sheyenne but they cannot get from there into Devils Lake.

There ARE Carp in the Pembina River watershed. Where that watershed touches the Devils Lake Basin is where there is concern. The divide south of Langdon is probably 60-70 miles from the lake but the concern is real.

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Goosefishmen on 03/03/2010 6:27 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Goosefishmen
Joined: 05/07/2009
Location: ND

When you say sheyenne, I am guessing there is carp south of Ash, but I don't believe there are any above the dam.

There is no limit on a Good Time!!

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by jig_n_em on 03/03/2010 6:37 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

jig_n_em
Joined: 01/16/2010
Location: nd

there are carp in dl i have caught them in east bay

Re: Devils Lake And Carp...A brief Interview with the NDGF

by Tim Sandstrom on 03/03/2010 6:55 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND

My question I guess is if there are areas downstream that carp can swim upstream. Carp don't care if they swim with or against the current. I don't think anyway.

I'm just throwing out thoughts. Dangerous when I do that. Never know what's coming next!

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Posted By: Tim Sandstrom
Posted On: 03/03/2010 1:05 PM

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