I stayed up stupid late last night, but awoke around 8:30 am and was down at the lake by 9:00. I'm glad I went, because I got to see something remarkable.
Two men in a flat-bottomed boat were motoring sedately around what's left of the lake, netting fish.
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A generator on board supplied low-amperage current to the water via these loops...
... stunning the fish and temporarily paralyzing them...
... causing them to float in place on the surface...
... or below the water, where they could be netted...
... hauled aboard...
... placed in a tub of water...
... and within a few minutes moved to a much larger tub in the back of a pickup...
... where a bit of salt was applied to the water to reduce the street of the captured fish:
The intrepid fish catchers netted all sorts of fish: small...
... medium...
... large...
... extra large...
... and gynormous, like this grass carp:
The huge grass carp lost a few scales...
... but was soon in the tub.
Transporting the smaller fish to the tub in the pickup was a relatively easy task:
Hey, Phil, show us what you got!
Excellent!
The big grass carp, which weighed upwards of fifty pounds and could knock a man down with their wriggling or cut him with their fins, weren't so easy. A rope through their gills...
... allowed them to hoisted...
... and moved to shore...
... whereupon, because of their weight and the steepness of the terrain, they were dragged up the bank:
On level ground, they could be easily lifted into the truck:
The activity drew spectators who walked by with their dogs, and lots of cameras and cell phones were at work:.
Councilwoman Melanie Hammett was busy gathering material for the Dredge Report:
After a while city administrator Phil Howland turned on the big portable pump...
... and soon 2000 gallon of water were exiting the lake every minute through this big hose:
By now (I'm writing this at 6 pm) the lake level will be considerably lower, allowing the capture of more fish tomorrow morning.
Clearly, the experience of being stunned, moved to a holding tank, driven to another body of water somewhere, and released into a strange environment has to be traumatic for the captured fish, but it's far better than the alternative-- dying a slow death in a drying puddle. The fish were treated as humanely as possible, placed in highly oxygenated water for transport, and by now are happily swimming in their new home.
We drove by this evening and could see fins in the water that's left... poor guys are just barely still covered. And it appeared the goldfish was still there. I hope they are able to save him in the morning. Any chance you know what time they are doing this?
ReplyDeletePlease report where the fish were taken.
ReplyDeleteLalah: They were at it at this morning early. I got there at 9 am, just in time for the action. I'm thinking I'll set my alarm for 8 tomorrow (Saturday) so I can be sure to see them get Goldie.
ReplyDeleteyeshe: I don't know for sure where they were taken. I was told to another lake. Of course when I was a kid they told me they had taken old Spot to a nice place in the country...
Thank you so much for creating and sharing this Dallas!
ReplyDeleteTommie Storms
Wow doesn't Phil remind you of Robert Mitchum? Thanks for the photos Dallas!
ReplyDeleteBigger than some we have seen in Alaska
ReplyDeleteThanks for share this post I also share with you something hope you like my post. Do not abandon your trap if you give up this effort. Remove it and dispose of it when you are finished. Check the trap daily to make sure no turtles, otters, or other predators have discovered it and either damaged it or gotten trapped in it. Use a wire mesh that is stiff enough to form to the shape you choose and that will remain rigid with a substatial weight of fish in it. Use a suitable bait for the fish you are trapping. Rabbit feed pellets, cat food pellets, cotton seed meal cakes, corn bread, or limburger cheese are common trap baits. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHat Creek Trout Fishing