Goldie is No Longer in the Lake

Goldie. Photo by Greg Creech

I was down at the lake at seven Saturday morning in hopes of seeing the big orange goldfish-- Goldie, as she has lately been christened-- captured.

The water in the lake has been reduced to a foot or so in the extreme northwest corner, and there are at least 30 great big fish there. Most will be taken Monday morning, if they survive, but getting Goldie out was a priority for everyone. Just how to do that, however, was a problem, for the water is now too shallow to float a boat and the mud on the lake floor is deep.

This is about all the water remaining in Pine Lake

The big grass carp aren't so bright and don't see very well, but Goldie is smart. She eluded the capture boat on Friday and today she stayed just out of reach of the nets wielded from the shore.

"She knows just how long this pole is."

The mud was nearly waist-deep at the spot closest to her. She managed to stay out of range of the pole-based nets, but once a casting net was brought in she was captured on the first cast.

I was busy videotaping the capture, which happened so fast I wasn't able to change the big telephoto on my Canon digital SLR camera for a lens that would have allowed me to get still shots as Rosie was placed in the big tank in the bed of the pickup truck, but by standing far back I was able to get a shot or two that were somewhat in focus.

Goldie was taken to a big koi pond, where she will live until the lake project is completed. She will then be returned to Pine Lake, if we want her.

The other fish are being taken to a church-operated fishing lake, where some of  them will no doubt wind up on the hooks of fishermen. The grass carp, being vegetarians, will most likely live there in peace.

UPDATE!

Here's Goldie in her new home (photo borrowed from The Dredge Report #6. Goldie is the biggest fish, at lower right. You should check out the Dredge Report, as it keeps citizens informed about the lake renovation project.