Tag Archives: Illinois River
“Largest bighead carp we’ve caught:” Commercial fisherman snags massive fish in Illinois
A commercial fisherman scouring the backwaters of the Illinois River last week may have caught more than he bargained for when a massive bighead carp lodged itself in his net. What’s more surprising, it was the second fish in as many days with a weight hovering around the 100-pound mark that Charlie Gilpin Jr. hauled in while fishing the same waters. Gilpin reportedly caught the gigantic bighead carp on Thursday, June 15 — one day after he caught a 90-pounder in the same area, said Jason DeBoer, a larger river fisheries ecologist with the Illinois River Biological Station, a monitoring and research facility. >click to read< 11:50
Inland Fisheries: Can Illinois turn Asian carp into Chilean sea bass? State to announce new name
A new name for the much-maligned fish will be announced Wednesday by state officials who hope the rebrand will shed the negative image of a muddy tasting bottom-feeder and inject the truth — they’re top-feeding plankton eaters that taste quite good. The “Big Reveal” will be hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,,, State officials hope the rebrand will lead to more people eating the fish, which would lead to more commercial fishing operations to pull them from the Illinois River and, ultimately, decrease their numbers and the risk that Asian carp could eventually make their way into the Great Lakes. >click to read< 17:37
East Peoria businessman aims to take a bite out of Asian carp population in Illinois River
They worked all day on the Illinois River, tracking carp, casting nets and hauling the catch of the day into their 30-foot johnboats. By late afternoon, the fishermen had docked at different marinas located up and down the state’s arterial waterway, their boats heavy with thousands of pounds of dead and dying buffalo, bighead, silver and grass carp. Next, they trailered their boats behind heavy-duty pickup trucks and then drove one, two, three hours to a fish plant somewhere to sell their day’s work and to empty their loads so they could drive back home and prepare to fish another day. Usually, the next day.,,, >click to read< 11:51
Carpe Carp
Clint Carter’s first catch of the day jumps right into his boat before he’s laid an inch of net. Another four or five silver carp make the leap in the time it takes Carter and his partner, Dave Buchanan, to scout out the best fishing grounds on that morning’s stretch of the Illinois River. The motor of their 
steel-sided skiff startles the silvers enough to send them shooting out of the water in unpredictable parabolas. The motor of their steel-sided skiff startles the silvers enough to send them shooting out of the water in unpredictable parabolas. Once the men near a dense shoal of fish, the commotion reaches a fever pitch, like popcorn in a hot pan. Buchanan strategically twists and turns the boat, as Carter lets hundreds of yards of trammel nets off the stern. >click to read, photos< 13:46
Annual Redneck Fishing event to spotlight jobs, Catch as many Asian carp as fast as possible
There is a good-food, good-jobs theme at this year’s Redneck Fishing Tournament in the Illinois River community of Bath. Economic development and elected officials from across central Illinois are expected to join the two-day contest, Aug. 1-2, in the community of 300, about 60 miles northwest of Springfield. The contest is simple. Catch as many Asian carp as fast as possible from the Illinois River. Read more here 12:55
Asian Carp more than just a nuisance for Illinois River fisherman – video
PEORIA, Ill. — The Asian Carp was introduced to American fisheries in the 1970s in an attempt to help to clean up the water. They have since invaded the Illinois River. It is the heart of spawning season, and fisherman say the fish are out of control. Read more here 10:08
