Big and Ugly

No discussion on fishing at Miller Park Lake would be complete without mentioning the carp – Cyprinus Carpio. This water hawg was supposedly introduced to North America from Europe. Sometimes specimens have only a few large scales. These are called mirror carp, or those with no scales at all are called leather carp. This ugly fish likes to hang around in the shallow warm waters of lakes and streams, all the better when said water is somewhat muddy or polluted. It feeds on insect larvae, crustaceans, snails, and plants. The carp spawns in vegetated shallows in June and July. The North American angling record is three and one half feet long and just over fifty-five lbs. The world record is eighty-three and three-quarters - yes, 83 ¾ lbs. If you are interested, the carp is usually caught still-fishing (cast your line and let it sit) with dough balls, potatoes, or worms. There is a society for those seeking camaraderie with other carp lovers – the American Carp Society. Two magazines are published – Carp Addict, a UK publication and a weekly publication – Carp Talk, also from the UK. I cannot tell you why.