$500 Carp are Now in Little Muskego Lake

Taking a cue from a successful fishing game of chance on Eagle Springs Lake, Little Muskego Lake District (LMLD) has asked the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to tag two carp and put them back into the lake.

The idea is to help officials take as many carp, which are seen as "garbage fish" that often rob oxygen and valuable vegetation from other desirable fish species, out of the lake. The small discs attached to the fish's dorsal fins will indicate which fish they have tagged, and whoever catches these carp will win $500 per fish. The district holds a "carp out" every year, but any additional help is welcome.

The fish is so despised that the and is the only type of fish this method can be applied to.

Larry Lefebvre with the LMLD said the DNR had to be the one to tag and release the fish by law. The fish is classified as "rough fish" and cannot be released into the lakes under any other circumstances.

Those fishermen using a typical rod and reel may choose to put the fish back without being fined. However, according to DNR warden Thomas Van Haren, the exception is that carp shot with a bow and arrow or crossbow and arrow can not be released and must be disposed of lawfully.

"They make good fertilizer for gardens so take them home," Lefebvre said.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

Should you be lucky enough to catch one of these fish, contact Lefebvre at 414-688-5004, who will confirm the catch, and get your reward to you.

The effect of this fishing lottery has meant a much larger harvest of carp on lakes like Eagle Springs, he said, as fishermen made it a point to attempt to catch these otherwise undesirable fish.

In 2013, that district tagged six fish, bringing the total to 24 since the program began in 2009. The first tagged carp was turned in for reward on April 16, 2013 since its start in 2009, according to the Eagle Springs Lake website. Previously there were sightings and but no one was able capture one. 

If the harvest ends up without a tagged fish, the bounty on these carp still remains for the next year, with a couple more tagged carp added to the mix. Gamblers might call it a progressive pot, but lake officials hope they can call it a success for the health of the lake, no matter if there's a winner or not.