The Redneck Fishing Tournament-- Part 1

I came across this story in the August 23rd Time Magazine. The article was mainly about the invasion of Asian carp on the Illinois River and efforts to keep them out of the Great Lakes, but it started with information about the Redneck Fishing Tournament held in bath, Illinois, along the river in July.

The event started in 2005 as a way to cut down on Asian carp, specifically solver carp, who have the habit of jumping out of the river whenever a motorized boat goes by.

Asian carp eat like crazy, can grow to more than 40 pounds and with all those bones, few Americans want to eat them. As such, their numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate.

In Bath, there is an eight mile long channel next to the Illinois called the Bath Chute. It is loaded with thousands of Asian silver carp. Once a year, hundreds of fishermen descend on the town with intentions of catching the carp, but without hook or tackle. The idea is to use a hand-held dip net and catch them in mid-flight.

This is not a task without danger as the fish are flying at a high velocity. Getting hit by one is not unlike getting hit with a hard line drive.

But, Yet They Come. --RoadDog