ALBANY - Carp bounty hunters competed in Albany's 10th annual Labor Day weekend Carp-O-Rama sponsored by the Lake Winnetka/Sugar River Improvement Association Inc. Prizes were awarded for the most carp caught and for the largest carp. The Carp-O-Rama fishing contest is a fun way for people to help the environment by removing as many carp or carp related rough fish as possible from the lake and river. Removing these unwanted fish helps to improve the natural habitat for game fish such as bass or walleye. Fish must be caught in the Lake Winnetka (Albany Lake) area of the Sugar River and can be caught by angling or spearing.
• Largest carp caught ($100 prize donated by former Albany resident, Allen Ellis of Cold Bay, Alaska) - Korrina Hawkins, Albany, pulled in a 12 pounder
• Most carp caught ($50 first prize from Carter Machine of Monroe) - Zach Ringhand and Stacy Weber, (spear fished), 71 fish
• Second place (new fishing pole with a bushel of tackle and other items) - John and Korrina Hawkins, 40 fish
• Third place (gift certificates to Wal-Mart and Culvers Frozen Custard) - Skyler and Michelle Matson, 26 fish
The L.W.S.R.I.A. thanks all the prize contributors, and Alliant Energy for supplying the contest with a truck to haul away the 137 carp removed from the lake and river this year.
There was a concern about the fishing contest due to the fact that the Albany Dam is wide open for repairs and the water levels in the lake are at a record low, but the fishing was not affected. This year's total has beat every year since 2000 when the contest record of 243 was brought in. On Labor Day of 2009, let's beat that record. Spread the word for more contestants.
Carp and their various sub-species, the redhorse, Suckers, sheepheads, mullets and buffalo carp are not native to the United States. They were brought here from Asia and Europe in the 1800s to help replenish the dwindling native fish in our inland lakes and rivers. For more information about the association or its activities, write: L.W.S.R.I.A., P.O. Box 348, Albany, WI 53502 or call (608) 862-1698 or e-mail: lwsria@aol.com.
• Largest carp caught ($100 prize donated by former Albany resident, Allen Ellis of Cold Bay, Alaska) - Korrina Hawkins, Albany, pulled in a 12 pounder
• Most carp caught ($50 first prize from Carter Machine of Monroe) - Zach Ringhand and Stacy Weber, (spear fished), 71 fish
• Second place (new fishing pole with a bushel of tackle and other items) - John and Korrina Hawkins, 40 fish
• Third place (gift certificates to Wal-Mart and Culvers Frozen Custard) - Skyler and Michelle Matson, 26 fish
The L.W.S.R.I.A. thanks all the prize contributors, and Alliant Energy for supplying the contest with a truck to haul away the 137 carp removed from the lake and river this year.
There was a concern about the fishing contest due to the fact that the Albany Dam is wide open for repairs and the water levels in the lake are at a record low, but the fishing was not affected. This year's total has beat every year since 2000 when the contest record of 243 was brought in. On Labor Day of 2009, let's beat that record. Spread the word for more contestants.
Carp and their various sub-species, the redhorse, Suckers, sheepheads, mullets and buffalo carp are not native to the United States. They were brought here from Asia and Europe in the 1800s to help replenish the dwindling native fish in our inland lakes and rivers. For more information about the association or its activities, write: L.W.S.R.I.A., P.O. Box 348, Albany, WI 53502 or call (608) 862-1698 or e-mail: lwsria@aol.com.
