Have recent floods brought Asian Carp into Lake Michigan via Illinois River?

[exert-7]

Asian Carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats.
Researchers expect that Asian carp would disrupt the food chain that supports the native fish of the Great Lakes. Due to their large size, ravenous appetites, and rapid rate of reproduction, these fish could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes Ecosystem. Eventually, they could become a dominant species in the Great Lakes.
Great answer Don. I too hope they find a solution to the problem.
Injun, they are commercially harvested and quite tasty from what I have heard, yet the axiom of carp remains as a tasteless useless fish species in the US. They are a delicacy in parts of Asia, Indonesia, and parts of Caribbean culture and others I would imagine. I won't be eating any.....thanks bud.
Golden_Feather,
Well said! Those that think planting invasive species into public waterways are nothing short of terrorists IMHO. Penalties are stiff IF caught....keyword IF. Get caught using minnows in a "flies or artificials only" trout water in my state and you will suffer dearly. For bass fishing I always stick to artificials to keep from harming the fishery and the fish. As you well know the mortality rate of bass caught on a plastic worm is significantly less than one gut hooked on a minnow or nightcrawler. Most of these up and coming bass anglers have learned this lesson the hard way after they released a deep hooked fish and it went belly up.
BTW, I hope you have been catching plenty.

[Injun]

I hope something can be done to halt or slow the spread of these fish and all other invasive ones!

I wish there was some commercial value to them so ppl would be willing to get involved more in the taking of them!!

[Don S]

The Asian Carp can and may well turn into a problem in the Great Lakes. They found their way to freedom from the ponds they were imported to clean up during the floods(I don't remember the exact year now) in the 90's (?). They migrated up the Mississippi and found their way to the Sanitary and Ship Canal in Illinois. There they have built 2 temporary electric"fences" to keep them from getting into the Great Lakes. They have found a few had got by the fences. And they are afraid more will. They have yet to determine a permanent fix to the problem And they are having trouble with funding.(what a surprise). Hopefully they will find one before it's too late. I fish Lake Erie. We have enough trouble with invasive species.