The local FWS was out that way collecting carp for VHS analysis last week, and they did good, but they did not get any grass carp. They were going to collect grass carp for me, for a genetics project. Are there likely to be many grass carp shot in the Grafton Tourney? If so, I might attend or get one of my crew to attend and bring home the grass carp. We need about 30. It would be important that all the fish shot came from the river, no lake fish. I assume everyone will be shooting either the Illinois or the Mississippi River.

Er, I realize it is not a tourney, just a fun shoot. But if there were more than ten or dozen grassies shot, it would be worth it for me to send someone over. We'd have a tough time collecting that many Mississippi River grassies in nets in a day, with two people in the boat. I should check my records - we might need some bigheads and silvers from there too, yet. Those we can usually catch in quantity when we want, though. Monday my crew will be somewhere around there or Alton, to catch spawning bighead carp, if the river behaves.

Hi Duane,

The problem we'll have is that the river is so high that it's dangerous for your average jon boat. I just talked to Gary, who lives in Alton and he's not sure where we can find fish.

I wouldn't want you to drive all the way over on the slim chance we'd find enough grassies.

Of course, if we did get into them, I could send them home with Chris Cooley.... but he'd probably eat them all.

Did you get a chance to talk to Curt McMurl?

I have not talked to Curt. I should and will.

I also will see what I can do to make it worth Chris' time and appetite to bring me any grassies you guys are able to shoot from the river.

Duane

No problemo. Ice them down in the back of the truck for the trip home.

Will you be heading home on Saturday or Sunday? I can arrange to get the fish from you.

If we get any shooting in, we'll be heading back Sunday. wouldn't be too much trouble to exit the interstate in Columbia rather than Kingdom City.