Carp gathering to mate in United Way parking lot
JANESVILLE — Somebody should tell them.
The United Way parking lot is not a good place to score.
Of course, it’s not their fault; it’s only Mother Nature driving them on.
No, we’re not talking about fraternity boys; we’re talking about carp, those vile bottom-feeding beasts with mole-like snouts and coloring like vomit.
Throughout downtown Janesville, carp are swimming up the newly made North Main Street River.
The parking lot of the United Way, 205 N. Main St., is their favorite gathering place. As clusters of flood tourists watch, the carp charge out of a seething pool at the bottom of the lot and swim against the current up the parking lot’s gentle slope.
Paddling their tail fins vigorously, they usually make it about halfway up the lot and then are tumbled backward into the pool.
“What you’re seeing is a typical response to rising water conditions,” said Don Bush, Department of Natural Resources fisheries manager. “It’s nature’s way of spreading the species.”
Carp are attempting to swim upriver to new spawning grounds. Those grounds might provide shallower pools of water, good for laying eggs. The water, it seems, is always shallower on the other side of the fence.
“Some of the carp have spawned already, but some spawn all the way through August,” Bush said.
Female carp tend to date indiscriminately: Five or six male carps will chase a single female, and she might produce eggs for all of them.
Alas, it’s not about romance, it’s about reproduction.
And speaking of romance, don’t even think about taking your spouse or significant other down to the North Main Street River for a romantic evening of spear fishing.
The DNR prohibits fishing using any other method than hook or line within 200 feet of a fishway, lock or dam.
As the water recedes, the majority of carp will end up back in the river. A few might end up dead on lawns and sidewalks, lovelorn victims of their own hormones.
Jun 25, 2008 at 7:16 p.m.
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Hannah ~ I always say, these young kids don't realize that someday they will get old, fluffy (chubby) and interested in their environment. And they will also feel humiliated for the harshness they had towards others when they were young, drunk and dumb. I wish I would have known about the tour, I would have loved to gone on it.
Jun 22, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
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Of course he could have been a pot head too with plans to smoke the fish later.
Jun 22, 2008 at 1:38 p.m.
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While on the westside of the river downtown yesterday, I saw some drunk trying to stomp carp to death on the eastside riverwalk!!!
Oh, the humanity.
Jun 22, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.
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Be careful...don't tell PETA because they may try to pass laws labeling the parking lot an endangered wetlands which might force the city to maintain the "wetland" to passify those goofy environmentalists.
Jun 21, 2008 at 11:19 p.m.
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:09 p.m.
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Interesting story but I could have done without the description of them being the color of vomit!
Jun 21, 2008 at 9:14 p.m.
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The United Way parking lot is a good visual aid for explaining conception.
Jun 21, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.
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The United Way Building + carp in the mood = Love Shack Baby!
Jun 21, 2008 at 5:56 p.m.
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Thank you Darius, I have not given up hope!!
Jun 21, 2008 at 5:02 p.m.
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Back in my day, we used to gather at United Way parking lot to mate all the time!.....
Sorry, I couldn't resist. Take it easy now, it was all in fun! (Those were the days though!)
Jun 21, 2008 at 5 p.m.
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BC
God bless and I hope you find your dog!
Jun 21, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.
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I loved the article. I was down there yesterday and took a video as well. I'll have to do what janesvillean does. By the way, great video!! It really is an interesting thing to watch!
Jun 21, 2008 at 3:46 p.m.
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Good work janesvillian, I think that one guy was really trying to get to The 'Glass to get a beer!!!
Jun 21, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
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I have uploaded a short video of the carp to my Flickr photostream here:
http://flickr.com/photos/45914503@N00/25...
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This one guy almost makes it up to the top! If only he'd flopped across the sidewalk instead of back into the main flow again.
Jun 21, 2008 at 3:18 p.m.
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I know this has nothing to do with this article, but we have lost our 3 yr old Golden Retiever, PLEASE contact the JVPD or the Humane Society, or the Jan. vet clinic, he is not in good health, he needs us!!! Thank you
Jun 21, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.
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I tried smoking carp once but I couldn't keep it lit.
Jun 21, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.
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Commercial fishermen catch the carp with huge nets in the Rock River here. They sell it to chinese people in New York who sell it as Rock River White Fish.
Jun 21, 2008 at 2:33 p.m.
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I have tried Carp baked and smoked never liked any of it .
Jun 21, 2008 at 2:21 p.m.
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Catherine is one of the best writers at the Gazette!!!! If you want a different perspective on something, she is the one to go to.
Jun 21, 2008 at 1:14 p.m.
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If the carp are spawning, you may get a chance to scoop up some delicious Rock River caviar!
Jun 21, 2008 at 1:05 p.m.
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Once again, another stellar article written by our Gazette staff. A high school student could write a better article than this one.
Jun 21, 2008 at 11:14 a.m.
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I wondered what the fish were doing. The water rushing down main street was surprising. There are a lot of carp down there right now.
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
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Actually it has more in common with an acronym that is also associated with a a dice game played in Las Vegas.
Jun 21, 2008 at 10:37 a.m.
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Lots of bones, but they are edible and probably best smoked (easier to pick out the bones).
Jun 21, 2008 at 7:40 a.m.
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In Japan carp is a delicacy. I actually heard that there someplace that buys carp at like 4 dollars a pound.
Jun 21, 2008 at 7:23 a.m.
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Well done Catherine :) I knew from the headline it was going to be funny story. Not so funny for the stranded Carp, but amusing to read. Thank you :)
Jun 21, 2008 at 6:04 a.m.
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I'm not sure I'd consider that good eating.
Jun 21, 2008 at 2:32 a.m.
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Who wants to help me catch tonights dinner? haha
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