How safe are the lakes

[QuakrTrakr]

from the carp in the Chicago River? With all the flooding they're having right now, what's the chance those jumping carp will get into Lake Michigan?

[Fishous]

Bite your tounge!

[SalmonBum]

If I remember correctly, the Chicago River flows backwards. It flows INTO the Mississippi, not to Lake MI.

[Mark Turner]

I hate to say it, but pretty damn good IMHO.:sad:

[malainse]

If I remember correctly, the Chicago River flows backwards. It flows INTO the Mississippi, not to Lake MI.,

Correct, away from the big lake. Years ago it did flow into lake Michigan but they built canals and locks to change to flow away from the lake.....

[SurfDog]

,

Correct, away from the big lake. Years ago it did flow into lake Michigan but they built canals and locks to change to flow away from the lake.....


Yup...the essentially made it a big toilet...they wanted to flush all the polution and sewage they were spilling into Lake Michigan down the Missisippi...isn't ingenuity grand..

[QuakrTrakr]

But fish swim upstream too. I guess I don't know how the electric fence actually works.

[REG]

Silver and Bighead Carp have not been found in the Chicago River. The Chicago River actually wends it's way to the north of the city. There is a connection of the Chicago River called the Ship and Sanitation Canal, this connection runs southwest, as the water does flow away from Lake Michigan. The Ship and Sanitation Canal eventually hooks up with the Cal-Sag canal, which is the waterway of concern. The Cal-Sag canal connects to Lake Michigan at 95th street. The electric barrier is downstream of the bifurcation of the Cal-Sag and Ship and Sanitation canal. Since the purpose of these canals is for commerce, the water levels are tightly regulated and haven't been known to overflow.

[QuakrTrakr]

Thanks REG, that's comforting to know.

[SalmonBum]

But fish swim upstream too. I guess I don't know how the electric fence actually works.

When you have flood stage currents, the fish have a hard time holding in it. Remember the Sept. PM river Flood of 1986? The current was sooooo strong that it washed spawning salmon downstream. That is why every 4 yrs the returning numbers have beed not as good as other yrs.

Most people here know me as just a Big water fisherman. Fact is I do more Flyfishing than trolling. I just keep that on the Down-Low ;).

[QuakrTrakr]

Thanks Bum. I did know about the 4 year thing, but I didn't know a flood caused it.

[ArrowFlinger]

But fish swim upstream too. I guess I don't know how the electric fence actually works.

I would say they don't when there is a power failure. But hey what are the odds of a power failure in the midwest:dizzy:

eventuatlly they will make it in like everything else.