For those interested in those "Green Lake bonefish," here's an email response I got from Mark Downen, Area Inland Fish Biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. I asked him about the carp in Green Lake and this is what he wrote:

"Thank you for your e-mail correspondence to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regarding Carp.

"Currently, the only carp species in Green Lake is the illegally introduced common carp. Mature females may weigh upwards of 15 to 20 pounds and carry 2 million eggs. The fish are primarily bottom feeders and stir the sediment and nutrients bound there causing reduced water quality. Because these carp are considered a nuisance species there is no restriction on taking these fish. But in spite of this, their population continues to expand unchecked. Our agency has stocked sterile tiger muskie to control them but it will be a few years before there is any assessment of this approach.

"Grass carp are not the same species and do not have the same behaviors. The Seattle Parks and Rec. Dept with support of WDFW, will be stocking sterile grass carp in Green lake this spring to help control aquatic vegetation. These fish are not very susceptible to angling since they are plant feeders, but they will not be available for angling. Hope this answers your questions. Several reports have been written on the fish community of Green Lake and should be available through our Olympia office.

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