These were taken at the Alton lock and Dam on the Mississippi river. It is "snagging season" through April. The fishermen use surfcasting poles as thick as broomsticks and thrash large weighted treble hooks through the water in order to snag large spoonbill and asian carp that accumulate in large numbers below the dam.

Pentax istDS 18-55 kit lens. ISO800

[Tom Lusk]

Nobody caught a fish???

Nice shots.

[NaClH2O]

That first shot is really nice, great light, nice reflections on the water, and just enough fishermen to make it interesting.

NaCl(dawn and dusk are my favorite times of the day)H2O

[awjweb]

Nobody caught a fish???

I saw *many* fish caught. I just didn't get any quality shots of them.

The spoonbill are 3-4ft long and look something like a swordfish. The asian carp look like.... carp and are about 3ft long. The carp are a non-native species and are notorious for freaking out as boats speed by. They jump several feet out of the water and often injure (or kill ) boaters passing by at high speed. I guess a 50lb carp can do a lot of damage to you when it hits you in the head at 40mph!!. The Missouri Convervation department forbids fisherman from releasing the carp back into the water when caught. They ask that the fish be taken home or left on the shore for the birds.

[Photochop]

Nice shots! I love that almost steal blue color at dusk..it's magic.

The real reason why the Missouri Conservation dept. forbids anglers from releasing the Asian Carp is because they are a real threat to our ecosystem. They eat vast amounts of food and breed like wildfire. If we allow them to habitat in our waters they will wipe out our native species by leaving them with no food to eat. The State of Illinois is currently working on a permanent electric barrier to prevent the Asian Carp from breeding into the other Great Lakes.

And as you say, they are freakn' huge! Up to four feet long (100lbs)

[Alvin]

Nice shots! And thanks for the lesson on non-native fish!