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CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Nighttime bowfishing temporarily allowed on Lake Minnetonka
Nighttime bowfishing hasn't been allowed in Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota for over 10 years. The local conservation district brought it back temporarily to deal with a growing carp population, but neighbors aren't thrilled with the lights and sounds that come with it. It was roughly a month ago when Jay Nygard took a video outside his Orono home. "It was just the lights! You'd be in there watching TV and everything was lit up like you wouldn't believe" said Nygard. From April 24 - June 30th, the agency regulating Lake Minnetonka approved a special permit allowing nighttime bow fishing in 4 areas: Harrisons Bay West Arm Jennings Halstead Bay Which Nygard wasn't aware of at the time of the video, so he took the initiative to se what they were actually doing and reached out to fisherman. "A I was out there, I was also considering the people on the shore. How do we solve this problem?" said Nygard. Curtis Cich is a bowfishing guide across the state, hoping to help find a solution to the problem these invasive species present. "They'll go down and dig up all the native plants and will eat all of the eggs of the game fish," said Cich. Cich says some of the bays are seeing over 900 carp per acre. But the best time to bowfish is at night with special lights. "With the lights we can see all the way to the bottom of the lake, where in the daytime we're seeing them in the shallows and chasing them," Cich added. "This little bit of light at night is a trade-off for making their lake better overall." "I haven't heard anyone disagree that there's a carp issue in Lake Minnetonka, there has been since I was young, but how do you deal with it?" Nygard added. WCCO received the following statement from the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District: "Common carp are invasive to Lake Minnetonka, and unfortunately, their growing population threatens the quality of this much-loved community resource. As part of our efforts to bring a greater range of recreation to more parties and manage the carp population, the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District approved nighttime bowfishing on four bays, between April 24-June 30, bowfishing participants must have a permit to participate and follow all approved regulations, including hours, lighting and noise limits. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Water Patrol is enforcing these regulations, and we encourage community members to report any violations to Water Patrol at (612) will evaluate the effectiveness of this nighttime bowfishing event later this year to determine if the restrictions need to be adjusted and if additional opportunities will be permitted. Community members can provide feedback on this year's event by contacting the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District office." Learn more here.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A bright idea to tackle Minnetonka carp problem makes waves with some homeowners
The Brief A new pilot program allows nighttime carp bow fishing in four bays of Lake Minnetonka. It's by permit only and runs through June 30, helping rid the lake of a very invasive fish. Some homeowners say the bright lights being used by fishermen are becoming too invasive, as well. MINNETONKA, Minn. (FOX 9) - At 10 p.m., Jay Nygard wandered into his backyard and began recording on his phone. Just beyond his dock in West Arm Bay, a boat of bow fisherman were hunting carp. But as Nygard pans the camera to his home and those of his neighbors, the problem is clear as day. "Look at this, they're lighting up the whole house," he says in the video. "I guarantee right now our bedroom is all lit up, so is the neighbors." The backstory The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District launched this pilot program to allow nighttime carp fishing as yet one more way to tackle what's become a major problem. It's estimated there are at least 60,000 carp in the lake, and for years other programs have tried to eliminate as many as possible. The pilot program allows, by permit only, carp bow fishing in Halstead Bay, Harrison Bay, West Arm Bay and Jennings Bay from one half hour after sunset until 1 a.m. It also states that lighting in the water should be limited to downward-facing LED lights only, to keep from being a problem for those who live along the shore. What we know When Jay took his video, posted to his "Turbine Guy" YouTube channel, he clearly showed the lights are indeed a problem. He also recorded a bit of a confrontation. Another boater comes by, sounds the horn and begins yelling about the lights, which aren't just lighting up the water for the carp. They are illuminating all the homes beyond. A few minutes later, the other boater returns and yells some more. "I don't want to see a big confrontation," Nygard told FOX 9. "So the best thing we can do is there's obviously and issue so let's find a way to compromise and make this work." Nygard says they've been annoyed by the lights, too, blasting through their bedroom windows. He'd like the problem addressed before it escalates. "Shield the lights better, make sure they're all aimed down right. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I just want people to be able to get along. And I completely agree, let's get rid of the carp." The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District has shorter office hours on Friday and was closed before FOX 9 could ask about how they may respond to the concerns about the bright lights.
