The peak carp spawning season (October to February) is now in full swing, and as a result the IFS have started actively following "Judas" transmitter implanted carp seven days a week.

Since July, only 10 carp have been caught in Lake Sorell, which was much less compared to the same time period last year where 46 were caught. Carp numbers are known to be low but the lack of ideal environmental stimulus may also be a factor.

Low of rainfall, a falling lake level and very few warm days have slowed carp movement. These environmental conditions are the main triggers which encourage carp to push into the shallows and aggregate to spawn.

Most of the carp caught so far were from gill nets set off shallow rocky shores, as well as one small female carp which was caught in a barrier fyke net off Silver Plains Marsh.

Of the six transmitter fish released in September, five of these fish have been targeted and caught, resulting in a total of only two carp, with one being an ex-transmitter fish that ran out of battery in early 2016.

With low carp number left in the lake the aim over the coming months is to focus closely on the movements of the "Judas" transmitter fish to see if they lead us to their friends. This plan worked in the tail end of the Lake Crescent eradication.

The warm weather forecast over the next few days will have the team on high alert for any opportunities that may arise.