The carp trapping program at Bush Heritage Australia's Scottsdale Reserve is moving into its next phase, with a small team of inventors on board to design a heating system for the trap.
What? A heating system? Sounds like we're really trying hard to make those pesky carp just a little too comfortable? Perfectly correct!
The theory is that carp are not active due to cold water temperatures in winter and instead seek refuge in 'warmer' areas of the river – such as inside our carp net hopefully!
The good news is that carp can be drawn to areas that are only a few degrees warmer than surrounding waters, which should make the job of the heating system a little easier.
If thermal trapping can be achieved by this trapping trial it would mean that pest fish removal from the upper Murrumbidgee River could be extended into winter.
Luckily Scottsdale Reserve owns thermally lined waders for its carp trapping program volunteers (shown here busy with the trapping program conducted in Autumn) - Brrrr!
Net openings being adjusted. 
Carp caught in the net. The Autumn trapping run showed that catch was reduced as the water temperatures dropped. 
Carp ear bones being removed. These allow caught fish to be aged. 
While set the carp net is closely monitored, checking for turtles, platypus or other bicatch. 
Carp net being removed at the end of the trapping period.