Freshwater Fishing News

Among the most detrimental aquatic invasive species are zebra mussels and Quagga mussels.

The zebra mussel is named for its distinctive brown stripes. The species is a native of Europe. It first appeared in North America in the 1990s and quickly established itself in several major lakes and reservoirs.

The Quagga mussel, originally from Russia, also established populations in North America during the mid-1990s. The Quagga mussel is slightly larger than the zebra, its impact on lakes is the same. Although both species invaded the Grate Lakes region, the Quagga eventually dominated because they can live in deeper, colder water.

Zebra and Quagga mussels are eaten by ducks and other aquatic life. Fish that feed on mussels include common carp, redear sunfish, gobies, and other species. Although predation may reduce the number of zebra mussels in a limited area, it is not effective in eradicating mussels from a lake.

Both zebra and Quagga mussels feed by filtering plant plankton from the water, which increases water clarity in lakes. Because if the increased water clarity, aquatic plants often grow in deeper areas. As they feed, mussels deposit waste on the bottom, which in turn, helps sustain bottom-dwelling worms, scuds, insect nymphs and larvae.

A new state-record bighead Asian carp was among nearly 12,000 fish taken by participants in the Bowfishing Association of Illinois’ second annual Director’s Shoot on the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park, July 16-17.

The new record for bighead carp taken by bow – a 59 lb. 4 oz. fish – was brought in by Robb Kemper of the Team Fish Slayer bowfishing team of Iowa during the tournament.   The previous bowfishing record for bighead carp in Illinois was 43 lbs. 5.6 oz. set last year on the Des Plaines River in Will Co.

In all during the weekend tournament, participants took 48,000 pounds of invasive fish from the Illinois River during an eight-hour period.

The Bowfishing Association of Illinois Director’s Shoot targeting Asian carp included a day shoot on July 16 and a night shoot from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. on July 16-17.

“Bowfishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Many of the fish we can harvest by bow are quite tasty, gar, silver, bighead and grass carp as well as the sucker species. Any invasive fish such as the Asian and common carps that are removed by bowfishing is a big plus for our waters as well,” said BAI Club President Ed Devries.

Participating teams were able to weigh-in their 30 top fish taken by bow, with prizes awarded to the heaviest stringer.

Awards were also presented in an invasive fish format in which teams competed for the most Asian carp and common carp taken by bow.  The winning team in the numbers division, Team Innerloc from Iowa, took 2,932 Asian carp and common carp from the river. The second-place team removed 1,937 invasive fish from the river and the third-place team removed 1,435 fish.   In all, the 54 teams removed approximately 12,000 fish – or about 24 tons of fish – from the Illinois River.

Next year’s Bowfishing Association of Illinois Director’s Shoot is scheduled for July 21-22, 2012.  For more information on bowfishing and the Director’s Shoot, contact the BAI at 630-886-1672.

For information on bowfishing regulations and other fishing opportunities in Illinois, check the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov/fishing or the ‘I Fish Illinois’ website at www.ifishillinois.org

source: Illinois DNR

In May, the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC)  released its 2011 Asian Carp Monitoring and Rapid Response Plan (MRRP), outlining an aggressive set of actions to track and remove Asian carp in the Upper Illinois River and the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) to prevent this invasive species from establishing in the Great Lakes.

In 2010, Federal and state partners executed an aggressive, coordinated Asian carp monitoring and sampling strategy, dedicating more than 16,000 hours to surveying and removing Asian carp in more than 200 miles of Illinois waterway. On-the-ground actions ranged from cutting-edge scientific analysis of water samples for Asian carp DNA to intensive use of traditional fishing methods such as electrofishing and netting.

These actions were part of a comprehensive, multi-tiered Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework first released in May 2010. The 2011 MRRP summarizes the monitoring results from 2010, continues and intensifies these monitoring and sampling actions to take advantage of new technology, tools and understanding of this invasive species, and outlines a strategy for rapid response in the event an Asian carp is found above the barrier system in the CAWS.

The 2011 MRRP, which represents an estimated $7 million Federal investment, is designed with the flexibility to respond to new threats.

The ACRCC is led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation and all eight Great Lakes states, as well as the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and the City of Chicago.

For more information on the 2011 MRRP, 2010 actions, or to view the entire 2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, visit: www.asiancarp.org

source: Illinois DNR

Stocked trout carrying whirling disease were released by the State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) into Maryland streams during spring 2011 stocking efforts. Maryland DNR has confirmed the presence of whirling disease in a delivery of 8,000 commercially produced rainbow trout stocked in several Western Maryland streams.

On May 11, 2011, DNR staff observed suspicious behavior in fish that had been stocked in the North Branch Delayed Harvest Area, Evitts Creek, Jennings Run and Sidling Hill Creek. They immediately ceased stocking activities and took samples for testing. Results of this sampling confirmed the presence of whirling disease.

The whirling disease parasite was introduced into the eastern United States from Europe in the late 1950s and is currently known to exist in 24 states. It was first discovered in Maryland in 1995 in the North Branch Potomac River. Although harmless to humans, the parasite can be fatal to trout and is particularly harmful to rainbow trout.

MD DNR continues testing to investigate the outbreak and is working with the vendor in question to determine why potentially diseased fish may have been delivered.

According to MD DNR,  hatchery resources cannot meet all the demand for stocked trout, so commercially produced fish are used to supplement spring trout stocking. Vendors that supply fish to the State are required to be certified disease free for three years.  Maryland annually stocks approximately 328,000 fish for the spring trout season.

The agency recently reminded anglers to help prevent the spread of disease and invasive organisms by cleaning boots and equipment thoroughly after fishing. Officials also ask that anglers do not move fish from one stream to another or discard carcasses in streams or on stream banks.

This latest whirling disease outbreak fuels an ongoing national debate about environmental effects that are associated fish stocking programs. Opponents of trout stocking programs cite the spread of invasive diseases, and declines of native trout due to introductions of non-native species and strains as evidence that trout stocking program reforms are long overdue.

A brochure on whirling disease is available at dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pdfs/wd_brochure.pdf

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is banning felt soles in Maryland waters beginning March 22, 2011 to protect and preserve native wildlife and habitats.

The new regulations are an effort by the state to combat didymo, an invasive form of algae which thrives in cold flowing waters such as trout streams. Once didymo takes hold, it can bloom into infestations of enormous numbers resulting in a yellow-brown mass that may dominate sections of a river. Over time, dramatic changes in stream biology are probable, and the thick mats of algae make fishing virtually impossible.

DNR biologists found didymo in Gunpowder Falls in 2008 and responded with educational efforts, adding wader wash stations at popular access points on the river.

In 2011, a didymo bloom occurred  in the Savage River. Didymo is not a human health risk, but the dense mats of algae may negatively impact bottom dwellers such as crayfish, mayflies and stoneflies.

“Felt is porous and can remain damp for weeks, keeping harmful microscopic organisms alive and making it virtually impossible to disinfect,” said Jonathan McKnight, head of DNR’s invasive species team.

According to Maryland DNR, boots featuring rubber soled are readily available from various manufacturers at most outdoor retailers.

Maryland is encouraging anglers and stream lovers to remove all debris and water from their boats, clothes and gear before leaving a stream. In addition to the new regulations, the state is providing anglers with wader wash stations to clean their boots and gear before heading to another body of water.

According to MD DNR, officers will initially issue a warning and an information card to anyone wearing felt-soled boots or waders.

For additional information on didymo, the felt ban and how to resole your boots/waders with the new rubber compounds, visit http://dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/pdfs/felt_sole_faq.pdf