Recently got back from a fishing trip to Lake Powell, however this isn't a report on the fishing. Our party went up to Good Hope and camped for a few days. I was totally shocked by the mussels all over the exposed rocks, they were even on the dead stick ups. I took a couple pictures, but you have to see it to believe it, makes you sick. I hope everyone heeds the drain and dry policy and we can keep them out of the rest of our lakes. I know its a pain to wait in line to be decontamed but we need to do it.
I know some of the other guys took some more pics. hopefully they will add them.
As you say. That's pretty shocking to see that so close to home.
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Gary, Good to see you and Shane ironically at the decon station.
What I find astounding is how quickly the mussels have multiplied. They show on the rocks 15 to 20 feet above the current water level and under water as far as the visibility allows. There are 100’s of millions of them. Without any known predators.
According to Wayne Gustaveson, LP fisheries biologist, the days of the fantastic striper fishery are limited. The NPS warns that the mussels cut feet and even pets needs shoes.
This is a real tragedy. Thanks for your reminder for everyone to be vigilant and do their part in trying to keep the mussels from spreading.
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Time to stock shell crackers! Not like it could hurt.
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shell crackers ?
[quote brookieguy1]Time to stock shell crackers! Not like it could hurt.[/quote]
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Redear Sunfish, known as shellcrackers in the South. Their primary diet items are small clams and other shellfish.
A new world record one came from Lake Mead a year or so ago, where they are apparently happily gorging on quaggas.
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Unfortunately it’s only a matter of time in the state as we see it. Selfish inconsiderate all about me having fun will do Utah in.
But I’ll say last year we did see a whole lot more boats getting hosed down by DWR seasonal technicians and AL&L camp hosts calling agencies when an asshat doesn’t think rules apply to them and proceeded to try and launch.
What should scare all is early spring and Fall with folks who have recreated in infested waters want a few weeks. Most places in Northern Utah don’t have technicians manning bodies of water.
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That's pretty
to see. I didn't know they were that bad. They won't survive the drought, but shell crackers should have been stocked as soon as they were discovered.
They have proven to be a help in the lower Colorado river impoundments, cut em loose, I say. They grow to 5 pounds and don't compete with anything else in Powell, maybe an overlap with the bluegills at nesting, but bluegill don't eat quaggas.
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The idea of stocking red ears was brought up several years ago already. The DWR has been looking into it and already working through the process; however, with all of the red tape and problems associated with the ESA and species in the Colorado River below Powell, it may never happen.
Also, FWIW, early indications are that the mussels may actually be helping the fishery out--the mussels reproduce throughout the summer and veligers could be supplying stripers additional food sources (especially the little ones) to help them maintain some weight through difficult or low forage times. It is really interesting stuff...only time, though, will really tell what impact the mussels will have on the fishery.
I was just down there this past weekend and had a great time....the numbers of stripers in that reservoir are unreal and we haven't had any major population crashes for a number of years. Cross your fingers...but, right now, the mussels and the gizzard shad are having a noticeable but positive impact on fish.
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Please excuse my ignorance but how does this negatively effect the fishery or stripers?
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In a book about Lake Powell, by Wayne Gustaveson, he outlines a series of events that lead to a potentially serious decline in Striper numbers starting with the fact that mussels strain the plankton - which is base food for not only small shad but also for stripers. The chain thing.
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Oh ok, thats interesting. Thanks for the reply. I went on a striper fishing trip in 2001. That was a lot of fun. i hope to make it back some time in my life.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]It all started in the Great Lakes and has destroyed the fishery they had there almost single handedly. Here is a link to just one of hundreds of articles that described the carnage. It ain't pretty and it does NOT bode well from Utah. Check out the link below:[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#000000][url "http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/04/zebra_mussels_damage_make_them.html"]Zebra mussels' damage make them the worst of all Great Lakes exotic species[/url][/#000000][/font]
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Gary, sorry it took so long to post some pics of our trip.
I had a FANTASTIC time camping with you, Art, and Sterling.
I'm glad we all got our boats off the beach and they are still not there. What a wind saturday night!
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Your pics show Lake Powell today. Scarred by Mussls but beautiful and plentiful of fish.
That Saturday eve wind was incredible. We were in the lodge and commented that we would not want to be camped on the lake. Digging a boat off shore isn’t the way to end a trip, but you did indeed have the advantage of being in the middle of “prime location”. A lot to be said for that. Glad it turned out.
BTW, what’s with you and w___d? First Fish Lake and now LP. I wa going to schedule that July trip about the same time but....
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Great, now I am getting blamed for the Fish Lake wind!
Seriously though, I really am hoping to fish with you on the 24th. In fact, I'm planning on following you around so I can catch perch >6".
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[quote brookieguy1]Time to stock shell crackers! Not like it could hurt.[/quote]
That idea should win the $100,000 prize! You can buy a nice fishing boat with that. Congratulations!
Seems like someone should have thought of that sooner.
As RockyRaab says: "A new world record one came from Lake Mead a year or so ago, where they are apparently happily gorging on quaggas."
Perhaps with our long delay in stocking these Red Ear Sunfish allowing our biomass food source of food for them to grow huge, in a few years of them eating up mussels we can get some record size Red Ear Sunfish. What a deal! Fishing will be good!
Ronald
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[quote RonPaulFan]
That idea should win the $100,000 prize! You can buy a nice fishing boat with that. Congratulations!
Seems like someone should have thought of that sooner.
As RockyRaab says: "A new world record one came from Lake Mead a year or so ago, where they are apparently happily gorging on quaggas." [/quote]
Isnt' the prize for a solution to the problem?
Red ear's won't eliminate, let alone control, the quagga's. They might utilize them, but they won't solve the problem.
FWIW -- blue gill are already utilizing them. And, as mentioned previously by w&b, the larva are being utilized by other sportfish as well. It might not make any difference at all to add red ear's.
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It might be several more years before Shellcrackers can be stocked, if they can. DWR has to do all the federal paperwork, EIS', compatibility studies, impact on down stream endangered species, etc and then the USFWS has to approve it. As to the drought killing them off, not chance. Look at Mead. It is at historical lows and the mussels have extended into the very depths of the lake and will survive. The only chance is that a biological solution is found. Several researchers in Michigan were working on a bacteria that targets them only and have been testing it on small bodies of infected waters in the upper midwest, but haven't heard anymore on it for several years. We can only hope. Unfortunately, many state seem to be relaxing their vigilance regarding them and giving cursory inspections. Many are using it as a fund raising tool, collecting fees for "inspections" and not doing anything about it, ie Utah.We have inspection stations at all the Ports of entry, but they are seldom manned. Idaho, for instance, has their stations manned year round, inspecting every water craft that comes into the state. They are serious, we are not !!