[url "http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=KdiAtzzdouA%3d&tabid=180&mid=1471"]http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=KdiAtzzdouA%3d&tabid=180&mid=1471[/url]
The big surprise here for me was Salmon Falls Creek Reservior. Highly contaminated fish, apparently. I also noticed that Magic and Mackey are not listed. It would be interesting to know about those lakes. I guess if they are not specifically listed then they are safe?
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links not working for me buddy.
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Changed the link, try it now.
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I have been telling everyone bass are poison for years lol
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The only fish people eat in lake lowell is carp and suckers???? Ron
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this is why i catch and release lol
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Are there any advisories listed for consumption of crawfish?
Makes sense to me that if the fish listed as having high mercury content are preying on crawfish, then that is probably where they are getting it from.
Was looking forward to boiling some crawfish this year, but I'm having second thoughts now.
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I don't know. That is a very good question.
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I would thing that the crayfish would be OK.
The process that puts mercury into the larger fish is a cumulative one. It is most of the fish eating fish that accumulate levels of mercury. So avoid the larger bass and some brown trout etc.
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C, I agree with you and I think you are right, but your comments may not be completely accurate.
I'm having some trouble finding documentation on this, but bottom feeders have more contaminants than fish that feed higher in the water. For instance catfish and suckers have higher contmination than trout and salmon. The heavy metals sink to the bottom of the lake, so fish that live and feed there are inclined to have higher contamination levels. I don't know it all, but it seems that crayfish feed primarily on the bottom, and they live on the bottom, so it seems they might be inclined to have higher levels of contaminants.
I think it is worth thinking about.
Again, I am having trouble documenting it, so help me out if I am wrong.
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This 2008 State wide assessment will probably be helpful to you. I don't know if there is a more recent one out or not.
http://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/639760-ar...t_0508.pdf
In appendix D you can see what lakes were tested and what some of the actual levels for each of the lakes is.
Salmon Fall Creek Res unfortunately has one of the highest levels in the state.
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I thought I remembered a newer one. This it the 2010 study of the rivers.
[url "http://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/639752-arsenic_mercury_fish_tissue_report_0310.pdf"]http://www.deq.idaho.gov/...ssue_report_0310.pdf[/url]
And this is the department in charge. They could probably answer some questions.
[url "http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/surface-water/mercury.aspx"]http://www.deq.idaho.gov/...e-water/mercury.aspx[/url]
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I wonder about the crawdads, too. Seems they eat any dead old fish that sinks to the bottom so they would be the last customer for the concentrated mercury.
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It may depend on the pollution level in the water, but "traditionally" crayfish are considered to be a lower mercury species. The main reason is that they have a very short lifespan. They do not have time to accumulate much mercury in their tissues, even if they just chewed on the worst dead fish in the lake. It takes years to gain a dangerous level. They eat what they can get and fish parts are a feast, but mostly they eat plants, algae, and other junk.
The worst for mercury are the longer lived larger fish. Idaho has a statewide advisory for bass. Bass accumulate a lot because they are long lived and they are fish eaters from a young age. Even so if you want to eat them on a regular basis choose younger and smaller fish.
An occasional meal of any of the fish isn't going to be a problem. That is my opinion anyway.
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Do not eat Bass! Bass very, very bad for you!! Remember don't eat Bass!!! [cool]
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[quote Bassnbob]Do not eat Bass! Bass very, very bad for you!! Remember don't eat Bass!!! [cool][/quote]
bad for you or bad for the bass? [
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We've got so many stunted bass in some lakes, Utah encourages the take-keep of smaller bass. I do what I can to "help" on occasion.
So - I know they have these warnings and all, and I do appreciate the concern - but honestly - are our locally fresh caught- wild fish going to better or worse than those shrink wrapped Walmart - farmed in China fish "products" that stores sell? Or other "fresh" fish - from farms, or Indonesian waters....
In general I think Cpierce has made the point - bigger is badder. It's the top-carnivores, and older fish that will be a bigger threat.
I've got a chart somewhere with guidelines on how much/how often different groups of fish are considered "safe" (long as you not pregnant, or an infant).
So a pan full of perch is safer than a swordfish steak.
Anyone want to compare Fish Toxicity vs farmed chicken, beef, pork? Worry on it too much, and it's time to be a vegetarian, and grow your own!
just wash it down with a good beer, and you'll just pee out all the toxins! [laugh][crazy]
[quote CoyoteSpinner][quote Bassnbob]Do not eat Bass! Bass very, very bad for you!! Remember don't eat Bass!!! [cool][/quote]
bad for you or bad for the bass? [
]
We've got so many stunted bass in some lakes, Utah encourages the take-keep of smaller bass. I do what I can to "help" on occasion.
So - I know they have these warnings and all, and I do appreciate the concern - but honestly - are our locally fresh caught- wild fish going to better or worse than those shrink wrapped Walmart - farmed in China fish "products" that stores sell? Or other "fresh" fish - from farms, or Indonesian waters....
In general I think Cpierce has made the point - bigger is badder. It's the top-carnivores, and older fish that will be a bigger threat.
I've got a chart somewhere with guidelines on how much/how often different groups of fish are considered "safe" (long as you not pregnant, or an infant).
So a pan full of perch is safer than a swordfish steak.
Anyone want to compare Fish Toxicity vs farmed chicken, beef, pork? Worry on it too much, and it's time to be a vegetarian, and grow your own!
just wash it down with a good beer, and you'll just pee out all the toxins! [laugh][crazy][/quote]
+1 Most of the limits aren't worse than a yellow air quality day in the Treasure Valley.
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Brought home a limit of smallies yesterday. I'm betting they are good for the skillet.....
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Sounds good! I'll give that same section of river a try tomorrow evening.
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