Whirling Disease at Strawberry !!

[Therapist]

Did anyone else see the piece on KSL Saturday night about Whirling Disease spores found in Kokanee collected at Strawberry ??? Any thoughts on how that will affect the whole fishery there ?? I know that the rainbows are very susceptible to it, but what about the Bear Lake Cutts, Tigers, and Kokes ??? What impact will it have on collecting Koke eggs and selling them ?? It just sounds like it si going to screw the whole setup there !!!

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Whirling disease is a scary thing in Utah, thanks to the legacy left by our former governor's family (Leavitts). And whenever it pops up in a new environment there is cause for concern. However, according to quotes and comments from the article in the Salt Lake Tribune [url "http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53037842-78/disease-strawberry-whirling-fish.html.csp"](LINK TO ARTICLE)[/url] we don't need to slit our wrists or jump off our tackle boxes yet.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Many biologists and knowledgeable Strawberry fans are surprised that it hasn't shown up before. But they are also mostly optimistic that the combination of the species mix, the planting and management program and basic biology will help keep the disease from decimating the lake. It will no doubt have visible effects, especially among the kokanee population, but the other species are not likely to be much affected. Cutts and tigers are more resistant to WD. Rainbows are mostly affected while they are still very small. And the rainbows planted in Strawberry these days are usually large enough to have escaped the worst of it.[/#0000ff]
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[toadly]

I have found evidence of Whirling Disease in Strawberry. In the DWR proclamation it says if a fish is caught that looks like the attached pic(or show signs of the disease) to keep it and get ride of it . Don't kill it and throw it back in the water!
The disease spreads by the rotting carcass.
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[Fishrmn]

Probably not related to whirling disease.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5a0GrrymNo

Notice the black tail?

The fish in your photo was most likely injured in a fish hatchery. It happens all the time.
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[cpierce]

The black tail is in an infected juvenile trout. Not all trout exhibit the black tail symptom of whirling disease even as juveniles. The black tail is when the pigment cells are also infected.

Whirling disease mainly affects the spinal and neural system. Survivors of the parasite may show deformities in the head and spine. It is important that they be removed from the system as they carry the parasite in their cartilage and bones.

So if the fish acts weird or is deformed REMOVE it.
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[toadly]

Better to remove the fish than to take a chance.
Looked like a deformed spine to me so I removed it.
The fish did fight well, even with its problems.
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[Fishrmn]

If it's protected by a slot limit, you can't legally take it. Regardless of whether it's hurt, bleeding, or infected.
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[cpierce]

13. How can I prevent the spread of whirling disease? [/url]
First and foremost, do not transport live fish from one water body to another without proper authorization. Even if a fish looks fine on the outside, it may carry the whirling disease parasite or another pathogen, and can introduce disease. Follow your state’s regulations for any stocking projects, and make sure to obtain certified disease-free fish from your supplier. A reputable supplier will be able to easily provide this certificate for you. This is the best way to ensure your pond stays free of disease and that you don’t accidentally introduce disease into the wild.
It is also important to carefully dispose of fish parts. When cleaning your fish, dispose of the carcass in the garbage, by deep burying, or by total burning.
[ul][ul][li]Please do not dispose of fish heads, skeletons or entrails in any body of water. This can spread parasites and disease. [/li][li]Also, don’t discard entrails or heads of fish down a garbage disposal. The whirling disease parasite can survive most water treatment plants and infect areas downstream. [/li][/ul][/ul]
Contact your local fish and wildlife agency if you observe signs of whirling disease in fish or observe illegal stocking of fish.
Be careful to clean all equipment such as boats, trailers, waders, boots, float tubes, and fins. Rinse all mud and debris from equipment and wading gear, and drain water from boats before leaving the area where you’ve been fishing. The spores of the whirling disease parasite are known to adhere to these kinds of materials and can potentially be carried on gear from one drainage to another. Careful cleaning will reduce this risk and will help prevent the spread of other diseases and invasive species.

from: http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu/about/faq.htm
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[FishSlayer2112]

[url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deformed_Brook_Trout.jpg"][/url]


Your photo is very simulare to this photo of a fish known to have WD.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]There was an editorial opinion posted in this morning's edition of the Salt Lake Tribune on the subject of whirling disease in Strawberry.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53086324-82/fish-disease-equipment-strawberry.html.csp"]LINK TO EDITORIAL[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It tries to offer some positive slants on the newly discovered problem and some suggestions on how anglers can help prevent the spread to other waters.[/#0000ff]
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[cpierce]

Another thing that should be mentioned is that you shouldn't put any fish parts down a garbage disposal. The disease passes right through the water treatment plants without being destroyed.
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