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Location: The desert | http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/127610953.html?page=1 |
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| wow...a very good read! |
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Location: Sycamore, IL | Thanks for sharing... |
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Location: Hugo, MN | Well written story but how horrible. All because of careless freighters crossing the ATL. I guess maybe the lack of fish will at least stop the Asian Carp from living there. |
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Location: Illinois | It really is an amazing story. Although the main point is certainly about the decimation of Lake Michigan via invasives, I was honestly more amazed at the family story. It was touching that Father and Son still fish together, but a very sad state of affairs for Lake Michigan. Pointer I have a question. It seems like the warm water species like musky, pike, smallmouth, walleye, are doing just fine in Lake Michigan but the Salmanoids and other cold water fish are struggling. Is is only a matter of time before the warm water species struggle as well or is it a changing of the guard? |
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Location: New Hope MN | Interesting indeed! I wonder what will happen when the carp get in there. |
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Location: The desert | husky_jerk - 8/20/2011 5:16 PM
It really is an amazing story. Although the main point is certainly about the decimation of Lake Michigan via invasives, I was honestly more amazed at the family story. It was touching that Father and Son still fish together, but a very sad state of affairs for Lake Michigan. Pointer I have a question. It seems like the warm water species like musky, pike, smallmouth, walleye, are doing just fine in Lake Michigan but the Salmanoids and other cold water fish are struggling. Is is only a matter of time before the warm water species struggle as well or is it a changing of the guard?
Tough question to answer. When fishing Green Bay you'll notice the water is anything but clear. It is possible for bodies of water to become partitioned to have mussels while other areas don't have any. Lake Mead in NV is a good example of this, well at least it was when it was first discovered as infested. One part of the lake was infested but there was no sign of the mussels on the other end (Lake Mead is pretty large). I'm not sure if the Green Bay area has mussels or not, it is entirely possible. I didn't pay much attention to it when I fished it, as I didn't have a vested interest in invasive species. Being an aquatic invasive species biologist, I now have much more of an interest.
It could be that the cold water species are a bit more specific on their prey needs and warm water species may more readily adjust their prey preference.
Personally, I think it will be a matter of time until the warm water species may struggle. We can only hope for the best. The battle against invasive very well may be a losing battle in the grand scheme of things, but by taking a proactive approach we can do as best as we can to prevent their spread. Cleaning, draining and drying your boat every time you come off the water can really go a long way. States need to move beyond volunteers watching lakes and need to set up programs designated solely to fight the spread. In these economic times this can be tough due to funding, but economic impact of infestation could potentially be far greater than the funding of a program. |
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| Lake Michigan is a cest pool when it comes to invasive species. I have to laugh when people say that invasive species are getting rid of the salmon, alwive and smelt - people do realize that these species are not native to Lake Michigan right?
Lake Michigan has seen it's share of invasive species and has always had a way of cleaning them up. Orange Ruffe were a fear a couple years ago and then white perch after them yet today you don't see any of them. I'm not saying that we don't have to stay vigilant but the great lakes have a way of policing themselves. |
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| In this series of articles, one story in particular was very interesting and that was how the white fish, in a matter of less than a decade were changing what they feed on, to survive. One commercial fisherman said it was like watching evolution at high speed. They are not as heavy but they are surviving. Maybe other species will also make the necessary adaptations.
What is really disgusting is that for decades it has been known that the salties bring in invasive species but the arguement has been it was too expensive for them to take the necessary steps to stop it. |
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Posts: 317
| This needs to be clear: Salmon are not native! They can be considered an exotic invader (purposely stocked) The system is returning to a warm water fishery that is supporting native gamefish with new healthy populations of Bass, Pike, Muskies, Walleyes...Some of these invaders are a boon to these species (gobies) The great lakes will probably not see a Salmonid population like in years past, but other gamfish are taking their place. |
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| Actually, the bay is a gin bottle for the most part. Once you leave the general vicinity of the Fox River(a couple miles north) it turns to gin like the rest of the bay/lake.
Actually the salmonoids(an invasive by definition) are doing quite well in lake MI, and anglers are reporting the largest fish captures in a decade or so(size per fish that is). Aside from the devastation that the invasives are causing, the DNR(s) stocking too many salmooids, has been as big a problem as any, which has been adressed. They wanted to cut further back years ago, but the industry wouldn't have any of it. With the cut backs now, to more closely match the prey tier of the triangle, fishermen are seeing huge rewards. They might not be filling their box with 25 salmon per trip for 5 guys, but they are catching some 25-35 lb fish which hasn't happened in awhile.
Remember, the salmon were first stocked to take care of another problem, the burgeoning mess of alewifes piling the shores. That was taken care of, and the balance struggle has since ensued.
Thanks to all for efforts in controlling, and also researching these invasives. Just when we thought the zebes were top enemy, enter quagga mussels that inhabit the deeper portions of the lake the zebras will not. Now the asian carp, that could've been stopped by poisoning the waters already rich with them(the artificial cess pool that is the is the chicago river for one), threaten our 8 billion $$ fishery.
Again, not a rant, but a thanks to those doing their part, and a polite prod for the Corpes of engineers and feds to please speed up your invasive economic impact report, and help begin with some more stringent ballast regs, and invasive thwarting methodology(whatever that may be). |
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Location: The desert | beaner - 8/22/2011 10:12 PM
Actually, the bay is a gin bottle for the most part. Once you leave the general vicinity of the Fox River(a couple miles north) it turns to gin like the rest of the bay/lake.
Actually the salmonoids(an invasive by definition) are doing quite well in lake MI, and anglers are reporting the largest fish captures in a decade or so(size per fish that is). Aside from the devastation that the invasives are causing, the DNR(s) stocking too many salmooids, has been as big a problem as any, which has been adressed. They wanted to cut further back years ago, but the industry wouldn't have any of it. With the cut backs now, to more closely match the prey tier of the triangle, fishermen are seeing huge rewards. They might not be filling their box with 25 salmon per trip for 5 guys, but they are catching some 25-35 lb fish which hasn't happened in awhile.
Remember, the salmon were first stocked to take care of another problem, the burgeoning mess of alewifes piling the shores. That was taken care of, and the balance struggle has since ensued.
Thanks to all for efforts in controlling, and also researching these invasives. Just when we thought the zebes were top enemy, enter quagga mussels that inhabit the deeper portions of the lake the zebras will not. Now the asian carp, that could've been stopped by poisoning the waters already rich with them(the artificial cess pool that is the is the chicago river for one), threaten our 8 billion $$ fishery.
Again, not a rant, but a thanks to those doing their part, and a polite prod for the Corpes of engineers and feds to please speed up your invasive economic impact report, and help begin with some more stringent ballast regs, and invasive thwarting methodology(whatever that may be).
Agree with pretty much everything said here. I don't know a ton about Lake Michigan, spent a little time fishing it but not a ton.
There was obviously some sensationalism going on in the article, but I think it does outline the fact that we could be a bit more proactive about fighting invasives.
Corpse of Engineers....I like that one! |
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Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | What drives me crazy is that the white fish fishery has been in decline for at least 25 years. We have been going to Gills Rock every year since 1980 and know all the commercial guys out there. A dozen boats used to come in with loads of fish every day back then. As soon as technology started improving their catches spiked and gradually went down. I'm not saying the mussels didn't help this along, but the problem existed years before they were introduced and took hold on the ecosystem. |
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Location: The desert | Muskie Treats - 8/22/2011 11:47 PM
What drives me crazy is that the white fish fishery has been in decline for at least 25 years. We have been going to Gills Rock every year since 1980 and know all the commercial guys out there. A dozen boats used to come in with loads of fish every day back then. As soon as technology started improving their catches spiked and gradually went down. I'm not saying the mussels didn't help this along, but the problem existed years before they were introduced and took hold on the ecosystem.
Commercial fishing will always be an issue with any fishery. Lots of fisheries have been collapsed due to commercial fishing. Cod fishery on the north east coast, sardine fishery off the south american coast, Icelandic cod fishery, Lake Superior lake trout fishery, etc.
I think the best example is the Icelandic cod fishery. They fished that into oblivion, realized it, set strict standards and got the commercial harvesters on board with the plan. Now that fishery is back. A lot of it is greed, without a care for the resources. |
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Location: Smith Creek | http://fourfish.org/
Extremely informative book about the collapse of several fisheries. Nature will never meet our demand, especially when you factor in pollution and dams. |
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