Zebra Mussels

[MoCarp]

There are many occurances of warm drought conditions causing the clammy filter feeders die off in droves--they no likee the hot water!!!

MO

[Phil Lilley]

I don't understand about the cut offs. Please explain what you mean to someone who knows nothing about zebra mussels.

I think this is what he's refering to - ZM's inhabit the bottom and because of their sharp edges they cut lines easily.

[hoover25]

Look at the 2005 USGS map.....hot wateris not slowing them down.

Just think about what the docks will look like. Yuck!

And yes, they are like razor blades for fishing line.

[Bobby M.]

this may be dumb, but table rock is a very infertile lake, except the james arm. I think it may be hard for the zebra mussels to obtain enough food to become a problem in T-Rock. just my two cents, I am sure we will find out sooner or later if they will make it in T rock. anyway, what are they going to do, make the water clearer. haha

[Wayne SW/MO]

but table rock is a very infertile lake,

What makes you think that? If anything it appears the whole lake is becoming more fertile. Its not just Springfield that has exploded, but northwest Arkansas as well.

The lake in the Dam area is no where near as clear as it was 20-30 years ago, and it had changed then.

[skeeter]

Any information/experience available what these mussels do to docks ? If they are prolific filter feeders don't they attach to floats, cables and any boats left in the water ? From the pictures posted, if they do attach, I would think they could add tons of weight to a structure in the water ??? Thanks..

[CaptainT16]

Yes, they will attach themselves to everything they can. There is a picture of a fishing pole on the front of Kansas Wildlife and Parks website and it shows a simple fishing pole that someone had lost throughout their fishing adventure and it is covered with the mussels. I got snagged on a bigger tree limb once at El Dorado and I reeled it in and to my surprise it was so covered and sharp I had to end up cutting the line. I have noticed one attached to my boat once while fishing, but keeping your boat in for long periods of time, yep, they will cover it. As far as the weight they add I'm not sure. They are pretty small and I would thinks thousands of them would create some weight issues, but not quite sure on that. It is sad to see them being scattered everywhere as they are.

[gonefishin]

I wonder what, if any, impact filter feeding fish (Spoonbill, Buffolo, ect) have on Zebra Mussle Larva? Anybody heard?

[MoCarp]

this may be dumb, but table rock is a very infertile lake, except the james arm. I think it may be hard for the zebra mussels to obtain enough food to become a problem in T-Rock. just my two cents, I am sure we will find out sooner or later if they will make it in T rock. anyway, what are they going to do, make the water clearer. haha

boy you got that right, the lake is clear..but I have seen more color than in years past

Mo

[Sam]

We can forget about being saved by warm water temps.

I don't doubt that Zebra Mussels have some die-offs in hot conditions - but after reading this thread I checked something out on the 'net.

The Black and Caspian Seas (where they originate) have seasonal variations in surface water temperatures from about 46 degrees to about 86 degrees.

Just about like here.