Clean, Drain, And Dry

[fishinwrench]

That sounds pretty extreme, but leads me to wonder what all those ZM's are eating to sustain themselves while their incredible numbers continue to increase on that ultra-clear body of water?

How bad are they in other lakes close to Winnebago? Same/better/worse ?

[bluebasser86]

I think it depends a lot on the body of water on how bad they are. They were confirmed in Perry Lake in NE KS in '07 and they rarely seem to be much of a problem and I honestly haven't ever seen many of them there. However they were confirmed in Melvern Lake in '11 and now there isn't a rock bigger than a marble in that lake that isn't covered with them. Forget about flipping any kind of cover, might as well cut your line and throw that bait in the lake, it would have the same effect. Bottom contact baits are very difficult to fish because of the sharp shells (we call them razor clams). Never had the problem with them cutting my feet while swimming but I go barefoot a lot so maybe my feet are too tough for them to cut.

[Quillback]

They have us flanked on both sides. Zebras in Kansas and Bull. Just a matter of time. Maybe they won't do as well down here as they do up north.

[Bird Watcher]

Maybe they won't do as well down here as they do up north.

I've had those exact thoughts. there seems to be a correlation between extreme infestations and latitude. Does anyone know of the point furthest South to experience an infestation along the likes of what Troller described?

[Sprint21fter]

Besides being very snaggy and cutting line with bottom baits all the zebra mussels do it clear the water clarity up. Lake Erie was hit with them and we all know what kind of small mouth fishing they have up there now. Before they were infested with them the locals up there claimed that Lake Erie wasn't a very good fishery. I am a shallow water fisherman but am used to the clear water so if it hits Table Rock we will have to make yet another adjustment to the always changing conditions that she throws at us.

[Champ188]

I've had those exact thoughts. there seems to be a correlation between extreme infestations and latitude. Does anyone know of the point furthest South to experience an infestation along the likes of what Troller described?

I know for sure they're in the Arkansas River from Oklahoma on down to south Arkansas, where the river empties into the Mississippi. They've been there at least since the mid-90s. As a rule, the river is clearer than before but fishing quality hasn't changed a great deal. The spotted bass are doing better than before the mussels, apparently because of the clearer water.

[5bites]

Besides being very snaggy and cutting line with bottom baits all the zebra mussels do it clear the water clarity up. Lake Erie was hit with them and we all know what kind of small mouth fishing they have up there now. Before they were infested with them the locals up there claimed that Lake Erie wasn't a very good fishery. I am a shallow water fisherman but am used to the clear water so if it hits Table Rock we will have to make yet another adjustment to the always changing conditions that she throws at us.

I thought it was the gobies that brought the smallmouth boom on up there?

[Champ188]

I think it was a combination of the two, 5bites. Perhaps the cleaner water allowed the gobies to thrive, which in turn fed the smallmouth boom. At any rate, whatever happened was a very good thing.

[5bites]

Maybe we need to get some of them dang gobies down here.

[bluebasser86]

They have us flanked on both sides. Zebras in Kansas and Bull. Just a matter of time. Maybe they won't do as well down here as they do up north.

My buddy swears that he saw zebra covered rocks in the Roaring River last summer but I would have to think someone else would have noticed them if they were there? I don't know if he would know the difference between a zebra and a regular freshwater mussel or clam anyways.