Keeping Out Invasive Species

[MoCarp]

9 hours ago, MOPanfisher said:

While not out of the question I would think common carp with their soft lips would have a very tough time getting zebras off of anything,

Its amazing how strong carp lips are, feed the carp at Orleans Trail marina at let them turn with your finger! did that once and jacked up my knuckle for a month...

commons also have crusher plates in the backs of their throats, makes short work of them....The Common carp's native ranges over lap the native ranges of Zebra Mussels, they are adapted to feed on them, as a note in US waters with Zebra mussels the carp seem to get bigger

Native Range: The zebra mussels is native to the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas and Ural River. .....Common carp's native range also extends to the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Aral Sea.  In Europe, domestication of carp as food fish was spread by monks between the 13th and 16th centuries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_mussel

 

[bluebasser86]

Blue catfish eat lots of zebras too. The zebras are in most of the lakes I fish. One of the lakes I guide on has a strong population of blue cats and on a recent trip I caught a blue with so many shells in it's guts that it rattled when I cradled it's belly. Also expelled several empty shells on the carpet of my boat  It was a making quite the living off those things by the looks of it.

[MoCarp]

yes read that....from my research diving ducks eat them too

, as far as fishing, the great lakes improved from what I have read....not that we need them, but I bet if grand gets many it will get much  clearer

[Stump bumper]

1 hour ago, MoCarp said:

yes read that....from my research diving ducks eat them too

, as far as fishing, the great lakes improved from what I have read....not that we need them, but I bet if grand gets many it will get much  clearer

From my limited understanding, zebra mussels are natural water filters increasing water clarity. Since the Ozark lakes are used for drinking water this would help in the filtering process. The problem is they clog intakes over time. but the trade off of cleaning intake hoses once a year verses having natural water filters running 24/7 at no cost would be worth the cost of the cleaning intake hoses.

The only draw back I have seen are they are really hard on fishing line. The size and numbers of small mouth in Lake Erie has been credited to the introduction of the Zebra mussel an I don't see any problem with more big small mouth in any lake. 

[Blll]

Stump, I agree that clearer water makes sense and Zebras will do that. But in the process they filter out (eat) the tiny nutrients that support the beginning of the food chain. The Lake Erie smallmouth success is coupled with the explosion of gobies that they eat and can now see easier. Besides the intake pipes being clogged, every boat lift and dock would also become a colony with eventual failure to function. I'm sure no expert but coming from Illinois where Lake Michigan was perhaps the 1st lake invaded, I've witnessed what they can do. The perch fishing in Lake Michigan has all but ended because there is no food for the fry.  My boat lift would have to be scraped every fall because they would get into the joints and cable runs. Trust me, we don't want them in Beaver. JMO

[Mitch f]

On 6/14/2017 at 1:24 PM, MoCarp said:

Rusty Crayfish

In order to keep from spreading the invasive Rusty Crayfish, please use our craws at Tackle HD, there is no way our craws will breed, they have been sterilized by Hog Wally.  Go to www.tacklehd.com and do your part for conservation. 😁

[Quillback]

3 hours ago, Blll said:

Stump, I agree that clearer water makes sense and Zebras will do that. But in the process they filter out (eat) the tiny nutrients that support the beginning of the food chain. The Lake Erie smallmouth success is coupled with the explosion of gobies that they eat and can now see easier. Besides the intake pipes being clogged, every boat lift and dock would also become a colony with eventual failure to function. I'm sure no expert but coming from Illinois where Lake Michigan was perhaps the 1st lake invaded, I've witnessed what they can do. The perch fishing in Lake Michigan has all but ended because there is no food for the fry.  My boat lift would have to be scraped every fall because they would get into the joints and cable runs. Trust me, we don't want them in Beaver. JMO

Yep, I wonder if the Z's would compete with the shad for plankton.  A significant drop in the shad population would not be good for the stripers or any other fish that relies on them. 

[MoCarp]

as far as cleaning, in the salt water areas they have had to contend with barnacles, same issue different critter, as far as nutrients, source point pollution human waste from septic tanks and waste water treatment plants, livestock operations and run-off from cities makes our water sheds speeds eutrophication, providing food for plankton that feeds the filter feeders be it shad, spoonbill or Zebra mussels..I think I read somewhere walleyes are using zebra shell beds as spawning substrate clear and have better fry survivability...niches that are empty get filled...

[PigSooner]

In case anyone wants to sign the petition. 

https://www.change.org/p/keep-ar-waterways-free-of-invasive-species-support-agfc-wild-caught-baitfish-proposals?recruiter=733476377&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive