Is Milfoil helping or hurting our lakes?

[Clayburn]

After all of the Milfoil controversy in the past, is milfoil acctually helping our fisheries?
Let us know what you think!

[Guest]

I think it is a little give and take. Some fish will do better with the extra cover but at the same time it makes it very difficult to fish for them-

[EBass]

Good Q!

I think it's good cover for the bass, but I still hate the plant. Rather have more coontail.

[Coach Dog]

From what I have seen, I believe it has improved fishing overall, especially bass fishing. Eurasian milfoil provides great habitat for bass and their prey. Cover, oxygen, spawning habitat, protection from sunlight, etc. Once you figure out how to fish it, the rewards can be outstanding. I will admit though, when the bite is tough, fish seem to bury themselves in there and not come out. It then can become VERY tough. It also can become a nuisance when it gets in your prop and trolling motor. My 2 cents.

Coach Dog

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GIT-R-Done!

[Mutty]

It makes the fishery better, no question. It makes catching fish tougher, in some situations. Once you figure it out, you'll love it.

[Clayburn]

I beleive that it's the best thing that has happened to our lakes. If it wasn't for this cover it would be easy pickings and our metro lakes would be fished out by now.

[Fish-n-Freak]

I would have to agree that the Milfoil has created a great habitat for the fish in the summer -- Shade, Oxygen and a place to hide. With all the fishing pressure the fish need a place to hide.

The negative comes every fall, as the plant dies and breaks down, this takes away oxygen from the water. Plus the added plant mass will 'age' a lake that much quicker, and speed up how fast a lake fills in.

Milfoil does provide great habitat, but it is not a great thing for the lakes as a whole.

Please keep your trailers and motors clean!

[John Mickish]

I also agree that the milfoil is helping the bass population, but remember that if it wasn't for the ice and cold to kill it off every year it would take over our lakes and make them unfishable. Thank god we get to go ice fishing!!

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It still beats workin'

[Fergus Mor McErc]

I don't think it's short term benefit is worth the long term harm it could do. Besides that, the stuff makes the lakes look terrible.

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Fergus Mor McErc
O Tempora! O Mores!

[Lunker]

I think it depends wholly on the lake and species. Besides being an eye sore and making for icky swimming, I think it helps the size/populations of some fish, especially bass and panfish. I think it is bad for pike/musky fishing when the cabbage gets knocked out, and I think it has little effect on walleyes or perch. I'll will say this though, if I could snap my fingers and have it all dissappear, I would in a second.