Sad News

[delcecchi]

I just heard that the DNR has confirmed Spiney Water Fleas in Big Bay.   Guys running downriggers noticed them.  DNR confirmed that is what they are. 

[BrianF]

Sad indeed.  From the DNR website:

DISRUPTING THE BALANCE

Biologists have documented the arrival of Bythotrephes into Lake Michigan, and they have studied the subsequent effects of this new predator on other species in the lake. As a consequence of these scientific investigations, much has been learned about the complex biological community of Lake Michigan, and about the interactions and special dependencies of various predators and prey, particularly fish and plankton.

Bythotrephes eat smaller herbivorous Crustacea, including the common zooplankton, Daphnia. Daphnia, however, are also an important food item for small, juvenile fish such as the bloaterchub. Bythotrephes thus competes directly with young fish for food. Because of their unique reproductive pattern, Bythotrephes can reproduce many times faster than the fish. Their rapid population growth enables Bythotrephes to monopolize the food supply at times, to the eventual detriment of the fish.

Although Bythotrephes can fall prey to fish, its spine seems to frustrate most small fish, which tend to experience great difficulty swallowing the animal. In Lake Michigan, Bythotrephes can rarely be found in stomachs of fish less than 5 centimeters (2 inches) in length, although fish of that size avidly consume Daphnia when that food item is available. There are indications that the growth rates and survival of these young fish may be adversely affected by the presence of Bythotrephes in the ecosystem, owing to competition for food. In general, the more abundant Bythotrephes becomes, the less food will remain available for juvenile fish.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I found some green stuff sticking to my lindy rigs in a muddy area and thought right away that it may be them!

Bad news indeed!!

Cliff

[SkunkedAgain]

Wow, that is terrible news. However, I've always felt that it's more an issue of "when" than "if" on Vermilion. Are there any mitigation techniques available to curb or eradicate the spiny water fleas?

[delcecchi]

Beats me. I don't think so.  On the other hand, there isn't a lot of evidence that they are bad for fish population even though it seems like they should be. 

[Capt. Quicksteel]

They've got them in Sandpoint and Namakan etc. I don't think they have been too bad. The one thing I would worry about is that they may use this as an excuse to close the Trout Lake portage. We used to be able to fly to some interior lakes from Crane but not any more because of the water fleas.

[SkunkedAgain]

I was just reading up on the spiny water fleas. It's good to hear that they aren't having huge effect on Sandpoint or Namakan, since I was reading that they consume a lot of the zooplankton, depleting the food supply chain at its base. Every lake is different but apparently a lot depends on whether the native fish take a liking to eating the spiny water fleas. If they do, then there is more food for native fish and populations increase. If they don't eat the spiny water fleas, then the fleas compete for food and reduce native fish populations. I'm still learning so maybe this isn't accurate. I only clicked on two links, one from the DNR and one from the Nat'l Park Service. I need to seek out some non-governmental assessments.

[delcecchi]

Yes, from what I was told, they affect the zooplankton which seems like it ought to have an effect on fish populations, but in actuality it doesn't seem to have happened to any great extent in the various lakes.

Have they had much effect on Burntside?

[MarkB]

Late this morning, after having an absolutely horrible morning fishing, I decided to try pulling crank baits. I decided on the south side of Birch Point. I also needed to verify a couple of shoreline structures

Every time I pulled up my lure to check for weeds etc. I noticed spiny water fleas approximately where my snap was on up the line about 6". Now, I mean EVERY time I checked I found the little buggers. From Birch Point all the way around to Jackrabbit Island. Rest assured, if you have any doubt you will be able to recognize them, fear not because they remind me of a skinny caterpillar with world class fuzz(spines) and black dots that must be a form of an eye.

They must be swimming little buggers because they have no problem hitching a ride on a line traveling 2.6 MPH. I don't know to what extent they will multiply and infest this lake but IF this is just the beginning, then we are going to have a bunch of unhappy anglers when they cling on all submerged line while fishing!

Good Fishing,

MarkB

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Very bad news indeed!

They must be more concentrated in the open water basin then close to shore because I fished that area last week with Lindy and saw no sign of them.

Cliff

[MarkB]

Actually, Cliff, I was running the 18'-20' contour which really isn't that far off shore on the south side of Birch Point. I picked them up virtually everywhere from the south shoreline, Skubic's old resort, Forest Lane, etc. I mean these little dudes are everywhere! I think they are going to be more trouble than zebra mussels if for no other reason than the way they attach to your line. You can't shake em off and if you don't remove by hand they wad up at your rod tip. I would be curious if they will eventually be in the entire water column(really BAD news) or just close to the bottom.

Good Fishing,

MarkB

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Mark,

That is the area and depth that I was rigging in on the South shore of Birch Point!

Maybe the wind direction plays into where they will show up the worse.???

There was a NW wind when I was fishing that area.

You are also probably right in the assumption that they will be worse then Zebs for us Lindy riggers!

Cliff

Edited August 9, 2015 by Cliff Wagenbach