Bass Club Digest

Admittedly it sounds something like a B-grade movie, and truth be known, in the bass fishing world, “invasives” are more science fact than science fiction.

All across the country anglers are seeing “invasive” species or “aquatic nuisances species” (ANS) posed as threats to their bass fisheries. From Asian carp to zebra mussels, aquatic plants and critters are causing their share of problems (and more).

No surprise on the trouble from newcomers, however.

Typically, whenever a species is introduced (accidentally or intentionally) into a new ecosystem, things are apt to get out of balance.

Often, either the “new” species has no predator/control and runs amuck, or it forces other native species out of a once-balanced system.
There is a plan/balance in nature, and when you throw in accidents-happen humans, well, we can really screw things up. After all, we have turned loose a lot on the world from starlings to kudzu (anybody from the South?), mistakes have been made and many have stuck around to haunt us.
But the dilemmas from the ANS facing bass anglers today certainly seem overwhelming at times.

Take, for example, a list of troublemakers provided (in no particular order) to Bass Club Digest by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Senior Fishery Biologist Gene Gilliland. Also, note this is not all of the invasive threats to bass fishing; there are others. For now, let’s look at the invasive threats Gilliland offers and his thoughts on each:

Asian carp — Potentially these fish could disrupt entire ecosystems as their populations grow. Not so much a direct competitor with bass, but they do compete with native species lower on the food chain, thereby impacting bass. And as their numbers increase, they take up space (biomass) that could be made up of black bass and beneficial forage species.
Zebra mussels — These clog pipes in municipal and industrial water systems requiring millions of dollars to treat. Monitoring and control of zebra mussels costs added millions.
As filter feeders, they remove suspended particles from the water including plankton (algae) that is the base of the food chain for all other species. Zebra mussels, while they do clear the water, can alter the ecology of lakes and reservoirs and impact all other species over time.
Hydrilla — Probably the worst aquatic weed and it is now found in many parts of the country (not just the South). Plants form large, dense populations that displace native species and impair water use. Millions are spent on control that could be used to improve habitat. And when agencies that don’t like hydrilla, “control” it that usually means eradicate it. The only way to do that is to wipe out practically all the other vegetation and that results in a decrease in nursery habitat for black bass and reduced populations.
Salvinia — Giant salvinia can clog irrigation systems, navigable waters, fisheries and electric power production. Giant mats reduce light penetration and result in oxygen depletion. As light becomes limited, it affects the growth and survival of phytoplankton and other native plants. Oxygen depletion may be so severe beneath a mat that it causes fish kills. This stuff will even out-compete hydrilla!
Eurasian watermilfoil – “Shades out” and out-competes desirable native species and forms mono-specific colonies over large areas of some lakes. Dense mats and colonies restrict swimming, boating, bank fishing and negatively impact aesthetic appeal. The latter is why homeowner and lake associations spend $ millions to control it — and as with hydrilla, control usually means elimination and that is not good for fisheries.
Diseases — Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) likely mutated from a disease brought in to the United States with guppies (via the aquarium trade). Viral hemorrhagic septicemia has mutated to a disease that kills, not only trout and salmon, but smallmouth, muskies, etc. This is perhaps the scariest one. Who knows what other diseases are out there that could affect our native bass populations?
Rusty crayfish – Out-compete native crayfish. Reduce the amount and types of aquatic plants, invertebrate populations, and some fish populations--especially bluegill, smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Snakeheads — This invasive species was first found in the U.S.’s northeastern waters, also likely from the aquarium trade. They are a big unknown at this point. But their discovery is probably not good because they will compete as a predator with bass, but it remains to be seen how they will “fit in” to systems where they have been released. Either way, we don’t want to encourage the release of exotics of any kind into our waters.

What bass clubs can do?

OK, now that we’ve played the bearer of bad news, we also want bass fishermen to know that these invasives don’t have to be the equivalent of an angling apocalypse.

The best things bass clubs can do in combating these dilemmas is to get educated on how to prevent the spread of ANS — and then tell others, Gilliland said.

“By and large bass clubbers are educated on these issues. What they need to do now is become the educators and try and convince the non-angling public that aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are a bad thing for the country as a whole (not just for fishing). That is the only way that the time, energy and resources (money) that are necessary to prevent importation and spread of existing species will be made available.

“Bass clubbers are generally better informed about these issues than the general public and that is a problem. We (bass club members) now need to educate other anglers and boaters of these threats to our aquatic resources and get the non-angling public concerned enough to make a lot of noise about stopping these invasions,” Gilliland said.

If awareness is raised and sufficient resources are thrown at it. That means political action — and wheels will turn, he said.

Bobby Wilson, assistant chief of fisheries with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency believes anglers can help with ANS problems, and in a big way.

He said, potentially, anglers spread some of the invasive species (the official term is pathway). So, with that in mind, ways that they can help combat ANS are to:

Check their props and boat trailers for aquatic weed fragments;
Drain their livewells before going to another body of water;
If their boat has been docked in a body of water known to have zebra mussels then they should check the boat hull and motor to see if there are any zebra mussels attached and if so, remove the zebra mussels;
Do not release any bait back into the water alive — juvenile bighead and silver carp look a lot like a shad therefore they could accidentally be introduced into a body of water by anglers thinking that they were just another shad;
And finally, bass anglers can contact their legislators encouraging their support for programs that combat aquatic nuisance species,” Wilson said.
Fishery biologist and Pond Boss (www.pondboss.com) editor Bob Lusk, Sadler, Texas, also believes bass clubs can assist with the problems caused by aquatic nuisance species as well as improve the nation’s bass fisheries.
“Here’s what I think bass clubs should do. First, and foremost, they must learn more about bass habitat...and habitat of fish which bass eat,” Lusk said.

“Each one of those opportunities has habitat which allows those species to thrive. It’s the same with largemouth bass. If bass clubs begin a campaign to study habitat, water quality to go along with the population dynamics they already see, I truly believe we would see an increase in healthy bass populations. It would be a giant effort, but what’s it worth? I think if bass clubs would retrain their focus to improving a lake to grow and sustain more bass, they would be seen more as conservationists than consumers.
“It starts with a concept they can believe in. Then, they formulate a plan, put together a reputable “think tank” of knowledgeable people from different arenas, put together a pilot project, and study it. Then, pass it on, all over the country.”

Is there some good with invasive species?

Some good involved

It’s not all gloom and doom with ANS.

Many bass clubs tout the increased habitat with some aquatic vegetation, especially hydrilla.

“(Yes, and) In some systems, zebra mussels have cleared the water and allowed plants to grow which has helped the fishery. Exotic vegetation (hydrilla and milfoil) have improved some fisheries by providing nursery cover and foraging areas (habitat) - but on the larger scale, these non-native plants and animals are more harmful than good, so to say they are beneficial gives the wrong impression,” Gilliland said.

Lusk agrees.

“I don’t think any invasive species are healthy, but I think some of them can be tolerated. Heck, hydrilla is an invasive species and carries a hefty fine in Texas if anyone is caught with it, but fishermen love the wretched stuff. There are exceptions, of course, such as Lake Amistad in south Texas. But, for most lakes, hydrilla is a dominant invasive plant that consumes the entire habitat for native species of plants that are much better for a fishery.

“I’ve heard all the words about how good it is to fish around hydrilla, but that talk comes from people who launch a boat, fish the edges, and go home. For guys like me, and those who live around that lake, hydrilla impedes usage of the lake as wells as provides too much cover for newly hatched fish. I much prefer native species of non-invasive plants,” Lusk said.

Clubs Making A Difference

Gilliland said he was not aware of any specific club that is tackling ANS issues. However, he did note that State B.A.S.S. Federation Nations are working to prevent the spread of ANS.

“(For example) the Maine Federation worked with other partners to install a boat wash station to remove zebra mussels and plants from boats and trailers,” Gilliland said.

According to the Maine State Federation website (www.mebass.com), in May of 2006, the Federation, L.L. Bean Co., B.A.S.S./ESPN and Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed worked together to construct the boat wash at the state’s most popular fishing watershed.

This effort was to likewise support the federal “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” program, which seeks to slow and prevent the spread of unwanted aquatic organisms from one body of water to another.

The Maine Federation Nation actively participates in the state’s Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program. And there are over 50 certified invasive plant inspectors in the Maine Federation.

Waterville, Maine’s John Blais is also Conservation Director of the Maine State B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

“The Maine State Bass Federation Nation got involved with this project to promote education on the spread of invasive species,” said Blais, who also owns a guiding operation, Belgrade Bassin’ (www.belgradebassin.com).
“We, as bass anglers, are often pointed to as part of the problem, here in Maine we want to be part of the solution for the spread of aquatic invasives to keep public access open.

Aquatic Nuisance Species Also Threaten Economy

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Senior Fishery Biologist Gene Gilliland said aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are defined as “aquatic or terrestrial organisms and plant species that have been introduced into new ecosystems throughout the United States and are having harmful impacts on the natural resources in these ecosystems and the human use of these resources.”

“Not only do these organisms pose a threat to the natural ecosystems, they pose a threat to our economy as well,” Gilliland wrote.
“Southwick Associates, a fish and wildlife economics consulting firm, reported that the impact from invasive species is 53 times greater than all the state fish and wildlife agency budgets, combined. It is 35 times more than the revenue received by states through the Sport Fish Restoration (Wallop-Breaux) program.”

Gilliland said the common thread in combating ANS is education and awareness.

“I agree. Informing and educating anglers is a big part in the battle to stop (or at least slow) the spread of invasive aquatic critters, plants and disease organisms. Government agencies are using the Internet to provide information to the public. Websites such as www.anstaskforce.gov, www.protectyourwaters.net and www.100thmeridian.org have the facts about species of concern, the problems they cause, and suggestions to prevent spread,” he told BCD. — Taylor Wilson

Can Technology Curb Mississippi River’s Asian Carp Explosion?

Asian carp such as silver and bighead have received much attention in the past few years, having invaded the Mississippi River and its oxbows and tributaries.

Though these fish don’t compete directly with bass, they do compete with native species lower on the food chain, and as is evident in many places along the Mississippi, their numbers can soar.

Some Mississippi River oxbows are already reportedly over-run with Asian carp.

However some research in Australia, where they have some of the same troubles with invasive fish species, as the U.S. has with Asian carp, is showing some promise of curing the problem.

The method, probably best termed "bio-technology", has allowed scientists to use a carp’s own genes to “shut off” a gene so that females of the species are not produced.

“And if this technology can be used to reduce the numbers of female carp produced in the wild,” the article states, “it then follows that over the long term carp populations could be reduced or even eliminated from our rivers and lakes,” the article stated.

“Biologists have long known that female fish are developed only when an enzyme called aromatase transforms androgen into estrogen. And in the past it had been possible to chemically block aromatase to produce only males, but biologists in Australia have advanced the science by figuring out a way to make the trait an inheritable characteristic of future generations.”
Upon learning of this, I contacted Bobby Wilson an assistant fisheries chief in Tennessee. And Wilson indicated, despite new technology, it will still largely be a wait and see deal for most stateside biologists. Such research may be a long way from becoming useful here.

But the notion that there is an opportunity to turn around the invasive carp situation is a welcome thought, indeed.

Perhaps similar remedies/solutions can be found through science to help remedy problems caused by other aquatic nuisance species? Only time will tell. — Taylor Wilson

Web site designed and hosted by Roe Graphics.