Jim J

Two of the deepest cuts....

I don't seem to recall that conversation....

More Fish Found Dead In Shenandoah Posted 2007-03-31

Researchers Continue To Search For Causes

By Dan Kipperman

HARRISONBURG — Researchers on the Shenandoah River were out in full force this week.

Since Monday, members of the Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force have been collecting samples of fish to find the cause of kills that have plagued the river in recent years.

Results from this week show that about 20 dead or dying fish have turned up at various points along the river.

Steve Reeser, a biologist with Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, says the relatively small amount of dead fish doesn’t necessarily mean a larger outbreak is on the way.

"Nothing has really jumped out at us so far," he said. "The few dead fish we’ve found have been in isolated areas. What that’s indicative of, I have no idea."

Some Dead Fish Found

Researchers say the current situation does not compare to the massive kills that have occurred in the last three years.

Reeser and Department of Environmental Quality biologist Don Kain, who co-chairs of the task force, found about six smallmouth bass either dead or dying near Island Ford Road in eastern Rockingham County near Elkton on Wednesday.

"They were just upstream of the Merck and Coors plants," Resser said.

After finding the dead fish, Reeser and Kain electro-shocked a group of about 100 more in that same area, and found that 10 percent showed signs of some stress, including small lesions. Electro-shocking momentarily stuns fish and brings them to the surface where they can be netted and researched in a live well for examination.

"It’s not becoming a major event just yet," Reeser said. "But we’re certainly keeping our eye on things."

Last spring, hundreds of northern hogsucker fish died in the main stem of the Shenandoah River, while smallmouth bass and sunfish died in the north and south forks of the river.

In 2005, 80 percent of the smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish died in the South Fork, and a similar kill occurred on the North Fork in 2004.

Good Time For A Kill?

Kain said that collecting fish early in the spring could help in the event that another massive kill hits the river this year.

"Right now, the river is our laboratory," he said. "None of us want to see another fish kill, but if something happens, we want to be there."

Shenandoah Riverkeeper Jeff Kelble, an environmentalist who is part of the task force, says the group is ready should another massive fish kill occur.

"If there ever was a good time for a fish kill, now would be it," he said. "We’ve been planning for a year and a half. We’ll be able to take advantage if something happens."

Kelble said that most of the river is free of dead or diseased fish, but any abnormality is worth taking a look at.

"I’ve been happily surprised a couple of times when I don’t find anything wrong," he said. "But then it makes you wonder what is going on with all the diseased fish."

Contact Dan Kipperman at 574-6274 or dkipp@dnronline.com

Jonn,

Here's a page of them.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?f...storm+wee+warts

Mike,

Will you do an article for the newsletter about this?

Jim

Some good ones....

2. Invertebrate surveys

5. Erosion monitoring

6. Monitor algae blooms

I think there might be two ways to approach these items in regard to the volunteer aspect.

One might be to pick projects that are easy to do (time wise and consistency wise) and can be incorporated into a guy's fishing day and be done by one individual seeing that a lot of guys fish alone.

The other might be to set an day (or multiple days) on the calendar where we meet at a location with a bunch of guys and complete a morning project such as an invertebrate survey.

If we could pick two types of projects and give info (instructions) on each, then a guy could pick what suits his time and commitment.

A lot of these are hard for the regular guy to choose based on the above info.

For example, how many times during the year does #5 have to be done? In how many locations and with what equipment? Without that info I (and probably others) couldn't make a full commitment.

Thanks Ken

I've had a few other people recommend Cortland.

I picked up some Suffix and I will also pick up some Cortland and try them both.

Good info.

Scott's camera is perfect for river fishing. Tried to get one for Christmas last year. Not made anymore.

One hand, waterproof.

To read more about this go here:

http://www.anglerslegacy.com/default.aspx?id=755

IndyStar

March 11, 2007

outdoors: skip hess

New rules protect bass

There are a couple of Indiana fishing regulation changes this year that are sure to get the attention of anglers who have never fished the state's streams for smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Many Hoosiers who fish for smallies often travel to big lakes in other states, such as Ohio and Minnesota, in hopes of catching a trophy 20-inch smallmouth bass.

The attention-getter for anglers who have ignored the local creeks and rivers is that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources this year put a 20-inch minimum size limit on bass caught in portions of Sugar Creek.

DNR folks say that Sugar Creek has an "excellent" smallmouth bass population that exhibits good growth rates. By protecting bass that are 20-inches and less, the DNR predicts that Sugar Creek has the potential to produce even bigger fish.

In addition to the size limit, there's also a new one-fish daily bag limit on Sugar Creek waters that flow through Tipton, Clinton, Boone, Parke and Montgomery counties.

Another popular fishing stretch of water is Blue River. This year, the DNR has imposed a bass slot limit in Crawford, Harrison and Washington counties.

Only bass smaller than 12 inches and larger than 15 inches may be kept. The new rule also affects the bag limit of five. No more than two bass may be 15 inches or longer.

The DNR says the slot limit rule is needed to thin out a large population of slow-growing small bass to improve the growth of the remaining bass.

To keep anglers from getting caught off-guard by a conservation officer enforcing special lake fishing regulations, the DNR has listed the lakes and their locations on page 49 of its 2007 Indiana Recreation and Fishing Guide.

The guide is free at sporting good stores and discount store outdoor departments

Thanks.

Tom,

Please change your screen name to a first name and last initial.

Thanks.

Va. scientists refine fish kill search

ROANOKE, Va. — With spring approaching, Virginia scientists are planning a more comprehensive attack to find the cause of the mysterious fish kills in the Shenandoah River and its tributaries. State agencies will continue practices of monitoring water quality and testing fish specimens that they've conducted since thousands of fish began dying for unexplained reasons three years ago. But based on advice from two university professors, scientists will broaden their search for the cause or causes, state Department of Environmental Quality biologist Don Kain said Monday.

Don Orth, a Virginia Tech professor of fisheries and wildlife science, said he also will solicit help from scientists doing research in the valley that's unrelated to the fish kills.

"There is something wrong systemically with the whole basin," said Orth, who along with Greg Garman of Virginia Commonwealth University helped state scientists focus their fish kill investigation. For one thing, scientists will look for compounds such as heavy metals and pesticides and other chemicals that could cause the symptoms of chronic stress that thE dead fish exhibited. Many of the fish that died had lesions that resembled cigar burns. Some were intersex fish, meaning they had both male and female characteristics.

Previous tests have focused on nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which Kain said are easy to test for. Researchers now also will look for chemicals that are used specifically in the Shenandoah Valley, a largely agricultural area with the highest concentration of poultry and livestock in the state. "We're going to the next level," Kain said.

One study to be examined will be a Virginia Tech colleague's research on arsenic's movement through the Shenandoah Valley soil, Orth said. An arsenic compound has been added to chicken feed for years, he said. For the first time, state officials will use monitoring devices containing a liquid that attracts certain types of compounds. This will be a way to find compounds that might not show up on regular measurements but would show high concentrations over time, Kain said. Scientists also will pay attention to water quality before, during and after storms to see what changes occur from runoff. The Shenandoah Valley's geology is unique in that it has a number of cracks and crevices that provide a direct link to the river from inland areas, Orth said. "That forces us to look beyond the pipes and the near-stream effects," he said.

Fish samples will continue to be analyzed for viruses, bacteria and parasites, but Kain said scientists will look for similarities to fish diseases that have been discovered in other areas. Fish kills in the Great Lakes were caused by a virus that Virginia scientists hadn't tested for previously, he said. Scientists also want to see whether a virus that's supposed to affect only largemouth bass could be involved. "Viruses do change over time," Kain said. "They mutate." No largemouth bass have been affected in the Shenandoah, where smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish and sucker species have died. Last spring, northern hogsuckers died on the mainstem Shenandoah River, and smallmouth bass and sunfish died in the North Fork of the Shenandoah and in South River.

In 2005, 80 percent of the smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish in the South Fork developed lesions and died. The kill was similar to one in 2004 on the North Fork of the Shenandoah. A kill last December on the main branch of the Shenandoah affected several hundred fish, mostly hogsuckers. Previous spring fish kills have begun early in March, but Kain said Monday that no dead fish have been found so far this year. Scientists have no idea where kills might occur this year.

"I think the odds are this year we can see a fish kill anywhere," Orth said.

I'll send some

I want it!

Great and thanks!

In their first year of life, when growth is rapid, crayfish are molting constantly.

Seems I've read about studies showing preferred crawfish size which is generally small (2-2.5 inches)

Would this be because smaller craws are younger craws and molting more?

This came from a cool site I found

here is the link

http://www.underwaterfishphotos.com/smallmouthbass.html

Thanks for the donations Jude.

I agree,

I had a really good time and we did a nice amount of new signups. I think Tim said that we got 6 of the 12 guys that were at the seminar to sign up.

I think the show is a success and Tom Helgeson said next more preptime for us and more promotion.

I will offer two seminars next year. One on both days.

He said at least three times that "whatever" he can do to help the Alliance, just ask. He brought Lew Freedman by our booth yesterday to promote the ISA. Hhe said Lew already knew of us etc...

Don't want to let the cat out of the bag but... Greg Stockey came by with his cool new thing to unveil at the Blowout.

It looked great.

John thanks and to everyone else that helped.

Jude and Mike Miller both donated hand tied flies that we gave to new members signing up.

Speaking of messing with gear... mine is buried and freezing.

Next month time time get it out and to start sorting.

I guess no one has tried Suffix.

I will bring back issues

Cards if I can find

Jim

"A real mans line"....

HA

I agree with the preference comment.

A $100,000 Mercedes will get you to Portillos just as an old beater will.

No one would argue that the old beater is a better car using a standard evaluation of what constitutes a quality car.

The reason I mentioned the line thing was that it was brought up that the "majority" of guys posting used heavier line. That was sort of my point. If you are having a discussion with ten smallie fishermen who have been stream fishing a long time and the majority use X kind of equiptment or X kind of line, you'd have to ask yourself why are all these guys using that? Do they know something I don't or do I know a lot more than all of them?

I'll name three guys who have 20 to 30 years experience fishing HARDCORE for stream smallies. Matt Mullady, Norm Minas and Jonn Graham. Jonn fishes nearly ten months a year and through Dec and jan. A few years ago, Norm Minas had 6 smallies over 20" in a season. None of these guys would fish with 6lb. I know for a fact that Matt Mullady fished 10lb for years and thought 8 was mariginal and hated guys he guided using 6. He has spent 150 to 200 days per year on the Kank fishing for smallmouth.

These are really hard core guys who would do anything they could to improve their abilities to catch and land smallmouth. So..... there are always exceptions but I choose to learn from guys who I believe really know their stuff.

Try the Chocolate cake from Portillos.