Daryl's Barbs and Backlashes: Some updates

Bumpus · 11-13-2009, 04:00 PM

It has been a busy day.* I wanted to get a blog post up before the weekend.* This one will include a couple of different topics. Zebra Mussels Many of you know about the zebra mussel infestation of the Base Lake at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.* Many of you are also aware that efforts were [...]

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skeeter85 · 11-13-2009, 08:55 PM

I still think it's pretty cool they found a couple paddlefish in there. That would have been an awesome day of bass fishing if I would have accidently snagged a paddle.

Anyway, the base lake definitely still has game fish.

I wish the base would release information on a stocking plan...I heard a rumor that they were going to do some fish studies and come up with one.

Omaha · 11-17-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumpus

It has been a busy day.* I wanted to get a blog post up before the weekend.* This one will include a couple of different topics. Zebra Mussels Many of you know about the zebra mussel infestation of the Base Lake at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.* Many of you are also aware that efforts were [...]

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Zebra mussels were brought up in another conversation on another site and wanted to get your take on something someone suggested, or asked about. He asked about stocking fish that eat zebra mussels, possibly as an alternative to copper sulfate. Such species as blue cats, shellcrackers, and drum are known to eat zebra mussels. I'm sure there's a very logical explanation why this would not be considered, most likely because zebra mussels spread too quickly and those predators would not be able to keep up. But I wanted to post this question and hear it from the expert.

whitetips · 11-17-2009, 09:28 AM

There is no doubt there are "critters" out there that will eat zebra mussels, but none of them can eat them fast enough to prevent them from becoming a problem. There have been only 2 instances where zebra mussels have been chemically eradicated from isolated, relatively small bodies of water. Do not quote me on this as my memory may be wrong, but one of those was a quarry in Illinois I believe and the other was the Base Lake at Offutt. In most cases chemical eradication is not practical, and the natural predators can eat all the zebra mussels they want, just is they will never eat enough.

If eradication is possible it is the preferred alternative. Eliminating the zebra mussels from a body of water like the Base Lake reduces the likelihood that they will be transported to even more bodies of water.

As a reminder to all boaters:

Clean all plants, animals, mud and thoroughly wash all equipment that was in the water.

Drain all water from livewells, bilges, ballasts, and anything else that can hold water.

Dry all equipment completely before launching into another body of water.

DO NOT DUMP bait into the water!

Nebraska Invasive Species

Daryl Bauer
Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov
Barbs and Backlashes

Omaha · 11-17-2009, 09:31 AM

Very cool. Thanks Daryl. I especially appreciate the short second paragraph. Hadn't considered that point.

11-13-2009, 04:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bumpus Bumpus is constantly vigilant between naps. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to the furnace/AC floor register. Posts: 741 Thanks: 2 Thanked 228 Times in 87 Posts	Daryl's Barbs and Backlashes: Some updates It has been a busy day.* I wanted to get a blog post up before the weekend.* This one will include a couple of different topics. Zebra Mussels Many of you know about the zebra mussel infestation of the Base Lake at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.* Many of you are also aware that efforts were [...] More...

11-13-2009, 08:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
skeeter85 skeeter85 is winter blows Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bellevue, NE Posts: 1,275 Thanks: 288 Thanked 423 Times in 269 Posts	I still think it's pretty cool they found a couple paddlefish in there. That would have been an awesome day of bass fishing if I would have accidently snagged a paddle. Anyway, the base lake definitely still has game fish. I wish the base would release information on a stocking plan...I heard a rumor that they were going to do some fish studies and come up with one. __________________ dave Tell a man there are 100 billion stars in the universe and he will believe you. Tell a man a bench has wet paint and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

11-17-2009, 09:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
whitetips whitetips has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lincoln Posts: 361 Thanks: 50 Thanked 531 Times in 179 Posts	Biological control of zebra mussels? There is no doubt there are "critters" out there that will eat zebra mussels, but none of them can eat them fast enough to prevent them from becoming a problem. There have been only 2 instances where zebra mussels have been chemically eradicated from isolated, relatively small bodies of water. Do not quote me on this as my memory may be wrong, but one of those was a quarry in Illinois I believe and the other was the Base Lake at Offutt. In most cases chemical eradication is not practical, and the natural predators can eat all the zebra mussels they want, just is they will never eat enough. If eradication is possible it is the preferred alternative. Eliminating the zebra mussels from a body of water like the Base Lake reduces the likelihood that they will be transported to even more bodies of water. As a reminder to all boaters: Clean all plants, animals, mud and thoroughly wash all equipment that was in the water. Drain all water from livewells, bilges, ballasts, and anything else that can hold water. Dry all equipment completely before launching into another body of water. DO NOT DUMP bait into the water! Nebraska Invasive Species Daryl Bauer Fisheries Outreach Program Manager Nebraska Game & Parks Commission daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov Barbs and Backlashes

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11-17-2009, 09:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
Omaha Omaha is building a pond. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Omaha/Springfield, NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 788 Thanks: 333 Thanked 195 Times in 139 Posts	Very cool. Thanks Daryl. I especially appreciate the short second paragraph. Hadn't considered that point.