Those zebra mussels are becoming a real problem -

[Redlinerobert]

They are restricting access to certain lakes based on where you are from!

Doesnt make sense as birds can carry them too.

http://www.ebmud.com/current_events/press_releases/quagga_mussels_PR_012408.pdf

[Micro]

Fortunately, we don't have a huge Zebra Mussel problem in Virginia, yet.  But Virginia and Maryland biologists have found that Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs eat them like candy.  So, if they get loose here, at least there is an upside.  

[MALTESE FALCON]

Here in the Great Lakes we have at least two species of fish that are eating the mussels. (yellow perch and freshwater drum) They don't seem to be as much of a problem as they were in the early 90's.

In the early 90's, when I took my boat out of the water at the end of the season, I would have as much as 200 Zebra Mussels attached to my hull and lower unit. This fall when I took the boat out I had six mussels on my hull.

We seem to have a handle on the problem, but it took a long time.

Falcon

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Falcon, I was under the impression that the mussels (while they are a non-native species) actually benefitted the Great Lakes region and the fisheries there.

Not too sure, but I recall that from somewhere....

[grimlin]

Here in the Great Lakes we have at least two species of fish that are eating the mussels. (yellow perch and freshwater drum) They don't seem to be as much of a problem as they were in the early 90's.

In the early 90's, when I took my boat out of the water at the end of the season, I would have as much as 200 Zebra Mussels attached to my hull and lower unit. This fall when I took the boat out I had six mussels on my hull.

We seem to have a handle on the problem, but it took a long time.

Falcon

It's a small handle on the problem,but we still have them.I still haul in 10-20 of those things once in awhile on bottom baits.I hate em,they do damage to line as well.

[MALTESE FALCON]

SPEEDBEAD, the only thing the mussels did that I think was good was clear up the water. Lake St. Clair was always dingy water, now it's crystal clear.........that's what helped with the smallies.

Grimlin, I'm not saying that the problem is going to go away any time soon, however, in the past few years, I don't have them clinging to my seawall 3"- 4'' thick like I used to, and they are not on my hull like they used to be. I've seen a steady decline every year for quite a while.

Is it Spring yet?

Falcon

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Thanks Falcon. I knew I heard at least one positive about the situation.  I understand how they can cause problems very quickly w/ water pipes clogging and their rate of reproduction.

BTW, no, not spring yet  LOL

[Lucky Craft Man]

Funny thing, there were supposed be two big problems that were said to be dangerous for the ecosystem in Lake Erie, the zebra mussels and the gobies.  Well, the zebra mussels cleared up the water and the gobies provide a buffet for the smallmouth and walleye, which is why they have been supersized the last 8 years or longer.  It appears that the two problems became benefits.

[smallieking]

yea but clear water is not always good  in erie the clarity can get to 30 feet which means there is not enough plankton and other small organisms in the water for the bait fish to eat   and the mussels are reproducing way too fast!!! for the great lakes anything more than 8 foot visiblity is threating to say the less

[grimlin]

Which would explain poor boy's goby baits growing popularity here.

Like falcon said it seemed to be in control.I wasn't around in the 90's here.Had no idea how bad it was then.

[tipptruck1]

The last time I saw Sturgeon Bay it was stained water. I went back a few years ago and was surprised on how clean the water was. Growing up in Sturgeon Bay you would have to worry about zebra musscles. When I went fishing there a few years ago we had gobys. My moms boy friend and me didn't know what they were at first. I don't think I saw a zebra musscle all weekend. But I have heard gobys eat the zebra musscles.

[Mobydick]

They originated in the Balkans, Poland, and Russia. They were first discovered in Lake St. Clair in 1988. They attached themselves to US ships while they were in port in these countries, and hitched a ride to the Great Lakes. They live up to 5 years and grow to about 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Zebra mussels are filter feeders, meaning the feed by filtering the water of which they live in, and pulling out the nutrients. An adult size mussel can filter up to 1 full quart of water a day. They have been known to attach themselves' to objects such as anchors and docks, in groups of several thousand. They are not all bad though, they provide food for native birds, fish and other animals.