What affect have zebra mussels had on the fishing in your lake?

[Big Bobber]

I just found out my favorite lake now has zebra mussels. How has the fishing changed in your lake as the zebe population increases over time. Better fishing, worse, or no change and the timeline.

Thanks

[TruthWalleyes]

You better find a new lake. That lake is now DEAD. (Trolling)

[tacklejunkie]

The St Louis River is loaded with them. The only change I can think of is the baitfish stay in the river longer and that keeps the walleyes in the river longer due to the zeebs filtering pollutants.

As far as fishing quality, no change

[CaptainMusky]

Drastic changes will not be immediate, but within 5 years you will likely notice a difference. Water clarity increases dramatically. Mille Lacs is like an aquarium now.

Weeds will begin to grow at deeper depths than before as well.

They will interrupt fishing if you are in gravel/rocky areas because they will completely encase the rocks and cut your line, etc.

I have seen studies done on lakes over a 15 year period and the water clarity improved by 10 feet (not mille lacs, different lake).

It will change the lake for sure, walleyes will probably be harder to catch during daylight hours and move deeper.

Eventually the numbers will plateau, but at first they increase so rapidly because the lake is rich in water ever it is they like. Which is where Mille Lacs and Gull are right now. There was a good article written in the Strib a couple years ago about findings in Mille Lacs. Dramatic increases in numbers. Do a quick search and read up on it.

[BoxMN]

This:

They will interrupt fishing if you are in gravel/rocky areas because they will completely encase the rocks and cut your line, etc.

[Scott K]

Do they have little knives down there and swim around and cut everyone's lines?

[CaptainMusky]

Do they have little knives down there and swim around and cut everyone's lines?

Yes, they are like little ninjas. Instead of knives, I think its actually light sabers.

[Gordie]

(Trolling)

If you troll that lake use floating raps as it will be easier to retrieve after they cut you line with the little light sabers

[Rick G]

They are pure evil when it comes to fishing line even braided super line is no match for them. On one section of the Mississippi I fish they have almost wiped out the native clam population.

[BoxMN]

They are pure evil when it comes to fishing line even braided super line is no match for them. On one section of the Mississippi I fish they have almost wiped out the native clam population.

Rapala loves Zebes ... reminds me, gotta stock up on firetiger shad raps again after a weekend on ML, doh! That and check my tippet on the leadcore more...

[20lbSloughShark]

mono has better abrasion resistance than braid.

[PurpleFloyd]

Use a bobber.

[CaptainMusky]

mono has better abrasion resistance than braid.

Doh K

[Markula]

I just found out my favorite lake now has zebra mussels. How has the fishing changed in your lake as the zebe population increases over time. Better fishing, worse, or no change and the timeline.

Thanks

Cleaner water. Less milfoil. More coontail. Better fishing.

Keep in mind, changes may ultimately be insignificant depending on the lake. Zebra mussels cannot thrive in every body of water. Just like anything, if the habitat is not suitable, the infestation may be minimal,at best. Also, from my experience, lakes with very high populations of sunfish seem to keep the zebra mussel expantion in check.

[Savage Brewer]

From what I have seen is the water gets clearer, and then about 4 years later the population appears to plateau.

The big problem with water getting clearer is that structure that is deeper now has weeds where before it didn't.

Is fishing better or worse? I dont know, its just different.

Apparently perch like to eat them, so maybe we will see perch numbers climb.

[PurpleFloyd]

Apparently perch like to eat them, so maybe we will see perch numbers climb.

Good enough reason for me.

[RumRiverRat]

Fishing is epic on lakes like Mille Lacs.

Clear water and Smallmouths equals awesome Jerkbait and spinnerbait fishing.

[20lbSloughShark]

I'm far from an ecologist, but I'm guessing the water gets clearer because they take the plankton and other "small panfish food" out. While bigger panfish might eat zebra muscles, the smaller ones might have an issue. That's just my wild guess based in no fact.

[RumRiverRat]

I'm far from an ecologist, but I'm guessing the water gets clearer because they take the plankton and other "small panfish food" out. While bigger panfish might eat zebra muscles, the smaller ones might have an issue. That's just my wild guess based in no fact.

Who cares about panfish, they are trash fish...............

[PurpleFloyd]

Zebe's eat or filter out Algae and other small plant life from the water. IMHO that would be greatly beneficial to the majority of the prairie pothole lakes and for any lakes that get big algae blooms. While there are certainly organisms on the low end of the food chain that also live on Algae, there is such an abundance in these lakes that they cannot possibly deplete the supply on their own or it would have happened.

In lakes with fewer added nutrients that don't have the problems with algae then certainly it is possible for the Zebe's to put a wrinkle in the food chain. To understand that impact first one would have to take an inventory of the low end of the food chain on a particular lake and determine which organisms may get displaced.

[Ufatz]

Say fellas, I realize it's soothing to consider the benign impactds of the little invaders but don't you suppose the well educated biologists and scientists at DNR and other agencies have a reason for wanting to rid our waters of them?

Let us suppose for a moment that fishing on lake "A" does get better for a short while, but all the beaches become sharp and trreacherous and certain vital vegetation dies off. Are you willing to trade your improved fishing success for the long term viability of the lake? I'm sure most people here are concerned about woods and waters of MN and want the best for the entire natural universe.

Don't you think there are valid reasons those we have charged with caring for the lakes want the zebras gone?

Sometehing to keep in mind when you consider the immediate impacts.

[TruthWalleyes]

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html

Impacts: Zebra mussels can cause problems for lakeshore residents and recreationists. Homeowners that take lake water to water lawns can have their intakes clogged. Mussels may attach to motors and possibly clog cooling water areas. Shells can cause cuts and scrapes if they grow large enough on rocks, swim rafts and ladders. Anglers may lose tackle as the shells can cut fishing line. Zebra mussels can also attach to native mussels, killing them. Zebra mussels filter plankton from the surrounding water. This filtering can increase water clarity, which might cause more aquatic vegetation to grow at deeper depths and more dense stands. If a lake has high numbers of mussels over large areas, this filter feeding could impact the food chain, reducing food for larval fish.

Google search MN DNR ZEBRA MUSSELS and the above is what you get....Notice how the only ecological impact in red is prefaced by COULD.

Sounds like an official statement from an expert biologist like officer Barbrady.

[merkman]

This filtering can increase water clarity

Increases in water clarity will mean increases in darkhouse spearing though the ice....

and we all know what THAT can do to a lake.... (gasp) ...

.

[Tom7227]

Unless the zebra mussels remove phosphorus from the lake the water clarity isn't something that will last a long time. My reading leads me to conclude that a huge amount of the phos in a water body is located in the bottom soil and won't go away.

If the zebra's clear the water by eating algae and plankton that has to have an impact on smaller fish and minnows. That in turn has an effect on the prey fish. Can't have a food chain that gets where most fisherman want to go if the first step is cut off. This might be a factor in what has happened to Mille Lacs.

Finally the clear water will allow an increase in weed growth including invasives like curly leaf and milfoil. I can't see a lot of long term benefit when that happens.

[TruthWalleyes]

Its so bad the dnr's list of impacts starts with clogged lawn watering pumps...

Which could actually be a good thing considering what people put in their lawns.