LMBV (Largemouth Bass Virus)

[Scott M]

What a shock and surprise, yawn, it's in MN. Funny that its on lakes that receive heavy bass angling pressure and host lots of tournaments.

From DNR HSOforum:

"The DNR is currently considering rules that could ban off-site weigh-ins at bass fishing tournaments during the hottest times of summer.

Found primarily in the southeastern United States, the disease is known to occasionally cause fish kills, generally in relation to stress from high water temperatures and from handling and transportation by anglers. The disease may spread by either transporting fish or water from infected lakes.

"Anglers should always drain their live wells when leaving lakes," Steven said. "By taking this action, we can slow the spread of diseases like LMBV as well a number of other invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil."

The DNR partnered with the Minnesota Bass Federation to collect samples following bass fishing tournaments at nine metro area lakes known to receive high fishing pressure. The disease was discovered at Green Lake (Chisago County), Prior Lake, Lake Minnetonka, Rush Lake and Forest Lake. Lakes sampled that were negative for LMBV are Clearwater Lake, North/South Center Lake, Whitefish Lake and Green Lake (Kandiyohi County)."

[Jig Master]

The whitefish chain needs a pike virus to kill off all those hammer handles in there!

[Macsimus]

Quote:

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What a shock and surprise, yawn, it's in MN. Funny that its on lakes that receive heavy bass angling pressure and host lots of tournaments.

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If that's the case, then how would you explain the lack of LMBV in Clearwater, N/S Center, and Whitefish?

[EBass]

Where did you find that? I'm on the DNR site now looking and here's what I found. I did a search for Largemouth bass virus. I'll keep looking.

Field Notes - Bass Virus Found

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified largemouth bass virus during annual sampling this past summer of the Mississippi River downstream from the Twin Cities. It’s the first time the virus has been confirmed in Minnesota and Wisconsin waters. The virus was found in smallmouth bass taken from pool 3 (near Red Wing) as well as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, and rock bass in pool 7 (southeast of Winona). Fish samples tested from pools 4 and 9 showed no sign of the virus.

The virus has killed largemouth bass in more than 24 locations nationwide. However, it does not kill entire largemouth bass populations. Surveys on lakes following a kill suggest fish populations remain within normal ranges.

Other members of the sunfish family known to become infected with the virus include spotted bass, Suwanee bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, white crappie, and black crappie. So far, the virus has proved fatal only to largemouth bass.

The Minnesota DNR Fish and Wildlife pathology laboratory has been testing fish for the virus for the past two years. Largemouth and smallmouth bass from state and private fish hatcheries will continue to be examined for the virus. No largemouth bass virus has been detected at the hatcheries or in Minnesota’s lakes.

Infected fish are safe to handle and eat. Largemouth bass virus does not affect humans or other warm-blooded animals. Its origin is unknown, but it is related to a virus found in frogs and other amphibians, and is nearly identical to a virus isolated in fish imported for the aquarium trade.

Anglers can help prevent the spread of this and other fish diseases, as well as the spread of exotic species, by taking these steps:

• Never transport live fish and stock them in other waters without a DNR permit.

• Never release aquatic animals from one water body into another.

• Dispose of unwanted minnows and leeches on shore. Never release live bait of any kind.

• Drain water from your boat motor, live well, bilge, and transom wells at the ramp access.

• Remove any visible plants and animals from your boat and equipment before leaving any water body.

• Wash and dry your boat and any equipment that normally gets wet to kill invisible exotics and pathogens between fishing trips.

Jason Abraham DNR staff writer

[EBass]

whoops - I found it.

[Scott M]

Macsimus,

Aren't those variables the common denominator? You see too many people that just don't take the time to clean out their boats. If these pathogens and exotics were linked to recreational lakes, which lakes would they be? It seems silly to me to put it on another group of people (not that you are doing so...). When milfoil first came to this state in Minnetonka, did anyone think it came from water skiers? I put it on us, anglers. It's only a matter of time for those other lakes, just as its a matter of time with exotics.

I'll paraphrase what a guy told me out at Minnetonka about milfoil (and pathogens for that matter). It's like *fooling around* with a (use your imagination), eventually you're gonna catch something. It's a disease.

As far as LMBV, it does concern me to hear that it can cause big dieoffs in tournaments. It's one of those things-there is research on both sides for and against these tournaments. I do like to hear that they are considering banning off site weigh ins during the hottest days of summer-but I would like to know the definition of off-site.