Invasive Spiny Water Fleas Confirmed in Winnipesaukee

[Cobalt 12]

Maybe have New Hampshire " FISH & GAME " send a form style letter to all Bass Fishing Tournament Directors. Have them share it with their club or Organization. These guys are very "Pro Fish " and will have all the participants clean their boat before they sign in the morning of the Tournament. There is quite a few different States then are involved with Bass Tournament, even Meredith Rotary Salmon Derby as well. But, since THEY are here, will it have any positive results. Only time will tell.

[John Mercier]

Wiping down is always a good idea... but they are already in the major watershed in our area.

The natural current will take them downstream. So Winnipesaukee, Opechee, Winnisquam, Silver and further down are all going to be infected to some degree.

The tournament issue is more about no fish, no tournament.
Obviously tournaments that use the surrounding water bodies not connected to Winnipesuakee could go on. But over time, depending on the natural progress, it will change the dynamics in the Lakes Region.

One of the political challenges that we've endured for quite some time is the financing of Fish & Game.
In the past, if the cost of the F&G increased at, or near, inflation... but the number of new licenses outpaced that inflationary pressure... we could keep the cost of a new license down. As growth in license sales stagnate, license cost had to increase to cover the inflationary pressures. When license sales decline, then the cost has to adjust for the inflationary pressure and the loss of license sales. It creates a type of death spiral... were the increase in license costs pushes out new growth and fringe anglers that fish only occasionally - furthering the downward cycle.

The pandemic, as bad as it was, saw a boon to outdoor recreation.

[ITD]

Hmmm, how do you stop migratory water fowl from spreading them?

[Cobalt 12]

Originally Posted by ITD

Hmmm, how do you stop migratory water fowl from spreading them?

You CAN'T.... and you WON'T. That's an easy one to answer.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Cobalt 12

Maybe have New Hampshire " FISH & GAME " send a form style letter to all Bass Fishing Tournament Directors. Have them share it with their club or Organization. These guys are very "Pro Fish " and will have all the participants clean their boat before they sign in the morning of the Tournament. There is quite a few different States then are involved with Bass Tournament, even Meredith Rotary Salmon Derby as well. But, since THEY are here, will it have any positive results. Only time will tell.

The Bass fishing organizations have been involved with "Exotic Aquatic Invasives for years. Most of this goes through DES, although F&G, DES etc all work together. Most of the funding comes from powerboat registrations.

[John Mercier]

Even though we can't determine it was one or more powerboats, as other formats could also lead to the transfer, the program was unable to stop the infestation.

It could take a decade or more before any real impacts are felt.

[Cobalt 12]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Even though we can't determine it was one or more powerboats, as other formats could also lead to the transfer, the program was unable to stop the infestation.

It could take a decade or more before any real impacts are felt.

I believe Fantasy land is what everyone is talking about. They will just be like ROCK BASS. We have em. We will always have em. And they will spread to every lake in the state. Newfound Lake is a prime example. New Hampshire is going to turn into every other state. I believe a lot of New Yorkers, Vermonters, people from Conn, NJ, Mass and every other state put their boats in Winni. Do you want to see where things start. Look no further. People only care AFTER it effects them.