• Latest

Spiny Water Flea Not Expected to Have Major Impact on Lake Champlain Fishing

September 15, 2014

RAD Denounces Threats to Organizing for Safe and Inclusive Schools

January 24, 2023
African Queen (1951)

The Heiress

January 24, 2023

Meet Your Chamber

January 24, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

The Purpose of Pendulums

January 24, 2023
Capital City Concerts offers a Free Family Concert on Saturday, January 28 in Montpelier

Capital City Concerts offers a Free Family Concert on Saturday, January 28 in Montpelier

January 17, 2023

VSAC’s College & Career Pathways Events Offer Workshops on Campuses Across Vermont

January 17, 2023

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Grants to Support the Arts in Vermont

January 17, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Scarlet Street (1945)

January 17, 2023
Washington County Sheriff Sam Hill to Retire After 38 1/2 Years of Law Enforcement

Washington County Sheriff Sam Hill to Retire After 38 1/2 Years of Law Enforcement

January 17, 2023

Settlement with Google Over Location Tracking Practices

January 11, 2023
Vermont Historical Society Receives $210,000 From Sanders In Omnibus Spending Package for the Vermont History Center

Vermont Historical Society Receives $210,000 From Sanders In Omnibus Spending Package for the Vermont History Center

January 11, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

She Smiled at Me

January 11, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Sunday, January 29, 2023
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Spiny Water Flea Not Expected to Have Major Impact on Lake Champlain Fishing

vt-world by vt-world
September 15, 2014
in Local Sports & Outdoors
0

spiny water flea 4CThe spiny water flea is a tiny invasive crustacean that was recently found to have spread to Lake Champlain. Photo by Emily DeBolt.

 

 

A new aquatic invasive species, the spiny water flea, was recently identified in Lake Champlain, but biologists with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department do not believe the species will have a dramatic effect on fishing opportunities in the lake, or on most of the lake’s native plants and animals.

Spiny water fleas have been in the Great Lakes since the 1980s, giving researchers several decades to study what happens when this species arrives in a new water body.

According to Shawn Good, fisheries biologist and head of the department’s aquatic invasive species team, while spiny water flea has had some impact on the Great Lakes, it has not proven as negative to fish populations as was once anticipated.

“Great Lakes anglers have needed to make some adjustments to fishing techniques due to the spiny water flea, but mostly it has been a minor inconvenience,” said Good.

“Anglers who fish using downriggers have been the primary ones affected, but they’ve found ways to minimize the impacts by spooling their reels with heavier weight main line and attaching smaller diameter leaders,” said Good. “The heavier main lines tend to prevent the spiny water flea from snagging and globbing up the line, while the finer leader still allows lures to be fished effectively for line-shy species like trout and salmon.”

Good also points out that the spiny water flea has a confusing name. “This is not a flea – it is actually a crustacean,” said Good. “Although the spines can present a problem for fish attempting to eat them, they do not pose any risk to people swimming in the lake. They won’t cut your feet like zebra mussels.”

Spiny water flea can disrupt the food web by preying on native zooplankton species, which are a food source for many small fish. But while some fish species avoid consuming spiny water fleas because of their barbed tails, others like smelt, cisco and alewife can actually begin targeting them as a food source.

Good says that although they anticipate the effects of the spiny water flea to be modest in Lake Champlain, the effects could be more dramatic if they are moved to smaller, inland lakes. Therefore, boaters and anglers should remain vigilant for these aquatic hitchhikers and take every precaution to stop the spread of all invasive species.

“By our count this is the fiftieth aquatic invasive species to come to Lake Champlain,” said Good. “Even a minor addition to an ecosystem can significantly alter the balance among native species in ways that are often irreversible and the cumulative impact of these changes can be dramatic.”

“The best way to be sure of removing spiny water fleas or any other aquatic hitchhiker from your equipment is to dry it in the sun for five days before you move from Lake Champlain to another water body. You can also spray equipment with pressurized hot water to kill spiny water flea and their eggs,” said Good.

Previous Post

Reiss’ Pieces

Next Post

Sweet, Hoar, Laperle Look for First Invitational Win

Next Post

Sweet, Hoar, Laperle Look for First Invitational Win

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In