Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

BUGS AND INVASIVES

a presentation by Susan Rivers

Biologist, Maryland Inland Fisheries

First, there are the “bugs”

As we anglers know, bugs and the time when they hatch, are of great significance to anglers But, bugs also play another important function as they are accurate indicators of the quality of the water and its surrounding habitat. When a pollution event occurs on one of Maryland’s waters, base line data relating to conditions before the pollution event occurred is essential. Essential not only for providing evidence to establish responsibility for the pollution, but also for evaluating and determining the damage in both biological and economic terms to the stream/lake and its surrounding habitat. On this bug issue, Susan will be revealing to us the correct procedures for sampling - how she goes about collecting the bugs and then appropriately cataloging and organizing the collected data so that it will stand up in a court of law.

Then, there are the “Invasives

As many of you already know, all over the Country our fishing waters are being invaded by a wide variety of exotic species. Maryland has not been spared from this invasion and the negative impact these invasives inflict upon our fishing waters. For example, consider these specific events:

- An infection of the Whirling disease parasite at the Mettiki Rearing Station and Jennings Randolph Net Pens in 1996 and again at these facilities and the Bear Creek Trout Rearing Station in 2007.

- Snakeheads invading the Potomac Watershed and other Maryland waters.

In addition to the above cited invasives which have been found in Maryland, in nearby States, e.g., (West Virginia) and further north, e.g., (Vermont) there have been outbreaks of the invasive algae didymosphenia germinate called didymo or “rock snot”.

Susan will cover and expand upon the impact these invasives have on our fisheries, and will provide us with information on what practical measures we anglers can take to halt the spread and detrimental impact of these exotics

Place

Up-County Regional Service Center
First Floor – Room A

12900 Middlebrook Road
Germantown, MD 20874

240-777-8000

7:00-8:00 p.m. — Social Hour

8:00-9:15 p.m. — Program

The forum is back up and running. We had a little outage when we moved to a new hosting plan. Please visit and join the discussion.

Whirling disease has been found in western Maryland streams. Here is some information about whirling disease and what you can do to help control the spread of this disease. For more information you should contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Contact: customerservice@dnr.state.md.us Web Page: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/#3 Or the Whirling Disease Initiative http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu/ What is Whirling Disease?

Myxobolus cerebralis (Mc) is a parasite that infiltrates the head and spinal cartilage of fingerling trout where it multiplies rapidly, putting pressure on the organ of equilibrium. This causes the fish to swim erratically (whirl), and have difficulty feeding and avoiding predators, in severe cases, die. In severe infections, the disease can cause high rates of mortality in young-of-the-year fish. When an infected fish dies, millions of tiny indestructible Mc spores (each about the size of a red blood cell) are released to the water where they can survive in this “dormant” form for up to 30 years.

Therein lies the gravity of the whirling disease problem. M. cerebralis is virtually indestructible — the spore can withstand freezing and desiccation, and can survive in a stream for 20 to 30 years. Whirling disease is most infective to rainbow and cutthroat trout, but can infect all salmonid species, including brook trout.

Is there anything anglers and boaters can do to help prevent further spread?

Anglers, boaters, and others can make a difference in reducing the chances of spreading whirling disease. Distribution of the parasite is expanding rapidly in some areas, so you should assume its presence if you don’t know otherwise. Recommended precautions that will help prevent not only the spread of whirling disease, but also other disease-causing organisms and aquatic pests include:

• Never transport live fish from one water body to another. (This is illegal in many states.)
• Dispose of fish entrails and skeletal parts properly. Never discard fish parts in or near streams or rivers. Do not discard fish parts in a kitchen disposal. Whirling disease myxospores can survive most wastewater treatment systems. Instead, discard in dry waste that would go to a landfill.
• Contact the Department of Natural Resources at 800-688-3467 if you observe signs of whirling disease in fish or observe illegal stocking.
• Obtain certified disease free fish for any private stock projects.
• Rinse all mud and debris from equipment and wading gear, and drain water from boats before leaving an infected drainage. This is good practice for preventing transfer of other aquatic hitchhikers as well.
• Although the above precautions will remove most spores from your gear, you may want to consider the following if fishing in heavily infected waters: Rinse, then thoroughly dry your boots, waders and other fishing equipment. This is generally sufficient to kill the TAM stage of the parasite. For disinfection options if your equipment does not have time to dry thoroughly.

Reprinted with Permission of the Whirling Disease Initiative Whirling Disease Initiative

On Saturday, April 21 we will be meeting at the MD route 66 park and ride at 9:00 AM. The event is part of the America Rivers clean up. We will clean up sections of Beaver Creek and Black Rock Creek. After the clean up detail we have some trees and shrubs to plant along Black Rock Creek. If there is enough people we will split up the work during the morning hours. Please bring gloves, waders and a shovel.

Revealed: Top Secret Locations

Presentation by Ms. Shannon Moore

Our recent Programs have dealt with the HOW of fishing. How to fish a nymph, a streamer, a dry fly, or how to present one of these patterns, effectively, or how to approach the quarry - be it a trout or some warm water fish like a bass or pike.

Since, by now, we have all absorbed these HOW teachings and techniques, it is now time to find out where the fish are located. Shannon who leads the Watershed Management Section of Frederick County will reveal all the LOCATIONS of the fish population in the nearby streams and rivers of Frederick County at our April 25 meeting.

In addition to revealing the locations of the Frederick County fish populations, Shannon will also enlighten us about the programs she has help establish and implement to protect and restore stream habitat in Frederick County. It is these Programs that are helping to protect and restore our streams/habitat so that they will continue to produce and hold catchable populations of fish.

Once again, spring is here and it is time for a casting clinic by Joe Cap. Joe is a FFF certified casting instructor who has given clinics for SVTU for the past two years. His clinics run for four hours and will get a beginner started or polish the skills of the well heeled caster. Joe concentrates on good casting form, believing that the rest will follow, and in my case I have found that to be true. All who have participated have had nothing but good things to say about Joe and the results of his instruction. The date of the clinic is May 12 from 10 to 2 at the small county park just east of Laytonsville on Sundown Road. Cost is $40 and Joe donates a portion to the Chapter. Participation is limited to 10 and I have a waiting list from last year so send me your fee as soon as you can. For more information call me , 301-253-6892.

John Starmer

Send your fee to me at:24212 Hilton Place Gaithersburg, Maryland 20882. Make check payable to SVTU.

Park Details:Sundown Road Local Park, 6200 Sundown Road, Laytonsville, MD 20882

Chaz Macdonald, our March speaker, pursues wild trophy trout with a passion. Unlike Rip Van Wrinkle who chose to sleep for 20 years, Chaz has been hunting for trophy trout primarily brook trout for 20 years throughout the historical natural range of the trout in Pennsylvania. Chazs Program will cover a full year of fishing. He will be demonstrating and showing us his unique and very effective techniques and skills that he applies to bring to net wild brook trout - up to 18 inches. These are wild trophy trout that are caught in streams open to the public in Pennsylvania both the limestone streams of the pastoral valleys and the freestone streams of the scenic mountains. With Chazs 20 years of On-Stream Experience and the related skill level he has attained, those attending our March meeting will, without a doubt, be gaining new knowledge to put into practice on their next fishing expedition to a wild trout stream.

Al

Some of us catch a few big fish but few us us do so consistently.

William Heresniak, of Eastern Trophies Fly Fishing, will be speaking at the February Chapter meeting. He will be talking about fly fishing in Western Maryland for Trophy Trout, Smallmouth Bass and Tiger Muskies . He will show you the flies, the techniques and the fish that inhabit these waters. In addition, he will have flies for sale, free DVD’s and a reproduction or two of the fish which have been caught on the North Branch of the Potomac River including an amazing 43″ Tiger Musky. With over 30 years of fishing experience, William has been guiding since 2003. With a professional background in education, athletics and coaching, guiding only comes naturally. William has landed endless numbers of trout over 20 and has helped numerous clients catch trout, small mouth bass and tiger muskies up to 43″ long. His efficient techniques, and focused style of fly fishing will not only help you bring larger fish to your net, but give you a greater respect for the size of trout that inhabit the waters of the Mid Atlantic.

Wednesdays meeting is the annual meeting where we take care of the business of electing officers and board members for this year, 2007. We have volunteers for almost all positions, names who will be familiar to those of you have been active over the last year, including many of those responsible for our conservation activities, organization execution of a very successful picnic and auction, and an outstanding series of programs for the membership meetings to name a few. We still have room on the board and I will make sure someone nominates you from the floor if you are interested in serving.

We have also worked this Fall to draft a new set of By-Laws for the Chapter (attached) and the membership, you, will be asked to approve them a this meeting. The changes made bring the By-Laws into line with the requirements of TU National and modernize some of the procedures to acknowledge the use of the internet in addition to written paper communications and the phone. There will be opportunity for discussion at the meeting and we will ask for your approval subject to any changes that may be made and agreed to at the meeting.

Finally, as an encouragement to you to attend, we are raffling off a Temple Fork Outfitters Lefty Kreh Finnese fly rod, a 7′ 9″ 4 piece rod that is perfect for the small to medium streams of this area like Hunting Creek , the Gunpowder or the Savage River, and would, I think even be a perfect fit to fish the Green on those windless days when the snow is falling ant the BWOs are hatching or you need to pinpoint cast a PMD cripple to a more than selective rainbow on the Henry’s Fork. Chances should be good as tickets will only be available at the meeting. Tickets will be $20 each.

Midges are about the only, consistent, game in town for dull gray days of winter in the Mid-Atlantic States. Jim Greco, a well known local fly fisherman and fly tier will give us a presentation that will introduce midges, imitation of midges and what is needed to fish those imitations on local streams to best effect. Jim, fly tying instructor for the Potomac Patuxent Chapter fly tying class each year, will also demonstrate tying some midge patterns and will leave us a pattern sheet to take home. Midge imitations are both simple and difficult to tie. They are simple flies and a good place to learn fly tying techniques, especially using small amounts of material and only a few turns of thread. On the other hand, they are tied on small hooks in the 20 to 26 and even smaller range. You will most certainly learn a lot about tying and get a leg-up on midge fishing, a practice that you will find useful year round.