Folks, I have been advised that there might be a didymo outbreak on the LMF. Please review the didymo prevention articles and let's hope this does not get
out of control. I am following up on this report.
0 Kudo
Didymo Report on Lower Mountain Fork River in S.E. Oklahoma
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 Robin Rhyne |
Didymo Report on Lower Mountain Fork River in S.E. Oklahoma |
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Posts: 30 05/12/09 10:02 AM |
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keebranch |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 1966 05/12/09 12:50 PM Administrator / Moderator |
Wash out felt boots with chlorox or wear rubbe studded boots in the LMF to prevent transport to the Guad or other rivers as a precaution if indeed this is the
real thing.
Les |
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JOHN WALLACE |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 105 05/13/09 12:58 AM |
I live in Washington State and never heard of didymo. Can someone inlighten me?
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Sasha |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 279 05/13/09 1:44 AM |
JOHN WALLACE wrote: http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=775&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/didymo.shtml http://www.epa.gov/region8/water/didymosphenia/
Last Edited By: Sasha 05/13/09 1:52 AM.
Edited 2 times.
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Robin Rhyne |
action items | #4 | ||
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Posts: 30 05/14/09 8:36 AM |
We are
taking up funds to post signs warning anglers of the hazards. Seems to be the best thing to do right now.
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Sasha |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 279 05/14/09 11:13 AM |
What do you guys think about the push to get rid of felt wading boots to help reduce the spread of invasive species? I got into an interesting conversation with a shop owner out here about the subject. He was all for it, I was not so sure. But he did bring up a point that I had not considered. He basically said that there have been times where he has fished several different rivers in a day. I had not considered this point as I tend to fish one system for an entire day and do not go into other systems. I asked him ok so say you don't have felt boots and visit more than one system, what about the rest of your equipment? Personally I believe that "stuff" can hide out in other equipment besides the felt soles. Well here is a Trout Unlimited blog about the subject. What are your guy's thoughts? http://troutunlimitedblog.com/topics/magazine/no-felt/ |
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jkurtz7 |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 2509 05/14/09 11:23 AM Forum Owner / Administrator
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Well here's my take on it. It's already here. Frankly we will have to probably just live with it just like any other invasive species. We can blame the
jet setting trout fishermen for this. Sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone, but I call it like I see it.
Now that Didymo is here, it's going to hitch a ride on more than just felt soles. It's going to hitch a ride on birds too. Wading birds can, and will stock bodies of water over time that never had fish in it to begin with. Fish eggs take a ride on birds. Frog eggs take a ride on birds. Didymo will likely take a ride on birds. I'm not totally read up on Didymo, so I am in the dark about it overall, I just know the stuff is called rock snot too, and that it overtakes bodies of water. Felt soles probably are a problem, but so is any crease, nook, and cranny on wading boots. J. |
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keebranch |
There are no easy solutions | #7 | ||
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Posts: 1966 05/14/09 12:24 PM Administrator / Moderator |
Interesting.
We definitely need to do our part and be pro-active in trying to reduce the impact. In the short run washing felt and waders in Clorox water will help in human transport of Didymo. In the long run, we should encourage people to get rid of felt. Initially, it might be a hard sell, but over time the manufacturers will take care of that by only using newer sticky technology in the soles of wading boots. In other words the market place will help solve the problem. |
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Sasha |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 279 05/14/09 12:49 PM |
From what I have read Simms will no longer make felt wading boots and I am sure other manufacturers will follow suit. I still believe that things can and do attach to other equipment besides felt. There are a lot of waters out west that I won't even wade in because of the New Zealand mud snail issue. There are other waters that have the snail in them but you have to wade to fish them. When I fish those I clean ALL of my equipment and stick my boots and waders in the freezer for a couple of days. |
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Robin Rhyne |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 30 05/14/09 3:29 PM |
Here is the Wildlife Department address to mail personal donations.
ODWC PO BOX 53465 OKC, OK 73152 Attn: Fisheries Division Be sure and put a letter with your donation that states the donation is for the Didymo Sign project. |
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 Chuckinra.flyfishingarkan... |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 63 06/05/09 2:18 PM |
Hi guys
I've been lurking around here off and on for awhile and this subject is discussed alot over on flyfishing arkansas.com. We have this problem here also. What is interesting is the White River has it, but the Norfork does not. The Norfork runs into the White, and it is only a short drive from one to the other. Comments about it is here to stay, yep. Last year Bull Shoals dam had extended periods of flood gates open and all turbins running. This year the didy is back. 
Chuck
A secret fly is never more valuable than when you leave it with a stranger. |
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keebranch |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 1966 06/05/09 4:31 PM Administrator / Moderator |
I've felt guilty as I have fished in AR a bunch and never washed anything before leaving. I was told that since I never went directly to Oklahoma or Texas
and fished that I probably was safe. Lesson learned - I no longer use felt and will wash my waders beofre leaving Mountain Home.
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jkurtz7 |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 2509 06/05/09 4:45 PM Forum Owner / Administrator
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I did some reading on didymo, and I found that it is NATIVE to the northern hemisphere, Asia, Europe, and North America. It's basically a type a algae. So
if it's native to North America, then why is it out of control in some areas? I'm not sure anyone has any real answer for that. More research is in
order.
Also, is this primarily a tail water issue? Or is it affecting natural freestone streams as well? J.
The Ultralight Fly Fishing Forum
Ultralight Fly Fisherman, and small stream specialist. NE Ohio, Mahoning River Watershed. |
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