corn fed fins
Well-known member
Who's the new up and comer in our wonderful fishery? No, it's not a fish but it goes with them...........You guessed it, gill lice. Many of us knew it was coming but this was the first I've seen of it in this part of the river system. Took a "class" and did some sampling with CPW a while back and about 15% of the bows are positive and from my definition of +10 lice/gill being heavily infected I'd say 1%. The "word" is that the source of this parasitic infestation is traced back to the private stocking of a family day care business on one of the tributaries. You know the places. Businesses that stock and feed pond fish to get them big. Then for $150 or so, tourists can tie on a deer spun dog food fly($10 extra by the way) and waylay a 10lb fish, take glory shots, and walk away thinking to be an accomplished angler. LMAO
I did some more sampling for CPW last week on my own further down river. Most of the rainbows were still stacked up on redds so I only put three post spawners in the net; 0 lice. Browns: 0 lice; but for some reason (behavioral?) they are less susceptible to the parasite.
I have yet to hear any reports on Taylor fish being found infected but it's just a matter of time. Might have to make a trip up and do some angling sampling. With the rebounding Kokanee populations I'm surprised it hasn't been reported there. Low run off year here means really low water in fall, high fish densities, warmer water, and a faster spread of the parasite. Too bad.
First whiling disease literally wiped out the rainbow population in the early 90's. Now there is gill lice. Wonder if maybe we can get that privately funded and maintained wader wash station in place now or if we will still have to wait for confirmation of mud snails before action is allowed?
I did some more sampling for CPW last week on my own further down river. Most of the rainbows were still stacked up on redds so I only put three post spawners in the net; 0 lice. Browns: 0 lice; but for some reason (behavioral?) they are less susceptible to the parasite.
I have yet to hear any reports on Taylor fish being found infected but it's just a matter of time. Might have to make a trip up and do some angling sampling. With the rebounding Kokanee populations I'm surprised it hasn't been reported there. Low run off year here means really low water in fall, high fish densities, warmer water, and a faster spread of the parasite. Too bad.
First whiling disease literally wiped out the rainbow population in the early 90's. Now there is gill lice. Wonder if maybe we can get that privately funded and maintained wader wash station in place now or if we will still have to wait for confirmation of mud snails before action is allowed?