|
Post by FishON on Jun 28, 2016 17:08:21 GMT -5
I heard snakeheads are now confirmed to be in lake Anna.
|
|
|
Post by ghostcomanche©® on Jun 28, 2016 17:26:15 GMT -5
|
|
lund2
New Member
Posts: 158
|
Post by lund2 on Jun 29, 2016 13:16:04 GMT -5
What is everyones take on snakeheads moving into a new lake/ecosytem? In school i was taught that snakeheads are an invasive species that do not have any natural predators, can out-compete pretty much any other freshwater fish, and have a very high reproductive/success rate for new born. therefore this often causes the population of snakeheads to grow rapidly and unbalance the ecosystem of an entire lake.
I saw some people commenting on the link that ghostcomanche put up saying there are studies showing that snakeheads are a good thing? as of now, im not quite buying that.
|
|
johnr
New Member
Posts: 1,297
|
Post by johnr on Jun 29, 2016 13:24:45 GMT -5
I don't know of any instances where an invasive species could be a good thing. Sure, invasive can provide sport in the form of hogs, white perch and snakeheads. Invasives can provide ample food and cover in the form of hydrilla. However, plenty of native species are displaced by invasives when they takeover because they have no or limited natural predators. Eventually you end up with a one dimensional ecosystem of overpopulated, undersized and often undesirable specimens.
Invasives, while attractive for certain reasons, are generally never a good option.
|
|
|
Post by ghostcomanche©® on Jun 29, 2016 14:29:18 GMT -5
I don't know of any instances where an invasive species could be a good thing. Sure, invasive can provide sport in the form of hogs, white perch and snakeheads. Invasives can provide ample food and cover in the form of hydrilla. However, plenty of native species are displaced by invasives when they takeover because they have no or limited natural predators. Eventually you end up with a one dimensional ecosystem of overpopulated, undersized and often undesirable specimens. Invasives, while attractive for certain reasons, are generally never a good option. I agree with this.^^^ This is the same situation with the Blue Catfish in the James river. Since their introduction into the river from Oklahoma back in the 70's, they are now 75% of the fish population in the river, according to a report I read not too long ago. At the size they can get, they are eating machines, and the top predator in the river. They are definitly taking over the river, and are working on the lakes their in. They are great for fishing and catching, but they certainly don't do the biomass any favors.
|
|
|
Post by Red Bear on Oct 7, 2016 15:04:16 GMT -5
apparently northern snakeheads are good eating from what i hear, i dont eat fish myself. also, a lot of the fishermen on the potomac river who initially had fears have said over the years they havent noticed any negative impact on their fishing. primarily bass and cat fishermen...
|
|
|
Post by bigd7400 on Oct 7, 2016 20:42:35 GMT -5
Speaking to the "snakeheads can be good" for fishing, this is the theory Ive heard. In lakes and rivers that have an abundance or even over abundance of game fish, the snakeheads help thin the population of smaller fish. Since bass fishermen, especially, take catch and release to the extreme the size vs age structure can become unbalanced. The snakeheads clean up the smaller fish leaving more room and food for others to grow. The same holds true for other perch species as well, less fish equals greater chance that the others have enough resources to reach maximum size. It is also said that since they are in fact such prolific fish that their fry and yearlings make up a large part of the diet for bass and catfish.
Now, Im not advocating FOR snakeheads in any way, far from it. I would hate to see them sneak their way anywhere near here, but the above is what Ive heard from a few articles on the subject. Though largemouth bass are also non natives lol.
|
|
|
Post by mwardncsu on May 31, 2017 20:54:39 GMT -5
|
|
Yam
New Member
Posts: 585
|
Post by Yam on May 31, 2017 21:46:29 GMT -5
What a trip. I used to hang out with Garnie all the time. He was part of the jigging spoon clan. Thanks for sharing that.
Weird that the article never discussed that Lake Anna is a striper lake as well.
|
|
|
Post by archenemy on Jun 1, 2017 8:35:14 GMT -5
What a trip. I used to hang out with Garnie all the time. He was part of the jigging spoon clan. Thanks for sharing that. Weird that the article never discussed that Lake Anna is a striper lake as well. Used to be a striper lake 😎
|
|