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| Okay, so I catch the local news last night and like all the local news outlets. They have something on VHS, since it's "real" news. Again TV proves why it's called the "Idiot Box".....Follow along.
So the local "story" on VHS. they talk about it being found in inland waters and blah blah blah...stuff that most of us here on WF already know.
Here's the "piss me off". Some politician is already working on passing a bill to restict boaters and take "tougher measures" (I love that line, F'n carreer politicians) to control VHS and the spread of VHS. I have yet once.....ONCE.....hear on any of the news "stories", that VHS has arrived from ballast water discharge. "It came from the Great Lakes" is the answer.
The blind leading the blind....The spread of VHS will continue with the spread of mis-information.
If anyone has info on this career politician, I'd love to drop him an e-mail or phone call, asking him when he's going to do something about the real problem. Versus the emotional knee jerk response that makes everyone "feel good".
I'm off my soap box. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Jayman,
I'm glad you feel better now 
The unfortunate truth is that no one claims with 100% certainty that the disease is being passed by ballast water. From the 100's of pages of documentation that I have read so far, the experts say that it is only one possibility. So your career politician took the easy "feel good" approach.
I have a strange feeling that we will all be mandated to carry bleach in our trucks from now on. Not complaining, just speculating.
I hope this topic is covered at the next MWS tournament so we can educate those doing that tournament series.
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| "The unfortunate truth is that no one claims with 100% certainty that the disease is being passed by ballast water. From the 100's of pages of documentation that I have read so far, the experts say that it is only one possibility. So your career politician took the easy "feel good" approach."
I agree, Dennis, I know they can't say 100% for sure. But they're is a long track record that comes with exotics and the Great Lakes. The common denominator being ballast water discharge. I'm sure Zebra muscles are fresh in the mind of the average recreational boater. I just don't understand why the news story doesn't build further upon that.
Since monday, all I've heard is VHS...VHS....VHS, nothing more and a couple of interviews with some "locals". How about a real news story for a change?
Is the public not capable of absorbing more than a tid bit of info at one time? |
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| Is it just me or does this whole VHS mess seem a lot like CWD....DNR announcement followed by a big media craze.
I think its time to calm down a bit and let the facts be gathered before jumping to conclusions. Hopefully this will end-up becoming a minor concern long term. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Jayman:
I'm sure that you realize that we are both united on this issue. I agree with everything you say.
Here's my take on your comment "Is the public not capable of absorbing more than a tid bit of info at one time?"
What we have not heard is any new information from "the experts" like the DNR. My guess is that they are constantly meeting and trying to develop a comprehensive plan that they can stick to. In fact, the Milwaukee Journal reports that the Natural Resources Board will meet in Madison today to consider expanding the emergency rules. The meeting will be at 3 p.m. in Room 613 of the State Natural Resources Building, 101 S. Webster St. Until then, it will require more leg work from local media to get ideas and background because they will have to make contacts outside of our state. They too may be taking the easy way out for now or they have been asked from the DNR to hold off until they (the DNR) make some rulings.
Hell, depending on what research you read ......... some say that VHS has been found in Lake Michigan while others say no.
What we do know is that this is the first time that VHS has been found in an inland lake. I believe that this shocking discovery has surprised even the experts. I'm sure they knew the day was coming but not this soon. In the meantime people need to understand that they can take steps to avoid its spread. They can:
If you fish the Winnebago system please disinfect your boat and gear before moving to new waters by mixing one cup of bleach with 10 gallons of water. Apply the solution to the hull, trailer, live well, bilge and any other areas or things that may hold water or moisture. Leave the solution on for at least five minutes before rinsing and don't rinse the bleach solution into lakes or rivers. You can also dry out your boat and equipment for (at least) five days.
Do not move live fish or fish eggs, including unused bait minnows, away from the landing or shore. Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water.
Drain all water from bilges, bait buckets, live wells and other containers when leaving the landing or shore.
Use live minnows purchased only from registered bait dealers in Wisconsin, or catch it yourself in the same water you fish. But please do not transport these to other waters.
Before launching and before leaving for the day, inspect your boat and trailer and clean both of all visible plants and animals.
Report large numbers of dead fish or fish with bloody spots to your local DNR fish biologist or conservation warden.
Kill your fish after fishing Winnebago, the Great Lakes or Mississippi River.
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| Agreed, Dennis.
Please don't mistake my frustration as being directed at you or anyone here on WF. I'm just frustrated with the local news media and the politicians with the coverage and "knee jerk" reactions respectively.
Just a vent...and yes, I do feel better  |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Today I have had 3 people ask me what I thought about this disease that they heard about on the news. I asked them what they knew about it and they seemed to have it down pretty good. The understood what it is, what the fish look like, and where they say it is at right now. They did not say how it got here, and when I mentioned it, they did not seem to care. What they cared about was what will it do to the fish population. They also cared about what could be done. Just some insite.
For those of you that do not know me, I work at a marina on the wolf near fremont, wi. I talk to many people every day.
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | No offense taken...........
In an attempt at being Pro-active and feeling like I can do something..............
I emailed Jim Coon asking if the DNR or he will be talking about VHS at the MWS tournamnet this weekend. If he has no plans I will bring a flyer along that lists the preventive messures I posted above. Here is acopy. Feel free to give your suggestions everyone. Maybe someone with more computer power and knowledge like PS can clean it up a little and make it more professional looking.......
Do you or anyone else have any more ideas on what we can do?
Attachments
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 Flyer.doc (29KB - 115 downloads)
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| Jayman, balast water from a freighter did not put VHS in to Lake Winnebago. The most likely scenario is traveling fishermen. Possibly, more likely from bait, then bilge. There will be a lot of knee jerk reactions as to fault and future. This getting in to Lake Winnebago before the opening of the locks just gives some people more reason to say it is the fisherman, not the boater, who is the most potential danger to the future introduction of invasive species. That just may be true. Polititions are looking for votes and will say what they think thier voters want them to say. Still, how many of the most concerned anglers in the world were bleaching their livewells and bilges prior to entering our system. As was said to me by one of the most knowledgeable people on the Winnebago system who I will not name. He said "We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us". |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Well Doc,
I hope that you and Jayman do not get into a pissing match on who is at fault. I'm sure that Jayman will acknowledge that there are no freighters on Bago. Just like you can acknowledge the possibility that "IF" this was transmitted by a fishing boat, the fishing boat probably got it from water that was tainted by freighter discharge.
No reason for anyone to point fingers because we will NEVER know for sure. It does no good to assume the responsibility of others. Now is the time for all of us to work together.
I absolutely agree with the statement "We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us"
Wish I was that knowledgeable person
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| Doc, No comment. |
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Location: Berlin | Guest - 5/17/2007 10:16 AM
Is it just me or does this whole VHS mess seem a lot like CWD....DNR announcement followed by a big media craze.
I think its time to calm down a bit and let the facts be gathered before jumping to conclusions. Hopefully this will end-up becoming a minor concern long term.
I totally agree |
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| One other possible source that I have been thinking about is birds. I would assume that cormarants and pelicans and seagulls have the potential to carry and spread disease. |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | hmmm... |
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Posts: 2567
Location: Manitowoc, WI | Just my opinion: We're past the blaming point.....it's time for positive action!!! Inform, teach, learn, educate, etc.......especially those of us who fish daily and have a platform to use to inform others.
As many of you know, I work in the nuclear business. My business is easily one of the least understood. I am of the opinion that had the makers of nuclear power taken the time to educate people on the process, show how safe it is, and show it's benefits to the general public, that the public's view and perception of nuclear power would be different. Instead, most get their beliefs and ideas of nuclear power from ridiculous TV shows like "The Simpsons" or from poorly conceived and created movies like "Silkwood" and "The China Syndrome".
VHS isn't much different: learn what can be done to prevent the spread, teach others what they can do to prevent it's spread, and work with agencies like the DNR. Don't create hype and heresay by making off the cuff remarks about it's origin and how it's being spread.
I like stackers approach to the situation. When others bring it up as a subject, ask them what they know of it. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Fritz,
This is what I have found out about birds......
Fish-eating birds, such as the gray heron, can be mechanical vectors of VHS virus, but passage through the gastrointestinal tract of birds appears to inactivate the virus. The virus does not appear to be transmitted by parasitic vectors or to be capable of replication in insects. In the hatchery environment, mechanical transfer of VHS virus on the surface of animate or inanimate objects presents a substantial hazard.
In layman’s terms I believe this means that you do not have to worry about birds pooping the VHS virus to other lakes but they could transport diseased fish or carry infected water.
Edited by Sunshine 5/17/2007 2:55 PM
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| Sunshine, I was mostly concerned with the transfer of infected water. Maybe this could lead into the fulfilment of another dream of mine. Imagine trolling on Green Bay and being allowed to shoot cormarants at the same time. "Yeah, I got 11 walleyes, 3 northerns, a huge sheephead and 37 cormarants". I could spend $3.50 a gallon on that. |
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| The PWT has just sent me information regarding Mille Lacs and the letter says that they are recommending 1 part bleach to 2 parts water. I do not know if this in MN DNR talking or PWT, but I will find out.
I see on the WIDNR site they state 1/3cup bleach with 5 gallons of water, similar to the above 1 cup to 10 gallon water. Does anyone know if these ratios are being used because it was found effective with Zebra mussles, or what the rational is for this ration. When we are doing it, it better be right.
The 1part bleach to 2 parts water does seem very excessive, but the 1/3 cup to 5 gallons seems light?
Take care,
Jim O |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Rich,
Here is my take.
Mortality is greatest at 37.4° to 41°F); mortality and the proportion of virus carriers decrease at higher temperatures. Deaths from VHS rarely occur at temperatures above 59°F.
So what will happen is people will start to forget about VHS or blow it off because they will not see the floating fish for the rest of this season. The media will start putting articles on back pages before dropping it all together.
Next spring the ice will disappear from Winnebago and people will report massive amounts of floating fish. A lot worst than what we saw this year.
Then you will get the major headlines and the demands from the public that something should have been done.
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Jim,
I have read two scenerios for the mixture. 1/3 cup to 5 gallons. And one cup to 10 gallons. I chose to report the later in the advisory above because like you, I thought the other was on the light side. The reports I'm reading say this mixture should take care of all exotic species that you do not physically remove by hand.
Hope this helps |
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| VHS was found to have killed 30 to 50 walleyes in Conesus Lake, NY last August. The lake is a smaller inland lake that is considered to be one of the Finger Lakes.
Bob, |
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| I should also mention that the NY state DEC (our DNR) is now saying that it has been in Lake Erie for 4 years. Our bait dealers have been sending Lake Erie Emerald shiners to Mich. Ohio, Pa. and other states for decades. If you used Emeralds in the last 4 years, you probably transported VHS already.
The DEC checked the Walleyes this spring, in the Henderson Harbor area. and found no VHS. Henderson was the site of one of the biggest VHS fish kills last spring. That fish kill included SM Bass, Sheephead, perch and Gobies. I don't know if they will be able to stop this as it has such a big head start.
Bob |
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| This is a followup to my earlier post regarding bleach concentrations.
I spoke to Mike Staggs of the WIDNR last night. He confirmed the 1 cup bleach to 10 gallon is a good concentration. The reported 1/3 cup to 5 gal is the official ration as posted on the WIDNR website.
This is information supported by the Michigan DNR is their studies.
The PWT has not reported back to me regarding the extremely high concentration they reported in their newsletter to Mille Lacs participants. I will let you know what I hear from them. I would be concerned that a 1 gallon bleach for every 2 gallon of water would cause boat damage to say nothing of leave bleach stains everywhere a boat was drained. I would suspect that Hi-way 41 would smell like a laundry mat.
Take care,
Jim O |
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Posts: 1406
| It might not be the cause of VHS or some other invasives but EVERYONE (in the know) I have spoken to said keep 'em closed it can't hurt!
Show up Tomorrow and Vent!
Where: Appleton Lock #2
CBC Parking Lot, Olde Oneida Street, Adjacent to Lock #2
Appleton, WI
When: Saturday May 19th , 2007
1 P.M to 4:00 P.M.
Good Luck
Tyee
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Posts: 1406
| More reading for you Dennis!
http://www.iwla.org/index.php?id=25
http://www.iwla.org/index.php?id=461
Good Luck
Tyee
Edited by tyee 5/18/2007 8:19 AM
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