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Location: Manitowoc, WI | This taken from this mornings Milwaukee JSOnline:
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia: All test results last week came back negative for VHS. Of the 121 fish samples sent in for testing since 2006, as of June 27, 93 samples tested negative, results are pending for 28 samples, and six samples tested positive.
The positives were freshwater drum from Little Lake Butte des Morts and from two locations in Lake Winnebago; smallmouth bass from Sturgeon Bay, brown trout from Lake Michigan near Algoma and Kewanee, and whitefish from northern Green Bay.
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Location: Chicago IL. | Hi Jerry. I dont know what it was but I know we caught walleyes at green bay and alot of them looked pretty rough. It may not be VHS but something is going around there. I hope the DNR gets to the bottom of it before it`s too late. |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | John, I see anywhere from 25-100 walleyes a year out of Green Bay with those markings, especially early in the year in the lower Bay. I hope what you saw isn't a health issue for the fish.
Edited by jerry 7/1/2007 6:38 AM
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Location: Berlin | Maybe the glowing green water has something to do with it  |
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| Of the roughly 250 walleyes that have been taken from my boat this year, less than 1% looked rough or beat up(from Green Bay), the fish all seem healthy and look real well, people have been catching "beat up" fish for years, now that vhs is out there I think people are more attentive to how the fish looks. |
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Location: Rhinelander | There are many skin diseases out there in freshwater fish, including Bacterial Hemorrhagic Septicemia.
Small, dark, knot-like thickened areas, up to 1mm in size appear on the skin Encapsulated metacercariae (larvae) are often found on fish caught in the wild Fish can live to a ripe old age, despite the condition.
The skin clouds up in some areas, then comes off, leaving bloody patches The fish are affected by a heavy Costia infection.
And so on. Not sure how many different diseases on Green Bay cause lesions, but I remember a biologist telling me one of the diseases was bacterial.
Gotta go find a marine dealer up here in Dryden, busted race on a trailer axle...... |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | There is an area out in Green Bay where I have caught fish with like symptoms of VHS since I started fishing Green Bay years ago. It's a 'secret spot" that have enjoyed for years. A very good friend of mine found this area and passed it on to me. When he told me about the area years ago, the first thing he said was that I would catch fish that "would be beat up" and have sore spots and bloody sides. He and I always thought that it was from these fish getting beat up in the huge bolders in this area. The premise was that when the winds got rough and the bait fish stacked up in this area the walleye would feed aggressively and get pushed into the boulders occasionally. It's unimportant if our novice biologist guesses were/are right or not. The important fact to remember is that these types of signs have been around a lot longer than the VHS virus.
I have to admit that I am just as bad as others in jumping the gun and making proclamations on seeing lots of VHS infected fish. My partner and I watched the releasing of fish at the MWS tournament in Menominee and we swore we saw lots of fish with the signs. Well, we know we saw lots of fish with skin rashes and beat up sides. But was it VHS? I'll leave the testing to the DNR. I actually was hoping that the DNR was going to be there to take some of those suspected fish.
Seems to me that if the DNR wanted to monitor the virus closer all they needed to do was go to some of the bigger tournies and take sample fish for testing. Are they doing this? Is this test expensive to do?
I do not want to speak for one of our very frequent contributors on WF but this individual told me that Kendall was at Merc nationals and just shook his head seeing all the fish with symptoms. Wish this person would give more of a first hand report. I HATE giving third hand knowledge. |
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| I talked with someone at a boat landing on Winnebago in late may, who told me something very interesting.He told me he talked to a dnr worker at the boat landing about his concern with eating the fish out of winnebago.The dnr worker asked him if he had eaten fish from winnebago from prior years, and if he had gotten sick.The guy said no, and the dnr guy told him to not worry about it then, because they knew it was in winnebago five years ago already.If this is the case, then why are they now only concerned with the bleaching? |
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| Thanks for bringing that up boomer. I heard, she said he said that once upon a time there might have been something that could have been VHS here 5 years ago. I over heard that this has been covered up since then from an almost dependable non confirmed semi reliable proposed expert with at least second hand knowledge of the original second hand knowledge of the conversation between the "expert" and someone in Tyee's family tree. I hope this clears things up. |
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| Doc,
Give the guy a break, all he said was that he talked to someone at the landing and he said that he had talked to a DNR person who said that they might have suspected that the Beta version of VHS was being manufactured by the DNR in an effort to scare fisherman so that Jim Doyle could raise our hunting and fishing license fees every year (oh but he's not going to raise our taxes) !
I believe every word that every fisherman tells me especialy the ones I meet at the boat landings. I met a guy that once told me that the mud on Bago was down near Fond du Lac in 26 feet of water, I still limit my fishing to the reefs cause I can't find that spot south of Fond du Lac on Bago.
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| Once again doc, you demonstrate your level of class.Instead of saying who did you hear that information from, or giving someone the benefit of clarifying there statement, you cop your "i'm royal" attitude.Why don't you call kendall, and ask him if i'm wrong, then blab all you want. |
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Location: Appleton, WI | Working at a bait shop, I hear all kinds of stuff, from "oh my God" to "this is a conspierancy for the DNR to get more money". It is what it is. If we got it, we got it. No amount of worry on your part will solve anything. If fishing sucks for a while, it's gonna suck for a while. Keep cleaning your boat, follow the rules, and soldier on. be more concerned about spreading it, and less concerned about the waters it is already in.
Edited by muskynightmare 7/4/2007 7:21 PM
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| I don't want to get into this argument but I worked with the WI DNR for several years and VHS was speculated as being in several lakes in WI however it was not tested nor was it reported publicly - along the same lines the DNR also had knowledge of CWD in other states and deer in WI on private farms with CWD-like symptoms for years before it was reported publicly and made into a public out roar - regardless it does not matter how long VHS has been in the system, what has been done, has been done - we need to work on preventing the spread of future problems and the worsening of current ones - I am still not convinced this current VHS scare will cause a large change in the system - hopefully I am correct - I am more worried about the Chinese carp working their way into WI from IL |
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| Doc, How the hell did I get dragged into this? I have never spoken to you about this? Conspiracy theory crap! It's here like it or not were going to have to deal with it! In the future please leave me out of your fun and games.
Good Luck
Tyee |
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Location: Rhinelander | I'm pretty sure Doc was speaking totally 'tongue in cheek' on this one, have we all totally lost any semblance of a sense of humor? I hope not, being totally serious all the time gives me gas. |
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| Steve, Thank you. Tyee, you CAN'T think I was serious and boomer, what ever. |
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| Sorry Doc, but I've avoided this thread as VHS is a bit too serious of an issue to me! The rumors of he said she said are numerous. There are plenty of peole that don't take this issue serious enough. As you know this system has been seeing the symtoms to be a GREAT fishery for many future years, we don't need an issue like this to be taken lightly as it could have a real impact on it's future!
Good Luck
Tyee |
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| Tyee. That is why I responded to boomers post as I did, although I apologize for referencing your family tree. I could have used anyone's name because it was meaningless in the context, but chose yours. I agree with you that the passing of "stories" on VHS is not a good thing. Too many opinions in place of fact. But my friend, just because I a chose an attempt at levity to get my point across, don't think I am unconcerned. Based on what I do and the people I work with in Wolf River Country, you can bet I am very serious about this. I also have a lot of friends with business futures are at stake, including mine. I write a lot of articles and do a lot of work here that depends on this water system. Tourism also plays a big role in the economy. Sure some tournament guys and local die hard anglers could give a crap about tourism. Nice quiet boat ramps have been mentioned as a good thing. I'm sorry but that's NOT a good thing. Those dollars wash throughout the entire community and if they are gone, it's not just the resort owners and bait shops that will be closing their doors. We are in a wait and see situation as far as impact.
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Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | What is so awful about letting others know what your seeing on the water or hearing about VHS? How is that any different than coming on this site and openly discussing that your job may be at stake because of it?
Nothing we do or say is going to change the course of the VHS virus for 'bago. Either there is going to be a problem this fall/next spring or there isn't. As has already been stated, we are in a wait and see as to both impact of the virus on the system and the local economy. Personally, I"m not going worry about it. VHS is new to this area, but the virus itself has been know for decades. The still have fish on the coast where this has been around for a lot longer than its been here so I have no reason to think 'bago will fare any differently. I sincerely doubt there will be any long term impact from this.
Relax. Go fishing. |
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| After this last week, I'm convinced VHS is going to spread to most inland lakes in the Great Lakes region. I'm not going to speculate on the impact. I went to a fishing resort just off Lake Huron. MIDNR just started giving out cards with VHS FACTS on them. I brought up VHS to every person I talked fish to. Not one single person knew squat about it or how to take preventative measures. All they knew was that they got some card with their license about it and the card is in the trash unread. Some were going out into Thunder Bay on Huron and bringing live fish in their wells back and jumping from inland to inland with them in the well. Start telling them about 100's of 40-50" muskie floating down the Detroit River in the spring and that got their attention!!! Angler to angler stories do have a greater awareness impact than facts from a government body or newspaper. Remember, we're dealing with allot of "good ole boys" who don't trust a single fact coming from the DNR or newspapers. An angler could tell them a completely fictional story and they'd believe it though. Whatever works. |
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| "Angler to angler stories do have a greater awareness impact than facts from a government body or newspaper."
Sorry, although I believe Terror is correct in his assessment of the "good old boys", this is one of the most stupid remarks I've ever read. When "fish stories" told at the bar or boat ramp are held in higher regard then published FACT, it is no wonder we are where we are. As was said to me and I quote. "We have met the enemy and the enemy is us". Statements like this confirm that statement.
I've already heard the excuses for not disinfecting at the boat ramps and seen plenty of boaters with NO CLUE or who don't care. It's like griping about taxes, the wind, rain, people who stage their boat and clog the boat ramp, or other things we have no control over. |
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| Geez, I sure hope you weren't refering to me as stupid!!! I was trying to make a point and my "stupid" point is soooo true. Like it or not.  Whether people regard higher, fact or fiction at the bar or ramp, is their own decision. Don't shoot the messenger. I didn't raise all these people and make them the way they are. It's just a fact that person to person discussion actually gets through some peoples thick paranoid skulls. I by no means endorse going out telling fish stories, but even some people who are unknowingly spreading misinformation about the disease actually do have a greater awaremenss impact than that DNR paper everyone threw away and never read or the Joel Kunz article they never read. You can't argue that. I'd much rather anglers be aware of it and not have all the facts straight than not even have a clue at all. |
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| No I did not. I tried to make that clear and actually think it was an important insight as to a portion of the mind set of the fishing public. I agree with everything you said because not everyone reads Wisconsin Outdoor News or any other paper or publication. I was just referring to those few who would take any published fact and disregard it as bull because it was from the DNR or publication, and your reference to those people being more likely to believe a fish story. Your input Terror, including the reply, was very on target, although mis information is often more dangerous then bad information. Too many "experts" already. I know the type. Their half truth mixed with opinion is a dangerous thing.
Edited by Joel "Doc" Kunz 7/8/2007 5:03 PM
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| We're on the same page.
I was amazed at how many people had the comeback of "Yeah, remember what the DNR said about deer and bovine. Now they're dying because there's so many." I had one group interested and telling them about it until one of their relatives comes in and tells the deer story. Chances are they're going to blow it off as another DNR hype and not bother with any precautions. I was even more amazed at how the local resorts, tackle shops, etc. did not have one single thing posted about it, being less than 30 miles from Lake Huron and very close to connecting tributaries. This is their livelyhood and existance at stake!
Lets just keep our fingers crossed and try to spread the facts to as many people as possible! |
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| I'm glad Doc mentioned the Tyee Family Tree, and not his family jewels!
As Dennis has posted, I have seen this bleeding sides on fish for many years. Yes, some on a fish from his secret spot, and some from the Bago chain. Some from a few lakes up north. If thos spots are indeed, VHS, it's been here for a while. And if so, I suspect the fish eventualy develope and immunity to it. It certainly hasn't seemed to affect the hubcaps on Green Bay! |
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