This could be a can of worms or a solution…
- Thread starter Gem Morris
- Start date
Shredhook
Well-Known Member
smallmouth candy!!!
As the water level drops the mussels die and fall off the rocks, if they were introduced could we have a cleaner lake when it fills? Biologist should make the research effort and do what is best for the Colorado water system. I have been told the red ear sunfish also eats mussels.
RandyAustinFishing
Well-Known Member
I think red ear would be a great addition to help with the mussel problem. Plus they are great fun to catch and eat. See Havasu red ear.
Bluegill are exploding right now in Powell. Bluegill eat the larvae, red ear or "shell crackers" will feast on adults on the rock walls.
Together they will help but unfortunately mussels are here to stay. Unless, the lake dries up....
Bluegill are exploding right now in Powell. Bluegill eat the larvae, red ear or "shell crackers" will feast on adults on the rock walls.
Together they will help but unfortunately mussels are here to stay. Unless, the lake dries up....
upthecreek
Well-Known Member
Gobys and shell-crackers have been discussed here quite a bit. There seems to be a lot of resistance to stocking them. I can't see a down side myself.
Rainbowbridge
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
This from Wikipedia......seems promising 
:
Redear sunfish have thick pharyngeal teeth which allow them to crunch exoskeletons. They are even capable of opening small clams. The specialization of this species for the deep-water, mollusk-feeding niche allows it to be introduced to lakes without the risk of competition with fish that prefer shallower water or surface-feeding. In recent years, the stocking of redear has found new allies due to the fish's ability to eat quagga mussels, a prominent invasive species in many freshwater drainages
:Redear sunfish have thick pharyngeal teeth which allow them to crunch exoskeletons. They are even capable of opening small clams. The specialization of this species for the deep-water, mollusk-feeding niche allows it to be introduced to lakes without the risk of competition with fish that prefer shallower water or surface-feeding. In recent years, the stocking of redear has found new allies due to the fish's ability to eat quagga mussels, a prominent invasive species in many freshwater drainages
FishnFly
Well-Known Member
Totally agree with the solution of stocking red ears. It seems like almost all the species we like to catch will eat Shad. And the small mouth are so productive they have overrun themselves. Adding a new species which competes for the same source of food would be a bad idea. But these red ears would be focused on just the mussels. They would get huge and add another great sport/game fish for anglers while helping reduce the mussel population. Seems like a true winning solution.
I understand it’s another species added to the Colorado river system. The reality is that we have already screwed any truly native fish in the system by damming it and adding other species in the first place. I don’t mean to say that native species should’t be protected but the argument by the environmental powers that drive the decisions here fall on deaf ears in my opinion.
Every species we anglers enjoy catching in the river system is invasive. We just selected which ones wanted to have the opportunity to invade. The whole system is by design. So why not keep designing.
I understand it’s another species added to the Colorado river system. The reality is that we have already screwed any truly native fish in the system by damming it and adding other species in the first place. I don’t mean to say that native species should’t be protected but the argument by the environmental powers that drive the decisions here fall on deaf ears in my opinion.
Every species we anglers enjoy catching in the river system is invasive. We just selected which ones wanted to have the opportunity to invade. The whole system is by design. So why not keep designing.