ALGAE THREATENS VT STREAMS

July 17, 2007 - I found it important enough to dedicates this week's article to this very urgent issue. Please take time to digest the importance of what this means to our trout fisheries here in New England. It was initially brought to my attention by fly-fishing rep, Bob Lamson. It appeared on the website "Fly Fishing in Maine."

"Fly Fishing Guide" Lawton Weber discovered the invasive algae Didymo on the upper Connecticut River on June 25, 2007.

Here is what he wrote...

"On a sad note that ALL anglers in Vermont need to be aware of, I discovered an invasive algae this past weekend on the Big C. I've contacted the state and they're in the process of testing the algae, but having seen this nasty algae in New Zealand over the past 4 years, I'm all but certain about what I saw. This algae resembles cardboard colored toilet paper, and clings to rocks where it can cover the rocky streambed of rivers and streams. It tends to prefer clear, infertile streams, which means most all of Vt. would qualify. It hangs up on your nymphs, and spin anglers can get clumps of it on almost every cast. It seemed quite widespread from Lyman Brook downstream on the Big C (which means the spores are ALL the way downstream on the Big C). As I told my fellow TU members this past weekend, we have to clean our gear after we fish the Big C. A 5% bleach solution, 5% saline solution, 5%+ of laundry detergent all in hot tap water and dunked completely for at least 2 minutes. This means your waders, boots, and your reel if you plan on fishing soon after hitting the Big C. Just because you don't fish for 3+ days, does NOT mean your felt soles are dry enough to kill Didymo. All it takes to spread this algae is 1 part per million! So, everything in contact with the water should be cleaned. If this were to get into our more clear, infertile water like the Mad and White rivers, instead of seeing gin clear water down to a light colored rock and gravel bottom, you'd see a cardboard brown bottom which would make the river look dingy. The streambed would be covered in a mat of this crap. I've seen it in N.Z. and they're taking it very seriously. It has been found in Quebec, B.C., Tennessee, the Dakotas, and some rocky mountain states, and I believe some mid-Atlantic states. Please, please do not be complacent on this. Clean your gear after fishing the Big C! We'll only have ourselves to blame otherwise, and speaking from experience fishing in it in some streams in N.Z., you don't want to deal with it. I actually leave a separate set of boots and waders at my place in N.Z. so I don't spread it anywhere. One good option to start is considering buying a pair of boots with a rubber "aquastealth" sole; it by NO means gives you a free pass not to clean, but it does reduce the risk as the inner part of a felt sole can stay damp enough for days on end. Ok, that being said, fish early and fish late, and keep your thermometer handy. Good luck on the water!"

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB