Trout Fishing Threatened by Weed

This week there was a report about weed problem threatenting a trout fishing in the Fall River in Shasta County. The problem is that Eurasian watermilfoil weed is growing in the water, threatening the natural ecosystem.

Unfortunately, this problem is not limited to California - it's a problem in just about every U.S. State.

This weed is not native to the U.S. but was brought here in the late 1800's by the aquarium trade for use in aquariums. It's believed to have entered our waters when folks tired dumped their aquariums into nearby lakes and rivers. From there, the weed spread by hitching rides on boat trailers and were deposited into other lakes and rivers.

Once in water, this weed grows and spreads rapidly and presents all sorts of problems for anglers, boaters, swimmers, etc. In fact, this weed disrupts the whole natural ecosystem of the water. It crowds out other natural aquatic plants. It can slow water flow and hinder oxgenation of the water by preventing the wind from mixing oxygenated surface water with deeper water. These things hinder trout survivability.

You can help! It's a known fact that this weed is mostly spread through boat trailers. The weed becomes tangled in propellers, transducers, fishing nets, trim tabs, bow lines, and on trailers.

Before leaving the lake or river:

• INSPECT and REMOVE all aquatic plants and animals
• DRAIN water from motors, live wells and bait containers
• DISPOSE of unwanted live bait on land
• RINSE your boat and equipment with hot (104°F) high pressure tap water or
• DRY your boat and equipment for at least 5 days

Also, you happen to seed this weed growing in your local lake or river, contact your local Fish and Game Department to make sure they're aware of it. Following these simple steps, you can help prevent the spread of this weed and help preserve the waters for trout fishing for yourself and others.