Getting Rid of Didymo

[AaronJasper]

I think a great first step would be for all anglers to get rid of felt soled wading shoes and for states to make laws against the use of felt soles. Simms makes aquastealth, this is a non-porous surface so therefore no spores can find their way into the material. They make it with and without spikes. I think its time for us to look into getting pairs of these.

Also, people who are taking boats in and out of affected stated should have to get their boat cleaned at an approved placed before traveling over state lines. If they have water from the affected river all they are doing is tranporting the weeds "knowingly" to another state. This is much like that places that the NYCDEP has for the boats in their reservoirs.

I think that doing two things would be a great start to trying to end this stuff. After all spreading Didymo to another river after knowing the river that you have come from in contaminated is bio terrorism.

[Fascist Killer]

Great ideas Predator, but if people can knowingly bucket stock smallies and lake trout or let snakeheads or flatheads go without any hassle by the man who is supposedly actively trying to prevent such occurences, I highly doubt that the govt is going to spend the time, money or manpower on making sure everyone cleans their drift boats. Furthermore, while I like to think a good portion of the fishing community is conservation-minded, any trip to your local stream will deomnstrate that there are too many fishermen who are too ignorant and/or apathetic about the environment to go out and get aquastealth soles. Noble to try to do your part to stop the spread, but don't expect anything from the government and be prepared to see it everywhere.

[trout5]

Unfortunately, I have to agree. Ignorance can be combatted but there is no eliminating stupidity or disregard. There are just too many people and boats out there.

[AaronJasper]

Yeah guys... isn't it sad when you have people like this running around. The worst part is you never know who they are. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about a similar thing, its scary.

[predator2b]

New guy here, I use felt soles. Is this Didymo? an Eastern phenomenae? I fish South Central rivers.

[AaronJasper]

I know they have it in AR and TN. The Didymo in the Little Red is on the decline. However, several people have told me that it gets a lot worse in the Summer.

[JUICE]

what do you guys think makes it decline in a river like the little red, but thrive in rivers like the south holston?

[alanb_ct]

From the 2008 Connecticut Angler's Guide:


If this is not readable (boost your view to 150%), please look here:
http://www.epa.gov/region8/water/didymosphenia/

[Nymphmeister]

I was talking to Davy Wotton the other day about this, and he said water quality is a big factor. Of the rivers down his way in Arkansas, the Norfork River doesn't have a big problem with it do to water quality issues, while it is a significant problem on the White, where water quality is good. He also mentioned it grows more in shaded areas. High water releases also seem to help "scour" it away from the streambed.

[Fascist Killer]

Is there anything from the arctic that eats it? Does it grow wildly up there? I would imagine water doesn't get much cleaner and with the long hours of sunlight....