[banjo]

Friend of mine who runs an outdoor supply store here in VA is saying that the Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries may outlaw felt bottom waders to try and stop the spread of the Didymo Algae in our trout streams.

 

[wademaster]

I figured that may come about at some point. If it helps I'm for it.....but there'll be a lot more pride hurt after they ban the felt.


Sent from my kayak...

 

[horsehead]

A research biologist from App State spoke at my TU meeting last year. He's studying didymo right now. We asked about felt vs rubber soles and he just laughed. Told us it only takes a few dozen diatoms for it to spread to a new system. The trouble is, these diatoms are microscopic. So even if you clean your rubber bottoms, it could be very well hiding in the nooks and crannies of your laces or anywhere else. He also said the spread of it probably isn't so much because of anglers. Rather, it's already been in these streams but something about the water has prevented it from blooming. But whether through pollution, ph change, temperature change, etc., the previously unseen colonies are beginning to bloom. So basically, there's extremely little you as an angler can do to stop the spread. That's why Simms started selling felt bottoms again. It gives the gov't control and revenue opportunities to get involved, and so they do, not because the science is solid (his words, not mine).


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[mrpossumtail]

I was under the impression this was mainly a tailwater problem.

 

[olsaltydog]

I would like to see research papers when they come out, interesting topic.

 

[crabman00]

Oh no! Could it be climate change?


http://www.fondriest.com/news/didymo-study-disputes-assumptions-spread-control-rock-snot-algae.htm

 

[SnowCamp]

I got a phishing warning when I tried to access this link thru my mobile phone

 

[wademaster]

I got a phishing warning when I tried to access this link thru my mobile phone

Not me. Good article.


Sent from my kayak...

 

[meenyt]

Climate change? I will let you know in a couple million years.

 

[banjo]

I was under the impression this was mainly a tailwater problem.

Come to think of it the main streams that have it in VA are below dams. Smith,Dan,and Jackson Rivers.

 

[olsaltydog]

I was already thinking they where leaning towards climate change, go figure.

 

[OptiMystic]

The research does seem to indicate that transport between sites is not the problem. The disconnect between the science and the "solutions" in the US is pretty frightening.