Anglers Asked For Info On Winnipesaukee Tagged Bass

[Brandon-K]

ANGLERS ASKED FOR INFO ON WINNIPESAUKEE TAGGED BASS

CONCORD, N.H. - Anglers fishing Lake Winnipesaukee are being asked to watch for largemouth and smallmouth bass tagged as part of a New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Warmwater Fisheries Management Program study. Data collected from tagged bass will allow biologists to examine bass movement after release from bass tournament weigh-ins held at Ames Farm Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee.

The study was initiated as a result of bass tournament data analysis and angler concerns. From 2001-2005, nearly half of permitted bass tournaments on Lake Winnipesaukee (170 tournaments) launched from the Ames Farm Inn. As a result, during this time, 64% of all smallmouth and largemouth bass weighed in during permitted bass tournaments on Lake Winnipesaukee were weighed and released at or near the Ames Farm launch. Scientific studies have shown that bass may remain in the general vicinity of weigh-in sites for days, weeks or even months after release.

"A stockpiling of bass at weigh-in sites could then lead to increased angler harvest and catch rates from non-tournament anglers, increased competition for food and habitat, and increased opportunities for bacterial or viral transmissions such as Largemouth Bass Virus," said Gabe Gries, Warmwater Fisheries Project Leader for N.H. Fish and Game.

During 2007, N.H. Fish and Game Department personnel will attend bass tournament weigh-ins at Ames Farm Inn and tag all bass before release. They will work with tournament directors to ensure that this tagging does not severely increase weigh-in time or compromise fish health.

Individually numbered yellow tags will be attached near the base of the bass' dorsal fin (i.e. the fin along the top of the back; see photo at the online version of this release at http://www.FishNH.com). Tags will look like a 2-inch piece of spaghetti and may be covered with algae, so look carefully. DO NOT remove the tag from bass that are to be released.

The tags are printed with instructions requesting anglers to contact the N.H. Fish and Game Department with the following details (please use the data sheet that you can download at http://wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/...eet_June07.pdf or call Gabe Gries at 603-352-9669 to request by mail):

* Tag Number;
* Location of Catch (GPS/general location) and release location (if fish was released);
* Date bass was caught;
* Whether bass was kept or released; and
* Angler contact information (name, phone number).

"Angler captures of tagged bass will be the major source of information for this study, so please ask ALL anglers you know to be on the lookout for tagged bass when they fish Lake Winnipesaukee and send us the requested information when they catch a tagged bass," said Gries.

For more information on the study and to report information from tagged bass, contact Gabe Gries, N.H. Fish and Game Region 4, 15 Ash Brook Court, Keene, NH 03431; phone 603-352-9669; or email ggries@nhfgd.org.

[Skunch the Skunk]

Commander Data is a real inspiration.Who or what is 2001-2005 nearly half of permitted bass tournaments on Lake Winnipesaukee 170 tournaments launched from the Ames Farm Inn?Do you think I could ever be a result during this time 64% of all smallmouth and largemouth bass weighed in during permitted bass tournaments on Lake Winnipesaukee were weighed and released at or near the Ames Farm launch?How old are you?
Ok I'll try not to do

remove the tag from bass that are to be released

too much.Your purpose is more information on the study and to report information from tagged bass contact Gabe Gries nh Fish and Game Region 4 15 Ash Brook Court Keene NH 03431; phone 603-352-9669; or email ggries@nhfgddot org.

[Brandon-K]

WTF? I think Skunch has a few wires crossed..............

[Merrillizer™]

Naw, he's just gatherin info and learnin lol. But yeah, either that or heez futtin pissy drunk HAAHAHA

[kkevvy]

PRetty interesting, I guess I never thought of that. Makes sense though. Good thing my lakehouse is on a small(ish) 400-500 acre lake... with not many people and plenty of bassies :]

[Brandon-K]

FIRST TAGGED BASS CAUGHT IN WINNIPESAUKEE ONE DAY AFTER BEING TAGGED!

CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Lake Winnipesaukee Bass Tagging Study has gotten off to a fast start, according to Gabe Gries, Fisheries Biologist and Warmwater Project Leader. Tagging at bass tournaments at Ames Farm Inn started on Saturday, June 30, when 95 largemouth and smallmouth bass were tagged at the Bubba Bassin' tournament. On Sunday, July 1, 198 bass were tagged at the Massachusetts Bass Federation tournament. A tournament angler at the Sunday event caught a largemouth bass that had been tagged on Saturday. This is the first tagged bass caught during the study.

"I can't believe a tagged bass was caught so quickly and after only 95 bass had been tagged, " said Gries. "This is a fantastic start to a study that will give use some great information about bass movement after tournament weigh-ins. In future years, we hope to expand and build upon this study in order to learn more about largemouth and smallmouth bass in New Hampshire."

Rob Frye, President of the New Hampshire Bass Federation and Director of Bubba Bassin' was equally impressed. "In my opinion, seeing this one tagged bass makes the whole study worthwhile. Anglers that I have already spoken to about this first recorded bass were excited to hear the study has already proven itself credible," Frye said.

"The tournament anglers have been fantastic in this whole process and we couldn't conduct this study without their help," Gries said. "Both tournament weigh-ins we attended were very well run and all anglers were extremely cooperative."

Tagging at bass tournaments at Ames Farm Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee will continue through mid-October. Anglers fishing Lake Winnipesaukee can record information from tagged bass on forms that can be found at http://wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/...eet_June07.pdf.

As part of the N.H. Fish and Game Warmwater Fisheries Management Program study, anglers fishing Lake Winnipesaukee are being asked to watch for tagged largemouth and smallmouth bass. Data collected from tagged bass will allow biologists to examine bass movement after release from bass tournament weigh-ins held at Ames Farm Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee. To learn more about the study and see what the tags look like, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fish...tudy_2007.html.

[Skunch the Skunk]

And second?How old are you?
Not many people say both.Do you mean your name is part of the nh Fish and Game Warmwater Fisheries Management Program study anglers fishing Lake Winnipesaukee are being asked to watch for tagged largemouth and smallmouth bass ?Commander Data is a real inspiration.

[Brandon-K]

DO NOT REMOVE TAGS FROM WINNIPESAUKEE BASS STUDY FISH

CONCORD, N.H. - Anglers reporting tagged bass to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department as part of a study on bass movement in Lake Winnipesaukee are being asked NOT to remove the tags from bass that are caught and released.

"The survey is going great, but it is of the utmost importance to the success of this study that anglers not remove the tags from fish they release," said Gabe Gries, Fisheries Biologist and Warmwater Project Leader for N.H. Fish and Game. "The purpose of the study is to follow the movements of bass over months or even years, not just record their location a single time."

To date, 1,500 bass have been tagged and released by Fish and Game since the Bass Movement Study got underway on June 30, 2007. Anglers have already reported on the location of more than 100 recaptured fish. Updates on the progress of the study, a print-and-mail reporting form, and more information about the study can be found at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fish...tudy_2007.html

"Anglers have been fantastic -- we couldn't conduct this study without their help," Gries said. "We just need them to be aware that it's important to leave the tags on bass they plan on releasing."

As part of the N.H. Fish and Game Warmwater Fisheries Management Program study, anglers fishing Lake Winnipesaukee are being asked to watch for tagged largemouth and smallmouth bass. Data collected from tagged bass will allow biologists to examine bass movement after release from bass tournament weigh-ins held at Ames Farm Inn.

[Brandon-K]

LARGEMOUTH BASS VIRUS FOUND IN LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE

CONCORD, N.H. - Bass sampled this summer from Lake Winnipesaukee have tested positive for largemouth bass virus (LMBV), with initial testing showing LMBV to be present in a sample of smallmouth bass. The infected fish were collected as part of the Winnipesaukee bass tagging study being conducted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Previously, LMBV had not been detected in New Hampshire; Fish and Game biologists have been testing for the virus since 2006.

"Finding largemouth bass virus in smallmouth bass is not surprising, as this virus is known to be carried by other fish such as smallmouth bass, pickerel and some sunfish species," said Dr. Joel Bader, N.H. Fish and Game Fish Pathologist. "As we continue to test more bass from Lake Winnipesaukee, it is likely that we will find largemouth bass virus in largemouth bass, as well."

Largemouth bass virus is one of more than 100 naturally occurring viruses in fish. Fish with largemouth bass virus are safe to handle and eat, as the virus does not infect warm-blooded animals, including humans.

Presence of the virus in a fish population does not necessarily mean fish will develop LMBV disease, which can cause them to die or show signs of being in poor health. Most fish carrying largemouth bass virus appear completely normal, but largemouth bass kills sometimes result in waters that test positive for LMBV. These fish kills generally occur during the summer months, indicating that warmer water temperatures may be a factor. In cases where the virus has triggered disease, dying bass may be near the water surface and have difficultly swimming and remaining upright. The virus attacks the swim bladder, sometimes causing bass to lose their equilibrium and appear bloated. Largemouth bass between 12 and 15 inches appear to be most susceptible to the disease. The occurrence of lesions or black spots is not a sign that a fish has LMBV.

The virus appears to result in disease when largemouth bass are stressed -- warm water temperatures, low oxygen, poor water quality, and frequent handling can increase the chance that fish may get the disease.

Scientists are unsure as to how the virus is transmitted or how it develops into a disease. There is currently no cure or preventative for LMBV, and it can live in water for up to seven days. It is known that the virus may be transmitted through water, by fish consuming infected prey, or through direct and indirect contact in boat live wells.

No evidence currently exists that the virus has caused long-term impacts to a fishery; some data indicate that an infected fishery will recover over a period of years.

"Based on the information we have about the virus, it is unlikely that largemouth bass virus poses a serious threat to the long-term health of New Hampshire's bass resources," said Gabe Gries, N.H. Fish and Game fisheries biologist and Warmwater Project Leader. "However, because the virus can sometimes kill or negatively impact largemouth bass and can be spread or influenced by anglers, it is important to test fish to learn where the virus is present in New Hampshire, inform anglers about the virus and try to minimize its spread.

"It is of the utmost importance for anglers to help keep this virus from spreading by cleaning their equipment after use and by not transferring fish, including baitfish, from one waterbody to another," added Gries.

Anglers can help minimize the impact and spread of largemouth bass virus by following these suggested guidelines:

* Drain water from bilge and live wells and clean boats, trailer and other equipment between fishing trips with a solution of bleach to water (1:100 ratio) and let air-dry.

* Use a solution of bleach to water (1:100 ratio) to clean live wells and let air-dry.

* Never transfer fish or fish parts from one body of water to another. In fact, New Hampshire law prohibits transfer of live fish from one waterbody to another.

* Do not release live bait into waterbodies.

* Handle bass as gently as possible.

* During times of high water temperatures, minimize stress to fish as much as possible.

* Conduct fishing tournaments during cooler weather, so fish caught will not be as stressed.

* Reduce daily bass tournament bag limits or use a "paper format" during times of high water temperatures.

* Report dead or dying fish to the N.H. Fish and Game Department.

* Educate other anglers about LMBV.

"It is likely that the virus is or will soon be present in other waterbodies in New Hampshire," said Dr. Bader. "We will soon be expanding our testing for this virus in other waters, and ask the public for their cooperation in reporting any fish kills, particularly those involving bass."

Largemouth bass virus was first detected in Florida in 1991 and gained national attention in 1995 when it caused a largemouth bass kill in South Carolina. The virus was originally thought to be restricted to the southern U.S., but it has recently been detected in some Northeastern states, including Vermont (Lake Champlain) and Connecticut.

For more information on LMBV in New Hampshire, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fish...Bass_Virus.htm, or contact Dr. Joel Bader, Fish Pathologist, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Region 2, 200 Main Street, New Hampton, NH 03256 -- 603-744-5470, jbader@nhfgd.org.