FRANKENFISH

[SWIM JIG]

Well they are now into the GREAT LAKES CHAIN< Those miseable Snakehaed FISH, One was found in Chicagos Burnham harbor on Lake Micigan, Folks these things can live out of water as well as in, have teeth that can inflick a serious bite in man or beast, and the female can lay 1300 to 1500 eggs when they spawn up to 5 times a year. There are some 28 species of snakehead fish world wide, the northen species being hardy enough to survive a Graet Lakes winter. These things can eat anything, and can destroy the game fish. Posibly our own ( ROGER Schulz) can advise us how to get rid of them. My scorce on this imfo is in the (Fishing Tackle retailer Dec Issue page 14by W.H. (chip) Gross, We attempt to do our part when we take the boat out, we wash out the live well and bildges and bait wells with Clorox, let stand fo a few hours and risne with tap water as it has clorine in it Yup thats whats in our drinking water. They recomen to kill a snakehead , put it into a cantainer and take it to a game warden. So far non have been seen or caught in Lake Erie yet. and you folks in warmer areas of the south be carefull! I would sugest all of you raed up on these nasty fish! Col. Milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG your Ohio Conection

[Jim Madden]

Milt's right. Go to http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?overview.html
for a real scare. Indiana needs to be added to the list because I personally saw two in a popular 5 lake fishing chain in eastern Indiana. They had to have been released pets. There are some I/O boats there that could have been in Lake Michaigan too, but I don't see how the species could be transported. It's a great Walleye, Muskie, white bass and panfish chain, but who knows about the future. Jim

[Brian F.]

I've heard about the scare there and understand the concern but hope it turns out to be more like what we here in Hawaii have experienced. One of the Asian species of the snakehead was introduced here many years ago, into one of the largest lakes in the islands, Lake Wilson. According to the story in Jim's link, it's been here just over 100 years but the lake also had introduced North American small and largemouth bass and the South American peacock bass (or tucanare). Over that period of time, the lake was and still is very good fishing for those gamefish so it appears that the particular species of snakehead really had no impact. In fact, many feel the fishing resource for bass and tuc is grossly underutilized and could be a much bigger interest from visitors.

Although the state records for bass and tuc (both in the 9 and 10 lb. range) now come from Kauai, there are still hefty fish in Lake Wilson. The state record for the Pongee (a Chinese name for the snakehead, I believe) is 7 lb. 1/4 oz. that is from 1977. I believe if it were a problem, that record would not be standing today.

I fished there a couple of months ago and have talked to guys who go out regularly. Didn't see one. In fact I spotted more tucanare than any other game fish. The real problem is that people started dumping aquarium fish and now the main pest is the Red Devil, a very aggressive cichlid from Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Even with all of that, there still seem to be a lot of bass for the fishermen.

Now, so that I can make this post legitimate, I say take out your old tackle and practice on the things! I have never tried eating it but I understand from our freshwater fishermen (which includes hundreds from all over the country who have passed thru here while serving at Schofield Army Base and Wheeler Army Air Base) that snakehead taste really good! Maybe if people there find out they're tasty, guarantee they'll disappear faster!

Again, I know this may not be the same species but just thought I'd share one of Hawaii's "introduction of alien species" stories that wasn't so bad (and believe me, there are a lot of horror stories).

You've seen these before but these are the "dreaded red devil" (I mean the fish, of course!)

[reels4me]

Jetskis (PW) Hummm !