Entire Bow River Watershed Infected With Whirling Disease

[drhu22]

This really bites...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...ease-1.3976875

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by drhu22

This really bites...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...ease-1.3976875

Edit: I guess I should have put this in fishing... maybe mods want to move it?

[bergman]

IMO it is extremely likely that the watershed has been infected for a long time.

I don't know of any testing that was done in the Banff area at least, until the first lost trout was spotted in Johnston Lake.

The good news, if there is any, is that in locales in the US where the disease has been present for years, they are seeing rebounding populations that are resistant to the parasite/disease and get along ok.

I expect around 5 to 10 years of tightened fishing regulations to preserve existing populations, and then perhaps a rebound in populations and a return to "normal" keep limits.

Possibly the biggest impact will be felt in watercraft - I could see a potential watercraft ban on some unaffected rivers getting passed thru the legislature. I also think it is unlikely to work, and that all watersheds will eventually be affected.

[chucklesthe3rd]

This hurts me, I fish at the bow river a lot and catch lots of whitefish and trout. what will happen when they are all gone? My friend will lose his job. I hope this will be contained soon.

[EZM]

That's unfortunate news, however, it should come as no surprise after we learned Johnson Lake fish were infected with the disease, as it is within the Bow Valley (Bow River) watershed.

[Perch_foot]

I get into a routine of washing my waders/wading boots and pontoon after fishing the bow, just en extra measure. The bow is a gem.

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by bergman

IMO it is extremely likely that the watershed has been infected for a long time.

I don't know of any testing that was done in the Banff area at least, until the first lost trout was spotted in Johnston Lake.

The good news, if there is any, is that in locales in the US where the disease has been present for years, they are seeing rebounding populations that are resistant to the parasite/disease and get along ok.

I expect around 5 to 10 years of tightened fishing regulations to preserve existing populations, and then perhaps a rebound in populations and a return to "normal" keep limits.

Possibly the biggest impact will be felt in watercraft - I could see a potential watercraft ban on some unaffected rivers getting passed thru the legislature. I also think it is unlikely to work, and that all watersheds will eventually be affected.

That sounds like a best case scenario... I hope that's how it turns out. Hopefully other areas don't become affected.

[Isopod]

Maybe it's time to start stocking some of these waters with yellow perch or pike, at least until the diseased trout-thing runs its course over the next decade or two, like it has in other areas in North America that were hit with whirling disease.

Or we can just watch the trout and whitefish die, and hang up our fishing rods for the next 10 or 20 years...

[johndeeretimex]

Also if you think you have that spot in the mountians all to your self think again! I could see a lot more people heading west if they cant go to the bow for a day of fun! I hope this will not happen and I also hope they can get a hold of this and not make it a 10 year deal.

[Dr.Shortington]

Here's another good article:

http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/ar...ingdisease.htm

One thing I do know is the trout limit in the bow should be ZERO. The bow river should not be harvested at all. Mortality rates are bad enough as it is!