Clearlake Fish Die Off --- New Approach

dogfish2 · Post by **dogfish2** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 5:47 pm

A long thread was started on 8/18, regarding the unusually large numbers of fish dying, the poor water quality, fertilizer and pesticide runoff, and weed spraying. Many people, such as recreational users, residents, businesses have their own qualified or laymen speculations on the cause(s) of one of our favorite lakes becoming a smelly, unhealthy body of water. Understandably, no one likes it. However, it appears no one is taking positive action to remedy this situation either, unless someone can tell us otherwise.

To highlight what took place in 2015;
US Fish & Wildlife made a decision to consider protection of the Clearlake hitch which was hailed by environmentalists and Native American tribes, and renewed concern over its potential impact on water use and economic development around the lake. So, the USF&W initiated a study to determine if the hitch should be classified “threatened” or “endangered.” In other words, this was a serious matter.

This decision was supported by Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity, FOUR Native American tribes and California native fish expert Peter Moyle of US Davis.

Remember that the California Fish and Game Commission had already granted state threatened species status to the Clearlake hitch.

Here’s a simple question. With the hundreds of thousands of dead fish floating in the lake as well as the uncountable dead ones on the bottom, does anyone believe there are NO hitch amongst the dead fish? If there are dead hitch, then laws are being broken.

Those agencies and tribes should be outraged that certain parties might have caused the demise of a “protected” fish. Whatever is happening to cause this very sad occurrence at Clearlake has to be addressed by one or all of the guardian agencies mentioned. They have the resources and power to stop this travesty. AND, they have taken on this responsibility of protecting the hitch. Enforce the law!

We need a “Strength in Numbers” strategy before approaching those agencies to conduct their research and implement changes necessary to protect the hitch. If we do nothing, Clearlake will be NOTHING.

Let’s have a positive plan! Who is stepping up? Fishermen? Tournament Directors? Businesses? Homeowners? No more BS. Meet with Senator Mike Mcguire!

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:52 am

Good post, good points. It must be in someone's financial interest to keep doing what they're doing, and not enforcing the law.

Whoopbass · Post by **Whoopbass** » Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:24 am

The Native American angle may work. Maybe the tribe members from Konocti Casino can get this rolling since this does indeed effect their business.

Andy Lippert · Post by **Andy Lippert** » Thu Sep 07, 2017 2:28 pm

These are the same people who wanted to end bass fishing and the existence of bass for good on this lake. How we could ever "team up" with them over a die off that is over and happens almost annually with varying degrees of seriousness, is beyond me. A guide up there told me "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" which applies in some cases, but what we've seen here is a die off that has yet to be determined whether it's a good or bad thing for the health/longevity of the lake and the bass population.

What we DO know is the Native/CBD plan for the lake would 100% be detrimental to the bass population.

So side with who you want, but I'll never team up with those turds on anything, and would urge any other sportsman who enjoys fishing that lake to do the same.

Whoopbass wrote:The Native American angle may work. Maybe the tribe members from Konocti Casino can get this rolling since this does indeed effect their business.

Whoopbass · Post by **Whoopbass** » Thu Sep 07, 2017 2:54 pm

Okay so the native's can't help us. The local politicians won't do squat. Environmentalists won't do anything because they're a bunch of libs that see fishing as a right wing activity. The only thing fisherman will do is bitch on the internet. I guess the lake is on its own.

Andy Lippert · Post by **Andy Lippert** » Thu Sep 07, 2017 3:05 pm

Fishermen have all sorts of money, just like duck hunters...and duck hunting has big advocacy groups like Ducks Unlimited/CA Waterfowl. It seems like everyone is better organized, and more powerful than us because we just don't seem to care enough to truly get involved or put our money where our mouths are.

So we team up with CBD and the Natives...get these studies done and they mitigate some of the things that are causing these annual die offs. Then what? Split ways and let CBD and the Natives decimate the bass anyway?

MGJR · Post by **MGJR** » Thu Sep 07, 2017 5:39 pm

There is a need for an organization to represent reservoir fisheries in California-no doubt. I have been personally trying to lay the groundwork to do so. However- to provide advocacy and research at the level you speak of for DU, CalWaterfowl, etc, etc-there is considerable overhead and resources required. It would be a full time job for several people.

I have reached out to several influential anglers and never got any traction. I simply cannot do it alone with a full time job, be a parent, take care of everything at home and fish. It would be a continuous battle and be an exhausting endeavor.

I would like to continue building the foundation and make it the voice for anglers. See californiablackbass on Facebook. If people are interested...I would love to hear the feedback.

MGJR · Post by **MGJR** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 7:06 am

Crickets...

There has to be some interest out there.

Stratos278 · Post by **Stratos278** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 7:23 am

MGJR wrote:There is a need for an organization to represent reservoir fisheries in California-no doubt. I have been personally trying to lay the groundwork to do so. However- to provide advocacy and research at the level you speak of for DU, CalWaterfowl, etc, etc-there is considerable overhead and resources required. It would be a full time job for several people.

I have reached out to several influential anglers and never got any traction. I simply cannot do it alone with a full time job, be a parent, take care of everything at home and fish. It would be a continuous battle and be an exhausting endeavor.

I would like to continue building the foundation and make it the voice for anglers. See californiablackbass on Facebook. If people are interested...I would love to hear the feedback.

Whatever happened to the old BBAC (Black Bass Action Committee)?

dogfish2 · Post by **dogfish2** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 12:48 pm

Where are the advocacy groups for the black bass in California? The few individuals, including a very special individual who has moved to Texas, who stepped up and attempted to organize bass fishermen and tournament organizations have met with apathy, and "let the other guy do it." We are fortunate to have some excellent bass fisheries here but they will eventually become very mediocre with water diversions, weed killing, farming chemicals leaching into lakes, etc. MGJR is spot on when mentioning advocacy groups that are active in protecting other species of fish, birds and animals. Where is the voice for the black bass? In this thread and others, people are more concerned with how the bite is or will be for their tournament. Time to stop sitting on our hands. Influential bass fishermen, tournament directors and strong media personalities need to organize and defend and protect the California black bass. Take a page from other states, like Texas, that have successful conservation programs. Let's go guys and start with Clearlake.

Stratos278 · Post by **Stratos278** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 1:37 pm

dogfish2 wrote:Where are the advocacy groups for the black bass in California? The few individuals, including a very special individual who has moved to Texas, who stepped up and attempted to organize bass fishermen and tournament organizations have met with apathy, and "let the other guy do it."

This is exactly why I was asking about BBAC. Back around six or eight years ago, they were the (only?) advocacy group for black bass. Their primary focus at that time was to try and ensure that the monies collected through the old "Delta Enhancement" stamp were spent as they were supposed to be. They were unable to fulfill their mission due to the budgetary shenanigans in play in Sacramento. When the Delta stamp went away, so apparently did the BBAC. Maybe it is time to resurrect it?

briansII · Post by **briansII** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:56 am

Not black bass specific, but the only org. that I know of, that's working to keep our fisheries going in CA. is Ca. Sportfishing Protection Alliance.

http://calsport.org/dev/index.htm

As has already been mention. Seems like the bass fishing community(not everyone)has "apathy" towards protecting the fisheries they use. Starting a new organization doesn't sound like a successful proposition, but more power to you if you get it off the ground! CSPA has been around for a while, and they have had success. They could use any support we can give them, because the fight will never end.

dogfish2 · Post by **dogfish2** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:50 pm

We heard comments from some of the fishermen after the River @ Sea and FLW Costa tournaments. Evidently they experienced much slower fishing than Clearlake is famous, and with very few bass over 3-4 lbs. Hopefully. they will carry the message back to the tournament directors, who should get the ball rolling as far as organizing positive action to ascertain the cause and solution ton the rapid decline of Clearlake. If weed spraying, inordinately high amounts of pesticides and fertilizers continue to drain into the lake, massive fish die-offs, including all the large 5-10 lb. bass seen floating along the shorelines this spring and summer, are allowed to continue for a few more years, then Clearlake will NOT be a destination or home for many people.