Pike Diease in Cow lake

[Hunterdano]

Last year i was fishing at cow lake , and we noticed the pike had strand pink red dots and strips on them, than there was a sign posted By Fish and Wildlife about a deasease that had spread into cow lake ( near Rocky mountain House area) adn that only about 20% of fish were infected adn that it was not a serouse threat. But recently this year the deasese has spread through a lot more than 20% . In one night of fishing this year we caught 8 fish and at least 6 of thoes fish and the deasease on them. But some of the fish have gotten the deases so bad that it is turning into sizes of basballs on there bodies. iv attached a picture of it. They call it a Tumor and say that humans Are not known to be affected by it. They think its for tempeture change in the lake. Feel free to share any info if you have some
36301

[walking buffalo]

Check out the link. Take note of the quote. You could spread this disease to other fish in the lake and perhaps to other water bodies through handling and equipment contact of infected fish.

DISEASE IN PIKE AT COW LAKE

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/FishingHuntingTrapping/FishManagementZones/ZoneOne/documents/DiseaseInPikeAtCowLake-Mar2011.pdf

Transmission of the disease between pike is thought to be by direct contact, which most likely occurs at spawning time each spring. As it may be possible to transmit the virus by fishing gear, anglers should release obviously infected pike without taking them into a dip net or into the boat.

[Hunterdano]

Yea thats the excat sign they have posted at the lake... Tho it does not say anything from what i read about pike spreading it to one an other, it only recommends that you was ur stuff before switching lakes

[Kokanee9]

Thanks to both of you for bringing that to our attention. That is something that everybody should be aware of.

[TJG]

Cogratulations Mr Anderson
Try to kill a few perch and kill the
complete population of the lake
or worse, spread a DISEASE.

[Hunterdano]

Yea my Grandfather suggested that i get the word out there. He was telling me of all his years living he has never seen anything that bad before.

[Hunterdano]

Cogratulations Mr Anderson
Try to kill a few perch and kill the
complete population of the lake
or worse, spread a DISEASE.

Is that a matrix reference?? And i have been fishing there for a while now and have not seen much beening done!

[Lefty-Canuck]

Cogratulations Mr Anderson
Try to kill a few perch and kill the
complete population of the lake
or worse, spread a DISEASE.

I am confused......?

LC

[Kokanee9]

Cogratulations Mr Anderson
Try to kill a few perch and kill the
complete population of the lake
or worse, spread a DISEASE.

What point are you trying to get across?

Unless you 2 know each other and its an inside joke, what ever you are trying to say isn't being said.

[Hunterdano]

|I dont think there is a inside joke, well at least im not apart of it.

[walking buffalo]

This Viral induced cancer is fairly well known in research circles.

Perhaps if SRD would lobby to increase F&W's funding, something a bit more proactive could be done about the problem.

Other jurisdictions recommend steralization of fishing equipment (with bleach) and culling of legal fish, to be submitted to a local office. Very similar protocols to Whirling Disease.

From Wisconsin...

http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/documents/pr_lymphosarcoma.pdf

Anglers play a very important role in helping to prevent the spread of Lymphosarcoma, including taking the following steps:


�� Never move any northern pike or musky from one waterbody to another, a practice already prohibited by rules to prevent the spread of VHS.

�� If an angler has used a landing net or cradle on a fish that displays Lymphosarcoma sores, the angler should not use that gear for the rest of the trip and disinfect the gear once they get home.

�� Clean all landing nets and live wells in contact with the disease as well as other gear that may transmit virus with high pressure hot water, or disinfect them with a solution of 1/3 cup of household bleach mixed in 5 gallons of tap water and left to soak for five minutes. Rinse well with tap water before using the equipment again.

�� Anglers catching a fish that displays Lymphosarcoma symptoms should take a picture of the fish if it’s under the legal size limit and note the time, date and location it was caught before releasing the fish and then contacting the local DNR fish biologist with that information. If the fish meets the minimum size limit, anglers should harvest the fish, place it in a plastic bag and take it to the local DNR office and arrangements will be made to test the fish.

[Hunterdano]

Well thats a start, but everyone needs to that, and they should still try a little harder to fix the problem at least look into it more

[Gus]

I was fishing at cow last weekend we caught around 30 pike only one had a small red spot. Looked like the tumour had just started or was going away.