Yeah that is what will probably happen. I did a sample during July at 16 sites around Lake Dardanelle which is on the Arkansas River. For our sample we place 4 1/4 meter square grids along a transect. During our sample we only found 6 zebra mussels and all of those were at one site.

Tim, how does Texoma water get into Lavon? Texoma drains into Red River...doesn't it?

I believe there is a pipeline that pumps Texoma water into Lavon.

+1

It sounds like the migration from Texoma to Lavon is directly related to the pipeline.

Im from the Midwest and I remember my local lake use to be very stained when I was a kid. Now on a clear calm day it is a swimming pool. I have seen bass come up at the long end of a cast in 12-15 feet of water to hit a lures. That is something to see.

I'm from detroit and the they use to want us to kill the sheephead and than they said that they were the ones keeping the zebra mussels down . so leave them in the water , and also the zebra's would clogg up water filters . but my only bad about zebra's is that they will slice your foot open when you step on one.

I forgot time to turn some roach fish loose..

Effects of zebra mussels

Zebra mussel infestation on the walls of Arthur V. Ormond Lock on the Arkansas River
Zebra mussel-encrusted Vector Averaging Current Meter from Lake MichiganZebra mussels are filter feeders. When in the water, they open their shells to admit detritus.

Zebra mussels are a great nuisance to people. Since colonizing the Great Lakes, they have covered the undersides of docks, boats, and anchors. They have also spread into streams and rivers nationwide. In some areas they completely cover the substrate, sometimes covering other freshwater mussels. They can grow so densely that they block pipelines, clogging water intakes of municipal water supplies and hydroelectric companies.

Also, as their shells are very sharp, they are known for cutting people's feet, resulting in the need to wear water shoes.

Zebra mussels are also believed to be the source of deadly avian botulism poisoning that has killed tens of thousands of birds in the Great Lakes since the late 1990s. [2]

However, zebra mussels and other non-native species are credited with the increased population and size of smallmouth bass in Lake Erie [3] and yellow perch in Lake St. Claire. [4]. They cleanse the waters of inland lakes, resulting in increased sunlight penetration and growth of native algae at greater depths. This proves beneficial for fish most of the time, helping the fish live in better conditions. This cleansing also increases water visibility and filters out pollutants. Each quagga and zebra mussel filters about a quart of water a day.[14]

Recent research has found that zebra mussels don't attach to copper-nickel alloys, which can be used to coat intake and discharge grates, navigational buoys, boats, motors, etc., where the pests tend to congregate.[

I think the zebra mussels will impact the shad population in a negative way. This would hurt the striper population on Texoma.

However, it looks like bluecatfish will eat zebra mussels in the summer for an easy meal, i.e.
http://www.in-fisherman.com/content/blue-cats-baitfish-and-mussels/2

I didn't pay much attention to this post at first, but I recently just got back from fishing the Fox River in Barrington, Il w some inlaws. After having a decent day fishing the first day and breaking off 10 or more fish I thought I had a bad batch of 17lb big game line. Next day I put new line on and same thing. It didn't click to me until I looked closer at the rocks we were fishing - Zebra Mussels, millions of them. Little dudes are like razors and simply suck to fish around. They cling to everything. I remembered this post and sure am glad I didn't decide to wade in later and fish like we planned. I'll guarantee you i would have been cut up!

I had thought cleaning up Lavon's water might be a good thing, but after this trip, I sure hope we can get a handle on this before it's too late.

what effect do zebra musscles have on our lakes,and how important is it to prevent infestation?

It is my understanding that even though you inspect your boat and trailer for visable zebras, the real threat are the equivalent to larvae. Not using the correct term but it's basically the same. One could collect these in a livewell or bilge, particularly during colder temps and transfer them to another lake.

Now we can promote to fishermen, be sure to clean everything well and use a bleach solution, etc... But then just think of all the pleasure boaters.

The zebras are here. I guess we will see what happens.

thanks for the info.

Carp also feed on them big time....they will cutt 100lb braid like butter

That was my first thought , the summer heat in TX pretty much kills everything.lol

I was looking where the zebra mussells have taken hold, looks like a big problem around the mississippi delta region which is warmer and muddier than N. Texas.

would they also filter out the salinity in texoma waters? if so it could hurt the striper population.

With good populations of Carp, Buffalo and Drum here in Texas they might be able to find a balance. But as fast as they reproduce I'm not sure that alone could control them. Lets hope so.

ZEBRA MUSSELS BELIEVED TO BE ENTERING TRINITY RIVER SYSTEM Invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have been confirmed to have spread from Lake Texoma into the head waters of Lake Lavon, and experts fear they could eventually spread throughout the Red River and Trinity River watersheds. Zebra mussels multiply rapidly and can block water treatment plant intakes and pipes as well as attach themselves to boats, ropes or anything else left in the water. They can cause declines in fish populations, native mussels, and birds. They can also restrict water flow in pipes, foul swimming beaches, damage boat engine cooling systems and cause navigation buoys to sink. Live specimens of zebra mussels have been reported in Lake Texoma and are now believed to be well established there. On Aug. 3 live zebra mussels were found in West Prong Sister Grove Creek approximately 300 yards downstream of the Lake Texoma water transfer pipe. This creek flows into Lake Lavon. “Lake Lavon is in the headwaters of the vast Trinity River Basin, which extends southward to the Gulf of Mexico, so the potential impacts to water quality, fisheries resources, water distribution systems and recreation are huge,” said Inland Fisheries Biologist Bruce Hysmith in a TPWD news release. “Zebra mussels have the potential to be an even greater threat to Texas freshwater resources than invasive aquatic plants such as giant salvinia and toxic organisms such as golden alga,” said Phil Durocher, Inland Fisheries Division director. TPWD will be working with local, state and federal agencies, reservoir controlling authorities and water districts to develop a plan for dealing with zebra mussels. Boaters and anglers are being encouraged to help slow the spread of zebra mussels from one water body to another by cleaning boats, livewells and trailers when leaving any water suspected of having zebra mussels. Boaters and anglers are also being asked to report sightings of suspected zebra mussels to the Operation Game Thief Hotline at (800) 792-4263. More information, including links to photos and detailed information, is on the TPWD Web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/protectourwaters).

Just got my boat registration in the mail and it had a brochure/flyer from this organization with a Zap the Zebra initiative.

http://www.100thmeridian.org/

More on Zebra Mussels

rrhyne56,

Since that link is from Wisconsin, the affects will be much different there then here. The Zebra Mussels will not affect the fishing or make the water clearer. The densities will never get high enough to have the same problems like they do up north.

GASPERGOU. AKA: DRUM (Found in Lake Lavon)


Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)

Illustration © TPWD
Other Names
Drum Fish, Gaspergou, Gou, Sheepshead
Description
Aplodinotus is Greek for "single back", and grunniens is Latin for "grunting", referring to the fact that the species may be observed (or felt) making "grunting" sounds. Except for color, freshwater drum resembles its marine relative the red drum. The fish is deep-bodied and equipped with a long dorsal fin divided into two sections. The dorsal fin usually has 10 spines and 29-32 rays. Freshwater drum are silvery in color and lack the distinctive tail fin spot of red drum.
Life History
In Texas freshwater drum may spawn in April or May. Spawning seems to occur in open water. The eggs float until they hatch. Freshwater drum appear to be basically benthic, spending most of their time at or near the bottom. They feed primarily on fish, crayfish, and immature insects, often by rooting around in the substrate or moving rocks to dislodge their prey. The presence of heavy throat-teeth also allows them to consume mollusks to a certain extent. In Lake Erie, they have been found feeding on zebra mussels (although not nearly enough to control the

Found and killed my first Zebra Mussels on Texoma last Sunday. If was in less than a foot of water.

Where did you find it at? I looked around last weekend and haven't seen one yet.