Besides having to retire or losing fish, using braid. I really see no downside for fishing in my opinion. Fished up north for a number of years. Water was clear, fishing was excellent, vegetation was lush and grew deep!. There was a pay to play lake in CT that was more worried about you bringing grass to the lake. They would actually inspect your boat and turn you away if they found even a piece of dried eel grass on your trailer. Funny thing was this lake was already slap full of grass? How's that for keeping the non residents out.

I figured they would choke on Texhoma red dirt. If not the lake worth mud might get them. I can't imagine anything filtering/clearing up, Thunderbird, Texana, Eufaula and Dam B and more but evidently they have a long term effect.

If we get them at PK ( not saying I want them ) maybe they will filter out the golden algae.I've heard they take the plankton from the lakes which affects the shad and minnow population.

Now that we have that clear, let's move on. While the fishing industry is a vital part of local economies, our lakes are built for water consumption and in some cases electricity generation. Recreation is strictly a by-product. Complaining and posting to forums will never change that.

The only other negatives I have read about Zebra Mussels that no one else has mentioned is that they can carry avian botulism, a fatal disease that they can transmit to some kinds of water birds and that Zebra Mussels can wipe out native mussels.

Spread of Zebra Mussels is said to be mainly caused by human
recreational activities like boating, fishing,
and diving. Nine steps boaters can take
to help prevent spreading zebra mussels include:

Remove all plants and animals from your boat, trailer, and
accessory equipment before leaving the access area.

Drain live wells and bilge water before you leave the access site.

Empty bait buckets on land rather than in the water.

Wash your boat, tackle, down-riggers, and trailer with hot water (above 104 degrees F)

When you get home, flush your motor�s
cooling system, live wells, bilge
and other boat parts that get wet.

Let all equipment dry for at least five days
before transporting your boat
into a new body of water. If planning to move to
another body of water sooner, you should
disinfect everything that came into
contact with water using a 5% bleach solution.

Learn to identify the zebra mussel so you can
report new sightings. If you find a zebra mussel in a lake that is not currently identified as an invaded lake, preserve
the mussel in rubbing alcohol or freeze it,
and contact the fisheries biologist in
your area for positive identification.

Zebra mussels are here to stay. Add them to the list of other things such as trees, brush, rocks, boat docks, cables, man made structures, etc that can break your line under water.
Adapt and overcome.

Dont see where I was complaining,..simply stating they arent even sure what they are up against,..???

You know, you are right. I'm sorry if I was harsh on you. I just get tired of fishermen (me too) feeling like the lakes are all "ours". Your comment about "bottom priority" set me off, but I'm sorry if I was out of line. It is all about the water.....