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The names evoke ugly images – mud snail, rock snot and rusty crayfish.
And their impacts can be even uglier.
Aquatic invasive species continue to be a problem in Pennsylvania’s waterways, and Pennsylvania Sea Grant extension director Sarah Whitney is cautioning anglers to take a few simple steps to avoid spreading invasive species this spring and summer.
Whitney said the start of trout season and, in June, the opening of bass season, are two times when angler activity greatly increases and so does the threat of spreading aquatic invasives. That includes things like didymo, or rock snot, a type of algae that creates a thick mat on the bottom of rivers and streams, smothering plants, insects and aquatic habitat.
Whitney said didymo has been found in the Delaware River and Pine Creek, and it’s easily transported by unknowing anglers.
“It can stick to felt-soled waders and survive for some time,” Whitney said. “Some states have implemented a ban on felt-soled waders, and we urge anglers to use sticky-soled waders or at the very least dry their gear before going to another waterway.”
Hydrilla is an invasive plant that aggressively grows in lakes and ponds, consuming all open space beneath the surface. Whitney said hydrilla has been found in the northeast in places such as Harveys Lake and can be transported on the props of boats and clinging to oars.
“It’s a rooted plant that grows right up to the surface in depths as much as 20 feet,” she said. “It spreads by tubers and is really tough to manage.”
But there are precautions that can reduce the risk of spreading invasive species throughout lakes, ponds, streams and rivers.
Whitney recommended using a particular set of gear for a specific body of water. If that isn’t possible, she said, it’s crucial that all gear be drained and dried before being used at another location.
“Drain the water at that particular waterway before you leave, and clean off any gunk or plant material,” Whitney said. “It’s best to dry equipment for five days and use a high pressure sprayer to clean it. It’s not a bad idea to even take your boat and trailer through a car wash to get it clean.”
With trout season set to start statewide on April 16, hundreds of thousands of anglers will hit the water all in one day.
While the trout opener is a Pennsylvania tradition, Whitney said it’s also a time when the risk of spreading invasives is greatest.
“You have people moving boats around, and anglers fishing in one place than hitting another spot that same day,” she said. “Having all that movement between boats and anglers does influence the spread of invasive species.”