I’ve been working since May Maryland DNR Fisheries, interested Trout Unlimited and Federation of Flyfishers folks to spread awareness about Whirling Disease throughout the state.The discussion has ranged from whirling disease and it’s impact on state hatcheries, natural resources, and waterways, as well as anglers perceptions of the disease.

Local writer, Pat Van dem Beemt, of the North County News, recently penned a story focusing on our role in putting up signs along the Gunpowder river, titled; “Disease has Trout Swimming in Circles”

Signs are part of the solution in creating awareness of how anglers and other user groups like kayakers, tubers and even hikers, can spread the spore phase of the disease waterway to waterway with dirty waders, the soles of muddy shoes, boats and/or tubes.

While the earliest incidence of the disease was recorded in the North Branch of the Potomac in 1995, most free state anglers first heard about the disease in the Spring of 2007. To date, 155, 000 fish have been destroyed, a number that translated into a 20% reduction in the number of stocked fish the State’s waters received this season.

Three hatchery facilities have subsequently closed, including Bear Creek, (which discharges into Bear creek and then flows into the Youghiogheny), Mettikki, and the net pens at Jennings Randolph. Currently, Maryland’s DNR fisheries staff are testing for the disease using swim up fry as “sentinel fish” and a PCR, (Polymerase Chain Reaction) gel protocol to identify if the whirling disease parasite DNA is present in these highly susceptible juvenile fish. While juvenile fish have more cartilage and thus are more prone to the parasite attacking in the head and tail region, ongoing test are also being conducted with wild adult fish in the Savage River, and tests have been coming back negative thus far. While Browns are highly resistant to Whirling Disease, Rainbows and Brook Trout are susceptible, and if prevention methods are not undertaken by anglers, the Savage river could prove to be particularly vulnerable to the spread of the disease, as it just a few miles upstream of the confluence of the “infected” North Branch of the Potomac and many anglers routinely visit the North Branch of the Potomac and the Savage River in the same outing.

The shop’s role in fighting the disease with a portable wash station was just highlighted in a timely article by Boyd Pffiefer featured in the Examiner, aptly titled; “Trout Anglers going in Circles over Whirling Disease”

Maryland’s cold water resources are at stake.
Spending a few minutes cleaning gear can and will make a difference in limiting the spread of the disease, because the concentration of the spore phase of the parasite, can in many cases, determine to what degree waterways, and ultimately trout are infected.

Are you doing your part?

Related Posts:

Maryland Whirling Disease Talk is Open to the Public

The Savage River and the North Branch of the Potomac Fly Fishing Report