Snakehead in swift creek lake

[johnw91]

Some idiot thought transporting snakeheads to swift creek lake (Lakeview reservoir) in Colonial Heights was a good idea..I knew it was only a matter of time until they showed up on the James I just was hoping fishermen wouldn't speed up the process.

[javelin90]

My wife said she saw something about it yesterday. Hope they got it and any remaining ones...

[DvKing]

the James and Apomattox are screwed now. no turning back

[bdubz0r]

They said the same thing about the Potomac, but the bass fishing is still strong there several years later. If I recall correctly even DGIF stated that they weren't having the negative impact everyone expected in the beginning.

[Huckleberry]

Are they that much different than the native Bowfin? I've fished some cypress swamps in Southeast Georgia where the water was infested with Bowfin and they are some pretty fierce feeders themselves. I can't find any articles that explain the environmental impact differences between the two, although you can't say a Bowfin imposes any impact since it's native.
Not trying to defend the Snakehead .... just wondering.

[bdubz0r]

I imagine if they get too bad we can just switch to snake head tournaments followed by fish frys like BASS used to do before catch and release. A year or two of 80+ boats a weekend bringing 5 snakeheads a piece in for cash payouts should decimate just about any population lol.

[PsuHntr]

the James and Apomattox are screwed now. no turning back

Pretty sure somebody just weighed a 26 pound bag on the Potomac in a 3 hour tourney...I think the James will be ok.

[vafishing]

the James and Apomattox are screwed now. no turning back

The James and App will be fine just like the Potomac because they have a constantly replenishing food source with all of the ocean run shad and herring species that come in. Places where I would think it could hurt are some of the lakes that may not have a food source that can replenish fast enough to keep up with them. By the way I have seen pics of one that was caught this week in Swift Creek Reservoir off of Hull St. VDGIF was supposed to be coming to check that one out, have not heard any further yet.

[johnw91]

Pretty sure somebody just weighed a 26 pound bag on the Potomac in a 3 hour tourney...I think the James will be ok.

I agree that it should in theory be fine... however every system has different dynamics and I would rather not have to go off "should be fine"... I would much rather not have to find out..if people would have just followed the law instead of contributing to the spread I think it would have been better off.

[johnw91]

Update i got: Shocked up 6 snakeheads in lakeview reservoir, as well as have confirmed that a snakehead was caught in swiftcreek reservoir.

[1bluemcm]

There are some very devious, ignorant people out there. Sad to see this happen in these bodies of water. The Brandermill people probably really have their panties in a wad over it, they expect that reservoir to be pristine what with all they've done to eliminate aquatic plants and such.