Susquehanna smallmouth report from PA Fish Comm

[flyslinger]

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Division of Fisheries Management
Warmwater Unit
July 12, 2007
Subject: Disease Incidence: Smallmouth Bass Young of Year and other fishes

To: L. Young, Chief, Division of Fisheries Management

Fr: R. Lorantas, Warmwater Unit Leader


Smallmouth bass young of year collections are underway with sightings of diseased specimens reported by fisheries biologists, anglers, and non-agency resource biologists. Managers have been very responsive to collecting at locations where reports have been received. K. Stark has been provided with specimens for pathological examination and high levels of Flavobacterium columnare have been reported as well as some fungi and external parasites on diseased fish. Stark reports that further pathological testing will be performed on these samples.

Diseased fish have been confined to the Susquehanna basin thus far, although sampling is far from complete. The map below identifies all PFBC river sections where diseased or dead fish have been reported to date. I should note that walleye young of year did not appear to be afflicted in the Susquehanna Basin based upon PFBC manager reports, however some larger smallmouth bass and an occasional catfish spp. and common carp have been reported as diseased.


Although diseased fish in the upper Susquehanna River, North Branch were noted percent afflicted was very low. There have been no diseased fish reported from the Delaware River, Schuylkill River, and upper Juniata River with sampling complete at these locations. Highest incidence occurred in the main stem Susquehanna River and lower Juniata River (Table 1). I emphasize that these data reflect preliminary results. It is apparent that in most Rivers catch of young of year is above average, well above average in many cases, with the exception of the main-stem Susquehanna River. Catch on the main stem Susquehanna River appears below average. Sampling is sufficiently incomplete that I can not report further about abundance. Some managers and biologists have made some suggestions and observations that I pass on.

Table 1. Percent of smallmouth bass afflicted by disease where measured and reports of diseased smallmouth bass received by anglers, and biologists.
Water Section Smalmouth bass
Y-O-Y Disease Incidence (Percent) Diseased Smalmouth bass
Y-O-Y Reported Upper limit description Lower limit description
Susquehanna R N Br 3 2 Y PA-NY State Line Mouth Of Sugar Ck
Susquehanna R N Br 4 Y Sugar Ck Towanda Ck
Susquehanna R N Br 5 2 Y Mouth Of Towanda Ck Mouth Of Meshoppen Ck
Susquehanna R N Br 6 0 N Mouth Of Meshoppen Ck Mouth Of Lackawanna R
Susquehanna R N Br 10 Y Fishing Ck Mouth
Susquehanna River 6 71 Y Rt 462 Safe Harbor Dam
Susquehanna River 1 Y Fabri Dam PPL Dam
Susquehanna River 2 63 Y PPL Dm Juniata R Confluence
Susquehanna River 3 19 Y Juniata R Confluence Swatara Ck Confluence
Susquehanna River 7 50 Y Safe Harbor Dm Holtwood Dm
Susquehanna River 4 Y Swatara Ck Confluence York Haven Dam
Susquehanna River 5 55 Y York Haven Dm Pa Rt 462
Juniata R 5 23 Y Confluence Kishacoquillas Ck Confluence Tuscarora Ck
Juniata R 6 12 Y Confluence Tuscarora Ck Confl Buffalo Ck
Juniata R 3 0 N Confluence Raystown Br Jun R C0nfluence Aughwick Ck
Juniata R 4 0 N C0nfluence Aughwick Ck Confluence Kishacoquillas Ck
Delaware R 7 0 N Lehigh R Tohickon Ck
Delaware R 8 0 N Tohickon Ck Trenton Falls
Schuylkill River 6 0 N Maiden Ck Felix Dm
Schuylkill River 7 0 N Felix Dm Allegheny Ck
Schuylkill River 13 0 N Norristown Dm Plymouth Dm

M. Kaufmann has recommended that sampling of larger Susquehanna River warmwater streams take place to determine if the issue is confined to the river proper or is a watershed phenomenon. J. Frederick has reported that the shallowness of sampling at some Susquehanna River locations is such that low flow yields expansive shallow water habitat such that near shore catches may not reflect “true” young of year abundance. That is habitat is so broad that young of year may be more broadly distributed than usual. Tributary sampling may also shed light on this observation.

c: M. Kaufmann, D. Miko, R. Wnuk, B. Chikotas, J. Fredrick, C. Hobbs

[HJS]

That pretty much confirms what I saw a week or two ago in the Susky @ Harrisburg. I looked from shore at several places from City Island to Mary's Ville. Only saw 2 YOY smb and both were sick.

[Tissy Furnes]

That really stinks. Flysinger, the State have any theories as to the cause?