throughout erie’s western basin. these blooms can
release high levels of toxins, which can cause gastroin-
testinal issues, respiratory symptoms and other health
issues for residents and tourists. they can also impact
dissolved oxygen and other water quality metrics that
affect the fishery.
good algae, Bad algae or Both?
Algae are simple, microscopic organisms present in
almost all natural waterbodies. they use photosynthesis
to derive their energy from the sun like a plant and range
in size from microscopic to the 50-meter-tall giant kelp
forests found throughout the ocean.
An important part of every healthy ecosystem, algae
are the primary food source for zooplankton, as well as
many baitfish species. this makes some algae vital, as
they form the foundation for a healthy food chain.
in a classic example of too much of a good thing, algae
of many species can experience rapid growth events, or
“blooms,” when conditions are right. these blooms range
from benign to unsightly to downright toxic, depending
on the species of alga and other mitigating factors. these
events occur naturally all over the world, but human
impact can exacerbate their frequency or severity. some
famous examples of these events are the “red tides” in
the Gulf of Mexico and the bioluminescent algal blooms
off the coast of southern california.
the huge blooms in lake erie are caused by an algal
species called Microcystis aeruginosa, which produces a
toxin called microcystin as it dies. high levels of certain
microsystins have been linked to respiratory infections,
skin rashes and liver damage in humans, as well as simi-
lar harm to fish and other aquatic animals.
too much of a good thing
Most researchers believe the root cause of the algal
blooms in lake erie is elevated levels of phosphorus in
the water, caused by runoff from agricultural (non-point
source) and industrial sources. the algae need phospho-
rus to grow, so when phosphorus levels are elevated,
there is no limit to the amount of algae that can grow.
phosphorus is a common component of agricultural
fertilizers, household chemicals and road salt. when it
rains, excess phosphorus enters the storm systems,
creeks and rivers. in addition to the high nutrient levels,
other factors such as calm water, high temperatures and
low current flow (all frequently found around lake erie in
july and August) create the perfect conditions for a
bloom.
fishery impact
Although the blooms are unsightly and somewhat
toxic to people as well as fish, the good news is that most
experts have seen minimal impact as yet to the lake erie
fishery as a whole, and even less to the smallmouth bass
fishery specifically.
despite the lack of evidence that the blooms actually
affect the fish, they definitely impact the industry, as
anglers have less interest in fishing (and beachgoers have
less interest in visiting) during a bloom, which negatively
impacts tourism and economic impact to the region.
What can anglers do?
the national oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(noAA) has a wealth of information on the harmful algal
blooms in lake erie, with a dedicated webpage that includes
information on how you can help reduce the blooms, as well
as tracking and prediction information to help understand
where the blooms will occur and how to avoid them. Go to
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/hab/lakeerie.html to learn more.
Also, the environmental protection Agency (epA) has a
dedicated website that covers how you can reduce nutri-
ent pollution at the residential level, which can be found
at epa.gov/nutrientpollution/what-you-can-do.
Finally, the noAA has a site with current aerial photogra-
phy of the lake, so you can see where the bloom is heaviest.
Visit coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.php?region=e
to get current info this summer.
fisHing dUring a BLoom
Mike simonton, a fishing guide and former Flw pro,
has been fishing lake erie’s western basin for years,
and he’s no stranger to dealing with the unsightly algal
blooms.
“it’s disgusting,” he says. “it’s like driving through pea
soup. it really takes away from the enjoyment of a day on
the water, so really the best thing you can do is avoid it.”
Fortunately for anglers, though, simonton thinks
that the bloom is more of a detriment to the anglers
than the bass.
“there are lots of guys that still catch a lot of fish
right in it. it’s just not the most enjoyable experience,”
he says.
the reason is that, in his experience, the thickest
part of the bloom is on the surface, so bass (and other
species that relate closely to the bottom) are less
affected.
“you’ll see it when you drive your boat through it,”
simonton explains. “As the waves of green wash past
your boat the water underneath them is way clearer.
you don’t need to make any drastic lure or color
changes for that same reason. to the bass, it’s proba-
bly just a little darker on the bottom.”
simonton recommends the following tips for fishing
lake erie in the summer:
1. check the noAA website. it provides updates on
where the bloom is the worst and uses weather data
to predict where it will be worst.
2. Keep it out of your mind. the fish will likely be
less affected than you.
3. try to capitalize on the morning bite, as the bite
usually gets tougher during the day.
tj Maglio is a tournament angler and outdoor writer based in la crosse, wis. he has a degree in wildlife ecology from the university of
wisconsin, Madison and has also worked professionally as a wildlife biologist and environmental consultant.
spring 2019 i fLWfisHing.com
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