Flea Question

[rbiz88]

When do they start? And how long do they last? What is the best way to avoid them? What not to do?

[Kuba]

LOL...........guys, seriously? since i started trolling last year in May i have not encountered anything like that, i just hear myths....

what are these little creatures? can we eat them ?????

[cdq]

Okay no you cant eat them haha. They are a living organism that look like sea weed just a more brown color. They came into the great lakes on in coming sea vessels. They are an invader. They stick to your monofilament line. They start right around when the thermal cline sets into the lake so around the mid to end of June, and dont end until the water starts getting cold again. Really the only way to avoid them is running cooper and wire lines. Sometimes you get them in small globs sometimes you get them in globs where you cant reel your line. Running 25 or 30 lbs test mono will also do the trick but will still get them on there occasionally. They are a pain in the butt. But what are you gonna do they are here to stay until we can find a way to get rid of them.

Edited April 1, 2013 by cdq

[fish-on]

Taste them and tell us what you think   Iv'e tried all kinds of stuff to see if they would'nt attach to your line's,  NOTHING WORKS. Cortland flea flicker or 30# berkley big game is about it for mono.

[Sk8man]

They are for real and they are a real pain when they occur. If you'd like to know more check this out: http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc99/11_13_99/fob1.htm

 

or here: http://newyorkinvasivespecies.info/animals/FishhookWaterflea.aspx

 

or here: http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/flora-fauna/invasive/spinyflea.html

Edited April 2, 2013 by Sk8man

[fish-on]

If you notice, When the lake turns over they get worse.

[Legacy]

summer peak seems to be the worse

[DJ 17]

If you buy flea flicker get the 20 lb. The 30 Lb is a nightmare to work with, it twists faster than a tornado in a trailer park.

[bluewater]

Heavy mono and wire line is the only way to get rid of them.  Wire line will usually cut them off at the first eye on your rod and they have a hard time sticking to the heavy mono.  I run 30lb and even that does not work very well at times.  I know guys that run 40lb mono in july and aug just to try to get rid of some of them.  They are a major pain in the butt when you are trying to reel in a fish during warm months if you do not check your lines at least once an hour.  They are very real and can make fishing VERY difficult during the warm months.

[Kuba]

Never experienced these, and honestly, can't wait:)

[DJ 17]

Just picture 50 feef of snot made out of super glue and you can get a pretty good idea of what they are. 

[rolmops]

Never experienced these, and honestly, can't wait:)

You are a bit of a masochist aren't you?

[bluewater]

Just picture 50 feef of snot made out of super glue and you can get a pretty good idea of what they are. 

 

This is very true!!!!!!!!!!  That's pretty much what it looks like.

[LongLine]

rbiz,  When you're reeling in a line and see a glob of them...continue reeling until they're about 6-10 ft from your rod tip then put the tip in the water and whip it skyward.  Often the water resistance against the line will cut them off.  Some guys beat the surface of the water with the tip but I think that increases your chances of breaking the rod. 

 

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Kuba]

Where do they come from? Are the flying in the air? Or they're in the water?

[LongLine]

Check out the links that Sk8 posted.  They're water "creatures"  that came over in ballast tanks of ocean going ships. 

 

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[reel drag]

I have run 25# Maxima Ultra Green on my rigger rods for years and don't have a problem with the fleas on the mono at all. My wires however gather fleas like crazy. Nasty little creatures.