Electrohocking

BLACK KNIGHT · 08-14-01, 01:14 PM

It was divulged to me by a very experienced and ethical flyfisher, whom shall remain anonymous, because I don't have his permission to use his name, that a well known fly fisherman who is the author of several fly fishing books, has been trying to get one of the more famous "elders" of the sport to find the report he has on the detrimental effects of electroshocking. The report was apparently (allegedly) buried when the fisheries people got the results- but let's just say, it alleges shocking is killing a lot of fish. I apologize for the cryptic he said, she said content of the post, but I don't want to drag anyone's name into the mud with me, w/o their OK.
So, the question is, anybody ever heard this, or got a study they can share that supports or refutes the claim.

The Owl · 08-14-01, 06:12 PM

No, haven't heard of this, but I dearly hope you don't get the same treatment as was so kindly bestowed upon yours truely, when I failed to name names. I hope we don't see another 3 page post where the poster is accused of all sorts of evils.
I don't know that it could be called a "good" thing (to shock them) - but the question would be how much harm does it do?
I've never been o a river that was being shocked, and I wonder if the fisheries folk wouldn't notice a decline in trout pops. on a river.......but hey....how often does one creek or river get shocked? I can't see the DNR getting on a river and "shocking it to death", really. Hmmm....interesting.....

I suspect that you'll never hear anything negative about the practice, as long as it's still a widely used practice among fisheries folk.

Owl

HoochRat · 08-14-01, 06:32 PM

As a kid on the farm, watched the shocking of a small lake I fished. Never saw any fish floating up dead later. I was all over this little lake and would have seen the dead ones.

Two months later they killed all the fish and restocked it with a better strain of fish. At least that is what I was told. They did wait until school started and I was not fishing it much.

NGTO · 08-14-01, 07:25 PM

To: BK_A_ON_HAT_MEANS_*****

Your IP address has been recorded and your ISP has been contacted. They happen to have a very nifty member abuse policy.

In the words of the weakest link.... goodbye.

------------------
Trout Now!

lone_angler · 08-14-01, 07:57 PM

just read an article about that out of an old fly&reel. today actually, i'll get it out of my truck later so i can give the date. what i remember was that it didn't really effect warm-water fish. but that it could be deadly to cold-water fish in some situations. need to go back and read it later and get yall the dates.

------------------
fishing is not a matter of life or death.
...it's much more
than that!

Lil'Joe · 08-14-01, 08:31 PM

Huh? What does that mean NGTO? Joke or not??

NGTO · 08-14-01, 09:17 PM

It means that our friend thinks he is "hidden" because he is using a service called "SafeWeb", unfortunately for him I have a contact there and with his last post on the board that put him over the edge. SafeWeb is comfortable pursing this problem for us by all legal means neccesary. While this matter is being resolved I am afraid we will simply have to let this person dig his hole even deeper.

The Owl · 08-14-01, 10:09 PM

Kudos.

Owl

Ted · 08-14-01, 10:39 PM

Electroshocking of fish is a standard sampling practice. Generally it is non-lethal and not harmful when done properly. Larger fish tend to be hit harder by the force than smaller fish due to the greater surface area of their bodies but it is not excessively harmful. Like in C&R angling, proper handling of the fish subsequent to being shocked and during measuring procedures will determine whether or not the fish has a good chance of survival. Most all the fish shocked are returned to the water none-the-worse for wear. Brood fish are routinely collected by electrofishing. These same fish that are used to make striped bass or hybrid striped bass are also transported back to the wild and released. Population studies that involve "mark and recapture" routinely collect the same fish again within the same season or from year to year. There are realistically not very many methods available to reliably sample fish populations. Gill netting is not so friendly.

Electroshocking can be done either A/C or D/C. The latter being safer to the fish. Alternating electrical forces created when using A/C can cause damage to fish, most all sampling is done with D/C.

If you look in the scientific literature you can find that many studies have been done on electroshocking. If fisheries managers are expected to sample and manage fish populations for anglers then this technique needs to be used. I personally have electroshocked thousands (literally) of fish and have not seen any serious mortality effects. Non-game fish, trout, bass, stripers, catfish.. you name it. If proper care is taken, it is not a big fish killer.

I would be happy to provide some references to any one who is interested.

Now, I personally have witnessed many dead fish from sewage spills, chemical spills, thermal pollution and the like. As anglers and sportsmen it may be better to worry about real threats to sportfishing.

Lil'Joe · 08-15-01, 07:22 AM

Cool NGTO. Glad the BB has a resource like that!

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08-14-01, 01:14 PM	#1
BLACK KNIGHT Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Greenville, SC, USA Posts: 3,328	It was divulged to me by a very experienced and ethical flyfisher, whom shall remain anonymous, because I don't have his permission to use his name, that a well known fly fisherman who is the author of several fly fishing books, has been trying to get one of the more famous "elders" of the sport to find the report he has on the detrimental effects of electroshocking. The report was apparently (allegedly) buried when the fisheries people got the results- but let's just say, it alleges shocking is killing a lot of fish. I apologize for the cryptic he said, she said content of the post, but I don't want to drag anyone's name into the mud with me, w/o their OK. So, the question is, anybody ever heard this, or got a study they can share that supports or refutes the claim.

08-14-01, 06:12 PM	#2
The Owl Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,178	No, haven't heard of this, but I dearly hope you don't get the same treatment as was so kindly bestowed upon yours truely, when I failed to name names. I hope we don't see another 3 page post where the poster is accused of all sorts of evils. I don't know that it could be called a "good" thing (to shock them) - but the question would be how much harm does it do? I've never been o a river that was being shocked, and I wonder if the fisheries folk wouldn't notice a decline in trout pops. on a river.......but hey....how often does one creek or river get shocked? I can't see the DNR getting on a river and "shocking it to death", really. Hmmm....interesting..... I suspect that you'll never hear anything negative about the practice, as long as it's still a widely used practice among fisheries folk. Owl

08-14-01, 06:32 PM	#3
HoochRat Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Cumming, GA, USA Posts: 542	As a kid on the farm, watched the shocking of a small lake I fished. Never saw any fish floating up dead later. I was all over this little lake and would have seen the dead ones. Two months later they killed all the fish and restocked it with a better strain of fish. At least that is what I was told. They did wait until school started and I was not fishing it much.

08-14-01, 07:25 PM	#4
NGTO Administrator Join Date: Sep 1998 Posts: 770	To: BK_A_ON_HAT_MEANS_***** Your IP address has been recorded and your ISP has been contacted. They happen to have a very nifty member abuse policy. In the words of the weakest link.... goodbye. ------------------ Trout Now!

08-14-01, 07:57 PM	#5
lone_angler Native Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: lawrenceville,ga Posts: 382	just read an article about that out of an old fly&reel. today actually, i'll get it out of my truck later so i can give the date. what i remember was that it didn't really effect warm-water fish. but that it could be deadly to cold-water fish in some situations. need to go back and read it later and get yall the dates. ------------------ fishing is not a matter of life or death. ...it's much more than that!

08-14-01, 08:31 PM	#6
Lil'Joe Native Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sugar Hill, GA USA Posts: 990	Huh? What does that mean NGTO? Joke or not??

08-14-01, 09:17 PM	#7
NGTO Administrator Join Date: Sep 1998 Posts: 770	It means that our friend thinks he is "hidden" because he is using a service called "SafeWeb", unfortunately for him I have a contact there and with his last post on the board that put him over the edge. SafeWeb is comfortable pursing this problem for us by all legal means neccesary. While this matter is being resolved I am afraid we will simply have to let this person dig his hole even deeper.

08-14-01, 10:09 PM	#8
The Owl Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,178	Kudos. Owl

08-14-01, 10:39 PM	#9
Ted Native Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Representin' Blvrd Heights in the ATL Posts: 1,740	Electroshocking of fish is a standard sampling practice. Generally it is non-lethal and not harmful when done properly. Larger fish tend to be hit harder by the force than smaller fish due to the greater surface area of their bodies but it is not excessively harmful. Like in C&R angling, proper handling of the fish subsequent to being shocked and during measuring procedures will determine whether or not the fish has a good chance of survival. Most all the fish shocked are returned to the water none-the-worse for wear. Brood fish are routinely collected by electrofishing. These same fish that are used to make striped bass or hybrid striped bass are also transported back to the wild and released. Population studies that involve "mark and recapture" routinely collect the same fish again within the same season or from year to year. There are realistically not very many methods available to reliably sample fish populations. Gill netting is not so friendly. Electroshocking can be done either A/C or D/C. The latter being safer to the fish. Alternating electrical forces created when using A/C can cause damage to fish, most all sampling is done with D/C. If you look in the scientific literature you can find that many studies have been done on electroshocking. If fisheries managers are expected to sample and manage fish populations for anglers then this technique needs to be used. I personally have electroshocked thousands (literally) of fish and have not seen any serious mortality effects. Non-game fish, trout, bass, stripers, catfish.. you name it. If proper care is taken, it is not a big fish killer. I would be happy to provide some references to any one who is interested. Now, I personally have witnessed many dead fish from sewage spills, chemical spills, thermal pollution and the like. As anglers and sportsmen it may be better to worry about real threats to sportfishing.

08-15-01, 07:22 AM	#10
Lil'Joe Native Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sugar Hill, GA USA Posts: 990	Cool NGTO. Glad the BB has a resource like that!