I like to think that some of the best minds in fishing visit this site. I've been wracking my brain for creative solutions to the mussel problem, but one brain by itself can only get so far.

If 100 people replied to this thread with ideas on how to solve the mussel problem, so that we can continue to fish the lakes in California, we might come up with something good.

So I propose a brainstorming session. No idea is a bad idea. Bring them all, and let's see what happens.

Here's a few that come to my mind, however flawed they may be. I offer them in hopes of triggering your thoughts.

* Close every single body of water in the state to boating for 6 months. Then check every body of water for mussels. Lakes that have mussels remain closed. Lakes that don't remain open.

* Install boat hoists and cleaning stations at every lake. The hoist lifts the boat off the trailer, the cleaning station takes care of the rest. Inspect before and after cleaning.

* Initiate a boat sharing program where bass fishermen operate pools of rental bass boats at the lake so that boats do not have to be transported over land.

* Create secure, dry, boat storage areas with arrival inspections. Once a boat is stored at one of these approved facilities for enough days for all mussels to die due to dryness, the boat is issued a pass good for one lake entry at any lake.

* Lobby the water districts to suck it up and deal with infestation. Let people boat and fish like always. Pass along any mussel removal costs to the water users.

In addition, offer mussel cleaning certification courses at City Colleges around the state. Divers could be trained in removal procedures and equipment. Water districts could then hire them, perhaps at lower wages due to the increase in workers supplied.

* Build mussel treatment facilities adjacent to pump in/out locations on the lakes. This would incur a high fixed cost initially, but solve water pumping issues in perpetuity.


Please take 10 minutes out of your day to reply to this thread.