Taxidermist, It has been found that the lamprey have been in the lake for many years. It is just in the past 25 years the lamprey have multipled. The lamprey need very clean water to spawn and lake champlain in the early 1900's was a dumping ground like many other bodies of water and the rivers were filthy poluted. Now since the clean ups the lamprey have started multiplying to numbers that the lake can not sustain. They have almost killed the land locked salmon off to the point of never seeing one. They did a test lamprey treatment in the early 90's and found great success the fishing really took off the salmon did great as well as all the other game fish that the lamprey were targeting. Unfortunatly the greatness was short lived as the anti groups decided they didn't like us killing the lamprey and treating the rivers. So it was stoped.
Now with the support of fisherman and many groups like Lake champlain international(LCI), Vermont traditions coalition(VTC), Hunters Anglers and Trappers (HAT)and many New york based groups, charter captains and guides. The lamprey treatments have started again. But the fight isn't over, the anti groups are still hard at the fight, well funded and with lots of time on there hands. That is why it is so great to have these great fishing sites that we can all get together for a common cause and help, and educate people on what is happening with our issues.
Now with the lamprey treatments back in full swing for them to be stoped now would be devastating!
This year is looking to be a banner year for the landlocked salmon, walleye, lake trout, northern pike, and the great bass fishing. All thanks to the death of many millions of lamprey.
So please anyone who hasn't signed the petition plese do so! It will bring great things for generations to come not only for the fisherman but people who like to swim and recreate in the water without a worries of a lamprey sucking onto there leg. ouch!
If anyone has anymore questions I will answere them the best that I can, I am only a fisherman myself so I can dirrect you to a more qualified person if need be.
Thanks
Ben
