Lake George VHS Disease/Perch die-off

[adkoutdoorsman]

The perching has not been good this year so far, and I have a theory as to why. Last year, I was jigging perch and it was a normal year, quality fish and in large quantities as well, a typical year. However, last year was the first time I noticed some very diseased looking perch. They appeared emaciated and were covered in red spots/sores of some kind. After doing some research, I discovered that the symptoms were that of VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia). Any perch that I caught with this I kept them and killed them as to prevent the spread, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

Today, I was on Harris Bay and the fishing was atrocious, almost no bite at all. Most of the fish that did bite were sub-7 inches. Some were larger, but not by much. I wasn’t marking a lot of fish on the Vexilar either. Lots of guys were moving around, which tipped me off to the fact that it was not just me. After calling it quits around 10:15, I decided to take a quick drive up to Huddle Bay and see if anybody was doing better there, and I spoke with a few groups walking off of the ice. Both groups of guys that I talked to had a similar experience that I had today, mostly small fish marked on the Vexilar/underwater camera, and none caught. I also had a buddy on Huddle Bay yesterday with similar findings.

Lake George is known for having an excellent perch fishery, but this year it seems to have taken a turn for the worse. My theory is that there was a mass die off of yellow perch in the lake that was caused by VHS disease, and that is the reason for the lack of quality size fish. If anybody else has noticed VHS in perch they caught or the lack in quality perch fishing, I would be interested to hear. Thank you for your time.

[bootstrap]

wow bad news hope it doesnt hit champlain.

[njg0621]

I don't know the cause but my typical perch spot absolutely sucked today and the few that were caught were 4"

[adkoutdoorsman]

I don't know the cause but my typical perch spot absolutely sucked today and the few that were caught were 4"

I have a feeling that, if VHS, was likely transmitted into the lake via infected baitfish that were dumped down a hole when guys were done with them. Emerald shiners are a known carrier of the disease and a popular baitfish to use on the lake.

[PerchMan45]

That’s very unfortunate. Hopefully the population recovers quickly. Lake George is one of the best perch fisheries in the northeast

[hunt4perch]

Source?

[adkoutdoorsman]

Source?

https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/25328.html

I found this webpage after catching those diseased perch out of the lake last year and the signs are there: most notably hemorrhaging, bulging eyes, and the odd behavior that the fish exhibited.

I’m not saying 100% that it is VHS, but something definitely happened to the perch population in Lake George.

I plan on contacting DEC tomorrow afternoon and notifying them of the possible prescence of VHS in the lake.

[captin bill]

Great heads up haven’t seen diseased fish yet but quality has been dwindling for couple years,too much tech n 2 much pressure can change n ocean. 

[hardwaterhonkey]

lakers don't need this right now either and its certain some will get it if its actually vhs, something the trout population can't afford rn

[Neil McCauley]

Perching was as usual on Harris for me the other day, didn't notice anything wrong with perch, not that the problem isn't going on. Has the DEC looked into this? A problem with the perch in LG that is noticeable by fishing would be a HUGE issue.

[adkoutdoorsman]

Perching was as usual on Harris for me the other day, didn't notice anything wrong with perch, not that the problem isn't going on. Has the DEC looked into this? A problem with the perch in LG that is noticeable by fishing would be a HUGE issue.

I do plan on contacting DEC later today and I will provide an update to what they say. I am concerned about the lack of quality, eating size fish (10+ inchers), the perch that do appear to have VHS, and the decline in numbers of perch that people across various South Basin bays have reported. If it was only a lack in fish numbers/good size fish, I would say it is just bad luck. But it’s not just me.

[adkoutdoorsman]

Finally received back an email from DEC.

I’ll quote what was said below:

“Thank you for reaching out to our Department regarding your recent observations of yellow perch on Lake George.  The concern for VHS is a valid concern and we will have Fisheries staff look into this further in the coming weeks.  As of now, this is the only observation we have received regarding the concern for VHS and the overall condition of the yellow perch in Lake George.

Our Environmental Conservation officers are out on the lake checking anglers frequently and they have not reported any observations of yellow perch in poor condition.  We did receive reports of some summertime fish kills in certain portions of the lake last year and that maybe impacting some of the yellow perch populations across the southern basin.  Fisheries staff will be specifically looking for this issue on Lake George to determine if the problem is present and/or widespread in the lake.
Thanks again for your inquiry and I will certainly reach out to you if we receive any additional information.”

[iceplank]

Awesome ! Thanks for going and reporting your concerns  and posting their response. Hopefully it's a situation that can resolve on its own.
All the fish I have caught look fine but last winter was a little challenging and I walked out and back in on the ice last week and I would say that myself and 2 others I talked to had good luck and probably a dozen I talked to on ice or in the lot had been slapped hard in the face with no perch . it was a weekday and most seemed to be guys who have experience on the lake

[captin bill]

Saw 1 someone left on the ice yesterday south basin was missing a lot of fins n had obvious reddened areas certainly not healthy but at least 9 inch . Caught smallest perch in that area ever

[MasterP]

Perch die off......overfishing .....the perch fishery is over pressured.

look at any bay in southern basin on weekends.....difficult to find parking

social media, websites like this promoting LG perch fishing.....didnt exist 12-15 years ago

Perch fishing was fabulous.....  but thanks to all the knuckle heads that have nothing better to do than putting stupid comments here.....the pressure has increased exponentially

Put a  closure on icing  for perch for a year or two and  watch the population and size of fish increase

[Adironzach]

Perch die off......overfishing .....the perch fishery is over pressured.

look at any bay in southern basin on weekends.....difficult to find parking

social media, websites like this promoting LG perch fishing.....didnt exist 12-15 years ago

Perch fishing was fabulous.....  but thanks to all the knuckle heads that have nothing better to do than putting stupid comments here.....the pressure has increased exponentially

Put a  closure on icing  for perch for a year or two and  watch the population and size of fish increase

Shanty has been around since 1996

[mike304]

Perch die off......overfishing .....the perch fishery is over pressured.

Just my 2 cents but I've lived in LG and fished it for over 25 years. There is a perch die off on the lake in early summer virtually every year.

[JJ]

I agree. People have been saying the same things about LG perch for year: lots of small ones and are they stunted? Problem is people keep fishing the same easy access spots in the bays year after year. Some of the best perch areas in the main lake hardly ever get fished, if at all, during the winter, I just don't see anyone fishing some really good spots. Also, the LG fishery is a little different and they can be pretty deep, especially early in the season. The best shallower fishing occurs later as the schools get bigger and move shallow before the spawn.

I haven't seen any evidence of VHS and talk to the DEC biologist regularly, they keep a good eye on LG.

As for fishing pressure and IS, from what I have seen more people were ice fishing LG and IS was a lot busier 12-15 years ago. Just my opinion, I've pretty much lost interest in ice fishing lately.

[adk iceman]

Every year when the lake wouldn't freeze over we would say " the perch are going to be bigger next year" even after two consecutive years of no ice the size was always the same if not smaller. That was 20 years ago. It does seem the size has gone down for me and I fish the out of the way weed beds when it's froze enough. Best time for size of fish now seems to be the last 45 mins of daylight. That's when the cows come home

[Neil McCauley]

No way in hell us weekend warriors could even make a dent in that fishery the 1-2 months LG is froze. Bottom is still paved with perch. Think like CJJ said the good spots just aren't as accessible.

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

Any place on Earth that gets too many human visitors, eventually turns into a wildlife disaster. Lake George has 9000 boats on it during the summer, and with that comes gas and oil leaks. In the villages, LG village being the most prominent example, the water still looks clear but there are frequent beach closures due to high E-coli levels, probably from leaky septic systems in the area. The department of tourism keeps pumping out the false information to the tourists that the lake is the cleanest lake in the world or USA or wherever - don't believe it. Wherever people congregate in large numbers ( tourist destinations ) the environment suffers because people are dirty animals that ruin resources, especially at a place like LG where rich tourists foul the environment with boats and waste from sidewalks that washes into the lake whenever it rains.

I am a lifetime NY resident and I laugh when I read the propaganda put out by Warren County or the state about the " pristine water quality of LG ". Please excuse me while I laugh  or cry ).  I fish elsewhere for a variety of reasons - one being to avoid crowds, and another to have better fishing than what LG offers. The place is a cesspool because of the tourism industry

[62&done]

Sorry guys, I know i'm going to raise some feathers here. I don't believe that you can over fish perch on a body of water as big as lake george. There is so much area out there that there will always be perch that don't see a jig. There have been winters recently that allowed very limited ice fishing. So did the perch appear bigger next year?   No.  I'm talking about last year and folks are complaining about little perch this year.  It don't make sense. There will always be a supply of perch unless something odd like disease or parisites takes place.  just fish more, experiment with new areas and weed-em out.  They're there
                                     My 2 cents

[BeenPerchin315]

I’ve never fished lake George but I hear the same things on other bodies of water about size and quantity of perch. Most places have stunted perch because of over population.
It’s the reason I believe I hear all the time tons of fish, but there’s no size here.

At this point and time if you want some perch maybe lower your size standard for a year or two and help the species. As for the vhs I certainly hope it’s not a disease problem over there.

And as for the cleanliness of that lake I had never heard that one claimed cleanest. I know 2 finger lakes are in the top 5 cleanest in the world and top 3 in country.
Best luck
Tight lines
Perchin

[trapper2000]

maybe  it's   easier to  blame  VHS then to admit you need to change the way you  fish

[NOT ME]

maybe  it's   easier to  blame  VHS then to admit you need to change the way you  fish

You are spot on.