Fishhook Flea infestation
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- Posts: 3711
- Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:58 pm
Fishhook Flea infestation
Just a heads up. Out today in the Converse / Split area and the fleas were bad. 30 minutes they goop up and stop at the rod tip and get stuck.
Never seen them this early in the year. August is when they have showed up in the past.
Heard the main lake was bad to up at Cumberland Head.
I will get out my Ugly Sticks I use for Ontario with 30 lb test spooled up. Oh well!
Oh... Lost a big Chromer right behind the boat. Good fight!
Never seen them this early in the year. August is when they have showed up in the past.
Heard the main lake was bad to up at Cumberland Head.
I will get out my Ugly Sticks I use for Ontario with 30 lb test spooled up. Oh well!
Oh... Lost a big Chromer right behind the boat. Good fight!
Last edited by digitroll (ron) on Wed Jun 26, 2019 4:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
Sorry to hear you lost a good one! As for the fleas, I surprised they are this bad so early, as the water is cool and the season otherwise is late. I hope that this doesn't mean it's just going to get worse and that we have a REAL problem on our hands. I don't know anything about fleas, but this isn't promising.Digitroll (Ron) wrote:Just a heads up. Out today in the Converse / Split area and the fleas were bad. 30 minutes they goop up and stop at the rod tip and get stuck.
Never seen them this early in the year. August is when they have showed up in the past.
Heard the main lake was bad to up at Cumberland Head.
I will get out my Ugly Sticks I use for Ontario with 30 lb test spooled up. Oh well!
Oh... Lost a big Chromer right behind the boat. Good fight!
- cnmt237
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:45 pm
- Species: salmon,lakers.bass.pike,saltws
- Location: Westport
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
Fished out of Westport this morning just out of the bay heading north. Spiny water fleas gooping up on cables and lines. Nasty. None at Split Rock area last Friday. So the things are at the Split now?
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
They were worse in Whallons than on the VT side on Saturday. They are with us until they die off. I can't remember when they dispappeared last year...can anybody tell me?
Tom
"Tyee, Too"
18' Lund
"Tyee, Too"
18' Lund
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- Posts: 270
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:05 am
- Species: all
- Location: NY
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
Yesterday we fished Barbers to Split fleas were worse than I have ever dealt with Lake Ontario or Lake Champlain I found it odd as surface temps have not even hit 70deg yet normally they show up in 70+ deg water from my prior experience
So many Lures So little Time
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
Last year most were down closer to the thermocline or below so not a surprise they are here early. I’m wondering based on how they gunk up big line too, if they are the fishhook fleas like ontario and not spinys
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- Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:58 pm
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
It's the Fishhook variety. The other type you can shake off. These are the nasty bigger critters. 30 lb test works.
- Bearcat
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2015 6:31 pm
- Species: cold water!
- Location: RensselaerVILLE, Westport
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
30 lb big game works to keep them off in Ontario, not much fun for 4 and 5 pound fish though. Forget about braid and lead core when they're bad. I haven't tried it yet but I Believe Cortland Flea Flicker mono is available in as light as 20 lb which sounds like a good alternative for here.
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
From what I've heard and seen Cortland doesn't make the Flea Flicker line anymore. Please see attached.
http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store ... r_Line.htm
http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store ... r_Line.htm
- JTM203SOUTH
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:57 pm
- Species: SALMON
- Location: Western Massachusetts
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
1999 Starcraft Superfisherman 196 "High Hopes "
1996 Starcraft Superfisherman 170 " High Hopes Too"
1996 Starcraft Superfisherman 170 " High Hopes Too"
- Wallyandre (Andre)
- Posts: 1717
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- Species: salmon, SM, walleyes
- Location: Montreal, QC & Port Kent NY
- Contact:
Re: Spiny Water Fleas
It’s a 30lbs monoJTM203SOUTH wrote:" Sea Flee" by Blood Run Tackle is another good option
https://bloodruntackle.com/line-leader/
The problem make me think twice before putting my boat in another body of water!
- JTM203SOUTH
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:57 pm
- Species: SALMON
- Location: Western Massachusetts
Re: Fishhook Flea infestation
The heavier line ( 30 lb) isn't much of a problem if you use a lighter longer leader. Typically, the fleas attach primarily to line that is near vertical ( eg. from the rod to the rigger release) and very little on horizontal segments ( eg. from release to lure). It is a compromise but it sure beats cleaning lines every fifteen minutes.
1999 Starcraft Superfisherman 196 "High Hopes "
1996 Starcraft Superfisherman 170 " High Hopes Too"
1996 Starcraft Superfisherman 170 " High Hopes Too"
Re: Fishhook Flea infestation
Anyone who fishes the lake after this point this year until they subside should not take their boat to another water-body without doing a VERY thorough cleaning of all gear, and fully drying everything. The biggest risk is the gear not the boat, rigger cables, reels, rods, lures, all are a potential harbor for the pesky bastards.
Re: Fishhook Flea infestation
Should be a special sticker for Champlain only boats