HUGE CONCERN AT LARTO!!!!!!

At Larto over the week end I noticed that the Saline Larto Complex WORST nightmare was present and having a great time. I talked to several people to see if they knew what I was talking about including a wildlife and fisheries agent checking my lifetime fishing license and NO BODY KNEW!!!!. What I am referring to is that the Salvinia invasion is well under way at the complex. HECK, I had to add Salvinia to the dictionary on this site. For those who like to visit Larto or have an interest there, I would invite you to google this monster plant and you will see what this great lake complex is facing. I am assuming that it entered the complex during the flood of 2016. Several lakes in northwest La are being or have been inundated with this horrible plant. Lake Bistineau has been fighting their invasion for several years by basically draining the lake several times (no long term luck). I understand that Black Lake is suffering the same fate. All sports fishermen and women need to be aware of what this plant can do and contact the wildlife and fisheries and clue them in. The Saline Larto complex has no way to battle this plant invasion by draining the complex (that I know of as I know very little about the area). I talked to the new owners at Buds and told what I have seen in the Atchafalaya Basin and it gets flushed every year that removes some of this plant. This stuff is VERY invasive and needs to be taken seriously. Shad Lake has mats of this plant in it and it's very visible in the Buzzard Roost Bayou as well as Long Branch. The wind will move this stuff around and as it enters sloughs and those bushes it will stay and eventually take it over (in some cases by the end of this summer). I think that Buds business interests could be at stake if this invasion continues. This post may sound like an over reaction but based on what I have seen first hand, it is not, believe me. Many on this board form northwest can also post their experiences. SLIP

Yes Slip, I did notice it along the bank between buzzard roost and shad lake....It has started in Toledo Bend also....I heard spraying doesn't kill it, and it's usually spread by boat trailers.....not good....

Thanks for reporting on the salvania Slip, you did the right thing pointing it out to LDWF. Up here I would estimate 75% of Black Lake is unfishable (even unnavigable) because of salvania and it's getting worse. It started a few years ago and now it's almost completely taken over the lake. They are back spraying it again but it looks like it's too far out of control for a few airboats to really do any good. If they start spraying it before it gets out of control they might be able to contain it.
{These pics are Black Lake 3/1/17} https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2ebae9457f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...54c431c365.jpg

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That's Black Lake in Natchitoches parish. Show these pics to any LDWF agents and/or call the Louisiana dept of wildlife and fisheries (318-487-5885) and tell them you don't want your lakes turning into this mess

We have it down in the south too and YES it is a BIG problem! If they want to get out in front of the problem, they better start NOW. I have seen this stuff survive in salt water too!!

There is a little aquatic beetle bug that from what I understand feeds on the roots of the plant killing it that has been used in Texas for a few years. I have heard on the TV show "Paradise Louisiana" that the state is now starting to use them. I don't know any details as to where. I was blown away when the wildlife agent told me that he didn't know what Salvinia was. It a horror show happening before our eyes. Thanks for the responses and pics. The powers that be in this state need to be upgrade this issue to the highest level as our lakes are being RUINED by this plant. Action needs to be taken NOW at Larto and not when its too late like at Bistineau and Black lakes.

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Originally Posted by SLIP-CORK

There is a little aquatic beetle bug that from what I understand feeds on the roots of the plant killing it that has been used in Texas for a few years. I have heard on the TV show "Paradise Louisiana" that the state is now starting to use them. I don't know any details as to where. I was blown away when the wildlife agent told me that he didn't know what Salvinia was. It a horror show happening before our eyes. Thanks for the responses and pics. The powers that be in this state need to be upgrade this issue to the highest level as our lakes are being RUINED by this plant. Action needs to be taken NOW at Larto and not when its too late like at Bistineau and Black lakes.

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https://phys.org/news/2013-11-invasi...a-weevils.html

This is a write up by the Texas Wildlife and Fisheries on Caddo Lake.

Three Years of Giant Salvinia Biological Control Research on Cross Lake in Northwest Louisiana

This one is from the LSU Ag Center about Cross Lake in Shreveport.

The weavels apparently are fairly successful in getting rid of salvinia but the problem is that they cannot survive in cold weather and are killed off during the winter. Last I heard, they were trying to create a cold resistant strain.

:hesaid

Dad and I went to turkey creek in Wisner today. There was a warning sign at the ramp for giant Salvia. We saw some growing near the banks on north end of lake and saw much more of it when we rode around by the highway on the way out.

The clock is ticking....

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Sad to hear.

I just read an email that its been spotted at boat landings on Cane River Lake, bad news.

Salvania has been present at Larto for a few years. It is not cold tolerant or salt. Obviously no salt up there. Not enough freezing weather the last few years to help. We have been fighting it on our lease in Pecan Island. A mixture of roundup/24d has helped us. The problem is, unless you get it all, it comes back quickly.

There is some of it in Grand Bayou Lake, which is near Coushatta. Tuesday, I saw a couple of Wildlife and Fisheries agents riding all over the lake and spraying it where it has started growing in the back of the shallower coves. Hopefully by catching it early and spraying it, they will be able to keep it under control. I would hate to see us lose another lake. I hate to hear that it is in Larto.

By the way guys, if you fish in lakes with Salvinia in them; when you get home, jack your boat up off of your trailer and get the stuff off of your running boards before you launch into another lake. If you don't, you will only be spreading it. I found that when I put my boat back on my trailer when fishing Black Lake that the stuff would get trapped between the boat and trailer boards. So please check the running boards along with the rest of the trailer and axles. I had to jack my boat up one side at a time, but I got the stuff off of it and threw it into the yard to die. We, as fishermen, can't leave the control of this stuff completely up to WL&F. We must also do our part and help them to protect our fishing resources.

What would you expect wl&f to do? There only purpose is to generate $ by hanging honest folks up with tickets.


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Originally Posted by Oldyankee

What would you expect wl&f to do? There only purpose is to generate $ by hanging honest folks up with tickets.


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Sorry you feel that way. And as long as you are legal, you will NEVER have a problem with them. Now I do admit when I was younger, I did not ALWAYS follow the law to the letter. But one thing I have ALWAYS found is as long as you treat them with respect, they will tend to do the same for you. Now with that said, I am sure there MAY be one or two (just like the cops) that can make the MAJORITY of them look bad. The W&F does the spraying to try to keep the grass problems down to answer your first question.

Not true. I had a boat wreck in October, just me no one else involved. I think we talked about it. When I got out of the hospital a week later I filed a report to WL&F as required. My wife insisted I didn't file it because she was afraid they would try to hang me up, but I try to do the right thing. WL&F called several times for details, drove to my house from Baton Rouge and gave
Me a ticket for not filing the report within the 5 days required., it was seven days.The fact I was in the hospital didn't get in their way to ticket me, for something that if I never sent in they wouldn't even have known about it. I wrote a letter to the DA in Catahoula parish, and still was charged 350.00. I haven't even had a traffic ticket in 30 years.
Didn't have an opinion before, but I do now.

I don't think I would have paid the ticket but rather have had my day in court. Perhaps a judge would have a little more understanding of your plight.
"gene"

Threatened me with additional court costs of 1000.00. Reduced the ticket from 700.00 to 350.00. Just seemed like there is no your fair day in court.


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Sad to hear.
"gene"

Hate that happened to you Oldyankee and yes I do remember you talking about it at Larto. But I stand by my statement that MOST of them are good guys.

I would have called my Senator...

Sometimes when facing a forest fire with a squirt gun, it's better to just pack up and leave