1. this is very, very old

2. no, they aren't dangerous.

3. yes, they are illegal.

Well they're dangerous to the eco system that's for sure. If they and the asian carp make it to the great lakes that can seriously screw things up for us fisherman.

no, that is not for sure. This has been discussed thoroughly in previous threads. They have NOT had any detrimental affect on the Potomac ecosystem in the years they have been here.

Hmmm, that's interesting. I think I'll take the word over scientists rather than fisherman talking on forums. No offense.

There's a reason why scientists and fisherman are worried about the asian carp species. Fish that eat everything and reproduce fast can have an effect on the eco system.

For instance, say you have a pond with bass and bluegill. Then fill it with a ton of pike, the effects can be devastating because the pike will eat off a lot of the other species. Thus screwing up the balance. This is kind of a bad analogy since a Pike is a native speices, but I have seen this happen in ponds.

Personally I don't want them in our lake and rivers, just to be on the safe side.

1. this is very, very old

2. no, they aren't dangerous.

3. yes, they are illegal.

Well they're dangerous to the eco system that's for sure. If they and the asian carp make it to the great lakes that can seriously screw things up for us fisherman.

no, that is not for sure. This has been discussed thoroughly in previous threads. They have NOT had any detrimental affect on the Potomac ecosystem in the years they have been here.

Hmmm, that's interesting. I think I'll take the word over scientists rather than fisherman talking on forums. No offense.

There's a reason why scientists and fisherman are worried about the asian carp species. Fish that eat everything and reproduce fast can have an effect on the eco system.

For instance, say you have a pond with bass and bluegill. Then fill it with a ton of pike, the effects can be devastating because the pike will eat off a lot of the other species. Thus screwing up the balance. This is kind of a bad analogy since a Pike is a native speices, but I have seen this happen in ponds.

Personally I don't want them in our lake and rivers, just to be on the safe side.

You would rather take the word of a biologist over a fisherman forum right well not to beat a dead horse and bring this up all over again but please can you cite some non asian carp related source's that have any solid proof that the snakeheads are directily having a negative effect on the potomac river, and not just speculation?

How about John Odenkirk? Would his job as Fisheries Biologist for the state of Virginia qualify him as a "scientist"? Because I'm not just stating my opinion, that's what he says and it's based on evidence.

And no offense, but those of us who live around snakeheads know MUCH more about the situation than the average person who has never seen one except on the over-dramatic "oh my god snakeheads are gonna eat every fish and all our babies!"  "documentaries" that are on tv...

You are right that it's better to be on the safe side because there are too many variables that one species can alter, but the fact remains that SO FAR, the snakehead has not had any detrimental affect on the Potomac river fishery so they ARE NOT "always dangerous to the ecosystem."

Take the word of Scientist? That brings to mind the Global Warming BS. Never forget to check on who will get the money.

and lets not forget the great gore/manbearpig scare of 06...

Take the word of Scientist? That brings to mind the Global Warming BS. Never forget to check on who will get the money.

oh come on, dude. That is a completely separate issue and it certainly does not justify discrediting ALL scientists' opinions about EVERYTHING...

Hmmm lets just throw some big ole muskies in with the snake heads and see who eats who http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-forum/Templates/Forum/default/grin.gif

Take the word of Scientist? That brings to mind the Global Warming BS. Never forget to check on who will get the money.

oh come on, dude. That is a completely separate issue and it certainly does not justify discrediting ALL scientists' opinions about EVERYTHING...

No, but a scientist's stamp on some topic doesn't mean I will gulp down quarts of koolaid.

What happened to the end of the world, this winter, from flu?

Well then you'll take the opinions of the guides and anglers in the area?

Hmmm lets just throw some big ole muskies in with the snake heads and see who eats who http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-forum/Templates/Forum/default/grin.gif

Even if Muskies could survive in the same areas that Snakeheads live, I wouldn't be so sure they would outlast snakeheads. I caught a snakehead that grew 8" in four months, 22" to ~30"...They mature so quickly that I'm not sure muskies would be able to eat a very high percentage of them before they got too big. Of course, all this is moot because they would never be found anywhere near each other.

Hmmm lets just throw some big ole muskies in with the snake heads and see who eats who http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-forum/Templates/Forum/default/grin.gif

Even if Muskies could survive in the same areas that Snakeheads live, I wouldn't be so sure they would outlast snakeheads. I caught a snakehead that grew 8" in four months, 22" to ~30"...They mature so quickly that I'm not sure muskies would be able to eat a very high percentage of them before they got too big. Of course, all this is moot because they would never be found anywhere near each other.

Did you have one in a fish tank for four months?

What about the upper potomac it has muskies right?

Might just be a matter of time before they are found in the same waters.

No, the tagged one I caught was measured and released at 22" almost exactly 4 months before I caught it and measured it at between 30 and 31 inches.

Yeah, the UP has muskies but they are waaaaay far up there. I do not think they would fare well in the tidal Potomac. The Tidal Potomac and the UP are pretty different. I also do not think snakehead would be capable of surviving in the UP. Then, even if both were in the same areas, I don't think Musky would inhabit the same habitat as snakeheads because of the low oxygen content. I believe Muskies require a great deal of dissolved oxygen in the water.