Zebra Mussells.  First time I've ever seen them  Holy Geez....what a mess.  I was on a small river (Zumbro) in southern MN  wade fishing for smallies and these things had every rock completely covered in this one outside bend we fished.  I guess now I need to research and find out more about them.  I'd heard/read of them of course, but never encountered them before today.  Unreal!!

looks like its time to switch to braid or braid with a leader.

looks like its time to switch to braid or braid with a leader.

Braid + zebes = fail.

here in the great lakes and in lake winnebago we have them and something new to us called the quagga (sp) musscle..they are razor sharp and braid is not a good thing to use around them.. they are a pain in the you know what.

Yeah they are definitely a problem and very bad for braid.  Best suggestion I can give is throw on a leader.

Yeah they are definitely a problem and very bad for braid. Best suggestion I can give is throw on a leader.

anytime i know im gonna be fishing around them a leader is a must.

And.....a good pair of wading boots/shoes.  I'd think they'd make mess out of bare feet!!

I hope you rinsed your boat to help lessen the possibility of transfering them to another body of water.

I hope you rinsed your boat to help lessen the possibility of transfering them to another body of water.

A FW rinse won't do anything to clean them off.  You simply must let your boat dry completely.  Clorine solution will kill them in the areas that won't dry.  Its pretty much a non issue up here, since all of the Finger Lakes, Great lakes, and attached bays have them.

And.....a good pair of wading boots/shoes. I'd think they'd make mess out of bare feet!!

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Yes they are a massive pain and I can only imagine your feet.

There was no boat involved, we were wading.  I was wearing hip boots.

There was no boat involved, we were wading. I was wearing hip boots.

i shredded a pair of hip boots last year salmon fishing cause of those stupid things.

Depends how bad they are. I camp at several lakes that are infested with them and can still swim barefoot without troubles.

All it takes is that one mussel facing sharp side up though  >

Should rinse your boat, bilge, and livewells with hot water & chlorine and/or let it sit for 5+ days before transporting to a non-infested lake.

Chlorine becomes at a gas above 78°, so its pointless to mix it with hot water

Just a heads up, I do not use braid, but they slice right through it.