Michigan fishermen dipping their fishing lines into the St. Clair River and Lake Erie are being asked to help contain a viral outbreak that is killing fish.

The state saw the biggest Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) outbreak this spring, since 2006.

The Division research program manager of DNR Fisheries, Gary Whelan said that they are asking fisherman not to move live fish or harvest bait fish from the affected area.

“We’re also asking the bait industry to assist us by not collecting bait in the area that has been affected,” says Whelan.

The DNR is also asking fishermen not to harvest minnows within the borders of St. Clair, Macomb, Wayne and Monroe counties.   And they want boaters to empty their bilges and live wells before leaving a boat launch.

According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, the fishing killing virus ‘VHS’ has been found in this region since 2003. The massive fish deaths were first recorded in 2005.

The lake in Clare County  is a massive 175 acre and it experienced a die-off of largemouth and smallmouth nass, bluegills and pumpkinseed sunfish in 2011.

According to test results, largemouth and smallmouth bass were positive for VHS.

In 2007 spring, a similar die-off occurred involving, bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and muskellunge and VHS was identified in the lake. The state says VHS was undetected through 2010 in testing that took place each year.

Budd Lake is one of the two Michigan inland lakes where VHS has been confirmed.

The virus is capable of attacking 60 pound sport fish like, muskellunge. In a piece by David Smmerstein the Environment Report captured what the virus meant to muskellunge.

He reported that fish exposed to the VHS can develop immunity, but biologists say that the new generations of fish will not be to carry that immunity with them, so they are vulnerable when the virus comes around.

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