Alewive (Landlocked) Landlocked alewives (a member of the herring family) are abundant in many Connecticut lakes and are commonly used by anglers as a bait fish. The widespread use of landlocked alewives as bait has resulted in these fish becoming established in lakes where they can be highly detrimental to other fish species. Once landlocked alewives become established, their population number can increase quickly, allowing them to out compete other fish species for available food. Also, alewives can feed on egg and larval stages of other species such as trout, perch, walleye and bass. Seldom can they be removed from a lake once they establish a population. East Twin Lake (Salisbury) and Wononscopomuc Lake (Lakeville) provide examples of the effects of landlocked alewives. Each of these lakes had fishable populations of Kokanee salmon for many years. Alewives were accidentally introduced into each of these lakes and the salmon populations declined and then disappeared. For these reasons we recommend that anglers take great care when discarding their unused bait at the end of a fishing trip. Do not empty the bait bucket into the lake (an alternative is to freeze and save for the next trip). Even if you're not using alewives as bait, there may be one of two in the bucket which may lead to establishment of a population. These precaution will help limit the spread of an unwanted and potentially detrimental species.
Remember - The use of live alewives, blueback herring, gizzard, hickory, or threadfin shad as bait is prohibited in:
Alexander Lake Saugatuck Reservoir West Hill Pond Colebrook Reservoir Shenipsit Lake West Twin Lake East Twin Lake Wangumbaug (Coventry) Lake Wononscopumuc Lake Lake Pocotopaug West Branch (Hogback) Reservoir
Previous Topic
Index
