Voluntary Ingestion of Soft Plastic Fishing Lures Affects Brook Trout Growth in the Laboratory

G. Russell Danner (a), Jim Chacko (b), and Francis Brautigam (c)

a Fish Health Laboratory, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 81 Hatchery Road, Augusta, Maine 04330, USA
b Biology Department, Unity College, Post Office Box 90, Unity, Maine 04988-9502, USA
c Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 358 Shaker Road, Gray, Maine 04039, USA

Abstract.—Thirty-eight brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis were fed a commercial trout diet mixed with a free-choice assortment of soft plastic lures (SPLs) over a 90-d period. Fish growth was recorded and compared with that of a control group. The brook trout readily ate the SPLs from the water's surface as well as from the tank bottom. At the conclusion of the study, SPLs were recovered from the stomachs of 63% of the test fish. Several fish stomachs contained multiple lures. Twelve percent of the fish voluntarily ingested more than 10% of their body mass in SPLs. These fish lost a significant amount of weight during the study, had a significant decrease in body condition factor, and began displaying anorexic behaviors. For these reasons, anglers should be discouraged from discarding used SPLs in trout waters.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management 2009; 29:352–360

* Corresponding author: russell.danner@maine.gov

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From Bob Lusk: Dr. Dave Willis passed away January 13, 2014. He continues to be a key part of our Pond Boss family...and always will be.