American eels are an endangered species in the Ottawa River. They are almost extinct. When we built the 13 dams on the Ottawa River in the 50s and 60s there were no fish ladders installed. Of the many affects this had on fish species, ones that need to migrate fared the worst.
American eels have been getting chewed up in the turbines of the dams since they were completed. When I was a kid riding my bike to the mouth of Greens Creek with Jeff Carroll to throw worms out on the bottom we regularly caught American eels. Now, the latest electro shocking that has been done produced no eels. They are all but gone.
This past week I found this big specimen floating dead on the surface. It had one hook caught in the top of it’s mouth. It looked like someone had simply cut the line to avoid touching the eel and discarded it back in the river. A truly sad ending for such a rare and special fish.
If you catch an eel please put it back carefully. Take a picture if you can and send it to me or to the Ottawa Riverkeeper.
chimo,
JA
—
John M. Anderson
www.OttawaRiverMuskyFactory.com
We produce BIG fish!!
be good, do good, live well
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