Freshwater Mussels?

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Hey thanks for the reply and the heads up. What lake it this? I would love to check it out sometime.

I'm in Northern Mass and I have fresh water mussells in my lake. They usually sit on one of the few sandy spots where it is shallow and there is a current. I pull them out by and and open them up with my marine knife and use them for bass bait on a bobber. The bass love them

 

[JustJason]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Lower Massapoag in Dunstable. You can drop a canoe in off of Jacks Bridge on Rt 113 in Dunstable. If your serious about it let me know and I can get you some directions.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Well I am definitely intrigued. I'm guessing if you are finding larger clams that don't have a skin, then they must be salt water. Is the water brackish around where you are talking? Some salt water clams can tolerate some brackishness. Here are some whitish marine clams that can tolerate brackish water to varying degrees:

That's two soft-shelled clam and Northern Quahog. Is that what you are talking about?
..........

Take care, Kevin

The left clam in the pic above is what I am finding, the water is tidal but not salty that I can tell. It's at least 20 miles upstream from the bay, and I catch large mouth bass, catfish, pickerel, and striped bass in there. The clams are nearly the same as what I gather on the beaches down in the saltwater marsh areas, only larger.
They do make good bait, but I wouldn't eat them just because of where they're at.
The nearby lake upstream isn't know to be the cleanest.

I had really just thought someone dumped out their excess bait on the banks there at first but I've consistently found these there for several years now. A buddy actually pointed them out, I hadn't looked close enough to realize they weren't just the remnants of someone's clam bake or picnic.

 

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Pretty amazing that this bunch has survived so long in such a low salt environment!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

You sort of bring up another question on my part then. How far upstream is the water likely still salty or at least brackish? I would have thought that since we regularly catch large mouth bass and other freshwater species there and even quite a few miles further downstream that this area is probably pretty pure freshwater? The map says it's 16 miles as a crow flies but probably more than double that on the water since the river bends and winds all the way to the bay. The point where fish and game differentiate the fresh/saltwater line is at least 20 miles away on the water, and nearly 8 miles on a map.
I've been fishing there all my life, I've noticed the clams for at least the past 6 or 7 years, they may well have been there before but I mostly just thought they were dumped shells.
I always fished it for normal freshwater species, and striped bass in the spring. I've never seen any other saltwater species there either.

I've also seen small clam shaped shells in a few local lakes, maybe about 3/4" across, most are just half shells, I don't think I've ever found a live one, but they turn up in the sand on the rives and a few larger lakes here too. Again, I just always thought they were dumped there or maybe came in with a load of sand during one of the many shoreline projects they've had.

 

[steely51]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

The Umpqua here in oregon is full of them as with most other rivers here. The Racoons love them and leave the gravel bars littered with the shells all summer. The bar dissappeared the other day and may not be back untill may or june but I'd be glad to send a bunch if we can find a way to do it while observing the rules of iboats. the fire is going in my fish shack and I,m going down to try and catch a winter now...it's just accross the backyard

 

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

This is wonderful. I have been especially looking for a western contact as I have none of the freshwater mussels of the Pacific NW. Don't think there are any rule infractions. You can also contact me via my direct email which is in my profile. Thanks so much for this help!

The Umpqua here in oregon is full of them as with most other rivers here. The Racoons love them and leave the gravel bars littered with the shells all summer. The bar dissappeared the other day and may not be back untill may or june but I'd be glad to send a bunch if we can find a way to do it while observing the rules of iboats. the fire is going in my fish shack and I,m going down to try and catch a winter now...it's just accross the backyard

 

[basstracker219]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

i but em on the end of a rapala.

 

[Genonbamagirl]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Are you interested in any from Central AL? We won't be on the lake until it gets warmer - probably April - but I can send you some.

 

[Genonbamagirl]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Oh yeah - pm me if you're interested and Ill give you my email addy.

 

[jackd1023]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Hello, I have a place in Monticello Indiana, On freeman lake. My kids pick these up all the time and "skip" them. The water is a little hard now but in the late spring we can send ya a few.

 

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

This is wonderful! I can't thank you enough for the help. I look forward to anything you might find!
-Thank you, Kevin

Hello, I have a place in Monticello Indiana, On freeman lake. My kids pick these up all the time and "skip" them. The water is a little hard now but in the late spring we can send ya a few.

 

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Hello,
Hey so sorry to be delinquent in my reply. I wasn't expecting a lot of replies during the winter months. I can not even tell you how interested I would be in any freshwater mussels shells you might come across in Alabama. This is a another area I have wanted to, but till now, have failed to make a contact in. Alabama is probably the richest state in the whole country when it comes to unique and interesting freshwater mussel species (with well over a 100 different species, many only occuring in Alabama or nearby), and I have never been able to study any of them personally. So I would so love to see anything you might come across in the near or distant future. I will pm you as well. I look forward to hearing from you!!
-Thank you, Kevin

Are you interested in any from Central AL? We won't be on the lake until it gets warmer - probably April - but I can send you some.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Sorry to bump an old thread, but did you ever get any specimens from Sebago Lake KMC?

I was just up there over the past week, and the usual conversation came up about the Mussels we find at 3rd beach. Of course the main topic of the conversation is usually who has tried eating them.

My neighbor tried eating a couple once, and said they tasted flavorless with the texture of a rubber band. MMMMmmm!

In response to the person who said they have never seen them in 32 years on the lake, they are not too hard to find. I have mostly encountered them buried in the sand on the sand bars. But have also seen beds of them while snorkeling or scuba diving. The seem happy anywhere they are, whether it be in sand, rocky bottom, or in the heavy thick gray clay further out in the lake.

I think they are the fresh water pearl species, but not quite sure. If you are still interested KMC, I will try to gather up complete shells the next time I am up there and send them off to you.

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

I saw them for the first time this year....There is an abundance of them at the sandbar (the one by the State park dubbed the "Third Beach") I recently cooked some up for a friend using a recipe off google.....She loved them. I'm allergic, so trying them for myself was out of the question.

I live here year round and am at the sand bar atleast twice a week if you still need them....

 

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Hello,
no I never did get any specimens from the lake and am definitely interested in any you might find up there. Also, I'm happy you bumped the thread. I was meaning to do it myself as I am still very much studying the freshwater mussels species. Its funny, I've heard more negative than positive reports of eating freshwater mussels. I think the key to any positive report is one that involves lots of added flavor (to perhaps offset the taste of mud?). My friend from Plattsburg cooked some up in garlic and butter and says they were delightful. Still have never taken the plunge myself.

Sorry to bump an old thread, but did you ever get any specimens from Sebago Lake KMC?

I was just up there over the past week, and the usual conversation came up about the Mussels we find at 3rd beach. Of course the main topic of the conversation is usually who has tried eating them.

My neighbor tried eating a couple once, and said they tasted flavorless with the texture of a rubber band. MMMMmmm!

In response to the person who said they have never seen them in 32 years on the lake, they are not too hard to find. I have mostly encountered them buried in the sand on the sand bars. But have also seen beds of them while snorkeling or scuba diving. The seem happy anywhere they are, whether it be in sand, rocky bottom, or in the heavy thick gray clay further out in the lake.

I think they are the fresh water pearl species, but not quite sure. If you are still interested KMC, I will try to gather up complete shells the next time I am up there and send them off to you.

 

[KMC]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Yes, definitely interested! Let me know if you get any you can share.
-Thanks, Kevin

I saw them for the first time this year....There is an abundance of them at the sandbar (the one by the State park dubbed the "Third Beach") I recently cooked some up for a friend using a recipe off google.....She loved them. I'm allergic, so trying them for myself was out of the question.

I live here year round and am at the sand bar atleast twice a week if you still need them....

 

[Micahhaase]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

I'm Pretty sure I've seen quite a few here in oklahoma.... We usually beach the pontoon and the kids play by the shore and are always finding "sea shells"
which are old mussels. Next time im out ill try to find some to bring back..If you need some that live in red dirt.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Repo,
Must be a bit of a haul from Windham to Third beach. I am assuming we are talking about the same beach, the one behind Blueberry Island, right?

In any case, its nice to see someone else on this site from the lake.
In your travels, if you see an old maroon and white 18ft Glastron W/ a Volvo 280 drive hanging on the back (at this point its most likely the last one on the lake), its probably me behind the wheel.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Freshwater Mussels?

Kevin,
Next time I'm up I will see what I can get for you. There's a good chance I may be going diving to rescue a stuck mooring. If I see any empty shells in the clay I will pick them up for you. I imagine there may be some difference between the mussels found in the clay beds as opposed to the ones found in the sand bars, who knows though.