KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Andy Okita, 8, got some help from dad Glenn Okita yesterday during a family day of fishing from shore at Lake Wilson. While shore fishers have been able to fish at the lake since Memorial Day, yesterday was the first day that boat fishers could fish since the cleanup of the waterweed Salvinia molesta.
Boaters show up early for their first
chance to fish at Lake Wilson after
a massive salvinia cleanup
Fisherman J. "Brock" Brockington had predicted he would be first in line when Lake Wilson reopened yesterday for boat fishing after the massive cleanup of the waterweed Salvinia molesta.
"At 6 a.m. there was one guy in front of me at the gate, but he just had a pickup. I was the first one with a boat," Brockington said with satisfaction as he sipped a cold ginger ale on shore after a half-day of fishing.
It was great to be back on the lake, Brockington and other fishers said, but too bad the invasive plant had to cover 95 percent of the 300-acre lake before state officials seemed to take it seriously.
"We saw it before Christmas, before Thanksgiving," Brockington said.
"And we even complained about it," Bob Lum-King said.
"In fact, there were traces of salvinia in late 2000," said Russell Wheeler, who hopes the state has learned "that they can't let it go."
It was originally estimated that the cleanup, which involved state, city, military and volunteer workers, would cost more than $1 million. Final costs haven't been totaled, but Department of Land and Natural Resources Chief Engineer Eric Hirano has said he doesn't think it will be that high.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
The fish weren't biting well yesterday for fishermen who were back at Lake Wilson, but they were enjoying the salvinia-free waters.
Wheeler, who was born and raised in Wahiawa, said that other than a stint in the armed service, the six-month break has been "the longest time I haven't been in this river in my life."
Like kids who couldn't sleep on Christmas morning, these men were up early yesterday for the first day back on the lake.
Brockington, of Waikiki, and Wheeler said they got up about 4:30 a.m. to get their boats ready. Lum-King, of Niu Valley, was up at 2:30 a.m., he said.
Despite the long break from being pursued by humans, the fish weren't biting well yesterday for the fishermen. But they didn't seem to care too much. When they catch bass, which is what they're after, they throw them back anyway.
They said they catch quite a few aquarium fish in the lake, which bolsters the theory that salvinia was introduced when someone dumped the unwanted contents of a home aquarium into it.
But in contrast to its bright green coverage with plants earlier this year, yesterday the lake was clear of salvinia, except a few plants in smaller inlets of the lake, the fishermen said.
The state will continue to spray an Environmental Protection Agency-approved herbicide on the weed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of the second and fourth weeks of each month to keep the weed under control.
Boaters are asked to help the department control salvinia by not crossing over oil booms used to separate sprayed areas from the rest of the lake and by collecting and throwing away any salvinia they encounter.
A new sign at the boat ramp reads: "Fishers please kokua: Please remove and dispose of any floating vegetation you may find on the lake."
While yesterday was the first day for fishing from boats, shore fishers have been casting lines since Memorial Day.
"I'm glad they got rid of it. I hope it doesn't come back," said George Okita of Mililani of the salvinia as he fished from the bank with grandsons Andy, 8, and Greg, 5.
Taesuk Kang, who had nabbed a few tilapia from shore yesterday, wanted to thank those who cleaned up the salvinia: "I thank them very much because of making the lake clean. I am happy."
