Photo courtesy of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
KTLO, Classic Hits, and The Boot News is continuing to revisit 2024’s most viewed and talked-about stories, presented in no particular order. Some will highlight uplifting, feel-good moments, while others may reflect more serious or somber events.
The fifth story on our list was published on October 30, when the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reported walleye caught on Bull Shoals Lake had Sandy Flesh disease.
Anglers are encouraged to be mindful when fishing for walleye on area waters. There was a recent report of a walleye being caught on Bull Shoals Lake, and the anglers later discovered it had Sandy Flesh disease.
This is not a new issue being dealt with by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. There were reports of Sandy Flesh disease from 2021 and a couple more before then.
Game and Fish District 2 Fisheries Management Biologist Joe Chilton says Sandy Flesh is a rare degenerative muscle condition only affecting species in the perch family, including walleye and yellow perch.
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The cause of Sandy Flesh disease is currently not known or understood. It is believed to be associated with a combination of genetic factors and environmental stressors.
Chilton says Bull Shoals Lake is not the only waterway where Sandy Flesh has been detected.
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While Sandy Flesh disease has not been known to be transmitted to humans, Chilton advises against consuming any fish that may have the condition.
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Anyone with questions or who has caught a walleye with Sandy Flesh disease can call 870-404-2159 or 479-223-1269.
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