Growing concern about the largemouth bass virus impacting the smallmouth bass population around Door County will be up for discussion when Dr. Nicole Nietlisbach, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) presents a program at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay Thursday.   The largemouth bass virus is responsible for a number of fish die-offs in the southeastern part of the United States, and during the last couple of years, smallmouth bass infected with the virus have been caught in Green Bay just off Door County. The program is called "Largemouth Bass Virus and Smallmouth Bass of Green Bay: Current Knowledge and Remaining Questions" and will be the final presentation of the Fish Tales Lecture Series at Crossroads this spring.

The local fishing industry along with Door County being one of the top bass fishing locations in the United States makes the topic of smallmouth bass health a key issue as the open-water fishing season begins.

Nietlisbach, a fish health specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, gives guidance to state fish hatcheries and spawning facilities while investigating wild fish kills.  She will explain to anglers what should be done if they catch an infected bass.

Organized by Mark Holey, the presentation at Crossroads at Big Creek will begin at 7:00 p.m. this Thursday, April 27th.  The program is free to the public and will be held in the Collins Learning Center.