Bass and Walleye Rule change on the Columbia and tributaries-CRAZY

[bearpaw]

Somebody mentioned that walleye do not feed along the shore. I'm sorry but that is FALSE! For years I have personally witnessed Walleye in 3 to 10 feet of water along the shores of Roosevelt especially after dark at night. They are in the shallows eating small fish.

The other part of this walleye issue on Roosevelt is that the tribes are removing walleye from Roosevelt and the Spokane River to help recover native fish. That is happening no matter what WDFW does with walleye seasons. The way I understand it, it is completely out of WDFW's control.

So if the tribes are going to remove them anyway, I see no logical reason to not allow all fishers a chance to remove some of these walleye and actually work with the tribe to bring the walleye numbers under some sort of control. I'm actually amazed the commission did not remove the limit altogether, I think that shows they are trying to maintain as much of the walleye fishery for the walleye fishermen as they can.

As much as I like walleye, I have to tell you, they have done to roosevelt exactly what wolves will do to Washington if we allow too many wolves on the landscape. If you allow them to multiply in the Snake and lower Columbia to the same numbers as they are in Roosevelt, they will start doing the same damage to other species there.

This is no different than the northern pike (another non-native specie) expanding their numbers and posing a threat to other fish species in the entire system. The numbers of these non-native highly predatory fish must be controlled now before more damage is done.

[Curly]

Curly, Where did you get that quote?

Port of Lewiston website.  Click on the blue word "quote" in my message, it will take you to the page; then see item number 2.

[muzbuster]

More smoke and mirrors from the state. If they really wanted to save the salmon and steelhead they would outlaw ALL Nets in Wa State waters.

exactly. And you guys are right, it won't wipe out the bass, itll wipe out the quality fish and the fish in areas were people who eat the fish found them while theyre spawning.

I kill my fair share of mergansers each year, just wish there was a seperate bag limit... if there was i'd make a special hunt just for them...

There's a flock of about 80 of them on the bay on the west side of the island the last few days.  Wonder how many herring and surf perch they eat.     I pulled a 10" spiny ray out of one on the Chehalis many years ago, the thing could hardly get off the water, hence Boom, Splash.   

:yeah:X2

[bearpaw]

How many smolts do walleye really eat? I only know one person on here that might be able to give me an educated answer. Basically I'm saying that the WDFW is guesssing that walleye hurt the smolts. Smolts live on top, walleye live on bottom, bass move to backwaters when the smolt are coming down, smolt try to stay with the current. It's the birds that they should try to crack down on.

I don't have any numbers of small fish they eat, maybe a bio might have that kind of data, that is questionable, has anyone done that kind of research?

FYI - I have witnessed walleye lined up along the shores of Roosevelt every time I have looked, I cannot say for certain walleye do this every single night of the year, but every time I have looked they are there. If anyone doubts this all you have to do is drive roads or drift a boat along the shore and shine a good light in the water. You will see a walleye every 5 to 50 feet in most cases along the entire stretch that you check, that has been my experience. I am not joking, probably 90% of the fish I have seen doing this at night are walleye, I have even looked at them with binoculars with the light on them, they are walleye. If you do this call the sherrif office or county dispatch before going and let them know what you are doing or I can verify that a deputy or warden will likely show up to investigate.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Need to put a bounty on bass,walleye,and all the other smolt eatin thugs!

[BLUEBULLS]

How many smolts do walleye really eat? I only know one person on here that might be able to give me an educated answer. Basically I'm saying that the WDFW is guesssing that walleye hurt the smolts. Smolts live on top, walleye live on bottom, bass move to backwaters when the smolt are coming down, smolt try to stay with the current. It's the birds that they should try to crack down on.

I don't have any numbers of small fish they eat, maybe a bio might have that kind of data, that is questionable, has anyone done that kind of research?

FYI - I have witnessed walleye lined up along the shores of Roosevelt every time I have looked, I cannot say for certain walleye do this every single night of the year, but every time I have looked they are there. If anyone doubts this all you have to do is drive roads or drift a boat along the shore and shine a good light in the water. You will see a walleye every 5 to 50 feet in most cases along the entire stretch that you check, that has been my experience. I am not joking, probably 90% of the fish I have seen doing this at night are walleye, I have even looked at them with binoculars with the light on them, they are walleye. If you do this call the sherrif office or county dispatch before going and let them know what you are doing or I can verify that a deputy or warden will likely show up to investigate.

I know of one person who has done that type of research, with the help of another. The walleye in the lower portions of the river have totally different habits than those in other reservoirs, including Roosevelt.  I check the stomach contents of EVERY walleye we keep and I do find the occasional smolt but for the most part it is 98% sculpins and perch. I am by no means an expert but I have been fishing for walleye on the Columbia and it’s tributaries since 1984 and have checked the stomach contents of literally thousands of walleye. Many of those are from March to July when the majority of smolts are coming down river.

All that a guy has to do is come down and spend a few days on the river in May to see what the Terns, Cormorants and Pelicans are doing to the smolts. You can literally watch them eat hundreds of smolt in a day.

[bearpaw]

How many smolts do walleye really eat? I only know one person on here that might be able to give me an educated answer. Basically I'm saying that the WDFW is guesssing that walleye hurt the smolts. Smolts live on top, walleye live on bottom, bass move to backwaters when the smolt are coming down, smolt try to stay with the current. It's the birds that they should try to crack down on.

I don't have any numbers of small fish they eat, maybe a bio might have that kind of data, that is questionable, has anyone done that kind of research?

FYI - I have witnessed walleye lined up along the shores of Roosevelt every time I have looked, I cannot say for certain walleye do this every single night of the year, but every time I have looked they are there. If anyone doubts this all you have to do is drive roads or drift a boat along the shore and shine a good light in the water. You will see a walleye every 5 to 50 feet in most cases along the entire stretch that you check, that has been my experience. I am not joking, probably 90% of the fish I have seen doing this at night are walleye, I have even looked at them with binoculars with the light on them, they are walleye. If you do this call the sherrif office or county dispatch before going and let them know what you are doing or I can verify that a deputy or warden will likely show up to investigate.

I know of one person who has done that type of research, with the help of another. The walleye in the lower portions of the river have totally different habits than those in other reservoirs, including Roosevelt.  I check the stomach contents of EVERY walleye we keep and I do find the occasional smolt but for the most part it is 98% sculpins and perch. I am by no means an expert but I have been fishing for walleye on the Columbia and it’s tributaries since 1984 and have checked the stomach contents of literally thousands of walleye. Many of those are from March to July when the majority of smolts are coming down river.

All that a guy has to do is come down and spend a few days on the river in May to see what the Terns, Cormorants and Pelicans are doing to the smolts. You can literally watch them eat hundreds of smolt in a day.

I am not disagreeing with you on the predatory birds, they will clean out a small lake or beaver pond in short order.

Have you ever shined a light along the shoreline, how frequently? I could be wrong but I suspect there is a good chance you will learn something about how walleye feed at night. This something I have done quite frequently and I am left wondering why walleye in Roosevelt would have to be so different.

[Gringo31]

Bearpaw is right when it comes to walleye night feeding habits.  At night they move into the shallows and can be caught.

Here is an article I read several years ago on the very thing...

Night Fishing for Walleye preparation:  Much like a hunter who scouts out the area before the season starts, so should you "scout out the area".  During daylight hours walleye like to hide in deep holes or in areas along a underwater ridge or island.  At night these walleye like to move out of their holding areas and into the shallow water to find their meals.  Knowing that you should be looking for long stretches of beach or long sections of shallow water.  I like water from 5 feet to  10 feet max. If you see minnows jumping at dusk, that is a prime area to fish.

There is plenty I don't agree with when it comes to our WDFW.  We don't manage predators period.  Many ideas for improvement are plain as day stated in prior posts.  I don't like all of the fee increases across the board and then they buying land.  It rubs me wrong..

In other action, the commission approved three land transactions, including the purchase of 1,614 acres in Asotin County. The acquisition is phase two of a multi-year project to secure a total of nearly 12,000 acres of riparian habitat for steelhead and bull trout and terrestrial habitat for deer, bighorn sheep and elk.

The commission also approved the purchase of 195 acres of lowlands in the Chinook River Estuary in Pacific County to increase salmon habitat, and an easement across four properties along Issaquah Creek in King County for the construction of a replacement intake system upstream from the WDFW Issaquah Fish Hatchery.

[Button Nubbs]

Well, if native steelhead runs are ever going to be viable, damn removal should happen sooner than later.  From what I've read, it can be done responsibly. 

If not damn breaching, then at least sealion removal from the Columbia along with the gillnet ban.  That would be much more helpful than the band-aid approach of removing a limit on bass and walleye.

You have been reading the liberal/hippie press haven't you.  Almost all of the fisherman on the snake/clearwater have been catching 3 to 1  unclipped (or native) to every hatchery fish.  There is no difference in DNA between a wild fish over and hatchery fish.  If you took a 100 hatchery DNA's and 100 wild fish DNA's and mixed them up no bio in world could tell the difference.

There's no difference between hatchery and wild fish? Is that what your saying? Right....

[B.G.hunter]

Well, if native steelhead runs are ever going to be viable, damn removal should happen sooner than later.  From what I've read, it can be done responsibly. 

If not damn breaching, then at least sealion removal from the Columbia along with the gillnet ban.  That would be much more helpful than the band-aid approach of removing a limit on bass and walleye.

You have been reading the liberal/hippie press haven't you.  Almost all of the fisherman on the snake/clearwater have been catching 3 to 1  unclipped (or native) to every hatchery fish.  There is no difference in DNA between a wild fish over and hatchery fish.  If you took a 100 hatchery DNA's and 100 wild fish DNA's and mixed them up no bio in world could tell the difference.

There's no difference between hatchery and wild fish? Is that what your saying? Right....

Correct.  You would be kidding yourself if hatchery fish didn't spawn with wild fish and the natives have fish hatcheries over here and they don't clip the fins.  So we don't know what is going on just that we have steelhead that have clipped fins and ones without.

[Button Nubbs]

Well, if native steelhead runs are ever going to be viable, damn removal should happen sooner than later.  From what I've read, it can be done responsibly. 

If not damn breaching, then at least sealion removal from the Columbia along owith the gillnet ban.  That would be much more helpful than the band-aid approach of removing a limit on bass and walleye.

You have been reading the liberal/hippie press haven't you.  Almost all of the fisherman on the snake/clearwater have been catching 3 to 1  unclipped (or native) to every hatchery fish.  There is no difference in DNA between a wild fish over and hatchery fish.  If you took a 100 hatchery DNA's and 100 wild fish DNA's and mixed them up no bio in world could tell the difference.

There's no difference between hatchery and wild fish? Is that what your saying? Right....

Correct.  You would be kidding yourself if hatchery fish didn't spawn with wild fish and the natives have fish hatcheries over here and they don't clip the fins.  So we don't know what is going on just that we have steelhead that have clipped fins and ones without.

You should really read the pilchuck thread and educate yourself. I didn't say they won't intetbreed together. That's what we are trying to avoid.

[Gringo31]

Last I checked Dwarshack dam was a "kill em all" dam.  All fish, wild or hatchery were killed collected and their offspring then clipped.

[B.G.hunter]

Well, if native steelhead runs are ever going to be viable, damn removal should happen sooner than later.  From what I've read, it can be done responsibly. 

If not damn breaching, then at least sealion removal from the Columbia along owith the gillnet ban.  That would be much more helpful than the band-aid approach of removing a limit on bass and walleye.

You have been reading the liberal/hippie press haven't you.  Almost all of the fisherman on the snake/clearwater have been catching 3 to 1  unclipped (or native) to every hatchery fish.  There is no difference in DNA between a wild fish over and hatchery fish.  If you took a 100 hatchery DNA's and 100 wild fish DNA's and mixed them up no bio in world could tell the difference.

There's no difference between hatchery and wild fish? Is that what your saying? Right....

Correct.  You would be kidding yourself if hatchery fish didn't spawn with wild fish and the natives have fish hatcheries over here and they don't clip the fins.  So we don't know what is going on just that we have steelhead that have clipped fins and ones without.

You should really read the pilchuck thread and educate yourself. I didn't say they won't intetbreed together. That's what we are trying to avoid.

which thread is this?
Last I checked Dwarshack dam was a "kill em all" dam.  All fish, wild or hatchery were killed collected and their offspring then clipped.

What? They Kill all the fish they take in but are usually at capacity in October or November and then they don't take any in after that.  and your telling me that ALL the stealhead and salmon return to exactly the same play?  They how would the species spread itself in all the streams all over the West part of North America?

[BLUEBULLS]

How many smolts do walleye really eat? I only know one person on here that might be able to give me an educated answer. Basically I'm saying that the WDFW is guesssing that walleye hurt the smolts. Smolts live on top, walleye live on bottom, bass move to backwaters when the smolt are coming down, smolt try to stay with the current. It's the birds that they should try to crack down on.

I don't have any numbers of small fish they eat, maybe a bio might have that kind of data, that is questionable, has anyone done that kind of research?

FYI - I have witnessed walleye lined up along the shores of Roosevelt every time I have looked, I cannot say for certain walleye do this every single night of the year, but every time I have looked they are there. If anyone doubts this all you have to do is drive roads or drift a boat along the shore and shine a good light in the water. You will see a walleye every 5 to 50 feet in most cases along the entire stretch that you check, that has been my experience. I am not joking, probably 90% of the fish I have seen doing this at night are walleye, I have even looked at them with binoculars with the light on them, they are walleye. If you do this call the sherrif office or county dispatch before going and let them know what you are doing or I can verify that a deputy or warden will likely show up to investigate.

I know of one person who has done that type of research, with the help of another. The walleye in the lower portions of the river have totally different habits than those in other reservoirs, including Roosevelt.  I check the stomach contents of EVERY walleye we keep and I do find the occasional smolt but for the most part it is 98% sculpins and perch. I am by no means an expert but I have been fishing for walleye on the Columbia and it’s tributaries since 1984 and have checked the stomach contents of literally thousands of walleye. Many of those are from March to July when the majority of smolts are coming down river.

All that a guy has to do is come down and spend a few days on the river in May to see what the Terns, Cormorants and Pelicans are doing to the smolts. You can literally watch them eat hundreds of smolt in a day.

I am not disagreeing with you on the predatory birds, they will clean out a small lake or beaver pond in short order.

Have you ever shined a light along the shoreline, how frequently? I could be wrong but I suspect there is a good chance you will learn something about how walleye feed at night. This something I have done quite frequently and I am left wondering why walleye in Roosevelt would have to be so different.

I've done this extensively in the Columbia, that's why I say they act different in the lower river than other bodies of water. I know that this is typical behavior in many other reservoirs, lakes, and rivers just not the columbia in the areas I frequent.

[MtnMuley]

This rule proposal is ridiculous.  I fish for salmon, steelhead, bass, and walleye.  We've seem record/near record runs recently in the upper Columbia on salmon and steelhead.  There are millions and millions of dollars each year spend on protecting these runs.  These runs are doing just fine, so why create a negative impact on these other fisheries by making them limitless.   F#&*%g stupid, at best.

Only someone looking at the big picture and there own agenda could possibly say this.

I'm confused by this statement.  Are you saying that I'm concerned with my own agenda, and not welfare of all fisheries involved?