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

[WSU]

Well Sniper, you got someone to agree with you. Take as a win. 

You mean someone with enough sense to look at the problem at hand with a fair eye??

I'm with ya sniper101.  Pathetic management strategy at best by WDFW once again.  I wouldn't take too much of this argument on this topic to heart.  Just like with many other debate topics here, many of the posters just try to stir the pot or prefer to argue that water isn't wet.

Do you not think they are a problem or just not think many will kill them?  If you are interested, try a google search for the key words "bass," "Yakima River," "fall chinook" and "smolt."  You will find studies showing they prey heavily on smolt, especially native salmon smolts due to their smaller size. 

I obviously can't predict how many people will kill them.  I know that I plan to kill every single one I catch, but I also don't fish for them often.

[MtnMuley]

Well Sniper, you got someone to agree with you. Take as a win. 

You mean someone with enough sense to look at the problem at hand with a fair eye??

I'm with ya sniper101.  Pathetic management strategy at best by WDFW once again.  I wouldn't take too much of this argument on this topic to heart.  Just like with many other debate topics here, many of the posters just try to stir the pot or prefer to argue that water isn't wet.

Do you not think they are a problem or just not think many will kill them?  If you are interested, try a google search for the key words "bass," "Yakima River," "fall chinook" and "smolt."  You will find studies showing they prey heavily on smolt, especially native salmon smolts due to their smaller size. 

I obviously can't predict how many people will kill them.  I know that I plan to kill every single one I catch, but I also don't fish for them often.

Nope.  I don't think they are a big problem.  Surely they eat a few, but not near the numbers as other fish like the pikeminnow.  As said before, these salmon runs are doing great, so I feel the management of bass and walleye shouldn't go unregulated.

[WSU]

Well Sniper, you got someone to agree with you. Take as a win. 

You mean someone with enough sense to look at the problem at hand with a fair eye??

I'm with ya sniper101.  Pathetic management strategy at best by WDFW once again.  I wouldn't take too much of this argument on this topic to heart.  Just like with many other debate topics here, many of the posters just try to stir the pot or prefer to argue that water isn't wet.

Do you not think they are a problem or just not think many will kill them?  If you are interested, try a google search for the key words "bass," "Yakima River," "fall chinook" and "smolt."  You will find studies showing they prey heavily on smolt, especially native salmon smolts due to their smaller size. 

I obviously can't predict how many people will kill them.  I know that I plan to kill every single one I catch, but I also don't fish for them often.

Nope.  I don't think they are a big problem.  Surely they eat a few, but not near the numbers as other fish like the pikeminnow.  As said before, these salmon runs are doing great, so I feel the management of bass and walleye shouldn't go unregulated.

The salmon runs are only doing "great" compared to what they became after we f'd everything up (dams, logging, etc.).  The Columbia is producing something like 1/25 of the salmon it used to, and most of those fish are hatchery fish.

[boneaddict]

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.

my opinion as well, adding I am  glad they opened it up for these species.

[Curly]

Cant wait to float the lower Yak for smallmouth and catfish! Gonna bring lots of coolers with ice and fill the freezer! This is the best rule change in along time!

What time of year does this occur?  I will be in Richland over memorial day and may drag the drifter over if fishing would be good then.

Memorial day weekend is prime time.  There should be plenty of spawners up the Yakima on that weekend.

Good deal.  I will watch the water conditions and probably bring the boat.  Want some bass when I get back?  I live just up the road (on Littlerock Rd).

I'd take some.  My wife always begs me to keep them, but I usually C&R.

[WSU]

I will shoot you a PM if I end up going over.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Well Sniper, you got someone to agree with you. Take as a win. 

You mean someone with enough sense to look at the problem at hand with a fair eye??

I'm with ya sniper101.  Pathetic management strategy at best by WDFW once again.  I wouldn't take too much of this argument on this topic to heart.  Just like with many other debate topics here, many of the posters just try to stir the pot or prefer to argue that water isn't wet.

Do you not think they are a problem or just not think many will kill them?  If you are interested, try a google search for the key words "bass," "Yakima River," "fall chinook" and "smolt."  You will find studies showing they prey heavily on smolt, especially native salmon smolts due to their smaller size. 

I obviously can't predict how many people will kill them.  I know that I plan to kill every single one I catch, but I also don't fish for them often.

Nope.  I don't think they are a big problem.  Surely they eat a few, but not near the numbers as other fish like the pikeminnow.  As said before, these salmon runs are doing great, so I feel the management of bass and walleye shouldn't go unregulated.

Yup, you said it again. That clueless statement about Salmon runs are great.

[gaddy]

wah,wah,wah-nobodys going to wipe out the bass population or the wally's. these fish are going to populate our waterways by thier eating habits. they eat other fish & are good at doing it. bass guys always complain about those that dont practice c&r,wally guys do the same. i fish to eat. they tast good. you have guys say they wont eat a salmon cought up river"spawners are to dark"well thats what i get.
ive seen lakes killed by bass & walleye over population- no more perch, crappy,trout etc.. & yes bass will decline as well as the walleye eat. thats what they do.
all you guys that are C&R only are only looking out for your one interest & thats ok for you. if i catch em ill eat em (if i can get enough for a meal)

[Sniper101]

for one, the big bass don't even taste good, and they are all Im concerned about. Just release the bigger fish. We can regulate bass without killing every one we catch!! Bass arnt some evil fish.

[Sniper101]

The bass have been here way to many years to still be considering them "invasive species" guys so grow up. Everybody loves bass, theirs nothing wrong with them, yes they eat a few salmon smolt and deserved to be managed scientifically for whats best but completly uncontrolled harvest of the quality fish, which are the breeding fish and the fish that will be effected the worst is such a miserable fail by our fish and game department. Their job is to manage ALL populations of game fish and bass should be included in this. Its their job to find a healthy median between controlling the bass population and helping the salmon and steelhead populations as well.

That's where some of us disagree with you.  They will always be an invasive species because they were planted here by man.  Not only that, they have a negative affect on the local ecosystem.  And, some of us don't think it is WDFW's job to manage invasive species that shouldn't be here in the first place.  They should not find a median balance between managing invasive species and native species.  It should be open season on invasives with the only "management" being aimed at removing them and reducing their impact to as close to zero as possible.  I agree with Pianoman (is hell freezing over?  ) and think we should kill them all.

And you know what I think? I think you're complely ignorant to how that will effect everyone else in the communiy. Not to mention, the eco-system has adjusted to bass and now they are just a part of the natural order. Like I said, I love fishing for both species of fish and fish for one species or the other every day. Im looking at his from both sides...I don't about you but I get my limit of salmon/steelhead most days I target them and thass more than enough fish for me so I think you don't have alot to complain about.

[Curly]

I will shoot you a PM if I end up going over.

(Let me know if you need some plastic worms, grubs, or some jigheads).

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Weve made the float below Horns Rapid dam alot through the years. It is amazing to see all the Pelicans and Cormorants right at the dam waiting for there next meal. Also the bass population up there is huge! If you fish from below the dam down to crossover bridge in town.  That will put you in some really good water for the bass. As for lures mepps spinners to plastics to plugs. It all gets bit on the Yak.

[Gobble Doc]

We used to kill the smallies in the 80's below Horn Rapids.  Rooster tails.  Fun Stuff.  Anyone remember the unboat races or am I just too old? 

[Sniper101]

doesnt sound like most of the public knows how  to catch the big smallmouth anyways

We used to kill the smallies in the 80's below Horn Rapids.  Rooster tails.  Fun Stuff.  Anyone remember the unboat races or am I just too old? 

ss. As for lures mepps spinners to plastics to plugs. It all gets bit on the Yak.

[xd2005]

for one, the big bass don't even taste good, and they are all Im concerned about. Just release the bigger fish. We can regulate bass without killing every one we catch!! Bass arnt some evil fish.

And wolves aren't evil dogs. Sure, they eat some deer and elk here and there, but that doesn't mean we need to get rid of all of them! Ad biologists are re-introducing them, so they must be good.