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

[plugger]

I would take the recovery efforts a little more seriously if they would quit the netting on the rivers. They will NEVER recover when they cant get to there spawning grounds.....   Pull the nets, problem solved. I grew up in port angels and that's all we did was fish, All summer, all winter. I have seen the destruction.  To many nets, to much waste. That's why I moved. So you can show me all the data you want, but its worthless information.

[Bullkllr]

Salmon runs in the region (and the Columbia is the best example) have been dying a death by a thousand slashes. There is no magic bullet to bring them back. Keep in mind that it is federal law that the state and other managers plan for and act on wild fish recovery.

Plugger, of course nets are one of the more visible problems. Wish there was more that could be done.

But you don't cut off your thumbs because your leg is broken, right?

[plugger]

No, I would put a cast on my leg because that is the problem, ( nets) Cutting my thumb off would be like taking limits off of bass walleye and channel cats. A not so good solution to a bigger problem.

[lokidog]

Unfortunately, with nothing else changing to help increase numbers of smolts migrating out to sea or adults returning to plentiful spawning habitat, reducing this often small (sometimes larger) amount of predation is possibly a stop-gap measure that will allow our stocks to survive a few years longer. 

This predation loss of juveniles to bass/walleyes is really only an issue because the runs are not healthy to begin with. 

[Curly]

At least Oregon hasn't changed their rules regarding bass and walleye retention on the Columbia.  Otherwise, the rule change would have happened all the way to the ocean.  WA and OR try to be consistent with laws on the Columbia where the two states share the river.

[WSU]

I don't understand why people are against addressing one of the problems simply because other problems exist.  I'm sure nobody manages their own life that way. 

[Curly]

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.

 

And what do walleye eat a lot of?  They eat lost of squaw fish.  And we all know squafish mostly eat salmon and steelhead smolts.  So, wouldn't it be good to at least protect the large walleye so that they can be in the river to reduce the numbers of squawfish? 

[Mr Mykiss]

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.

 

And what do walleye eat a lot of?  They eat lost of squaw fish.  And we all know squafish mostly eat salmon and steelhead smolts.  So, wouldn't it be good to at least protect the large walleye so that they can be in the river to reduce the numbers of squawfish? 

Many involved with the Sport Reward Fishery speculate that the numbers of NPM in the John Day pool are lower than other pools for that very reason...

[woodywsu]

Heres a report about predator studies in the Priest Rapids Project (Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams).

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1129/pdf/ofr20121129.pdf

This study sampled stomachs from northern pikeminnow, smallmouth bass, and walleye that were removed from the project area. In total 18 walleye were collected for sampling with only 12 having a non-empty diet. 11/12 had salmonids present.

While native and non-native piscivorous fish have a slight impact on out-migrating salmonids, their impact is quite minimal when compared to non-native terns (estimated 15-40% predation on steelhead smolts). However, managing smallmouth and walleye is a lot easier then attempting to reduce terns.

[lokidog]

Heres a report about predator studies in the Priest Rapids Project (Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams).

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1129/pdf/ofr20121129.pdf

This study sampled stomachs from northern pikeminnow, smallmouth bass, and walleye that were removed from the project area. In total 18 walleye were collected for sampling with only 12 having a non-empty diet. 11/12 had salmonids present.

While native and non-native piscivorous fish have a slight impact on out-migrating salmonids, their impact is quite minimal when compared to non-native terns (estimated 15-40% predation on steelhead smolts). However, managing smallmouth and walleye is a lot easier then attempting to reduce terns.

I'm not sure the term "non-native" really applies to the terns since they arrived here on their own, unfortunately, just like the sea lions.  Noone planted them or brought them to WA in a cage.  They are simply taking advantage od conditions that have often been created by people, just like the sea lions do.  Having said that, they are indeed a problem but to deal with them, the Feds would have to be brought in unlike changing the regs for bass and walleyes.

[woodywsu]

They would be easier to manage if we all agreed they were non-native. They are not called "American" tern

[Special T]

I don't understand why people are against addressing one of the problems simply because other problems exist.  I'm sure nobody manages their own life that way.

I agree.  I'm always amazed that sportmen have not been able to band togherte to gewt somehting done on fish predators in general. Sealions, cornmerants, megansers ect.  If you want to get traction you must START somewhere and move forward...   It seems the only options that seem left ot us is fighting against ourselves when there are so many things that COULD be done that 99% of uscould get behind. 

[MtnMuley]

I don't understand why people are against addressing one of the problems simply because other problems exist.  I'm sure nobody manages their own life that way.

I agree.  I'm always amazed that sportmen have not been able to band togherte to gewt somehting done on fish predators in general. Sealions, cornmerants, megansers ect.  If you want to get traction you must START somewhere and move forward...   It seems the only options that seem left ot us is fighting against ourselves when there are so many things that COULD be done that 99% of uscould get behind. 

I don't agree.  Why quit managing a few species?  Obviously, it's the cheap, easy way out...   Much like a lot of the American attitude these days I see though.  You mention "banding together" as sportsman......and this is what you call banding together?  Opening of species to kill as many as you can without limits, while others practice catch and release to provide an opportunity for others and our younger generation.........   Pathetic at best is what it is.  

[woodywsu]

Salmon recovery efforts take priority over smallmouth management in this region. It always will until UCR springers and steelhead are are not protected under ESA listing. I know you are well aware of smallies aggressive feeding habits.   

[Special T]

I don't understand why people are against addressing one of the problems simply because other problems exist.  I'm sure nobody manages their own life that way.

I agree.  I'm always amazed that sportmen have not been able to band togherte to gewt somehting done on fish predators in general. Sealions, cornmerants, megansers ect.  If you want to get traction you must START somewhere and move forward...   It seems the only options that seem left ot us is fighting against ourselves when there are so many things that COULD be done that 99% of uscould get behind. 

I don't agree.  Why quit managing a few species?  Obviously, it's the cheap, easy way out...   Much like a lot of the American attitude these days I see though.  You mention "banding together" as sportsman......and this is what you call banding together?  Opening of species to kill as many as you can without limits, while others practice catch and release to provide an opportunity for others and our younger generation.........   Pathetic at best is what it is.

I don't think that attacking another sport fish is the best first step because it divides us instead of unites us. NOWHERE did i mention  you claim of unabashed killing. I think you should od some reading about how many species have been protected especially corn merants since 1972 under the federal migratory bird act/treaty that was originally established in 1918.. They have been under protection for far too long, and it was DDT that caused numbers of Cornmerants to drop, NOT shooting.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018081392_cormorants27.html
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/treatlaw.html