Spearfishing northern pike in lake Roosevelt system?

[KFhunter]

I wonder if this is a possibility?



I used to spear non-game fish, but sadly it's hard to stay interested in spearing fish that aren't really edible.  I know I could wack a lot of pike in a day with a speargun!

[Woodchuck]

When I was a kid you could spear them with a hand thrown spear through the ice in the winter time. It was a kick in the pants, never did dive for them though.

[2labs]

One of my friends is a spearfisherman and has some funny stories! Lets just say you don't have home field advantage. He's told me one story about spearing a big ling under the Hood Canal bridge. He's a big boy and got his ass handed too him

[h20hunter]

I've stuck a few big ling in my time....lotta fun. I would think a banded spear gun, set of fins, and a snorkel could be a lot of fun in the summer. Swim along over the weed beds......duh duh....duh duh....

[7mmfan]

I've stuck a few big ling in my time....lotta fun. I would think a banded spear gun, set of fins, and a snorkel could be a lot of fun in the summer. Swim along over the weed beds......duh duh....duh duh....

If they're anything like tiger musky, you could easily get in range of them. Would be a kick in the pants.

[h20hunter]

For sure. I bet you would find them along breaks and any type of weeds or cover that they can ambush prey. Lot like a ling except suspended. Logs and wood that hold heat would be a good area, outside of the edge of spawning beds where you have panfish might also produce.

[h20hunter]

skip to the 2:30 mark......

[7mmfan]

 

[Ridgeratt]

I would have to think it might fall under the rules for Bow fishing carp in Roosevelt and that is not allowed. I also think that you cannot spear fish Freshwater species.

I would guess it has been done before but might not be legal

[KFhunter]

I would have to think it might fall under the rules for Bow fishing carp in Roosevelt and that is not allowed. I also think that you cannot spear fish Freshwater species.

I would guess it has been done  berfore but might not be legal

You can bow fish carp statewide, but the lake Roosevelt system has special rules that say bow fishing is illegal in that system. 
Funny thing is you can spear carp which includes pitchforks and spear guns in lake Roosevelt, just can't shoot them with an bow and arrow. 

I may have had a hand in getting that outlawed in the lake Roosevelt rec area     I shot *a lot* of carp as a teen kid   

Northern pike has no special rules other than you have to kill them before you remove them from the area, no limits-no season but the kicker is state wide rules for game fish limit it to hook and line only.  It would be a simple thing for WDFW to allow spearfishing for northern pike in the lake Roosevelt and maybe PO river system.  I'm not 100% sure where northern pike land in WA, are they game fish species or non-game species?  As of right now I'm thinking it's illegal to catch/harvest them unless hook and line are used.

[shootem]

If it is legal and the water is clear enough, scuba diving and spearfishing pike would be a blast and effective at reducing their numbers. Any experts on the law that can clarify? I will be there next summer if it won't get me a ticket. Anybody been under water in Lake Roosevelt to know viz?

[724wd]

Anybody been under water in Lake Roosevelt to know viz?

visibility is no issue at roosevelt.  at least where I've been (Keller-to-fort spokane)

[KFhunter]

If it is legal and the water is clear enough, scuba diving and spearfishing pike would be a blast and effective at reducing their numbers. Any experts on the law that can clarify? I will be there next summer if it won't get me a ticket. Anybody been under water in Lake Roosevelt to know viz?

 
*IF* WDFW made it legal to shoot northern pike:

It's excellent 10 months of the year, I wouldn't make any underwater plans in May or June, but by July it's clearing up rapidly. 

I would hunt pike in mid April through mid May in the shallows and early weed beds/shallows up north or above the 1310 line then start again in July.  The problem with lake Roosevelt is it's being drawn down really low in April/May but on the tributaries there's shallow weed beds for spawning up near the Canadian border - I'd focus up there early season.  In July I'd drop down to the sloughs for the carp spawn, the pike will be in there hard.

In August you'll want a wetsuit to prevent the duck lice from giving you swimmers itch.
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/swimmers-itch-topic-overview

I've been covered head to toe more times than I can count wading around shooting carp, it's an irritant but gone in a couple days.

[bigtex]

I would have to think it might fall under the rules for Bow fishing carp in Roosevelt and that is not allowed. I also think that you cannot spear fish Freshwater species.

I would guess it has been done  berfore but might not be legal

You can bow fish carp statewide, but the lake Roosevelt system has special rules that say bow fishing is illegal in that system. 
Funny thing is you can spear carp which includes pitchforks and spear guns in lake Roosevelt, just can't shoot them with an bow and arrow. 

I may have had a hand in getting that outlawed in the lake Roosevelt rec area     I shot *a lot* of carp as a teen kid   

Northern pike has no special rules other than you have to kill them before you remove them from the area, no limits-no season but the kicker is state wide rules for game fish limit it to hook and line only.  It would be a simple thing for WDFW to allow spearfishing for northern pike in the lake Roosevelt and maybe PO river system.  I'm not 100% sure where northern pike land in WA, are they game fish species or non-game species?  As of right now I'm thinking it's illegal to catch/harvest them unless hook and line are used.

Your partially correct.

The issue comes down to the management of Lake Roosevelt by the National Park Service. It is against state & federal law to bowfish in Lake Roosevelt. It is against federal law (not state law) to spear fish in Lake Roosevelt. Per NPS regulation 36 CFR 2.3(d)(1)
(d)  The following are prohibited:
(1)  Fishing in fresh waters in any manner other than by hook and line, with the rod or line being closely attended.

The NPS does authorize the use of spearfishing in saltwater if the state allows it. But when it comes to freshwater, only hook and line is allowed.

This is another situation where the state/WDFW allows an act under state law, but the federal land management agency does not. Another similar situation is the prohibition on coyote hunting on USFWS lands in WA (with one exception at the Pend Orielle NWR)

[KFhunter]

Thanks Bigtex.  Sucks about the CFR prohibiting spearing in fresh water.