WDFW suspends fishing limits for bass, walleye, channel catfish on Columbia R.

[Reidus]

So starting March 3rd it looks like there's no limits on bass, walleye and channel cats on the Columbia all the way up to Chief Joseph.

[Maverick]

I thought there already wasn't a limit for catfish? Its a shame that we have some of the best walleye fishing and the state has to try to ruin that. Let me guess, to save the salmon and steelhead... If they really cared then theyd open a season pelicans, cormorants and other fish eating birds

[jessie88]

man i wann try fishing the columbia for walleye. but havent the foggiest idea on where to start.

[Maverick]

man i wann try fishing the columbia for walleye. but havent the foggiest idea on where to start.

Just find the big group of boats in one spot this on any weekend this time of year and join in lol

[jessie88]

lol yeah i do the same on potholes but the columbia is huge. live too far just to go hope for finding boats haha

[birddogdad]

they gonna suspend the limit on sea lions too?

[Reidus]

I wish they'd get rid of some sea lions and fish eating birds.

I really don't think lifting the limit on walleye is going to change anything. The population is huge. Walleye are a tough fish to catch and to catch them in the numbers that we do there has to be tons of them. There hasn't been a limit above mcnary and that's where they catch the biggest ones.

[bigtex]

If they really cared then theyd open a season pelicans, cormorants and other fish eating birds

That has to come from the feds. The feds are the ones who say what birds you can shoot.

I think a cormorant season would be feasible, but definitely not pelicans.

[Bullkllr]

WDFW picking the "low hanging fruit" again?

[WSU]

WDFW picking the "low hanging fruit" again?

Or at least what they have control over.

[Bango skank]

WDFW picking the "low hanging fruit" again?

Or at least what they have control over.

They have control over wolves in part of the state and are doing nothing

[NW-GSP]

WDFW picking the "low hanging fruit" again?

Or at least what they have control over.

They have control over wolves in part of the state and are doing nothing

In reality its the king county voters that have control over the wolves.

[plugger]

 

[James]

I wish they'd get rid of some sea lions and fish eating birds.

I really don't think lifting the limit on walleye is going to change anything. The population is huge. Walleye are a tough fish to catch and to catch them in the numbers that we do there has to be tons of them. There hasn't been a limit above mcnary and that's where they catch the biggest ones.

The feds are killing fish eating birds at the mouth of the Columbia right now.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/killing-one-species-intended-to-save-another-11000-birds-in-cross-hairs-of-multiyear-program/

[Reidus]

Interesting...... That article wasn't biased at all was it?

[Bullkllr]

Interesting...... That article wasn't biased at all was it?

"During the spring breeding season, they eat juvenile salmon on their migration to the sea, devouring an average of 11 million of the tiny fish a year."

and yet, cutting the cormorant population by about 50% (it sounds like) is

 “expected to have little to no effect”

HMMMMM...

[Skillet]

 Was going to edit my looong post, somehow deleted it 

Short version is I love to walleye fish, but I don't mind at all that they removed all limits on eyes and smallmouth.  The fishing pressure is so light as it is I don't believe it will make a dent in either population.

[James]

Interesting...... That article wasn't biased at all was it?

"During the spring breeding season, they eat juvenile salmon on their migration to the sea, devouring an average of 11 million of the tiny fish a year."

and yet, cutting the cormorant population by about 50% (it sounds like) is

 “expected to have little to no effect”

HMMMMM...

Yeah, the artical was pretty terrible. But truth be told, even the scientists that do think there is a chance killing fish eating birds will help, they do not think it will not help much. I haven't looked into the walleye, bass, etc but would expect the same.

You have to kill high percentages of young on an R selected species like salmon to even make a dent in the adult population. I would expect we would get a much bigger bang for our buck dropping he population of the seals and sealions who chase adults.

[birddogdad]

WDFW picking the "low hanging fruit" again?

just like "fixing" goat problems in the Olympics.. someone killed must act so we will let people controlled hunt, 4 or 5 should be enough to show we really mean business.. rolls eyes...

[Blacklab]

Mcnary up to Chief Joseph. What I see  this happen 2013-2014 

[Elkrunner]

Does anyone on here fish for cats on the river from wenatchee upwards?  I have been wondering about this but do not have teh foggiest clue where to begin.   Please PM if you can share some info..

[plugger]

Most of the catfish seem to be from the Yakima down stream. There probably a few up that way but I don't no of anyone catching any up that far.

[Gringo31]

This won't change too much IMO.  Only a few of the old guys are looking to fill a cooler full of bass or walleye to eat.  Most people on the river only catch a few anyway....

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Was going to edit my looong post, somehow deleted it 

Short version is I love to walleye fish, but I don't mind at all that they removed all limits on eyes and smallmouth.  The fishing pressure is so light as it is I don't believe it will make a dent in either population.

I agree with this statement. Seeing the river day in and day out year round in our neck of the woods I don't see any indention in this fish population at all.