Pike Caught In Lake Roosevelt

[Sumpnneedskillin]

http://nwsportsmanmag.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/pike-caught-in-lake-roosevelt/

"A fisherman on upper Lake Roosevelt today caught a northern pike, a species fishery managers worry will spread further down the Columbia River system."

[klickman]

Wow that is not good.  Pike could wipe out the Columbia.  Look what Pike have done to many southcentral alaska streams.  And we thought squawfish were bad.  Pray they don't spread anymore.

KLICKMAN

[bearpaw]

I have caught pike in the midwest, they do not normally look as fat as the one in the photo, he was eating good.

If pike populate the lower Columbia they could have a significant impact on salmon and steelhead smolt. 

[BLUEBULLS]

It's just a matter of time. They'll be all over the system soon. Might be fun but not for the salmon/steelhead

[7mmfan]

I'm actually guiding right now up on the stretch from Northport to the border. Another guide up here was telling me that he caught 2 pike this spring between Northport and the border and had heard of a few others as well. Thats all that this stretch needs is an apex predator in it eating all the wild trout. God forbid they find their way down to the Okanogan or Methow stretches...

[HornHoarder]

they knew that was coming. How about some public support for a bounty program on the Pend Orielle River. I'd be the first to sign up!

[huntnnw]

Long lake has had them for as long as I can remember ..think they've been in system longer than u may think

[PA BEN]

I'm actually guiding right now up on the stretch from Northport to the border. Another guide up here was telling me that he caught 2 pike this spring between Northport and the border and had heard of a few others as well. Thats all that this stretch needs is an apex predator in it eating all the wild trout. God forbid they find their way down to the Okanogan or Methow stretches...

Hope they like toilet paper.

[WAcoyotehunter]

they knew that was coming. How about some public support for a bounty program on the Pend Orielle River. I'd be the first to sign up!

+1...unfortunately there are a bunch of folks here that want them around.  Bad idea...

[10Key]

In the late 90s, there were a couple reports of Pike in the mouth of the Tucannon area. I never confirmed the rumors, but I think it is plausible. There are a ton of bucket bios out there, especially in the more remote areas of the state.

But anyways, they are a voracious predator and would ravage smolts and other juvenile anadromous fish I would think.

[teal101]

Could be good, could be bad.  Look at what the Tiger Musky eat.  Usually rough fish like carp, squawfish, etc.  It would be interesting to see what the Pike are feeding on in the Pond Oreille.

[WAcoyotehunter]

the pike up here seem to feed mostly on perch but there are TONS of perch in the system.  They will eat any fish that gets close enough.  Salmonids are pretty susceptable to pike predation because they cruise more open water and are easy to ambush, which is what pike do.

We have found suckers, pikeminnows, crawdads, perch, bass, trout....in a pike belly.  They eat anything that fits in their mouth.

[jordano]

ruh roh.... 

[teal101]

the pike up here seem to feed mostly on perch but there are TONS of perch in the system.  They will eat any fish that gets close enough.  Salmonids are pretty susceptable to pike predation because they cruise more open water and are easy to ambush, which is what pike do.

We have found suckers, pikeminnows, crawdads, perch, bass, trout....in a pike belly.  They eat anything that fits in their mouth.

The Musky in Curlew feed mostly on squaw fish and the stunted Largemouth there.  In the colder months when they feed less Rainbow Trout make up a good portion of their diet.  I know Musky are different than Pike, but both Esox.  It would be interesting to see how many squaws the pike eat compared to salmonoids.  Not saying the pike would help the Columbia, but it may not be as big of an epidemic as its being made out to be.

[Jburke]

Could be good, could be bad.  Look at what the Tiger Musky eat.  Usually rough fish like carp, squawfish, etc.  It would be interesting to see what the Pike are feeding on in the Pond Oreille.

HUGE difference between the two.  Tiger muskie are genetically sterile.  Pike are not.  Tiger muskie are planted by the state in an attempt to control other species(tench, carp, etc.) and eliminate a stunted population(perch,etc.).  Pike will eat anything they can get ahold of.  They are ambush predators.  In the PO they eat just about everything.  The largemouth fishery's decline has been blamed on the pike.  I personally love fishing for pike, but if they reach the lower columbia they will put an end to salmon and steelhead fishing the way it is now.