Spokane Tribe to kill walleye on Spokane River during general spring closure

[Curly]

Sounds to me like WDFW has more say than you know?

Currently, the lead field biologist is a white sturgeon biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He provides the project with research direction and conducts the field work with the assistance of technicians provided by the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Additionally, the Spokane Tribe provides interagency coordination and overall project management.

But thats fine, the easy way out is just to blame Tribes so why not, have at it.

Ok then.  I'll blame the tribes and WDFW.  They both suck. 

WDFW should be able to do something to prevent this bounty.  Why can't the WDFW bios and/or people higher up with some political pull be able to do something?  Are you comprehending anything I've posted?  The WDFW's own bio is the lead bio for the Tribe and the Tribe works with others as a collaborative cooperative.  Not just the Tribes pulling the strings here. 

I haven't read any studies that show that walleyes are having an impact on white sturgeon...........   From the other articles it sounded like it was all about trying to save some kokanee.....   Obviously, you didn't read the link I provided but that's okay the easy road is always the fastest.  Nevermind reading facts, just read the first thing you see and jump to conclusions.

Of course I'm comprehending the stuff you posted.  Why do you think I went from just blaming the tribe to blaming both WDFW and the tribe? 

Your link did not have anything specific for walleye and sturgeon......it was a link to the spokane tribe website.  (Try linking to something more specific next time; I'm not a mind reader.....maybe there was some article on there you wanted us to see, but maybe we didn't click on the right tab).  But even though you didn't have a specific link, yes I had read a lot of things in the link and I read about a walleye netting program and sturgeon recovery.  I didn't see anything about killing walleye due to wanting sturgeon recovery or anything talking about walleye eating sturgeon or even kokanee for that matter. 

This whole topic started out because of some articles in NW Sportsman mag.  That is why I mentioned the other articles and saving kokanee.  I don't think you comprehend what I say here.

I don't like your condescending tone in your red remarks.  I don't jump to conclusions either; I based my frustration on the subject based on everything I've read and based on the knowledge of the reason for the Spokane Arm closure by WDFW for many years.

[Ripper]

Thanks Buck, I didn't know that. Well there's everyone's answer right there. The triploid's are an eating machine. That's all they do is eat and grow. They have affected even the walleye fishery at Rufus. They eat everything! Too say that the walleye numbers have to be reduced because of predation on other fish, while stocking triploid's is absolute insanity. Whoever the biologist are, have their heads up their arses. So Plateau, I always respect your input to these threads because you always present facts and seem to want to improve things between the tribes and the rest of us. I mentioned a while ago that I didn't see the correlation between the original post and the part about white sturgeon. So where did you go to find that? I went to your link you provided but I could only see stats about sturgeon recovery, I saw nothing about walleye predation. So how did we link one to the other?

[PlateauNDN]

My condescending tone?     I'm not the only one on here to provide answers in color and I've always used red when responding in reply boxes so it identifies my answers.  You can see that from past posts.  Also, I was providing info. about why they're probably issuing a bounty on the walleye and the link was to their DNR section.  I'm sorry was that not direct enough for you to read and identify what was being done and stated by them?  You mentioned magazine blogs not articles, somebodies opinion and not facts.  At least what I put up was fact based research not somebodies opinions without any real info.  So they want to decrease the population not exterminate to increase other species in the rivers.  As Bear mentioned this would more than likely increase the size of walleye in the long run allowing trophy catches.  Again, a cooperative effort by States and Tribes and another country and I'm sure they all made the decision together but I don't know for sure?

Again, they didn't provide actuall data but did specify they were gathering and identifying the actual cause of low returns and survival rates but, they believe the walleye are a factor.  I read all the info. on the DNR PAGE.

[Curly]

I'm not complaining about the color........I'm complaining about your wording. 

[Curly]

Ok, thanks.  I'll read the DNR page. 

If reducing numbers of walleye is a good thing, then why does the WDFW close the season in the Arm during the spawing time?

[PlateauNDN]

Ok, thanks.  I'll read the DNR page. 

If reducing numbers of walleye is a good thing, then why does the WDFW close the season in the Arm during the spawing time?

   Maybe ask them that?  Kind of like how the WDFW was going to issue keys to the Muckleshoot I believe last year to reduce the number of black bears in areas off limits to the public?  WDFW is making fast decisions without thinking the entire process through, IMO.

[YJ Guide Service]

Wow another decision to remove fish. Maybe someday we'll learn to leave nature alone.  Fish go through cycles and will eventually reduce numbers on their own, if nature wants that particular species in it.  The state keeps trying to introduce fisheries that just wont take in certain waters. Seems like alot of money wasted on those type of lost causes. If its not Trout or Salmon it seems like this state doesnt really care about any other fisheries. I totally agree doesnt make sense to keep the arm closed but open it up to a certain group when their trying to reduce numbers if that truely is the case. We are really only told half the story and what they want us to know when it comes to these things. Took me 2 years to finally get the real story when it comes to the Pend Oreille River and the Pike removal. Just my opinion.

[bearpaw]

Native fish should be a priority. I wouldn't be suprised to see all walleye and small mouth removed from the Columbia River system.

They could never remove all walleye and smallmouth.

Are Kokanee native in Roosevelt......I don't think so. 

Yes they are native, the Columbia comes through the Arrow Lakes in B.C. where Kokanee have done better. Kootenay Lake dumps into the Columbia which also has good kokannee. I caught them every now and then since I was a kid, but there are fewer in Roosevelt all the time, I think due to walleye.

[bearpaw]

Thanks for the extra info Plateau and Buck Canyon.

That makes sense that this is tied to the sturgeon too, they are in a lot of trouble up here, they can no longer replenish from the ocean and I have to tell you, fishermen really wiped them out before they shut it down.

Buck Canyon, I had not heard the kokes went to Canada, that's an interesting twist but makes sense because almost nothing came back to the hatchery.

This is really a tough issue. We do have more overall fishing opportunity on Roosevelt than there ever was before the 80's and that is due to the walleye and introduced trout. But at the same time, the fish we all like to catch are eating the last of the native species. These exotic fish at least provide a lot of recreation and food, but they are actually doing to native fish what knapweed and thistle have done to the countryside.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think the Kokanee become native lake fish when the lake is created.  Before that, they are sockeyes doing the usual river to ocean and back to spawn.  When they get locked by dams or other barriers they become Kokes.  I think they need 'less' than other salmon so they adapt better to lake life.

[Curly]

Ok, thanks.  I'll read the DNR page. 

If reducing numbers of walleye is a good thing, then why does the WDFW close the season in the Arm during the spawing time?

   Maybe ask them that?  Kind of like how the WDFW was going to issue keys to the Muckleshoot I believe last year to reduce the number of black bears in areas off limits to the public?  WDFW is making fast decisions without thinking the entire process through, IMO.

That was a rhetorical question.  It is NOT a good thing to keep walleye in during the spawn. 
It could be a good thing if any of the big females are released, but keeping them is not a good idea. 

I'll go read that Spokane tribe DNR page now.

[YJ Guide Service]

I cant see how a bounty can be put on a game fish in this state, their not a invasive species. There has to be WAC that prohibits that. I also feel like i am being discriminated against as a non tribal fisherman. How can WDFW allow this on the Spokane river. I wonder what the agreement is between the state and the tribe? The Tribe doesn't own the fish or the water. I think its unfair to everyone that pays for a fishing license. I know its the same thing that happens on the coast with Salmon.  I think they need to make it fair to everyone that fish's the arm is all. I think people wouldn't be as upset if it was a equal opportunity thing and not just one group getting to fish it and making money to do it. Just my opinion.

[Curly]

Ok, Plat.  The link you provided doesn't talk about the affect of walleye on any species in Roosevelt.  I read all that stuff earlier today........
It talks about the hatcheries, fishing derbies, and that sturgeon study.  Nothing really about walleye.  I don't see where it says that killing walleye is supposed to help sturgeon or kokanee.  It is probably what they are hoping, but I don't see what you were trying to point out with the DNR link.     Just the fact that a WDFW bio was working with the tribe? 

[woodywsu]

Their is constant talk about offering bounties for smallmouth in teh John Day Pool. Smallmouth, Walleye, and Northern pikeminnow are the top predators in mid and lower columbia.

WDFW is not the only agency to blame for the triploid issue. There are other agencies involved in permitting and allowing the use of net pens to raise these trout.

[hillbillyhunting]

I cant see how a bounty can be put on a game fish in this state, their not a invasive species. There has to be WAC that prohibits that. I also feel like i am being discriminated against as a non tribal fisherman. How can WDFW allow this on the Spokane river. I wonder what the agreement is between the state and the tribe? The Tribe doesn't own the fish or the water. I think its unfair to everyone that pays for a fishing license. I know its the same thing that happens on the coast with Salmon.  I think they need to make it fair to everyone that fish's the arm is all. I think people wouldn't be as upset if it was a equal opportunity thing and not just one group getting to fish it and making money to do it. Just my opinion.

Walleye are not native to WA... http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/walleye/