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

[woodywsu]

They are raising the kokanee in the creeks they want them to return to. Imprinting. It just happens to be upstream from walleye spawning grounds.

[Ripper]

I have never seen trout or kokenee in a walleyes belly either. I eat a lot of them,and they always have crayfish, sculpin, perch or smallmouths in them. I'd rather eat a walleye than a trout any day. I like your idea Dale of a hatchery chinook fishery on Roosevelt. Look at the success they've had in Lake Chelan with that idea. I hate the idea of killing off other species to plant trout or kokenee. There are plenty of trout only lakes in this state, let the species that thrives live. The state wastes money every year killing off lakes to plant more trout and within a few years they have to do it again. Embrace the spiney rays, they arn't going away anyway!

[PlateauNDN]

all I read was a bunch of ranting and raving.  The only thing fact based was the confirmation that it's going to happen.  If I read it right the Head Fish Bio for the Spokane Tribe is a WDFW Fish Bio?   and if i did read correctly they are all in a cooperative agreement/group with various stakeholders from multiple states and Canada to revive white sturgeon?      it doesnt sound like they want to exterminate rather decrease the population for all overall survival rates?  

[Curly]

It is b.s. that the tribes are going to kill walleye that are in the Spokane arm in order to spawn while WDFW is trying to decrease numbers of walleye killed while spawning.  An article like that should produce a bunch of rants because it is infuriating.

[PlateauNDN]

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.

well, it looks like its not just the Tribe pulling strings here to me?

Coordination is of critical importance in the recovery of the upper Columbia River transboundary population. Since its inception, the project has been working cooperatively with the transboundary Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative and Team (UCWSRI/T). This organization is comprised of US and Canadian federal, state, provincial, First Nations and Tribal representatives. The UCWSRI is co-chaired by one Canadian team member and one US team member, which is currently represented by the Spokane Tribe of Indians project manager. Their objective is to address recovery of the Upper Columbia white sturgeon population. This has become of critical importance to the Canadian representatives due to the recent listing of white sturgeon under the Canadian Species At Risk Act (SARA) which has lent special emphasis to the recovery of the transboundary reach population. One of the major milestones met by the UCWSRT was the completion of an Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan that developed recovery measures for both the Canadian and US sections of the transboundary reach. The Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Recovery Project partially funded completion of this plan.

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

[Ripper]

The Spokane Arm is Closed to protect spawning walleye right? So what right does that give the tribes to put a bounty on big walleye from the arm? That is total BS, and the rants are justified. If the state wants to reduce walleye numbers then open up the arm to ALL fisherman for a year or two during the spring. BTW, I support the efforts to re-establish the white sturgeon to Lake R and all other sections of the Columbia and Puget Sound.

[Curly]

Additionally, the Spokane Tribe provides interagency coordination and overall project management.[/i]

Doesn't sound like very good interagency coordination to me. 

One agency closes it down to protect a species, the other has a bounty on the species.  That is crazy.

[Ripper]

I don't see where the articles at the beginning of this thread and the info about the white sturgeon are related! I think they are two separate issues all together. Unless I'm missing something?

[yelp]

UPDATE - I just heard from a source today that the tribe is using its own funds around $55,000 to offer a bounty to tribal members to take walleye with rod and reel because netting is illegal on this stretch of the Spokane.  The goal is to remove 1500 walleyes in the next three years.  Comes to about $10-12  a fish and the bounty is only available to tribal members.  The spokane river is closed April - May to fishing for walleye.  The states intention was to allow the walleye to spawn with out pressure.  So the tribe is choosing to fish during this period for obvious reasons..easiest time to catch walleye.   
I still think there needs to be more communication between all users and managers about the fisheries management rather than some.  Apparently all involved are not in agreement with current management.  I wish them luck but I don't think it will be successful. The odds of catching a female during the spawn are 1 in 6?  The main sex you catch during the spawn are males.  A few females are caught but they are the minority not majority. 

[Ripper]

If the Arm is closed to fishing then it's closed to fishing for all, not just some! 1/2 of nothing is...........nothing .5 isn't it?

[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? 

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.....

[hillbillyhunting]

I have not read all the posts  yet so sorry if i am repeating somthing.  I have not done much research on this personally, but I have heard from an old professor of mine that walleye in the columbia are eating more juvenile salmonids than the northern pike minnow???

[Ripper]

The most voracious predator on the Columbia is the Triploid Rainbow. That is a fact. Now the tribes and WDFW say they are contained to Rufus Woods, but everyone knows they are spreading throughout the system.

[PlateauNDN]

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.

[buckcanyonlodge]

The most voracious predator on the Columbia is the Triploid Rainbow. That is a fact. Now the tribes and WDFW say they are contained to Rufus Woods, but everyone knows they are spreading throughout the system.

WDFW BIOLOGIST TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY RAINBOWS THEY PLANT IN LAKE ROOSEVELT FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS ARE TRIPLOIDS. THEY ARE NOT CONTAINED TO RUFUS ONLY.  HE ALSO SAID THAT THE REASON THEY DO NOT RAISE KOKANEE AT SHERMAN CREEK IS THAT THEY NEVER CAME BACK IN LARGE ENOUGH NUMBERS. AT THE SAME TIME THE BIOLOGIST'S NORTH OF THE BORDER IN CANADA STARTED GETTING RUNS OF KOKANEE IN STREAMS THAT WERE NEVER PLANTED. THEY TOOK DNA SAMPLES AND COMPARED THEM TO THE SHERMAN CREEK KOKANEE..........THEY WERE THE SAME!!!THE SHERMAN CREEK FISH WENT NORTH INTO CANADA AND STARTED SPAWNING UP THERE. SO THEY QUIT WASTING TIME RAISING THEM AT SHERMAN CREEK.