NOTICE to all Pike Fishermen

[Fish-N-Fool]

To All P.O. Pike Fishermen
Well, here we go again, another round of Pend Oreille River Pike eradication coming up this spring. If you care about this "gamefish" YOU NEED TO ATTEND ONE OR BOTH MEETINGS and tell them what we think about their plans.
Hope to see you all there,
Tnx Rick

Learn about plans for northern pike
at meetings scheduled Feb. 15-16

SPOKANE -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians will jointly host two public meetings this month to share information about plans to reduce the number of non-native northern pike in Box Canyon Reservoir on the Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington.
The meetings are scheduled 6-8 p.m. as follows:

Feb. 15, CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley
Feb. 16, Usk Community Hall, 2442 Black Road, Usk
John Whalen, WDFW eastern regional fish manager, said the department and the tribe have agreed on a three-part strategy for reducing northern pike in the Box Canyon Reservoir. Starting this spring, they will be actively encouraging anglers to fish for northern pike, holding fishing tournaments with incentives and removing pike with gill nets.
WDFW solicited input from the public last spring on those and other potential pike control methods.
"Non-native northern pike are high-impact predators," Whalen said. "We're concerned about impacts to native trout and other species within the reservoir, as well as the potential for downstream impacts to salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River."
Whalen cited biological surveys conducted since 2004 by the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University have shown a rapid increase in northern pike abundance in the Box Canyon Reservoir. Those surveys also show a dramatic decline in mountain whitefish, native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile reservoir.
"The current pike population is not sustainable," Whalen said. "It's also inconsistent with our conservation objectives, both within the reservoir as well as downstream and in adjacent waters."
Whalen said the meetings scheduled this month will focus on results of surveys conducted last year and the three pike-control methods that will be used starting this spring.
WDFW recently launched a webpage (http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/esox_lucius/ ) on northern pike that provides more details on the species and the problems associated with its spread in Washington and other places.

[Lucius]

To All P.O. Pike Fishermen
Well, here we go again, another round of Pend Oreille River Pike eradication coming up this spring. If you care about this "gamefish" YOU NEED TO ATTEND ONE OR BOTH MEETINGS and tell them what we think about their plans.
Hope to see you all there,
Tnx Rick

Learn about plans for northern pike
at meetings scheduled Feb. 15-16

SPOKANE -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians will jointly host two public meetings this month to share information about plans to reduce the number of non-native northern pike in Box Canyon Reservoir on the Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington.
The meetings are scheduled 6-8 p.m. as follows:

Feb. 15, CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley
Feb. 16, Usk Community Hall, 2442 Black Road, Usk
John Whalen, WDFW eastern regional fish manager, said the department and the tribe have agreed on a three-part strategy for reducing northern pike in the Box Canyon Reservoir. Starting this spring, they will be actively encouraging anglers to fish for northern pike, holding fishing tournaments with incentives and removing pike with gill nets.
WDFW solicited input from the public last spring on those and other potential pike control methods.
"Non-native northern pike are high-impact predators," Whalen said. "We're concerned about impacts to native trout and other species within the reservoir, as well as the potential for downstream impacts to salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River."
Whalen cited biological surveys conducted since 2004 by the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University have shown a rapid increase in northern pike abundance in the Box Canyon Reservoir. Those surveys also show a dramatic decline in mountain whitefish, native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile reservoir.
"The current pike population is not sustainable," Whalen said. "It's also inconsistent with our conservation objectives, both within the reservoir as well as downstream and in adjacent waters."
Whalen said the meetings scheduled this month will focus on results of surveys conducted last year and the three pike-control methods that will be used starting this spring.
WDFW recently launched a webpage (http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/esox_lucius/ ) on northern pike that provides more details on the species and the problems associated with its spread in Washington and other places.

Fish-n-Fool is right. Pike anglers need to show up in force to express there dissatisfaction on how both entities are going about this issue. Minds can not be changed if we don't show interest and that the fishery is worth fighting for. We ALL agree that the pike population is not sustainable, but there are different ways to go about managing the pike rather that shooting to eliminate everyone you can get your hands on.

[Natebg1]

GREAT Another Round of dealing with the same old song and dance! The WDFW thinking the Pike are bad, we get all worked up and around we go in circles!

Ultimately, the PIKE Will WIN!!! Maybe not right from the get go, but like the WDFW continues to express, they cannot stop every one of them. Yes, this situation REALLY SUCKS!!! But as we all know the WDFW doesn't care nor do they want to listen to the Pike Angling Community, they made that very obvious last year and the year before that. As long as they continue to use Gill Netting Practices it just tells me they basically are telling us as Angler to SHOVE IT! The best thing we as anglers can continue to do is Catch Photo and Release all Pike back into the Pend Oreille River and don't forget to wave for the camera and say Hi to the WDFW! I know how much they love seeing these fish go back in the river, so I say let's give them some more pictures to enjoy of the Pike that will continue to swim in the Pend Oreille River.

Oh and I wanted to send a Shout Out to Lucius and the Pike crew in Colorado to say Good Luck in the PIKE Tournament this coming up weekend! Go show em who the Prince of Pike is!!! This way I will have something to shoot for come April before the big show in June!

Nate "The Pike Baron"

[YJ Guide Service]

Mel and myself will be going to the Spokane meetings. Good luck Lucius Power to the Pike

[AJ's Dad]

Here's a little something I find interesting.

Whalen cited biological surveys conducted since 2004 by the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University have shown a rapid increase in northern pike abundance in the Box Canyon Reservoir. Those surveys also show a dramatic decline in mountain whitefish, native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile reservoir.

If their surveys are showing a dramatic decline in these other species, maybe it's because they are killing them off with their gillnets. When asked if they were concerned that their nets would be detrimental to the bass and other species that could get caught in them, they said their gillnets are of a size that will allow the smaller fish like these species they mention to pass through without catching many of them. If that's the case, how the heck can these surveys accurately give any information on the populations of these species????

Am I missing something? Are the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University doing other studies above and beyond the Gillnetting Genocide Studies?

As everyone on this website already knows, I am very passionate about pike fishing. I'm willing to attend a meeting and hear what they are going to say, but my guess is that it will be the same thing they were saying last year. "We know we can't eradicate every pike from the POR, but we are going to do everything we can to elliminate as many as we can, and we'll call it a Study" I'm not going to keep coming back here and ranting like I was on past threads. It doesn't help the situation and it doesn't help my blood pressure. They won't get all the pike out of the POR, but they will make it so that the population gets so low that catching them won't be worth the trip. I will just be content to spend my fishing dollars in Idaho when the pike become scarce in the POR.

Happy fishing and I hope to see many of you at the meeting in the Spokane Valley.

[Natebg1]

Great Point AJ's Dad,

Sounds like You, I and the rest of the Pike Angling community all understand this typical "Song and Dance" routine. Unfortunately I think you might just be right about the Pike fishing getting to the point of it not even being worth taking the time to fish the River if this trend continues. That is terrible news for an economy such as Pend Oreille County who could use every single dollar right now no matter if it comes from Fishing for the Most Enjoyable Invasive Species in Washington State. I don't think of course that the WDFW really cares about the economy of Pend Oreille as much as they do about keeping money within their own camp. Ultimately this obviously is a fight that is going to take Political action and is going to take people in a position of Power within the State of Washington to make this difference. What would really help is to get these politicians onboard by inviting them out on a few trips on the Pend Oreille for some good old Pike Fishing and show them just how much fun it can really be. At this point I think trying to converse with the WDFW on this subject or anyone associated with them on this is worthless for the simple fact that most of us have already proven they don't listen to what we say on this. The main key is get to the Political level and let them deal with the WDFW, they are the ones that make or break the way business is done between the WDFW and the Fishing and Hunting Community. I definetely see what Mel and Craig have been doing as a Great starting point and I will say that the message is getting heard. I have been reading up within a lot of the local magazines and papers about the Pike in the Pend Oreille and people are beginning to take notice of what is really going on. I think if there is one thing the WDFW should learn is that the majority of Anglers and Hunters aren't as stupid as they sometimes make us out to be. The one thing from a positive standpoint in the political side that I have heard from within my own job is that the WDFW "Has way too much power". This is a huge statement, especially being that it is coming from a level where this can be changed, which excites me tremendously! Yes it may take time, but fair warning I will certainly continue my fight for the Pike being that I have the luxury of being in a spot where I can talk with people of power within Washington State. Did I mention I love my job and feel very lucky to be where I am at so that I can have the ability to speak with people that can make a difference. I guess the old saying of "It's not what you know, It's who you know" rings so true right now and trust me I will do everything in my ability to continue getting the word out to the proper channels on this issue. I won't promise overnight results, but I will continue to work feverishly to ensure I am speaking with those who can do something within Washington State to try and help with this whole Pike matter. Now if I could just get back over to the Pend Oreille to enjoy some real fishing it would make everything else all better at least for the short term. Power to the Pike!!!

Nate

[Fish-N-Fool]

It seems to me that there is just a few folks that care out this issue and not enough people want to get involved!! Trust me if we don't get more support then this the WDFW will do whatever they want to with the Pike in the P.O. and that will be to put a gill net in front of ever slough on the river. I had along talk with a guy from Metaline yesterday and he says he fishes for pike up in the Boundary Res. and that Pike are plentiful up there and some in the 20 pound range. What good will killing Pike in Box Canyon Res. do if there is a large breeding population already in the next res. down stream??? Are they doing any of their so called "studies" in that part of the river? We need to get the word out to more people and flood these meeting to overflowing so that WDFW gets the message we want to save the Pike in the P.O. and manage it as a trophy Pike fishery.

[MarkFromSea]

Wow, I took too long to write something. It disappeared when I hit submit.
Short version: Pend Oreille Reservoirs already allow 2 poles. Game fish, what's in the name, no protection lost. Tournaments bring dollars to the local area. At issue is the netting or removal of pike by the natives and the state.
What do you want the state to do? Short answer would be helpful.

[MarkFromSea]

It's over 300 miles for me to get to Usk. I hope to fish for pike on the Pend Oreille someday. It wouldn't be very often though.

[YJ Guide Service]

People need to be careful about the rule change that looks like its in effect. I called WDFW yesterday to ask about the 2 pole endorsement on the PO River and the status change of the Pike and was told the committee has approved the changes but they havent been put into law yet, so no 2 pole fishing up there and no name change. It now needs to pass through the state reps and be passed into law. This change was just approved by the committee only. We are incontact with the state reps and they have been waiting for this propsal to get to them. I guess well see if they actually listen to us and are just as concerned as we are. There is a big thing with the Game fish title, without it it would mean people could spear them, net them, snag them, do whatever they want with them. It also makes them so people can just throw them on shore and waste the great eating meat. It is a big deal actually. What do we want WDFW to do. We want them to mange them and allow us to help them with this process. I dont know of anyone who fishs this river all the time who is going to keep any Pike as long as WDFW has the mind set they do. As far as a bounty tournament thats not going to bring the kinda people into PO County and the river that is going to be a positive thing, my opinion. Please people show up at the meetings even if you think its going to be the same old thing from them, show support for the Pike. Power to the Pike

[YellowBear]

I would like to know what program the WDFW is going to drop to support a Bounty.

[MarkFromSea]

I would like to know what program the WDFW is going to drop to support a Bounty.

I'm interested in the fishery because it is unique in WA. I'd like to be able to fish for pike with out having to fly to WI as I have in the past. Visiting my daughters, the pike fishing was a bonus. I called WDFW Spokane, they routed me over to Colville, Bill Baker. I don't want to mis-quote him but as far as a "bounty" is concerned, that's not what is going to happen. Symantics maybe. The Kalispells have non state money available to sweeten the prizes for tournaments. There is NO state or WDFW money headed for the tournament prizes.

[MarkFromSea]

Two-Pole Endorsement: This endorsement allows you to use two fishing poles on most freshwater lakes, and ponds. It is not valid on Columbia or
Snake River reservoirs except Lake Roosevelt and Rufus Woods. You must have a fishing license in addition to the endorsement. There are about 145
lakes where you can NOT use two poles; visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/twopole to see the list of lakes where a two-pole endorsement is not valid,
or look for this icon NO next to the lake listings. Not required on Free Fishing Weekend.

The two-pole endorsement is allowed on most lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Approximately 145 lakes and ponds are excluded from the two-pole option based on conservation and fishery management goals.

Box and Boundary Reservoirs are not listed in the 145 that are listed as excluded. Since there was confusion surrounding the 2 pole in these waters, it was thought this was more of a clarification. No known citations were given for the 2 pole in these reservoirs. I don't know about the obvious river portions of the Pend Oreille where there is NO question, two pole is currently not allowed. Subject to change as of May 1st, 2012.

Boundary habitat is not as conducive to pike spawning as Box, extensive pike research has not been conducted by the state in Boundary "as of yet."

Legal gill netting by private citizens will not be allowed.
I still find it interesting that squaw fish, northern pike minnow, are still on the game fish list even though there is a bounty on them in parts of the Columbia.

I remember my first pike in Alice Lake, WI. Cast and retrieve, lure hit a snag, couple tugs, then it tugged back! Wow! What a rush that pike was!

[Fish-N-Fool]

Boundary habitat is not as conducive to pike spawning as Box, extensive pike research has not been conducted by the state in Boundary "as of yet."

Not sure where you are getting your info on this Mark, but if you look at that part of the river on the aerial maps there a plenty of Pikey looking sloughs along the entire length of Boundary Res. Here are a few screen shot of some places I'd like to fish!!! From just below box canyon dam up past Metiline.









Looks like some great Pike habitat to me and there are a bunch more I didn't show here. From what the guy up there has to say, looks to me they need to forget about the Pike in the Box Canyon Res and concentrate all the efforts on Boundary Res.

[YellowBear]

Good to know, thanks Mark.

[Mike Carey]

HOw would one use a two pole endorsment for pike? Trolling? Cause the only other option I can think would be bobber fishing with bait. Wouldn't that cause a higher mortality rate (yes, I know WDFW wouldn't have a problem with that)?

Not a problem for the eaters but if you bait catch a 15 pounder and hook it deep it's deep fryer time.

[zen leecher]

The Sunday Spokane paper said the rule changes were voted in last weekend.

[MarkFromSea]

Thanks for the photos FnF! I stated where I got my info, Bill Baker. Biologist guy, or whatever, in Colville. I don't know squat about the pike fishery over there, I know even less about the Pend Oreille River. That's why I haven't commented on this thread, or similar, in the past. Sometimes I've read your pike threads and used some of the links that have been provided. That is the extent of my Pend Oreille pike knowledge. Just your threads. Just one side of the story. I want to know both sides.

I haven't picked a side of the argument.

[MarkFromSea]

The Sunday Spokane paper said the rule changes were voted in last weekend.

Bill Baker said they take affect May 1st. That's the two pole on the Pend Oreille and removing pike from game fish status.

FnF, I'll add or re-state: Bill Baker said the state hasn't done extensive study of the pike on the Boundary Reservoir. Sounds like they should.

Mike, That's a very good question! I would have wondered the same if I hadn't successfully caught bass last year at Stan Coffin
by hanging my second rod with FnF's worm at the end. Pain in the arss at times, but, it produced fish none the less. I drifted down the lake dragging one bait while casting the other.

Why did the state decide to CLARIFY the two pole regs for the Pend Oreille? They haven't clarified the two pole reg for the remaining reservoirs that happen to be on rivers except for the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

Does anyone have a written source to reference clarification on the two pole. WDFW's intent was to keep it off of reservoirs with rivers, but the written explanation states differently. The way I interpret them.

[Mark K]

HOw would one use a two pole endorsment for pike? Trolling? Cause the only other option I can think would be bobber fishing with bait. Wouldn't that cause a higher mortality rate (yes, I know WDFW wouldn't have a problem with that)?

Not a problem for the eaters but if you bait catch a 15 pounder and hook it deep it's deep fryer time.

Yes, I think it would be mainly for trolling which can be VERY effective.