The problem with the Columbia river fisheries

"Terry Lomax" wrote in message
oups.com...

hugh80 wrote:
From The Land of the One-Eyed Jacks


We could not have done more to destroy the Salmon if we had declared
salmon to be an enemy of mankind. Help me list the ways we have harmed
the various salmon runs in Oregon & Washington.

1) Dams
2) Pollution
3) Drought and water theft
4) Overfishing

I seriously doubt many of the claims made in the original post on the
thread. Typical of salmonoid snobs to libel other species of wildlife.

One of the main things I doubt is the claims of Pikeminnow being
overpopulated and decimating Salmon populations. Give a scientific
name of this alleged minnow species that plagues the Columbia basin.
My guess is the native Minnows of the Columbia basin are different
species from the large Pikeminnows of the Colorado basin, and that
native Minnows are threatened.

Another big doubt is the claims of Lampreys and each Lamprey killing
hundreds of other fish. Cite any article that says the Lampreys in the
Columbia basin are the same invasive Sea Lampreys that European ships
let into the Great Lakes. From what I've heard, native Pacific Coast
Lamprey species are threatened.

Can ANYONE honestly say they ever saw a West Coast Salmon with a
Lamprey attached?


Doubt the Lamprey, but the Pike Minnow is a large voracious fish. 12-18"
and they are thick below the dams, feeding on the smolts.

I've seen lamprey on a chinook salmon, fall run, main stem of the Toutle
River, Chicken Heart hole, 1968. The pike minnow is so evasive on the
Columbia there is a bounty of $4 per fish over 11 inches, has been for many,
many years. Many retired anglers make thousands of dollars a year returning
these fish for the bounty. There is an upper limit on these fish where you
get more money per fish ($5 I think) for catching a bunch of these fish. If
I remember right it's like at 200 fish turned in. Everyone I catch, no
matter the size gets knocked in the head, and they are a pretty decent food
fish smoked. They put Tiger Musky in some of our reservoirs to help control
these fish.

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...


Doubt the Lamprey, but the Pike Minnow is a large voracious fish. 12-18"
and they are thick below the dams, feeding on the smolts.


Did you know that anglers can collect $4- $8 PER FISH?

http://www.pikeminnow.org/

"Pepperoni" wrote in message
...

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...


Doubt the Lamprey, but the Pike Minnow is a large voracious fish. 12-18"
and they are thick below the dams, feeding on the smolts.


Did you know that anglers can collect $4- $8 PER FISH?

http://www.pikeminnow.org/


Not in california. But interesting fish. Get them trolling at times for
trout, but on the eel river above Lake Pillsbury one time we there when they
were up in the river spawning. huge schools of them. You could catch maybe
2 in a deep hole before the bite shut down. I understand they give off
certain chemicals when under stress, and it shuts down the others from
biting.