Lively discussion on Priest Lake fishery
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March 2, 2013 |
Idaho Fish and Game hosted a meeting in Priest
River on February 28 to share information and
answer questions about the future management of
the fishery in Priest Lake.
In November, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission
approved the 2013-2018 State Fisheries
Management Plan. In addition to setting
statewide policy direction for the fisheries
program, the plan discusses management direction
of regional waters, including Priest Lake.
Priest Lake recently has been the subject of
lively discussion within the angling community.
Lake trout, or mackinaw, have dominated the
Priest Lake fishery since they overpopulated the
lake in the 1980s, effectively collapsing the
kokanee and bull trout populations.
Though the lake trout fishery is popular with
many anglers, many others have advocated
restoration of a kokanee, bull trout and
cutthroat fishery through a large-scale lake
trout suppression effort similar to that on Pend
Oreille.
When Fish and Game solicited public comments on
issue in a series of public meetings and through
a random mail survey, angler opinions were
divided almost right down the middle.
Jim Fredericks, regional fishery manager,
recognizes it's a difficult issue. On one hand,
because the lake trout are prolific, the fishery
costs very little to manage and provides a
unique opportunity for anglers in the area. The
flip side is that lake trout tend to dominate
systems at the expense of other species.
In terms of recreation and economics, lake trout
don't attract as many anglers as other fish.
According to Fredericks, angler participation
was two to three times greater back in the
1950s, when it was based on kokanee, cutthroat
and bull trout, than it is today, despite much
easier access and the increase in the human
population in the past 50 years.
Further complicating matters, Fredericks says
biologists don't have a clear picture of how
lake trout and kokanee populations in Priest
Lake are interacting right now. The past two
years have been marked by an increase in the
kokanee population that has regenerated interest
in the kokanee fishery.
While Fish and Game biologists have been pleased
to see the rebound in kokanee, they caution
anglers not to expect it to last. According to
Fredericks, the experience in Idaho, surrounding
states and Canada shows that when a lake becomes
dominated by lake trout, it's virtually
impossible to restore a balanced predator-prey
fishery.
Given the split public response coupled with
questions about factors controlling the kokanee
population, lake trout diet and growth, angler
harvest rates, and potential funding, Fredericks
says it would be premature to make a decision
about the long-term management of Priest Lake
right now.
As they gather new information in the coming
years, Fredericks anticipates convening a
diverse group of stakeholders to help guide
development of a more informed, long-term
management plan for Priest and Upper Priest
lakes.
The management plan directs Fish and Game to use
the next few years to gain a better
understanding of how the fishery in Priest Lake
is functioning. Prior to the next management
planning cycle, that information will be used to
guide a decision about the long-term management
direction. |
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