Down With The Pike

Fishing

Anglers will get a chance to vent their spleens about the explosion of non-native northern pike in Hayden Lake during a special meeting Thursday in Coeur d’Alene.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department will present a proposal to lift the five-fish daily limit on pike during a meeting set for 7 p.m. at the agency’s regional office, 2750 Kathleen Ave.

“Two years ago, there was a massive spawn pulled off possibly by one illegally introduced female pike,” said fisheries biologist Lance Nelson. “Now we have pike 24 to 26 inches long throughout the lake and there’s no doubt they will have an impact on Hayden’s quality bass, trout and crappie fisheries.”

The department is proposing lifting the five-fish a day limit on pike, but not necessarily because it will help reduce pike numbers.

“Realistically, a five-fish limit is like having no limit because few people catch that many pike in a day,” Nelson said.

“A lot of people are upset by the illegal introductions of pike. I guess we’re proposing lifting the limit more as a social statement so people can say they don’t want them here.”

Info: (208) 769-1414.