Fish brains: Regional managers in driver seat for future of fishing

Sun., July 26, 2015

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

Began whetting his knowledge of regional fisheries as a boy who fell in love with fishing while growing up in Spokane County near Williams Lake. Studied fisheries biology at Eastern Washington University. Began his career working on bull trout and habitat surveys in northeastern Washington. Worked on Central Washington projects such as panfish populations in Moses Lake before being stationed in Spokane as a district fisheries biologist. Promoted three years ago to statewide Inland Fish Program manager.

North Idaho

ANDY DUX

New position

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Panhandle Region fisheries manager.

Background

Idaho native from the Boise Valley, started with Idaho Fish and Game seven years ago as a research biologist focused on overseeing fisheries projects at Lake Pend Oreille and Dworshak Reservoir.

“I came to North Idaho about the time kokanee were at the record low point in Lake Pend Oreille,” he said. “The program to recovery was already on its way and we were monitoring lake trout suppression and the response of kokanee as we reduced predators. It’s a major project that’s had good results for fishermen and the area communities.”

Fisheries biologists are stepping in and out of the top regional fish management positions in North Idaho and Eastern Washington this month.

These are the managers who supervise staff and hatchery managers, guide field work, administer fishing rule changes, chart policy, oversee projects, plow through the red tape of government regulations – and take the heat when fishing isn’t up to par.

Chris Donley has taken over as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Eastern Regional Fish Program manager from John Whalen, who retired July 1.

Andy Dux has assumed the Idaho Fish and Game Panhandle Region fisheries manager position from Jim Fredericks, who was promoted to the statewide chief of Fisheries position in Boise.

While the new managers have big jobs ahead, the former managers shared their insights with The Spokesman-Review on what they did and didn’t accomplish. They also offered their educated opinion on the state of the region’s fisheries management going forward.

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