FISHING -- Rumors have been flying online this week that the state is planning to use gillnets to catch northern pike in Lake Spokane. The rumors are false, officials say.

Avista is in the planning stages with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the University of Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit to study removing carp during the spring spawning season, which will likely be in June.

"We are planning to assess the effectiveness of electrofishing and the use of gill nets alone, and in combination," said Mary Tyrie, Avista spokeswoman. 

"A minor component of this includes getting a handle on the population of carp in Lake Spokane, but we won't be doing an official survey on the population."

The main goal is to limit number of muck-churning carp to improve the lake's water quality, said Chris Donley, WDFW regional fisheries manager.