Sprague Lake ‘devalued’

I found Rich Landers’ comparison of the NCAA basketball tournament and Sprague Lake (“Fish aplenty, fishermen scarce …,” March 15) a strange way to tell the public about killing off a lake full of fish.

Interestingly, Sprague has won its championship already.

Approximately a year ago it was featured in a national publication, Walleye Insider Magazine, as one of the nation’s top walleye lakes.

Here are some other stats about Sprague Lake: It is the only small-lake walleye fishery within an hour of Spokane; in contrast there are over 20 other lakes to choose from for trout and panfish. It is one of the few walleye waters that are accessible for families with smaller boats/motors.

This lake has one of the highest walleye populations in Washington, per the Fish and Game Web site.

I, along with my 8- and 10-year-old daughters, caught more than 40 fish in six trips to Sprague last year, including walleye, bass, perch, crappie and catfish.

You can view pictures of others who caught fish last year at fourseasonscampground.com.

I think any fisherman/wildlife enthusiast who researches this plan will find it absurd. If the Fish and Game thinks killing off a great walleye lake to produce another “trout lake” will attract fishermen, they are serving up a huge air ball.

John F. Schweitzer

Liberty Lake