Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now

Walleye as collateral damage

The following is not a figment of my imagination, but comes from real-life experience and multiple interviews with Washington State Fisheries biologists.

More than a decade ago the Pend Oreille River had become a world-class Northern Pike Fishery. Some traveled thousands of miles for a chance at the plentiful lunken pike. The local economy was enjoying the prosperity that comes with the deep pockets of passionate fishermen. Fishery management complicit with tribes decided to destroy that fishery.

Subsequent to that debacle the same group took their landing craft-size boats loaded with gillnets into Lake Roosevelt to pursue the few pike who had managed to escape. They placed their nets far and wide in Lake Roosevelt. They caught some pike but the collateral damage to other species was and is unconscionable.

Unfortunately, the walleye bore the brunt of this misguided attempt at fishery management. A brood-sized walleye caught in a four-inch gillnet had about a four-hour window before it’s too late.

Walleye and northern pike are both excellent table fare and a capable person can debone either.

As far as farm-raised trout or salmon are concerned, I would suggest you research the chemical composition of the pellets they are feeding on.

Joe Pischke

Spokane



Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy