Western Bass Fish In?

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Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on January 18, 2010 at 7:37pm

Edit on Mark's boat count, we had 5 boats. One of our boaters was a little late. The biggest smallie caught was about 3.5 lbs.

Mark Maderos said:

We had a total of 8 caught between the 4 boats. We had 2 smallies, 1 squaw ( which you seen us catch ), and one big rainbow. The UW grad student also hooked up a fish and lost it. But was excited by the squawfish catch and the fact you can actually fizz a squawfish and have it remain alive. She will be doing a study of Salmon smolt predation with some smallies and squawfish in the lab at UW. Later in the month of Jan / Feb, she could use our help in getting her 4 smallies anf 4 squawfish. Detials later on when she needs them exactly.

Mark

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on January 19, 2010 at 12:58am

I believe the Green River dumps out into Elliot Bay not Lk Washington.
I am also pretty sure there are no Smallmouth in the Puget Sound.

Keith Brooks said:

Several years ago there was a push by the Tribes to target Smallies as a problem at the mouth of the Green River at Lake WA. Our WDFW warm water biologist at the time (Mark Downing?) studied the issue with the Tribes and proved to their satisfaction at the time that Smallies where not a significant statistical threat to salmon smolt. If I remeber correctly they were talking about placing a bounty on Smallies but were convinced then it was not needed.

Permalink Reply by Keith Brooks on January 21, 2010 at 8:08pm

Sorry, my mistake, it was the Cedar River at Renton...

Eric DeLay said:

I believe the Green River dumps out into Elliot Bay not Lk Washington.
I am also pretty sure there are no Smallmouth in the Puget Sound.

Keith Brooks said:

Several years ago there was a push by the Tribes to target Smallies as a problem at the mouth of the Green River at Lake WA. Our WDFW warm water biologist at the time (Mark Downing?) studied the issue with the Tribes and proved to their satisfaction at the time that Smallies where not a significant statistical threat to salmon smolt. If I remeber correctly they were talking about placing a bounty on Smallies but were convinced then it was not needed.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on January 22, 2010 at 8:40am

I also heard the results of the study on the River that David mentions, I recall Steve Jackson ( WDFW Warm Water Fisheries Director) spoke at a Federation meeting a couple years back about the study and described it similarly to Marc's explanation that, with all other factors that impacted Salmon runs combined, the Smallie predation of Salmon was insignificant.

Lauren, While I'll admit that I am not at all in favor of tearing down dams, I do think appropriate modifications to the most critical dams could support improvements in Salmon and Steelhead runs, but I think there must be significant specific evidence about a specific dam before the $$$,$$$,$$$,$$$.00 are thrown around.
So my thought for you is with the Salmon and Steelhead runs in the Great lakes and a smallmouth population that is second to none, along with significant other predators, (ie Muskellunge aka Muskie or Musky) how much work similar to yours exists that might provide insight into which are the key factors verses which are not the key factors in declining runs. Here's my opinion... over harvest is the most dominant reason for decline. I'll let you determine who's at fault. :o)
The fish will recover/ evolve as proven by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens and the runs that were all but wiped out on the Green and Toutle rivers. While these runs are still not quite what they were when I was young, they have come back dramatically.
Science without a political agenda should be the determinant, but its why multiple studies for most subjects are key, because finding two people with the same opinion across the board is nearly impossible as I, am the only one I agree with completely.

Enjoy,
Steve

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