Northwest Fishing Reports

craig dowdy wrote:Melodie Dowdy caught a 26" Tiger that wasn't a legal fish in the tournament but still a Tiger, she also caught a 26" Pike. .......

This is not the first PIKE I have heard of being caught in Newman.

Here is a lil bit of additional info you may be interested in.



**COPPIED FROM ANOTHER POST**

There is quite a bit of info to decipher. But i will say that they pike that are in the Pend O'Reille are there to stay. As you know they were not planted by the WDFW. Some how they got there. Its probable that they originally came from Eastern Montana..East of the Continental Divide where they are native and where brought over from what i remember back in 2004. Put into the Pend and a few other lakes in Idaho and have been showing up in a few other lakes on the eastside of the State of Washington. They are not wanted there. But they are in the Pend O' Reille and they are going to stay there. Their expanding numbers are amazing. The WDFW and the Kalispan Tribe are working together to try to figure out if there will be a size or bag limit on these pike.
Here are the survey numbers that were shown to us at our CMA Meeting...

2004
EF ST (Electronic) 126
Gill Net 56
F.Net 64
N.Pike caught 26

2009
EF (Electronic) ST 62
Gill Net 33
FN Sets 15
274 Pike caught

2010
60 Gill Nets set over 25 miles of the river
755 Pike gil netted

So the pike population has been growing. There are thousands of pike in the river system.The fish taken are a very small number compared to the overall population. And it will help the biologists understand in the future where the species may be headed.
With the numbers that have been counted so far there probably will not be a limit set on the species. Like i said the WDFW doesnt want them in there but they will not remove them.It would be difficult to erradicate the species completely. So with that being said if fishermen are smart about this fishery and want it to become a trophy species only the fishermen can make that happen. By 1.) Taking the smaller fish..say the 18-24 inch "Hammer Handle" sized pike for eating and 2.) releasing the bigger fish say 36"-40" breeder fish. Plus releasing those fish also will help control the smaller Pike.And that can help establish a better Pike fishery for those who are into it for the sport of it.

There was a pike caught in Newman Lake earlier in the year. That fish should have been kept. If there are Pike in Newman that would be a problem. If there is 1 there may now be more. I have fished Newman before and have noticed a big change in the fishery there.The forage for the Tigers is not what is was once before. In my opinion if the pike are there and eating those fish then its possible that the Tiger fishery may only be there for a short time. So know your fish..if you catch a Pike in Newman take it.And let some one at the WDFW know. I dont know if folks knew this or not but a few of the lakes were illegal bucket biologist planted. They include Hayden Lake and Coure De Alene in Idaho. In Washington State, Box Canyon Reservoir, Long Lake. They got into Long Lake through the Spokane river System and now possibly in Newman by some other bucket illegal dumping.

This is a brief overview of what we learned and what the WDFW and the KNDR know as of now. I would recommend asking smart questions of those folks. And it would be great if all of the fishermen keep in contact with the biologists. Give the KNDR good accurate numbers when they ask for creel counts.And the WDFW too. If folks really want to keep this fishery healthy,strong and fun for all then those who fish them try to be a positve contributor. Take only what you need and try to release the bigger fish. I am o.k with folks taking the fish just dont be gluttons. This can be a good fishery for food and great for fun. Some of the info is my opinion. Most of this info are the FACTS!! Given by Bruce Bolding, Warm Water Head Biologist of the WDFW..And all around great guy! Hope this helps..

Todd Reis
VP/Membership Director
Cascade Musky Association
Auburn Sports & Marine Musky Team Prostaff

are you two connected

I've only fished Newman once so I cant speak for the change in the fishery. I have not been out Pike fishing either so...

The data that was presented by Bruce seems solid and shows a definite increase in Pike population growth.

The data seems to be right on the money. I agree on the intent to keep the smaller fish and release the larger. This will provide some bit of natural balance to an unnatural situation. I really enjoy the Pike fishery but this not a fish for every body of water. After fishing the Pend Orielle River 4 times this year what is being said seems to be true and managed properly could be an awesome fishery. It does concern me that the Pike are spreading slowly all over N. Idaho and E. Washington once known for it great trout fishing. I live on the Kitsap Peninsula and we have seen LMB spread all over our area by the bucket full. Sadly, you change with conditions or you ***** and complain alot. I grew up in N. Idaho and the presence of Pike came as quite a surpise and shock. Know that I have fished them I will embrace the change and do what I can to help manage it and enjoy it for what it is which is.

Thanks for the post Rich (sorry I got it wrong yesterday), now everyone will have time to come up with more informed and pertinent questions for Bruce B. when he comes to the Chapter 57 meeting this Thursday. The pike are such prolific breeders that it is too bad they are being spread to lakes where they aren't supposed to be.

There are some larger Tigers in Newman. Last week, my cousin caught a 40"er while fishing for bass.

The numbers that were posted look to be very accurate. I fish the P.O River all the time and the Pike are all over, especially hammer handles. I for one would love to see it made into a trophy fishery. I wasnt aware that the Pike were not suppose to be in Newman Lake. I also thought since the permit said for the tournament only Tigers could be retained we didnt keep any other fish we caught either. Next time we catch a Pike out of Newman Lake you can be certain its going home into the freezer. I sent a picture to Bruce Bolding and spoke with him on the phone today about the catch. He said hes heard of another one being caught out of there also. He is going to try and make it to our ( chapter 60 Mountain Muskies) September meeting to talk about the Pike again.

Some concerns pertaining to northerns in Newman was over breeding,causing the tiger population to dwindle down.
Other issues were raised that if northerns became prolific in Newman,the lake would be killed off,leaving us anglers down to 6 lakes. Had I not talk to Bruce last week,I to would have released the pike. I'm all for pike but not in Newman,I just assume to make the long drive to the P.O or Idaho.
Many years ago,some yahoo dumped northerns in Crocker,granted,it would have been nice to drive 2 hours as opposed
to 5-6,this also reflects negatively on tiger/pike anglers.
Anyhow,the more informed anglers the better. We'd all hate to see Newman without tigers.

Congrats Craig with MI 60's first tourney!

I agree Kevin. I love Pike fishing, but Newman Lake is not the place for it. Honestly, if it was me in that moment I would have released it too. But after thinking about it for a couple days, reading comments here, and talking about it with a couple people I can tell you if I catch any they are coming out. It would really be a shame to lose the Tiger fishery we have there now. It wouldn't take long for the pike to competly over populate the lake, at which point we would be left with nothing.

Thanks Kevin its ultimately all about the Tiger and thats why were all here doing what we do and its all about us protecting and spreading the facts about the Tiger Muskie. I love Pike but theres a time and a place for them, just not in Newman.....I want to see another 50" Tiger come out of there, i have a feeling its coming soon.

Great answer Craig. I hope to see that 50" fish myself some day out of Newman, out of Silver, and Especially out of Curlew.....

Rosann G wrote:Thanks for the post Ray, now everyone will have time to come up with more informed and pertinent questions for Bruce B. when he comes to the Chapter 57 meeting this Thursday. The pike are such prolific breeders that it is too bad they are being spread to lakes where they aren't supposed to be.

Yup, agreed.

Its situations like this, bucket biologists, that get the rest of the fishing community riled up. Lots of other folks dont know the diff between the Tiger and Pike. When talks come up about introducing Tigers into a new lake people freek because they dont want their idea of a fishery being destroyed. Im afraid the pike will cause a real problem (in Newman and other places, closed lakes) if left unchecked.

I would have released the pike also. I wouldnt have known any better. This topic has not come up before as far as I'm aware.

Cascade Musky Association and the Muskies Inc Chapters are the local athorities on this topic and we all need to work togeather with the WDFW on our fisheries. We have "Know your fish" signs... What else can we do to to educate the masses?


Rich McVey

Side note... If we are not supposed to release them, then what? Im not into killing them and tossing them on the bank. Thats just wrong. Anybody have a good recipe for Pike?

Rich McVey wrote:

Rosann G wrote: Side note... If we are not supposed to release them, then what? Im not into killing them and tossing them on the bank. Thats just wrong. Anybody have a good recipe for Pike?

pike - yum! A midwest staple:

filleting a pike

Pike Recipes

Can you say shore lunch? Fillet them out and cook them on a skillet, with a little butter and some beer batter......

If you are going to eat NP, make sure you learn how to fillet them. They don't fillet like other fish, don't taste as strong, and ........................

Leave those Tigers to grow up.

dougw wrote:Can you say shore lunch? Fillet them out and cook them on a skillet, with a little butter and some beer batter......

Oh man, that reminds me of some fishing trips into the Boundary Waters/Quetico of Northern Minnesota and Canada when I was in my early 20s. One trip I'l never forget - myself and three brothers, canoed a longggg lake and hit shore just as the rain began to pour down. We had trolled and caught several pike and lake trout and made a big pot of fish stew. Hit the mark on a cool, rainy day in the wilderness. Yummmm!

Mike, mark on your calander October 23rd, place Cusik Wa. for "Pike on the Pend Orielle". Mountain Muskies final touney of the year. If you can't make it for the fun I'd be glad to bring you back some well filleted Pike. My daughter (flyfish'n Maddy) and I will be traveling over to flip a fly at those nasty pike of the Pend Orielle River.

I think were going to go out of Usk this time Doug.

first off let me say that i dont want to lose a great tiger lake .But if there,s pike in there then i see no other option than to eliminate the pike and if that means everything in the lake has to go so be it .the WDFW can restock it remember tigers are like doritos thet;ll make more .The real problem is the idiots that stocked it in the first place .maybe if they lose a lake they;ll think about the ramifications of there actions .I mean does anyone know how many trophy trout lakes we,ve lost to bucket boi,s alot .Again i want to stress i dont want to see any tigers get killed but they were put tere to help the lake and a great job they .but pike could be detrimental sometimes like anything in life we have to start over.oh and by the way i like pike