It is good to be able to post all our opinions.
Here's mine: And I am posting this as just an angler, not a Board Member.
There have been assumptions made as to who requested the change. Be careful with your assumptions. You might be surprised.
Besides, this is Mike and Arron's property; people ask them things all the time: they have the final say. And I respect that.
I also respect the WDFW, who without, we don't have a single Tiger Muskie in the state. The Tiger is authorized and has proven itself safe. The Pike is still considered an invasive species and it's impact has proved devastating in other areas against Salmon and Trout fisheries. Is it good for the Tiger Muskie Clubs to have that at the top of every post on a Tiger Muskie sponsored page? Especially with the 2 Pike meetings coming up next week? Is it good to have the tiger muskie clubs embroiled in that dispute?
I don't understand that logic.
This new page means that whenever either of the Tiger Chapters want to post something about an upcoming event, the pike will ALWAYS trump it at the top of the page? Does that sound funny? Thought a "sub" forum meant under, not on top,
I always thought it would great if the Pike had their own Forum. Because, and I love saying this:
A Tiger is not a Pike and it is not a purebred muskie;
just like a MULE is not a donkey or a horse.
They are a unique hybrid unto themselves.
You would not see thoroughbreds being talked about on a Mule Forum, eh?
I would also like to mention that the Pike have some problems to overcome, as they have been the topic of 3 newspaper articles in the last week:
Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/r ... _pike.html
Seattle Times artical link
Vancouver Columbian:
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/ ... t-columbia
Vancouver Colombian artical link
and the Sportsman Review:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/a ... ke-fishing
Sportsman Review artical link
(Hope those links work)
There are honest concerns:
Just look at what has happened in Alaska:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?ad ... pike.areas
Alaska artical link
It appears that the Pike want the respect that the Tiger Muskie has earned by being safe and non-invasive for 20 plus years. That may take time. And proof.
Hmmm...
To the muskie anglers: what do you think the feelings would be if someone took a special species of salmon back to Minnesota and Wisconsin and planted it and it decimated the muskie and walleye-pike, who reign as kings in the Midwest? Oh!
The fear is that the same may happen here, as what has happened in South-Central Alaska. We used to fly into the Interior above Fairbanks a lot when we lived there and the big pike were awesome and we loved to fish for them. But the game has changed and my love for pike has been tempered by concern for something bigger than pike or tigers: native salmon. As the enclosed Alaskan article reports: illegal planting of pike in non-native waters has made Chinook, Silvers and Rainbows extinct in some lakes in the region.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, that's what open forums are about. It is good to hear differing opinions;it is always good to look at the pros and the cons to get a well-rounded perspective.
If the pike ends up being a threat to the native salmon and trout in Washington, as is already being written about and has been witnessed by other states who have faced the same thing, you won't have to worry about this Forum; the powerful salmon community will have their say before this is all over....
So, it would be great if the Pike Anglers have their own Forum by then, if Mike is willing.
Jack T. worked hard to get the Tigers planted 20 years ago, plus. This feels like the pike issue is trying to ride-in on the coat tails of an authorized and safe (controllable) fish.
It would be very unfortunate if both species were labeled together and the Tigers faced some fallout because of the bad press. No one would want that. The waters ahead appear smooth for the Tiger Muskie Program.
I am not so sure for the Northern Pike.
If there is a battle coming forth from the salmon powers and their lobbyists
it would be poor form to bring that to the doorstep of the Tiger Program, that would be perceived as selfish. For sure a true ESOX fan would not want any fallout from pike problems to hurt the Tiger; separation may be the answer. Don't know.
Only the future will bare out the final result of the pike issue. Let's hope it is positive, for everyone's sake. Especially the salmon, our native king.
Thanks for listening to a different side of the coin.
I agree that WashingtonLakes is the best Fishing Forum website, anywhere and we are lucky to have them.
It must not be easy trying to keep all of us happy :bom:
In the meantime; Mike can do whatever he wants and I will respect any decision(s) he makes.
Even if he changes his mind 3 more times, lol. Go Mike!
edit: This ia amx, I made clickable links to the 4 articals Kup posted.