Silver Lake, Spokane County

[Lotech Joe]

This has also been posted on the "Freshwater Forum." Curious how y'all Tiger Muskies feel about the idea.

Just wondering how many folks in the Spokane area would like to see Silver Lake rehabbed away from Tiger Muskies and back to Rainbow Trout. Some of my fondest memories are fishing with my dad for Rainbows at Silver Lake. Picnic Pines Resort is now closed due to lack of revenue, and the last and only place to camp at the lake is mostly struggling. It was a great place to harvest a limit of trout and enjoy a day of fishing with friends and family. Not so anymore, unless you are geared for mostly catch and release Tigers. I guess I just miss the "Old Days."

I don't dislike the Tiger Muskie aspect of fishing, I just miss the Rainbow aspect.

[Mark K]

Why would it have to be Rehabbed away from Tiger Muskies to bring back Rainbow Trout? Check out Curlew Lake in Ferry County and see how the Rainbow fishing has improved since the introduction of Tigers. The one time I was there this year people were limiting in under an hour day and night.

[Marc Martyn]

Joe, I understand your desire to renew your memories of the old days. However, if it was rehabbed and the Muskies were reintroduced into say, Clear Lake, there would be many people who grew up on that lake that would feel the same way you do now.

I've thought many times about the demise of the lake resorts. I think it is a combination of a couple of things. #1, I think is the economy. I also believe that family entertainment over the years has changed. Many kids have no interest in camping out, sitting around the camp fire and telling ghost stories anymore. They are living in an instant and constant electronic communication world. If their parents want to take them out into the wilderness and "get back to nature", they are going to resist that with as much will as they can muster up. "What?! No cell phone coverage? No way Dad!!!" The kids are now wired for fast pace exciting fun like Silverwood, not sitting in a boat with dad hoping a fish will swim by and bite a slimy worm.

[bad esox]

Joe,

I must confess that I do not know the past history of Silver Lake and I have not fished it very often etc... I can tell you a little something about Tiger Muskies however, if you care to learn more about them?

Tiger Muskies are a sterile fish whose population can be, and is, controlled by the WDFW. The Tiger Muskie is often stocked in a warm water-system that is having a problem with other unwanted "rough-fish" such as the Northern-Pikie Minnow...aka: Squaw-fish... that are quite abundant out here in the Northwest. Northern-Pikie Minnow can be very hard on other fish populations and that is why the WDFW has put a bounty on them.

Studies by the WDFW have shown that the primary source of prey/food for the Tiger Muskie out here is the Northern-Pikie Minnow etc... and that the addition of the Tiger Muskies to a lake, or reservoir, actually helps the other populations of "wanted" species of fish such as; Trout, or Kokanee etc..., in a lake/res. to flourish. Tigers and Trout do not normally inhabit the same areas of a lake etc... Tigers, are primarily in shallower, warmer areas of a water-system, much like Bass, whereas Trout etc...inhabit the deeper, colder water temps.

Yes, I would be a fool to say that a Tiger would not take the "opportunity" to eat a Trout etc... if the Trout was dumb enough to let itself be eaten by a Tiger, but overall the Trout is simply to much work for the Tiger to eat on any kind of steady basis...LOL... Tigers, like Bass, are "ambush predators" and will wait for a easy meal to come along...Squaw-fish, Suckers etc... provide a much more easily accessible meal for these fish than any of our more beloved species such as our Trout, and Kokanee etc... Lake Curlew, is a excellent example of how the Tigers have helped out the Trout population there by feeding on Squaw-fish, and Merwin Res. is another excellent example of how the Tigers brought back the Kokanee fishing there to a much higher rate of catching fish per hour spent angling.

If the Rainbow Trout fishing has slowed on silver could it possibly be for any other reasons besides the addition of Tigers to the lake? I do not really know about Silver Lake specifically, but I may not have all the facts. Knowing what I know about Tiger Muskie behavior etc... and also about the very limited rate at which these sterile fish are stocked into our seven lakes by the WDFW etc... I personally do not believe that the Tigers could/would have hurt the Trout population there... If anything, hopefully the Tigers, were introduced into Silver Lake by the WDFW to help the Trout Population prosper, and also to help the other more desirable species to thrive within the lake.

Joe... I to hope those "Old Days" do return for us all. Together we can make it happen.

[dougw]

Good response Bad Esox.

As far as the resorts.... Is it more a sign of changing times that the resorts aren't making it? Or more likely a sign of a very poor economy dealing a final blow to the little guys? I say changing times coupled with poor economy. It doesn't seem like Silver is a "destination lake"..... People are frugal, on stuff that is near, and extravagant when it comes to the size of their trips in this day and age. They don't drive 15 minutes from town to stay at a resort, they fly to Vegas, or Hawaii and spend 100x the money. I think people have lost sight of what lakes we have here, and more importantly the economical fun they can provide. People think you have to spend a lot of money to have fun, and that rules out taking the kids to some 'boring' lake..... They have to spend money. Sad, but true. Now if Silver was a 3 hour drive, and had a five star resort on it, they would be all over it.... It's sad.

I believe you are right Bad Esox in that the good times are ahead for trout in Silver.....

[Lotech Joe]

Thanks you guys. Some great responses.

[sparky1doug]

:rendeer: Great topic Joe! I grew on Coeurd"Alene Lake in the 60's and 70's and have many fond memories of fishing with my father for Rainbow, Cutthroat and Blue Backs. A trip to Washington often included Rainbows at Silver Lake and Blue Backs at Sprague Lake, good times. But like all things in life the only constant is change. I have learned much in the last year about Tiger Muskies and their place in the fishing world. It is truly an amazing fish and what the others have said is true. Rainbows can once again thrive in Silver Lake and live right long side the Tigers, let WDFW know your wishes. As for the resorts, bait shops and the fly case at the local hardware store, victims of the times. The best we can do is pass the traditions on to the youth and hope they can enjoy them as we did.

[YJ Guide Service]

Silver may be just like Newman in that they havent planted trout in a couple years. People always think its because of the Tigers, when its really because everyones caught them and they haven't been replanted. Long Live Chapter 60 Mountain Muskies...

[dougw]

I thought that too Craig, Not sure if it has been planted or not. Silver doesn't seem to have near the water quality issues as Newman, so they may still be planting there. We could fire off an email to WDFW and find out.

[bad esox]

Doug,

If you fire anything off to the WDFW etc... You had better do it soon! The Governor has plans for the WDFW in the near future. If she gets her way etc... who knows what any type of fishing will look like in the State of Washington!.... A little color commentary for you all...LOL!

Really, it is pretty scary stuff! There is a link on "KIRO" that talks about her current plan to "save" the State at the expense of just about everything that has to do with the Outdoors in Washington...ouch! I hate the antics of politics, but I do love the Outdoors and ALL things associated with it...Amen. Muskies and all...

[Mark K]

I thought that too Craig, Not sure if it has been planted or not. Silver doesn't seem to have near the water quality issues as Newman, so they may still be planting there. We could fire off an email to WDFW and find out.

Doug, the only place I know to look for this stuff is the WDFW site.

As far as I can see there were ZERO trout planted in 2010, only 500 Rainbow planted in Spring 2009, and 500 Brown planted in Spring 2008. The last big plant was 2007 when they put 5,000 Rainbow Trout in there. In 2006 They put 4,998 Brown Trout and 11,900 Rainbow. 2005 9,000 Rainbow were planted along with 5,002 Brown Trout.

It looks like the WDFW has decided Trout is not the way to go on Silver Lake. I know a lot of people, home owners around these lakes especially, just don't know these facts and the easy thing to blame are the Tigers. (Not saying this is what you believe Lotech Joe) This is just where we need to do our part and try and educate...

You can see all of this info for all of the lakes in the Region or State here http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekl ... ports.html

[YJ Guide Service]

Way to look up the facts Mark keep up the good work. Easy for people to assume its the Tigers rather than look up the facts to as why there arent any trout in the lakes around here like in years past...Chapter 60 Mountain Muskies...