Mark K
10/12/2010 6:23:00 PMThanks for sharing that info! That seems like its a pretty good growth rate to me too!
Lucius
10/12/2010 8:32:00 PMHey AJ's Dad thanks for that info. it definitely puts the fishery in perspective on the health growth of the young pike. Thanks for sharing.
sparky1doug
10/12/2010 9:37:00 PMAJ's Dad, thank you for taking the time to record your catches and follow up with WDFG. Very impressive growth numbers. You are correct this is not a negative you and others are being proactive in the management efforts.The Pike are an invasive species however they can be managed if we get involved and stay informed. Plus they're a whole lot of fun to catch and they eat those darn squawfish. >:"":>
AJ's Dad
10/13/2010 8:40:00 AMSparky,
I keep hearing people use that term. Invasive species, or Non Native species. I don't see the pike as either. I figure if a species enters a body of water by natural means, it then becomes a native species. Here's the wikipedia version of what a "Non Native Species" is. A species living outside its native distributional range, which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. To me distributional range means where it can go using a natural path. In reading past articles on pike in the POR, fisheries people have been noted as saying that the pike have arrived in the POR from the noxon resevoir. This would have them traveling through the Cabinet Gorge Resevoir, then Pend Orielle Lake and into the river. That would be a natural route accounting for "Non Human" activity", making it just the opposite of a non native species. Oh heck, I'm really dragging this out here. Native or not, I love catching the darn things and will do whatever I can to help promote a healthy fishery for years to come. As well as they seem to be doing, I don't think they are going anywhere and I like that! Happy Fishing to all, whatever "Species" you have a passion for.
I keep hearing people use that term. Invasive species, or Non Native species. I don't see the pike as either. I figure if a species enters a body of water by natural means, it then becomes a native species. Here's the wikipedia version of what a "Non Native Species" is. A species living outside its native distributional range, which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. To me distributional range means where it can go using a natural path. In reading past articles on pike in the POR, fisheries people have been noted as saying that the pike have arrived in the POR from the noxon resevoir. This would have them traveling through the Cabinet Gorge Resevoir, then Pend Orielle Lake and into the river. That would be a natural route accounting for "Non Human" activity", making it just the opposite of a non native species. Oh heck, I'm really dragging this out here. Native or not, I love catching the darn things and will do whatever I can to help promote a healthy fishery for years to come. As well as they seem to be doing, I don't think they are going anywhere and I like that! Happy Fishing to all, whatever "Species" you have a passion for.
sparky1doug
10/13/2010 11:39:00 AMAJ's Dad, I'm in total agreement on the Non Native issue. There are many species in Washington waters which are Non Native most (not all) of which were introduced by WDFG for various reasons. Lets see, there is Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow, Golden and German Brown Trout, Tiger Muskie I could go on. The point being they could have easily planted Northern Pike as well and we would still be monitoring and managing like we are today. This is just a fish they didn't control the intoduction of thus their concerned. Amen brother, lets enjoy them for what they are and discourage bucket biology. I think they will continue to migrate all by themselves.
kevinb
10/13/2010 2:23:00 PMThe "Native" pike range is on the east side of the Rockies. They were then introduced to Flathead. Eitherway,the fish is here to stay and Washington state can benefit by managing the pike fishery. Washington has the chance to lead the way,as where Idaho
and Montana have dropped the ball. Pete Maina and Jack Penny have looked into filming in the region but they,along with several others are not interested in fishing areas that have no form a protection pertaining to northerns.
and Montana have dropped the ball. Pete Maina and Jack Penny have looked into filming in the region but they,along with several others are not interested in fishing areas that have no form a protection pertaining to northerns.
Fish-N-Fool
10/27/2010 12:51:00 AMI love catchin the PO river pike also, but just to clear some things up all Pike, Musky, Bass, Crappie, Perch and Sunfish are all a non native species. Been only native to the east side of the Contintal divide. As for them migrating down river from Noxon. That would only make any sence if there were pike in the PO Lake and river above the Dam which there is not i have been fishing the PO River above the dam for some 15 years and I've never seen one there. So all of them in the lower PO have been planted by humans at some time. I want to thank who ever did it :) On an interesting note the Idaho Fish & Game have never stocked any Pike, Bass, Sunfish Perch or Crappie yet they are in almost every lake and river in N. Idaho. The only Spinyray fish they have ever stocked is the Tiger Musky and in very small #'s and only in a few lakes, 5 that I know of.