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LAKE PEND OREILLE Fishery

LAKE PEND OREILLE Fishery. NATIVE SPECIES. Westslope cutthroat trout Bull trout Mountain Whitefish Pygmy Whitefish Native cyprinids (RRS, LND, PM, NPM), Largescale & Longnose suckers. INTRODUCED SPECIES. Lake Whitefish – 1889 Bass - 1900 Lake Trout – 1925 57.5lbs Kokanee – 1933

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LAKE PEND OREILLE Fishery

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  1. LAKE PEND OREILLEFishery

  2. NATIVE SPECIES • Westslope cutthroat trout • Bull trout • Mountain Whitefish • Pygmy Whitefish • Native cyprinids (RRS, LND, PM, NPM), Largescale & Longnose suckers

  3. INTRODUCED SPECIES • Lake Whitefish – 1889 • Bass - 1900 • Lake Trout – 1925 • 57.5lbs • Kokanee – 1933 • Rainbow Trout – 1941 • 24lbs. • Mysis Shrimp – 1968

  4. Historic Factors in Kokanee Decline - Dams Albeni Falls Dam -Located 26 mi. downstream on Pend Oreille River. -Annual fluctuation of 11.5 ft -Drawdown after kokanee spawned was fixed in 1966. Cabinet Gorge Dam -Located 10 mi. upstream on Clark Fork River. -Blocked access to hundreds of miles of tributaries (Ct & Bt). -Loss of 100,000 kokanee, but spawning run 4-5 million then.

  5. Other Factors Kokanee Decline Mysis Shrimp • Introduced in 1968, established by 1974. • Independent research - no competition currently, but kok harvest reduced to 350,000. Deeper winter drawdowns • 1966 COE decision to maximize hydropower • Reduced kokanee shoreline spawning habitat. • USFWS BT “BiOp” has driven “drawup”

  6. 2008- 30% 2009- 70%

  7. Predation Studies Predator:Prey Ratio 1:4.2 in LPO Not enough prey to support predators

  8. Since 2006, more than 101,000 lake trout have been removed from Pend Oreille, half by anglers. Every lake trout of any size and rainbow trout more than 13 inches long harvested from Lake Pend Oreille pays $15.00!

  9. LPO Fishery Collapse Not a New Issue • Depressed kokanee reduced further by 1997 flood. Loss of kokanee means problems for trophy trout and char. • Emergency rule changes in 2000, but no improvement by 2002. Socially not accepted. • March 2002 workshop showed support for Citizens Advisory Committee.

  10. Commercial Lake Trout Fishery • Establish commercial rod-and-reel fishery for lake trout. IFG Commission approved Dec. 2002. • LT approved as commercial species, no limit on rods, limited to 10 licenses. • Support evaluation of deep water trap nets (live entrapment gear).

  11. Why are Lake Trout a Threat? • Have replaced bull trout populations across BT range. • Collapsed popular kokanee sport fisheries in Priest and Flathead lakes. • Threaten Yellowstone CT and YNP ecosystem.

  12. Deepwater Trap Nets 101: • Live entrapment, selective for LT/LWF • BIG gear • Set at depths of 60-180 ft. • Lifted 2-3 times a week

  13. Total Catch (9 nets)* *19,075 hrs 2005 *31,025 hrs 2003

  14. Lake Trout Population Estimate 10,095 9,870 8,448 6,376

  15. Commercial LT Fishery • Implement March 2003 – 10 licenses allowed • Total fish harvested by fishery: • 2003 – 305 (7 licenses) • 2004 – 497 (3 licenses) • 2005 – 425 (3 licenses) • Total for 40 months – 1,227 fish ~5% Exploitation rate; need > 50% to impact population

  16. Since 2006 anglers have turned in nearly 50,000 lake trout and 25,000 rainbow trout. Did LT Angler Incentive Awards Work?

  17. Fishery in Crisis • KOK fishery has collapsed, population continues to decline towards extinction – 3 years (same pattern as Priest Lake and Flathead Lake) • Trophy RBT will collapse on heels KOK • LT population continues to increase; LT eating 35% of KOK • RBT still consuming highest percentage (62%) of KOK We need to increase harvest of predators to save the fishery – Action is needed NOW!

  18. Attacking The Problem • Formed LPO “Task Force” • Increase predator harvest – RB and LT (>50% exploitation rate sustained) • Angler incentive programs - $10/fish in 2006, $15/fish since 2007 • Continued experimentation with commercial fishery ideas

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