Washington Declares War On Bass

[Glenn]

Washington State is proposing an open season on bass up and down the Columbia river, including all it's tributaries. This includes walleye too. All in the name of the all-mighty salmon.

For those that are unaware, the Columbia river is one of the top bass fisheries in the country, and has world renowned walleye fishing.

Thing is, there are zero studies that show bass and/or walleye deplete salmon populations. In fact, study after study designed to "prove" they eat thousands of salmon fry like sea lions, have all failed, and have in fact proven they DON'T prefer salmon. There is no scientific link between bass and walleye, and salmon populations.

But...in Washington state, if it's not a salmon or trout, it's junk fish.

Please visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/f...posal.php?id=25 and give them your thoughts via the form at the bottom of the page.

They need to hear our voice - across the country!

[retiredbosn]

Thanks for the heads up, will let my voice heard. FWIW sportsmen can make great impacts in cases like this, I would encourage everyone to voice their opinion

[SGT Rico]

My 2 cents left!

[Loop_Dad]

Comment submitted.

[Bluebasser86]

I couldn't imagine the species of fish they're trying to remove competing really heavily with the salmon. I've never fished for salmon but from what I've heard it seems that salmon are more of an open water schooling fish while the others a more structure/cover oriented fish that could probably go most if not all of their lives without ever coming across a salmon. Either way it seems like a poor decision that could upset an ecosystem. It's kind of like someone removing all the coyotes to try to increase a deer population when the real problem isn't predators but available forage and they end up with a herd that grows bigger than the food supply can sustain because of the lack of predators.

[Greed]

Same thing has been happening here in Colorado for the last 10 years or so. The managing authorities aren't protecting Salmon or Trout but Endangered Sucker Minnows. Any fish that's non native gets removed and thrown on the bank to rot.

[mikey5string]

.

I dont know that bass affect the salmon population but I dont think an open season is going to really hurt the bass.

Honestly, I dont think any serious bass fisherman keeps their fish and the recreational fishermen arent waiting at the gate for an "open season" on bass so they can go and decimate the population. The number of people who would kill a fish because they didnt like it is small.

I am sure fishing tourism really generates a lot of revenue for locasl businesses and taxes for the state. These are the trout and salmon guys who pay big bucks for specialty tackle, guides, resorts, charters etc.

[Traveler2586]

Washington State is proposing an open season on bass up and down the Columbia river, including all it's tributaries. This includes walleye too. All in the name of the all-mighty salmon.

For those that are unaware, the Columbia river is one of the top bass fisheries in the country, and has world renowned walleye fishing.

Thing is, there are zero studies that show bass and/or walleye deplete salmon populations. In fact, study after study designed to "prove" they eat thousands of salmon fry like sea lions, have all failed, and have in fact proven they DON'T prefer salmon. There is no scientific link between bass and walleye, and salmon populations.

But...in Washington state, if it's not a salmon or trout, it's junk fish.

Please visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/f...posal.php?id=25 and give them your thoughts via the form at the bottom of the page.

They need to hear our voice - across the country!

Posted the following, hope it helps

_____________________________________________

"As a yearly visitor to Washington state (my son lives in Carnation) I am interested in its environmental issues. However, with this subject Washington appears to be publicly stating that they do not truly understand how to manage a sports-fishery, and/or they are content to kneel to lobbyist with special interest; or have a pre-paid agenda of their own. In either regard they are not using sound judgment based on scientific facts in their decision process. I would suggest you hold a round table with experts from across the country and listen to what they can offer on this subject."

_____________________________________________

Salmon = Money.... and they need to have more salmon for 1st class passengers on airplanes.

Glenn, is there something we as a club can do, or someone we can talk to, i.e. can BR ask B.A.S.S. for support to get the word out.

[Quillback]

Lived for twenty years in WA state, and read many studies that showed Walleye and bass had little effect on salmon numbers in the Columbia system. The real problems are dams, overfishing, bad hatchery practices and lack of habitat.

[Traveler2586]

Here's a thought...... I was just out shopping at the Orange big box store, and as I was walking down the electrical isle it hit me, no, not an electrical shock, but...........

we don't have a National Fish, or a National Sport fish !

Question 1: What would it take to start a movement to name the Bass as America's National Fish.

Question 2: Does anyone know of a contiguous state that does not have Bass (of some type) in their rivers, streams or ponds? I don't know that our off-shore states have Bass.

I'd like to do some research but could use some help; if you know the web page to your states Fisheries department, i.e. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ , please PM it to me, I'd like to see if there is a state that does not have Bass. I'll look at the lower 48.

If the data supports there are Bass in all of the lower 48 states, then we could go forward with a campaign to name the Bass as America's sport Fish......

One of us with artistic talents could come up with a Nation-wide campaign poster that we could email to all Congress members and Senate members, we could email to every state Governor, every state dept of fisheries, we could email everywhere......; someone could manage a petitions campaign, someone could manage a media campaign, etc.

Then what state would have the balls to attack America's Fish...... OK, maybe Washington,,, but that's Wash-a-toe-ing-ons for ya.

What's ya think?! I can see the headlines now - "Bass Resource Starts Drive To Name Fish"

[CoBass]

Same thing has been happening here in Colorado for the last 10 years or so. The managing authorities aren't protecting Salmon or Trout but Endangered Sucker Minnows. Any fish that's non native gets removed and thrown on the bank to rot.

I hear ya Greed. Washington doesn't have a monopoly on stupidity when it comes to fisheries management. In the ten years that the Colorado DOW has been relocating or killing those fish the population of native fish hasn't gone up one bit. The Yampa river used to be a premier smallmouth and pike fishery. Now you're lucky if you catch a few decent sized fish a day out there. And they are protecting trout because none of the trout in that river are native species but they don't kill them, just the smallies and pike.

At least Washington is only removing limits on fish they don't like. Colorado is shocking, collecting, and killing the fish they consider undesirable.

[WRB]

There are groups of environmentalist that believe their perception of the environment is how everything should be. The clock should be rolled back to to a particular period that suits their beliefs. That somehow during our brief time on earth, there environment groups can make a change that will save the environment for a better future.

Armed with this naive thinking they manage to find supporters who fund them and impose their thinking on people who are less organized. There isn't any science to support these groups because it isn't a fact based issue, it's polical.

The use of non native species is a classic maneuver to revert the ecosystem back to a point in time where the environmentalist believes to be ideal, over looking everything else about the environment the was present during that time period. If these groups truly want to remove non native species, they should remove themselves and all the other people that have populated the environment. You can't just change one element of the environment without impacting everything else.

Tom

[LgMouthGambler]

Here's a thought...... I was just out shopping at the Orange big box store, and as I was walking down the electrical isle it hit me, no, not an electrical shock, but...........

we don't have a National Fish, or a National Sport fish !

Question 1: What would it take to start a movement to name the Bass as America's National Fish.

Question 2: Does anyone know of a contiguous state that does not have Bass (of some type) in their rivers, streams or ponds? I don't know that our off-shore states have Bass.

I'd like to do some research but could use some help; if you know the web page to your states Fisheries department, i.e. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ , please PM it to me, I'd like to see if there is a state that does not have Bass. I'll look at the lower 48.

If the data supports there are Bass in all of the lower 48 states, then we could go forward with a campaign to name the Bass as America's sport Fish......

One of us with artistic talents could come up with a Nation-wide campaign poster that we could email to all Congress members and Senate members, we could email to every state Governor, every state dept of fisheries, we could email everywhere......; someone could manage a petitions campaign, someone could manage a media campaign, etc.

Then what state would have the balls to attack America's Fish...... OK, maybe Washington,,, but that's Wash-a-toe-ing-ons for ya.

What's ya think?! I can see the headlines now - "Bass Resource Starts Drive To Name Fish"

I am all in on that! Maybe we can get it on a coin? lol

[Bass Slayer 72]

Done......

[Crestliner2008]

Excellent idea TRAVELER!

[JigMe]

Done

[Traveler2586]

Excellent idea TRAVELER!

I've started a little research, and with some help, found that Black Bass are found in 49 of the 50 states, and several hold the LMB as their state fish.

I also discovered there are categories available. i.e. State Fish, State Fresh Water Sports Fish, State Salt Water Sports Fish, etc.

In one state all it took to name a State Fish was a letter from a class room of school kids and their teacher.

I think we could do this, and yes, even get the Bass on the back of a quarter.

Did you know the USPS has issued a LMB stamp, and the place of first issue was Seattle Washington!

Fishing, LARGE MOUTH BASS, Collectible Postal Cover

Condition New Price $21.95 Shipping $6.00 In Stock 1

On March 21, 1986, the USPS issued a set of five stamps commemorating five different fish. Shown here is a genuine First Day Cover for the Large Mouth Bass. A First Day Cover is an envelope with the new stamp cancelled from the city of issue (Seattle) on the first day of issue captioned above. In short, it's the 'birthday' of the stamp - a collectible, historic piece of postal, as well as fishing memorabilia.

The cachet (artwork on the envelope) features bass, but the real artwork is the stamp itself. Probably the most popular sporting fish in America, the Large Mouth Bass First Day Cover is worth snagging.

Double matted in green and white, it's sized to fit a standard 8 x 10 picture frame. ***CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY INCLUDED***

[mikey5string]

There are groups of environmentalist that believe their perception of the environment is how everything should be. The clock should be rolled back to to a particular period that suits their beliefs. That somehow during our brief time on earth, there environment groups can make a change that will save the environment for a better future.

Armed with this naive thinking they manage to find supporters who fund them and impose their thinking on people who are less organized. There isn't any science to support these groups because it isn't a fact based issue, it's polical.

The use of non native species is a classic maneuver to revert the ecosystem back to a point in time where the environmentalist believes to be ideal, over looking everything else about the environment the was present during that time period. If these groups truly want to remove non native species, they should remove themselves and all the other people that have populated the environment. You can't just change one element of the environment without impacting everything else.

Tom

There are also political groups that use money and non-scientific "evidence" to suggest that there is no human caused environmental change. As you stated, "you can't just change one element of the environment without impacting everything else"

[Nitrofreak]

Did my part as well Glenn.

Traveler, I knew you were a pretty cool fellow, but what an awesome idea, let me know if there is anything I can do to help !!!!

[Traveler2586]

Did my part as well Glenn.

Traveler, I knew you were a pretty cool fellow, but what an awesome idea, let me know if there is anything I can do to help !!!!

I've just started doing some research on our states, their fish, their symbols, links to their Dept. of fisheries, etc

When I get my ducks in a row I'll shoot off some emails to my states elected officials, it would be helpful if we could get other members to pass on these emails to their states officials as well.

[Nitrofreak]

I've just started doing some research on our states, their fish, their symbols, links to their Dept. of fisheries, etc

When I get my ducks in a row I'll shoot off some emails to my states elected officials, it would be helpful if we could get other members to pass on these emails to their states officials as well.

You have my contact info, phone, e-mail, facebook, hit me up with some info and I will get rolling with it.

[WRB]

Travelers find of the Largemouth Bass stamp is priceless and should be sent to every legislator in the state of Washington.

I have some experience with how anglers in the state of Washington feel about LMB; lived there in back in 1970. The vast majority of anglers back then told me they considered LMB trash fish that should thrown on the bank when caught. From what Glenn posted, nothing has changed except they added smallmouth and walleye to the list of trash fish.Alaska is the only state that doesn't have a LMB population, too cold.

B.A.S.S. held several bass open tournaments on the Columbia river, and should be up in arms about this issue.

Tom

[merc1997]

it is easy to see why this country is in such bad shape. we have 535 idiots working for us that need to be fired. ever wonder why poly sci students are lawyers are not in business?? because they would starve to death. and, that is what we have up in washington, for the most part, running a the business of government. another good reason for term limits.

bo

[Glenn]

Well bo, thanks for the tangent ramp, but this has absolutely nothing to do with elected officials. We're talking the Washington State game department here.

Eric- fantastic idea! I'm all in.

[Traveler2586]

Well bo, thanks for the tangent ramp, but this has absolutely nothing to do with elected officials. We're talking the Washington State game department here.

Eric- fantastic idea! I'm all in.

IMHO, this sounds like a workable situation,,, Team up with as many local Washington Bass clubs, Washington's BASS Federation, B.A.S.S., etc as possible; then start talking to retailers like BASS Pro, Dicks, REI, BR sponsors, etc and get their backing. Once you muster you forces, start a campaign of media information and visits to elected officials (as this is an election year you should wait for the dust to settle) Lastly, have you elected officials put pressure on the DNR.

This would be the same game plan to get the Bass named as the National Freshwater Sports Fish, but on the local level.

My question is, would it be better to name the Black Bass as a family, or the LMB as a single fish?