Dean Endress wrote:
I Know alot of folks think thats wrong to remove/eradicate Non-native Trout & reintroduce the Native species.
The introduction of non-native species into Central Oregon stillwaters has over the last eight years or so decimated the once brilliant fisheries in the Cascades Mountains near Bend.
While we are mainly talking illegally introduced bass here, the impact this species has had on prime trout fisheries has been incredible. Crane Prairie Reservoir was once the crown jewel of Oregon stillwaters, with legendary damsel nymph migrations and a dependable series of callibaetis hatches. Five-pound rainbows didn't even raise an eyebrow at Crane Prairie Lodge.
Since the bass were illegally introduced, the damsels have disappeared altogether, and callibaetis action is spotty and infrequent. Bass are just like vacuum cleaners when it comes to sucking up the bugs...it's hard to imagine a more efficient finned carnivore. Also added to the mix have been illegal introductions of bluegill, crappie, and sticklebacks, all non-native species for this water.
Crane Prairie now is best fished with chironomid pupae and leeches...what a letdown. There are still huge fish in Crane, just fewer numbers of them. And their size is more a reflection of a drop in fishing pressure than the health of the fishery.
Davis Lake has been hammered by the drought, but the lower elevation, very fertile natural lake has had an explosion in illegally planted bass, some getting to 7-8 pounds. This fly-fishing only water used to have trophy rainbows to 6-10 pounds. Now the average fish is more like 13-15 inches.
Fish and Wildlife (one administrator in particular) has the attitude that waters should be managed so that the widest range of fishermen are accommodated. The idea of native species and preserving trophy trout fisheries is all but foreign to those at the helm.
Thank the Lord we don't have to deal with Nile Monitor lizards, but believe me, bass can be devastating to a trout fishery. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Wes Wada Bend, Oregon
"I once gave up fishing, it was the most terrifying weekend of my life." ~ Anonymous
