Posted on 09/10/2007 8:32:15 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
California Fish and Game today began poisoning a Plumas County lake in an attempt to eradicate the population of northern pike.
Crews began dripping and spraying 300 gallons of rotenone on the creeks and other tributaries feeding Lake Davis. An additional 16,000 gallons of the organic poison -- deadly only to gilled creatures -- will be placed in the lake itself beginning Sept. 25.
The poison will kill all the fish in Lake Davis, which will be restocked with native trout, according to Ed Pert, manager of the $16.7 million project.
"If we don't get them this time, we will have to weigh whether it's humanly possible to eradicate pike in Lake Davis," said Pert.
Meanwhile, Lake Davis and its watershed in Plumas National Forest will be closed to the public until the water is free of rotenone.
The northern pike -- large, skinny fish with a snout full of sharp teeth -- could take over the entire ecosystem of the lake, Pert said.
"We're concerned not only about the damage pike are doing to Lake Davis, but also about the possibility they will escape the lake and enter the state's other waters," he said. "That could put more constraints on how we move water around California -- so pike eradication not only has environmental implications, but social and political implications as well."
The state poisoned Lake Davis in 1997, but within 18 months, the pike were back. Today, Pert reckons there are hundreds of thousands in the lake and its watershed.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I thought northern pike were a good game fish....
you get a 15-20 pounder or bigger on a hook ,, oh yeahh,, lots of fun.
they eat just fine too,,
Too bad , Lake Davis doesn’t freeeze over,, spear fishing .. no limit :-)
Illegal immigrants.
The pikes’ problem is, they’re from the north. Otherwise they’d be adopted as the new state fish.
They’re prized sport fish in the Midwest.
No matter how well they argue their view, this statement alone sounds very stupid.
by the way.... what happened to acid rain?
I know. :)
Cool fish. Like American barracudas. I think it’s ridiculous they’re trying to poison the fish.
Especially in a state which actually worries about protecting urban mountain lions. Which periodically eat some of the state’s citizens out for a bike ride, or a jog.
Typical nonsense.
There is nothing the state of California can’t screw up,.... repeatedly.
Minnesota native here, I’ve seen a couple nice sized fish mounted , I never caught more than a 4 or 5 pounder, that was plenty for me,, I’ll stick to panfish and crappies.. the northern pike bite on anything.. and do in other more desireable game fish. We used to have some lakes like that.
Two words: Fishing Tournament!
Evidently these pike are not politically correct. Perhaps they are homophobic. Or even Republican.
Fun to catch and OK to eat.
Don’t see why trout & pike couldn’t coexist, trout will eat their own young come to that. Would have thought any spread of pike would be self limiting as they like pretty cool water.
Check out this LTE to our local yellow rag about a Bear attack in one of our new “Heritage” parks and the insane replies. We are collectively insane here on the West Coast.
http://blogs.kitsapsun.com/kitsap/letters/archive/2007/09/bears_humans_need_to_take_some.html#more
I’m also in the same area as the Whale hunters from this weekend. I saw an old hippie shipyard worker wearing a tee shirt that best describes our collective...”I used to be schizophrenic, but we’re better now!”
You obviously don't know anything about this or how important it is that these voracious predators not escape into the delta waterways.
At the expense of salmon and trout. I sure wouldn't make that trade.
DFG is right to take it out, but they haven't been successful so far. It isn't easy because the area is volcanic. Apparently there are underground streams that feed the lake.
Perhaps if you lived here you would think otherwise. Davis Lake is one of California’s premier trout fisheries. The pike can’t play nice with others, and if they escaped this lake they could get into the Feather River drainage all the way to SF Bay. Still seem ridiculous? And by the way, there are plenty of lions up here too.
I’m an ex-Hoosier. When I left in the ‘70’s the local powers that be in Southern Indiana stocked a huge power plant reservoir and reclaimed coal stripper pits with Pike as a tourist draw as were many municipalities back then.
I personally have never fished for one. Our sport fish and God to some, is the Salmon. They have a wide weight range and when you hook a “slab”, there’s not a fish that fights in a more spectacular fashion.
HAHAHA.
I think that’s what it is.
Northern Pike are so military. Like ROTC or something. Worse. Like Boy Scouts.
Trout are so tolerant. And well dressed. And well, gay.
Davis lake, is a college campus.
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