Phillips musky plant eastern Oregon

[kevinb]

Fish With A Mission: ODFW On Why It Stocked 25,000 Tiger Muskie In An Oregon Lake

By Andy Walgamott, on June 27th, 2013


Editor’s note: Yesterday we blogged about this here.

(OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE PRESS RELEASE)

On June 25, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released 25,000 tiger muskie into Phillips Reservoir near Baker City, part of on-going efforts to restore the once-thriving rainbow trout fishery.

This is the first time tiger muskie (a sterile cross between muskellunge and northern pike) has been introduced into Oregon waters and according to Tim Bailey, ODFW fish biologist, this top-tier predator should help control the runaway yellow perch population that has decimated the trout fishery in Phillips

“Tiger muskie have been used elsewhere in the United States to help restore trout fisheries threatened by an over-abundant, competitive species,” he said. “Because both muskie and northern pike co-exist with yellow perch in their native environment, and feed on them heavily, we expect they’ll eat large numbers of yellow perch in Phillips.”

The 5-inch long tiger muskie came from the Wyoming Fish and Game Department, and ODFW biologists released the fish in several parts of the reservoir. Even at just 5-inches long, the fish already are highly piscivorous (fish-eating) and Bailey expects the tiger muskie to begin feeding on young perch almost immediately.

Illegal introduction of yellow perch decimates trout fishery

During the 1970s and 1980s, Phillips Reservoir was the region’s most popular trout fishery, averaging nearly 38,000 angler trips a year and trout that were 14 to 16-inches long. It also was an important economic driver in Baker County generating almost $1.5 million a year in economic activity.

However, the illegal introduction of yellow perch in the late 1980s or early 1990s had a decimating impact on the trout fishery as the perch out-competed trout for large zooplankton, a major food source for both species. Today, 77 percent of the fish in Phillips Reservoir are small yellow perch and the annual number of angler visits had plummeted to only 3,100 in 2010.

State, county and community develop restoration plan

In 2008 the Baker County Commission appointed an Advisory Committee to work with ODFW to develop and conduct an angler preference survey for Phillips Reservoir. The survey results showed a clear preference for a trout fishery, and ODFW staff and Committee members began to develop a game plan for controlling the perch population and restoring trout numbers.

According to Bailey, restoring the trout fishery in Phillips would not be as simple as poisoning the perch with rotenone or another fish toxicant and starting over. The reservoir’s complexity, the number of perch and its tolerance for rotenone called for a different solution.

“With the help of local anglers and members of the Advisory Committee we developed a multi-step plan for how to proceed,” he said.

That plan included:
•Replacing fingerling-size stocked trout with larger catchable trout in 2004.
•Introducing the aggressive, predatory tiger trout to create a trophy fishery in 2011.
•The mechanical removal of yellow perch using trap nets. Since 2009 over 240,000 pounds of yellow perch have been removed.
•Introduction of a top-line predator, tiger muskie, to prey directly on yellow perch in 2013.

In 2012, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission amended the state’s wildlife integrity rules to allow the introduction of tiger muskie into Phillips Reservoir. At this time, the rules restrict tiger muskie to Phillips Reservoir specifically to help control illegally introduced yellow perch.

Future tiger muskie fishery?

In their native range, tiger muskie reach prodigious size and are popular with anglers. In Phillips Reservoir, the harvest of tiger muskie will not be allowed – at least until they become well-established.

“Right now, the primary reason to have tiger muskie in Phillips Reservoir is to help control yellow perch populations,” Bailey said.
http://nwsportsmanmag.com/headlines/fis ... egon-lake/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Probably best to not target these fish for a few years but nice to see Oregon with some tigers(IMHO)

[muskyhunter]

2 things I like about the article...
The quote under the photo and the no retention of the muskies. Some catchable muskies within or about 5 years. Pretty cool I think. And 25,000 fish if half of those fish make it that' s a lot of muskies. Anyone know how many acres the reservoir might be?

[kevinb]

I'll find a solid source but going off bing maps,it's much larger than Evergreen but looks smaller than Silver. Not knowing jack about Phillips I can only guess that it likely has a good base of trout,perch(obviously) and I'd suspect bass. If bass are present,they'd be the top of the food chain for a bit considering the muskies are 5 inches but enough of my rambling.Either way it's nice to see Oregon with some tigers,maybe more down the road but who knows. Certainly a lake I'd checkout in due time.

[Mark K]

That's Awesome! Is this a one time plant?

[FishBaitThe2nd]

Im not a muskie fisherman...will muskie not eat trout?

[muskyhunter]

Well fishbait2..why aren't you..a musky fisherman? Just cut off about 8 inches of a salmon rod and come on over the bridge..once you get started you won't stop. The DFW has done diet studies and yes a few of the muskies did have a trout in its belly. I think though its just a fish that was caught hooked deep and let go. I'm sure a musky wouldn't pass up a free meal of planted trout. Most trout guys don't keep, clean and eat them ya know? I feel the trout will be eaten by the bass before the muskies anyway and or by the perch?
Bass guys use what pattern mostly when fishing with swim baits..uhm..uhm..trout pattern.
The perch will infest the lake like it has so add an apex feeder..muskies..and then the stunted population of perch will decline. Perch are in Curlew and the DFW is not happy about that at all. The trout fishing is fantastic up there along with a trophy musky fishery and even the bass are getting better up there. I personally feel the muskies will always get a bad rap..whether its eating all your trout or biting off the limbs of small children. Urban legends are created by silly and uneducated fisherpersons and folks that live on the lake.
BTW..fished Tapps this morning with the wifey..2 follows ..no fish in the net. Also there are tons of stunted sized perch right now. Got to call in on the smallies to take care of those or maybe some walleyes..just sayin..he he
Maybe the evening bite will be better..See ya

[Don Wittenberger]

2,235 acres. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Lake" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[muskyhunter]

Ahh cool..almost identical to Lake Tapps in acreage..like i said if the mortality rate is 40-50 % then thats a pretty good population of muskies. 5-6 years down the road. Something to look forward to i reckon'. Todd