WDFW lake management

[swb69]

I recently read in the Spokesman Review that the the WDFW is considering killing out Badger lake because they think it would be better as a trout lake. The article said that state biologist say that the bass population in the lake is eating the trout plants. They also said that eastern Wa. "needs another family friendly trout lake". They cited no studies that show that the bass are eating the trout or that more people would come to the lake if it were a trout only lake. They try this about every ten years or so. The only thing it accomplishes is the destruction of a good fishery and several years of poor trout fishing. I do not consider catching 9" trout good fishing.
If you need a perfect example of how well these plans work take a look at Sprague lake. About 30 years ago it was a trout lake, then state biologist thought it would be better as a carp lake, because everyone wants to go carp fishing. Then they decided that the carp were destroying the lake habitat, So they killed it and then stocked it with trout, which grew very well but did not taste well because of the shallow warm water. Then the biologist decided to kill it again and make it a warm water species lake,DUH. The bass, crappie, cats, and walleye did awesome, but here came the state biologist again and said the lake should be trout only and it was killed again and trout planted. Now, once again, the state has change its mind, or biologist, and started to plant cats and bass and crappie. How many times is this going to happen, and how much money are they going to spend for this one lake.
The biologist also stated how expensive it would be to try and manage the lake as a multi species lake. The last time I checked, if you leave nature alone it will find a balance on its own. Every time you poison a lake it not only kills the fish but kills everything that lives in the lake, meaning that the food chain has to start all over again. If its left alone the food chain is kept and the lake remains healthy and does not need managed except for managing fishing. The fish will be bigger, healthier, and stronger.
I would also take issue with the statement that we need a "family friendly trout lake". Since when is bass fishing is not "family friendly". I take my family bass fishing all the time and they have as much fun as when we go trout fishing. There are many lakes in this part of Washington that are very good trout fisheries, I have fished several and have done very well.
Just so everyone knows I am not a bass fanatic that wants to have nothing but bass lakes. I love to fish, weather for bass, trout, crappie, cats, salmon, or steelhead. I am just sick of the state "experts" deciding what is good for a lake they haven't even studied. Why do we need to spend millions to try and maintain single species lakes when multi species lakes do so mush better with a lot less effort.

[dea]

Two words, "poor management". Poor management of decision making. Poor management of precious monitory resources.

[Amx]

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