1old timer

If I am getting paid to catch lm bass I would starve.

bric Loc: Helena, MT

From what I know it’s all about trying to get the native trout back, which is cutthroat in the Rockies and much of the inland West. News to me on the bounty in Idaho. The Park Service in Yellowstone has been eradicating lake trout for years trying to get back the cutthroat. Must be working cuz someone had that recent post from Yellowstone. In Montana Flathead lake has an amazing lake trout fishery, but again non-native. They hold a derby in the spring when they are in shallow water easier for more people to catch. The derby goes on for weeks lots of opportunity to win cash $$. And I think they are good eating too.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Thanks for that info Bric. Buddy is on his way home from fishing Montana. Will chat with him some time this week to see how it went. He works nights so I just wait for him to contact me so not to disturb his sleep time.

bric Loc: Helena, MT

I would be interested to hear how it went too. I am in Nevada right now on fire duty.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Stay safe out there!

bric Loc: Helena, MT

Thanks Huntm

Crunchy Loc: Clark Fork, North Idaho

Hunt22. I can't put an exact date on the appearance of the Mackinaw (lake trout) into Lake Pend Oreille,
but its been at least 30 to 40some years ago. The word was that someone imported them from Priest Lake by way of the back door. The first ones caught were a big thing in and around Sandpoint. However, they grow HUGE eating the Kokanee. I am thinking that 50# would not be a far out high number. They are, in reality, just overgrown Rainbow trout.

If you go out and try to catch some of 'em, you had better bring along some pretty healthy gear.

I didn't make it back up to Clark Fork this year due to the virus about. But I don't usually fish the lake
except on a friends boat for Kokanee. In my down time I have been tying flies for the Veterans with
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing in Long Beach.

My son and grandson do all the hunting so I have an endless supply of deer and elk hair to tie with,

Another FS member mentioned that Idaho was working on bringing back the native "West Slope"
cutthroat trout. That's all well and good for some, but my son has a good creek flowing through his
property and it had a good supply of Bookies in there and in just a few minutes we could have plenty
for a good breakfast. However, the IFG in their effort to sterilize the creeks killed off everything that
swims, including what cutthroat that were there. They were supposed to restock many of the waters
but the boy hasn't seen any effort yet in his immediate area yet. The IFG says the creeks should
restock themselves by natural attrition over time.

I don't want to rave on as I get upset by the whole works.

Those of you that can get out and fish.....pull one in for me.

Thanks Crunchy

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Some days on Priest we would catch 6-8 from 20-30 lbs. Jim and his boys hit it nearly every night with the same or better catch. Jiggin with a crawler.

bric Loc: Helena, MT

Yeah Montana is into that too where they kill off all the fish in a drainage, wild trout naturally reproducing. But they say they try and do it above a barrier like a waterfall so when they restock with cutthroat they will be isolated from getting re-populated with the non-natives. I have mixed feelings on all that, gets me going too.

bric Loc: Helena, MT

I believe lakers (mackinaw trout) are native to the Great Lakes and up in Canada. They like large, cold deep water lakes. And I believe in the char family, not related to rainbows. Anyhow....

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

They used to do submarine tests in Pend Oreille. Its something like over 1000 feet deep if I remember right. Probably why the lakers like it so well.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

You should put Asian carp in your lake . Try stocking lion fish too they are delicious . Those carp taste so good if you cook them fresh and the scales make great guitar picks. Lion fish spines are excellent tooth picks . So sharp. They get popcorn skins out of crevices 🤣

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

Lake Trout were illegally introduced or legally planted years ago before their impact on native fish was understood. Like Yellowstone Lake,where they eat native Cuthroat. Those cuthroat feed bears and other native animals thus not being available. The Lakers aren’t bounties there but they want you to catch and kill as many as possible. It’s the same with other waters, but in some places a bounty on invasive fish or liberal limits is any are imposed.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

If they are good to eat, why are they not targeted even without a bounty? Are they hard to catch?

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Susan carp rocks