Fishy business in Priest Lake
You still have two chances to tip the scales in talks on Priest Lake's fisheries, which are hooked on favoring either mackinaw or kokanee, and what's making a splash in the minds of local anglers.
“We want the anglers to tell us what kind of fishing opportunity they want, which will dictate how we manage Priest Lake over the next 10 to 15 years,” Fish and Game Regional Fisheries Manager Andy Dux said on the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's website.
IDFG says Priest Lake is primarily a lake trout — aka mackinaw — fishery, though some kokanee salmon remain along with other native species. But it has the potential for improvement as well.
Fish and Game's Priest Lake Fishery Advisory Committee has put forward three options for the management of Priest Lake for the next decade and change:
- Alternative 1: Continue existing management primarily for a sustainable lake trout harvest fishery and continue native fish conservation efforts in Upper Priest Lake.
- Alternative 2: Restore a kokanee fishery capable of supporting high catch rates and harvest while enhancing native cutthroat trout and return to limited cutthroat harvest. Also, increase native bull trout to allow for a trophy fishery, while managing for a low-density lake trout population. Continue native fish conservation efforts in Upper Priest Lake.
- Alternative 3: Provide mixed-species fishing opportunity by reducing the lake trout population to support moderate catch rates and harvest while allowing kokanee to reach moderate densities and provide moderate catch rates. Provide conservation benefit and improve fishing for native cutthroat and bull trout. Continue native fish conservation efforts in Upper Priest Lake.
The remaining two meetings for public input are at 6:30 p.m. today in Priest River at the Priest River Events Center, 5399 U.S. 2.; and at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Coeur d’Alene at the IDFG Panhandle Region Office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave.
IDFG also plans to mail a survey to a random sample of local anglers later this summer, and make an online poll available for anyone interested.
More information on the fishery management and a brief history of Priest Lake's fish populations can be found at https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/fishing-priest-lake-crossroads.