PIKE: A bassinine decision

The geniuses at our Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Fish and Game departments teamed up to turn our warm water, weedy southern end of Lake Coeur d’Alene into a cold water cutthroat fishery. They are going to throw gill nets down and kill as many pike as possible. Unfortunately, gill nets don’t discriminate. Largemouth will be wasted in devastating numbers.

As a teacher in North Idaho, I have found that young fishermen almost unanimously favor warm water species. In fact, Lake Coeur d’Alene was a top 10 bass fishery, according to Bassmaster. I guess our Fish and Game department doesn’t care.

Therefore, this former bassaholic is cured. Why bother wasting your money on such an expensive sport when there are falling largemouth numbers, a government assault on spiny rays, bass-choking filamentous algae blooms, and an ever-increasing number of fishermen crowding our lakes? I wonder if our bass clubs will step up? I wonder if nets will be vandalized? I wonder if our young bass fishermen will lose interest?

I do know one thing for sure: Our beloved government’s efforts will do nothing but “water down” North Idaho’s fishing opportunities.

BRAD SONNTAG

Hayden Lake