FISH: Stop ‘ethnic cleansing’

For the love of Priest Lake mackinaw.

I read the May 27 article on “Fishing forecast for lake trout in Priest Lake.” Fish and Game say the fish are starving. This is true.

For decades the Fish and Game has tried to kill all of the lake trout, stating they’re an invasive species. They used nets in the upper lake starting in the 1990s with little luck, so Fish and Game asked the sportsmen to let them net lower lake. The sportsmen voted against it.

So Fish and Game set nets to implant GPS transmitters to find the spawning sites. After finding these beds, Fish and Game started ethnic cleansing of lake trout by electro shocking of the eggs and fry. This also has killed most of the mysid shrimp. A double bonus.

I have fished Priest Lake for more than 30 years and have proof of this (GPS units and video). I have advocated for lake trout for 20 years. Fish and Game spends millions of taxpayers dollars killing and wasting mackinaw in Priest Lake. Idaho Constitution SECTION 23. THE RIGHTS TO HUNT, FISH AND TRAP says Fish and Game will be managed by the sportsman, not the net.

If we are going to save this fishery, we must stop Fish and Game from the ethnic cleansing of mackinaw in Priest Lake. Please help stop the killing and waste.

PAUL DOUGLAS II

Rathdrum