04-24-2011, 11:33 AM
psanders,
It seem fairly obvious that you haven't fished Ririe very much or you would understand that we have a fairly sterile biomass. Very little vegetation is present throughout the reservoir. What vegetation growth there is supports a very sparse population of perch that is not stunted from overpopulation. Any reduction in numbers will virtually make it unfishable for that species, especially throughout the winter.
The chub population is virtually nonexistant as well. This is evident by the very small and stunted class of bass that exist. Very few if any keeper size bass exist in any quantity in the reservoir, again due to a very small food base.
Most Cutthroat that are caught in the Reservoir are planters. The fish features and eel like body with a disproportionately large head due to again, a lack of food in Ririe.
Kokanee have been the one shining success at Ririe allowing a lot of people to bring their kids out with almost a guaranteed success for their days efforts.
Since what we do have is very fragile, perhaps you can understand how the F&G and the fishermen that call this reservoir their home water view the planting of a voracious and top tier predator such as the walleye with such trepidation. It will take very little to upset the balance of the existing fish we do have in Ririe. Even a small impact on the perch, trout, and bass will render the reservoir unusable for their pursuit. While there isn't enough food base for the walleye to thrive as evident by their slow rise in numbers throughout the watershed, they will have a hugely destructive impact on what already does struggle to survive in Ririe.
Since you state your "main intention" is to shed some "light," perhaps a little shown on the above information will help with your process to educate all of us ignorant fishermen.
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It seem fairly obvious that you haven't fished Ririe very much or you would understand that we have a fairly sterile biomass. Very little vegetation is present throughout the reservoir. What vegetation growth there is supports a very sparse population of perch that is not stunted from overpopulation. Any reduction in numbers will virtually make it unfishable for that species, especially throughout the winter.
The chub population is virtually nonexistant as well. This is evident by the very small and stunted class of bass that exist. Very few if any keeper size bass exist in any quantity in the reservoir, again due to a very small food base.
Most Cutthroat that are caught in the Reservoir are planters. The fish features and eel like body with a disproportionately large head due to again, a lack of food in Ririe.
Kokanee have been the one shining success at Ririe allowing a lot of people to bring their kids out with almost a guaranteed success for their days efforts.
Since what we do have is very fragile, perhaps you can understand how the F&G and the fishermen that call this reservoir their home water view the planting of a voracious and top tier predator such as the walleye with such trepidation. It will take very little to upset the balance of the existing fish we do have in Ririe. Even a small impact on the perch, trout, and bass will render the reservoir unusable for their pursuit. While there isn't enough food base for the walleye to thrive as evident by their slow rise in numbers throughout the watershed, they will have a hugely destructive impact on what already does struggle to survive in Ririe.
Since you state your "main intention" is to shed some "light," perhaps a little shown on the above information will help with your process to educate all of us ignorant fishermen.
[signature]