04-18-2011, 09:48 PM
I realize that I'm one of the "bad guys" to you walleye lovers in this discussion, but I will partially agree with you on this one point.
"the carp are the real problem"
I do not believe they are the only problem, or even the biggest (that IMO is the water issue), but it is a legitimate problem. Several of you have commented that they "just need to get rid of the carp". (They presumably being the DWR.) To that end, what has been done in Utah Lake for the June sucker recovery is instructive. Aided by considerable Federal funding, the JSRIP has attempted to do what you are calling for at Yuba. Many plans have been considered. It hasn't been easy. What they are doing now may or may not work. Things like the carp virus are highly experimental and have legitimate risk for unintended consequences. (What if the new virus killed off all of Cliff's gizzard shad by accident?) Other states are also dealing with carp issues with similar difficulties. The bottom line is "just getting rid of the carp" is much easier said than done, and Yuba doesn't have any endangered species in it to draw Federal funding.
I imagine that some of you already know this, and I don't think what I will say next directly applies to any of the participants on this thread, but as one of the biggest cheerleaders for what is happening at Utah lake, I have touted what JSRIP has been doing for many years. What has been the response by many, if not a majority of anglers on BFT? Constant whining that it is a waste of money, a waste of time, let the Junie go extinct, gripes about the ESA, etc, etc, etc..... What you may consider a "waste of government money" just might lead to a breakthrough that helps your favorite walleye (or any other fishery for that matter) lake return to a higher state of production. Food for thought.[
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Carry on.
[signature]
"the carp are the real problem"
I do not believe they are the only problem, or even the biggest (that IMO is the water issue), but it is a legitimate problem. Several of you have commented that they "just need to get rid of the carp". (They presumably being the DWR.) To that end, what has been done in Utah Lake for the June sucker recovery is instructive. Aided by considerable Federal funding, the JSRIP has attempted to do what you are calling for at Yuba. Many plans have been considered. It hasn't been easy. What they are doing now may or may not work. Things like the carp virus are highly experimental and have legitimate risk for unintended consequences. (What if the new virus killed off all of Cliff's gizzard shad by accident?) Other states are also dealing with carp issues with similar difficulties. The bottom line is "just getting rid of the carp" is much easier said than done, and Yuba doesn't have any endangered species in it to draw Federal funding.
I imagine that some of you already know this, and I don't think what I will say next directly applies to any of the participants on this thread, but as one of the biggest cheerleaders for what is happening at Utah lake, I have touted what JSRIP has been doing for many years. What has been the response by many, if not a majority of anglers on BFT? Constant whining that it is a waste of money, a waste of time, let the Junie go extinct, gripes about the ESA, etc, etc, etc..... What you may consider a "waste of government money" just might lead to a breakthrough that helps your favorite walleye (or any other fishery for that matter) lake return to a higher state of production. Food for thought.[
]Carry on.
[signature]