the film forum library tutorial contact

Walleye Continue to Move Upstream, Pose Threat to Native Salmon and Steelhead by Staff Lewiston Tribune, October 27, 2024

Anglers report spike in catches

Anglers in the lower Snake and Salmon rivers encountered more walleye so far this year then they did in 2023, indicating an increased presence by the nonnative predatory fish that pose a threat to wild salmon and steelhead.

According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, it tallied more than 60 verified reports of anglers catching walleye in the two rivers this year. That compares to 19 verified reports in 2023.

"The increase is likely due to increasing abundances of walleye and our efforts to reach out to anglers about walleye," the agency said in a news release.

Walleye were first documented upstream of Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River in 2016. But the fish, which are popular with many anglers as table fare, have been in the Columbia River system for decades. They were likely illegally introduced into Lake Roosevelt above Grand Coulee Dam about 80 years ago. From there, they moved down the Columbia, likely helped by more illegal introductions, and then started pushing up the Snake. Lyons Ferry, downstream of Little Goose Dam, has become a destination spot for walleye anglers in the region.

Like nonnative smallmouth bass and native northern pikeminnow, walleye prey on juvenile salmon and steelhead as they flush downstream to the Pacific Ocean each spring and summer. Fisheries managers believe abundant walleye populations in the Salmon River and the Snake River in Hells Canyon will pose a greater threat to salmon and steelhead than do populations in the lower and middle Columbia River and even the Snake River downstream of Lower Granite Dam. That is because the downstream populations only have access to salmon and steelhead smolts during their outmigration to the ocean.

Populations of walleye further upstream have access to juvenile salmon and steelhead not only during outmigration but also during the one or more years the young fish spend in freshwater.

Fisheries managers are asking anglers to keep any walleye they catch. There are no size or bag limits on walleye in areas where they overlap with salmon and steelhead.

"Thousands of anglers fish the Snake and Salmon rivers every year, and if they killed every walleye they caught it could slow their expansion," the department said in its news release.

So far this year, walleye have been caught all the way up to Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River and at Riggins on the Salmon River. They have ranged in size from 13 to 30 inches.

Anglers who catch walleye from the Snake or Salmon rivers are asked to report their catches to Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional wildlife biologist Marika Dobos at marika.dobos@idfg.idaho.gov, or (208) 750-4228.

Related Pages:
Catch, Kill, Report Walleye in Idaho's Salmon and Steelhead Rivers by Andy Walgamott, Northwest Sportsman, 3/29/24
Invasive Walleye Moving Higher into Snake River Basin, Threatening Juvenile Salmon, Steelhead, Lamprey by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/22/24
'Not Good for Salmon and Steelhead': Smolt-Eating Walleye Worry Fishery Managers by Eric Barker, Spokesman-Review, 8/30/23
Increasing Number of Predatory Walleye Logged at Lower Granite Dam by Nolan Smith, Big Country News, 6/29/15
WDFW Removes Bag Limits for Bass, Walleye, Catfish on Columbia River, Tributaries to Protect Salmon by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/4/16
New Rules Mean More Walleye, Fewer Sturgeon for Washington Anglers by Eric Barker, The Bend Bulletin, 3/13/13
It's Official: Bag Limits Off in WA for Columbia/Snake Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/3/13
Bass, Walleye Pose Substantial Threat To Salmonids by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/6/9
Pikeminnow Season Catch Up; Data Confirms Snake Walleye Increase by Andy Walgamott, Northwest Sportsman, 10/13/22

Columbia River Area Show Slow Fishing with a Few Sturgeon and Walleye Appearing in Catches by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 2/13/17
Columbia River Reports on Skinny Side Due to Bad Weather Except for Good Walleye Action by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 12/15/16
Columbia River Area Producing Decent Steelhead and Walleye Fishing by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 12/2/16
Fair Catches for Coho, Walleye and Steelhead in Pockets of Columbia River System by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 11/17/16
Walleye in Columbia River Mainstem is Only Viable Fishing Choice by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 10/27/16
Autumn Fishing Choices Plenty Along Columbia River for Salmon, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 9/29/16
Columbia River Region Offers Fall Fishing for Chinook, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 10/18/12
OR Fish & Wildlife Fishing Reports Show Fall Options to Catch Walleye and Chinook by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 10/3/12
Fall Chinook, Summer Steelhead & Walleye Among the Best Columbia River Fishing Bets by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 8/29/12
Columbia River Full of Fishing Fun for Fall Chinook, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 8/1/12
Steelhead and Walleye Among the Top Picks in Columbia River Region by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 2/22/12
Walleye & Bass are Good Fishing Alternative Along with Some Steelhead by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 4/26/11