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February 10, 2006
NORTHERN PIKE THE CAUSE Comins Lake sports fishery faces problemsSPECIAL TO THE PVT
"We've reached a grim milestone with the pike. Because pike numbers are increasing, we're seeing a reduction in the trout population and the bass fishery is not developing," said a department biologist, Chris Crookshanks. Recent surveys conducted by the department show that the population of pike, a voracious predator, has increased dramatically while trout and largemouth bass numbers have declined. This is bad news for anglers who have gotten hooked on the trophy trout fishery. While the trout fishery is not in immediate peril of collapsing, it does mean that ominous times lie ahead, unless something is done. In the late 1990s, someone who likely had visions of turning Comins into a pike fishery introduced the fish into the lake. The fish began to reproduce and the result has been a constantly increasing population of pike in the prime trout fishery. Pike had an especially successful spawn in 2001 and the fish that resulted are now 30 to 36 inches in length, just the right size for consuming the hatchery reared rainbow trout that the department stocks each spring and fall in the lake. Besides trout, pike consume largemouth bass, which has thwarted department efforts to produce a bass fishery at the lake. Biologists believe that pike eat all of the bass that are spawned in the lake each spring. While pike are increasing their population and growing in size, if left unchecked, they will gradually decimate the trout and bass fishery and ultimately their own population will crash as well. "The prognosis is not good," said Crookshanks. "We're at that critical mass right now. We're not going to raise trout in our hatcheries to feed pike." Crookshanks believes that the ultimate solution will involve eradicating pike in the lake and then trying to restore the trophy trout fishery. "While a decision will ultimately have to be made on what to do to restore this fishery, everyone should be aware that it is both illegal and irresponsible to introduce fish into a lake. A prime fishery that is extremely valuable to the people of Nevada is threatened by the irresponsible and selfish acts of one or two individuals," said Crookshanks There is no limit on the number of pike that can be caught and kept from Comins Lake. The department encourages anglers to keep all of the pike they catch and not return them to the lake. Comins Lake is currently covered with ice and fishing has been fairly slow recently for rainbow trout and pike. Information about fishing in Nevada can be obtained at www.ndow.org. |
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