Blunder over shrimp still haunting lake

Well, the nets are in the lake again and another $330,000 is being blown. Nobody seems to have any control over Idaho Fish and Game from the governor to the Fish and Game Commission.

At the meetings I have attended the commissioner for this area never said one word. There were good ideas presented at these meetings on how to recover the fishery in this lake. They still do what doesn't work. Like Kevin Trudeau says in his book about corruption, it's always all about the money.

Mitigation money from Avista that they have to spend or lose. The result is mackinaw in this lake are averaging less than two pounds. The majority of the public doesn't want nets or aggregated weight fishing implemented in the derbies. Kokanee were recovering anyway. There is no shortage of bull trout. The trouble is the public has been the silent majority for the most part. I am forced to change my position on aggregated weight on mackinaw fishing.

The Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club has paid out thousands to LPOIC members to kill fish. This money comes from Fish and Game, Avista and derby tickets. There are good mackinaw fishermen who are not club members. Let's make this fall derby a competitive one. LPOIC members haven't had any competition on aggregated weight. If it has to be about money so be it.

The blunder of the Fish and Game introducing shrimp into this lake was the problem and still is. Club members get twice the money in the derby payoff. Isn't this discrimination? We all pay the same price for a derby ticket. The money paid to the LPOIC comes from all of us through Avista.

ARTHUR WEBB

Sandpoint