More Smallmouth Bass in the Lower Deschutes
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has vastly different responses to invasive smallmouth bass in waterways in Oregon. While ODFW all but denies the existence of smallmouth bass in the lower Deschutes River, they responded strongly to a similar situation in the Coquille system. ODFW’s continued dismissal of the smallmouth bass issue in the lower Deschutes puts vital native species at risk of extinction from the system. ODFW must act now to protect wild steelhead and anadromous fish in the lower Deschutes.
Like the walleye we discussed in a previous blog post, smallmouth are very efficient predators that will eat anything, including juvenile wild steelhead. Wild summer steelhead in the lower Deschutes need all the help they can get right now. If every last wild summer steelhead is so important that sport angling for them has been closed portions of the last two years, smallmouth should matter a great deal to ODFW.
The release of warm, nutrient laden water from the Pelton Round Butte hydroelectric project continues to warm the entire length of the lower Deschutes River. This summer, the gage at Moody (the mouth of the lower Deschutes) has read warmer than the gage at The Dalles Dam (on the Columbia) from early May until the end of July. Prior to the first release of dirty, warm water, there were almost no smallmouth in the lower Deschutes. Like walleye, they are not native. In the past, an angler could fish the lower Deschutes for years and never see a smallmouth let alone catch 10 or 20 a day which is common now. The only exception to this was in 1996 when smallmouth moved into the lower river from spill out of Lake Billy Chinook during the 1996 flood. Smallmouth left the river that fall in search of warmer water, never to be seen again until the release of warm, nutrient laden water.
Since smallmouth first invaded the Deschutes, ODFW has ignored the number of bass and the harm they are causing. ODFW should be deeply concerned with their predatory nature. Steps should be taken to ensure the health of the wild fish populations and advocate for cold water releases from Pelton Round Butte.
The story is very different on the Coquille River. When smallmouth bass were discovered in the Coquille system, ODFW responded with urgency. ODFW removed all size and numerical limits on smallmouth in the Coquille but also allows the use a spear or spear gun to kill them. In addition, ODFW recently sanctioned a Coquille bass tournamentwhere cash prizes were awarded for previously tagged fish in an attempt to control them.
The solution to smallmouth bass control in the lower Deschutes is much simpler and more elegant. ODFW needs to advocate for lower summer water temperatures which are entirely possible by releasing more cold water from Lake Billy Chinook. It is imperative that ODFW advocate for cold water releases to the benefit of wild steelhead and anadromous fish in the lower Deschutes River.