Sturgeon fishing meetings slated

SPOKANE VALLEY — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will host two public meetings later this month to inform fishermen of planned changes to Lake Roosevelt’s white sturgeon season.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at Fish and Wildlife Region No. 1 headquarters, 2315 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley; and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, march 23, at the Agriculture Trade Center, 317 W. Astor Ave., Colville.

Each meeting will consist of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

Since 2018, the Lake Roosevelt sturgeon fishery has opened in mid-June and closed at the end of September, officials said. This year, it will transition to a fall fishery.

Changes to other area sturgeon fishing rules will be made as well, officials said, noting sturgeon reared and released into Lake Roosevelt between 2011-16 didn’t survive as well as those released in earlier years of the project. As a result, officials said they plan to change harvest size regulations for the next 5-7 years.

Larger hatchery sturgeon were released in 2017 and their after, which means a surplus of harvestable sturgeon in 2029 or 2030, officials said.

“The white sturgeon population and fishery of Lake Roosevelt are incredibly valuable,” Fish Program Manager Chris Donley said. “Changes to the fishery rules and season are based in conservation, and we are holding these meetings to share what we know with the public. We want them to know these decisions aren’t made lightly.”

 

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