State poison campaign fails to halt hungry pike

Lake Davis is a popular sport fishing area in northeastern California VIDEO CNN's Rusty Dornin looks at the efforts to uproot the unwanted pike Windows Media 28K 80K

August 6, 1999
Web posted at: 10:48 p.m. EDT (0248 GMT)

From Correspondent Rusty Dornin

LAKE DAVIS, California (CNN) -- Nearly two years ago, the California Department of Fish and Game poured 16,000 pounds of poison into Lake Davis in an effort to the rid the waters of northern pike, a species not native to the region.

The pike had eaten everything in sight. State biologists were concerned the fish would migrate downstream and devastate the salmon and steelhead trout populations in the neighboring Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The problem appeared solved until anglers reported catching pike this spring.

"The only thing I can tell you is they're here," said Nick Villa of the California Department of Fish and Game. "The fact that they're reproducing means we have a major problem on our hands and need to do something."

Another round of chemical treatments is not a popular option.

Residents in nearby Portola were forced to switch to well water for their drinking water supply following the poison campaign. Tourism based on fishing also dropped considerably, forcing some town businesses into bankruptcy.

"Fear ... I think that was the first sentiment to hit," said Plumas County Supervisor Fran Roudebush, in recalling the local reaction to news that the pike had returned. Many are less afraid of the fish than of the possibility of more poison being poured into the lake, he said.

Northern pike is not native to the region of Lake Davis

California wildlife officials say they have no plans for more chemical treatments.

They believe the pike were originally planted years ago by anglers looking for a new challenge. Today, most anglers say they can do without the feisty fish.

"I'm a little concerned the types of fishing will change" due to the presence of the pike, said fisherman Jim Barnes. "I was born in Minnesota and there's northern pike, but no trout anymore."

The state has replanted Lake Davis with more than 2.5 million trout. Anglers have also been instructed to kill northern pike they catch and hand them over to Fish and Game officials.

But some fisherman cast a different line.

"Oh hell, I'd leave the (pike)," said local angler Jim Debrick. "I wouldn't worry about it. They're good sport fishing."

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