Good news for Brownlee

Crappie Chaser · 03-29-2006, 11:50 AM

Some positive actions are being taken to learn more about the decline of the crappie in Brownlee. During the week of April 17 a tagging study will be started. 600 crappie will be caught, tagged and released. The great thing about this is that it is a joint venture with ODFW,IDFG and Idaho Power all participating. To have both states involved is huge as future changes in regulations would mean little without both states working together. Fish will be collected by trap nets, electro-shocking and rod&reel.They are hoping to take the rod&reel fish from in and around the Powder Arm. If anyone is available to help catch these fish call me for details.
In June more testing will be done on stomach samples of different size/age classes.Hopefully a lot will be learned before the next printing of regulations in 2008. A good first step!

ExBassGuide · 03-29-2006, 12:49 PM

Thats great news! Thanks Mr. C.C.

Mojo · 03-29-2006, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the good news Crappie Chaser! Thanks for helping this effort as well.

Super Fluke · 03-29-2006, 02:01 PM

Thats good news.

FelonFinder · 03-29-2006, 02:03 PM

Gary when are people needed to catch them. Something about that sounds...fun.

Crappie Chaser · 03-29-2006, 06:20 PM

Jason, the fishing will start April 17 and I assume it will continue thru the week until 600 fish have been tagged. I was contacted yesterday about rounding up some fishermen to help with the catching. I think it is going to be tough fishing. Low or rising cold water conditions and unless things change the only useable launch ramp will be at Woodhead.

diamondfish · 03-29-2006, 06:45 PM

I am glad to see that they are finally taking interest in managing othere fruitful fisheries. Now, if they would just put a restriction on the numbers caught, then there may be a future crappie fishery at Brownlee.

FelonFinder · 03-29-2006, 08:27 PM

That's going to be tight. I'd love to participate, but I move to Texarkana on the 23rd after work. They tell me, though, that there are tons and tons of "white perch" and cats down thataway, to say nothing of lmb. Apparently white perch = white crappie for our southern friends. They also told me there are ponds on the prison grounds that employees can fish. What a change!

shalom · 03-29-2006, 09:11 PM

The Oregon Bass And Panfish has been contacted and we will have people up there to help . It is good to hear from you Gary .

B-RUN STEELIE · 03-30-2006, 07:14 AM

I may be able to help catch those fish. I live close enough that I can be there about anytime they want. Wonder what Mojo is doing then ??

Striper Club · 03-30-2006, 08:23 AM

Great news! Bummed I cannot participate due to distance and the sheer amount of work I have to do! Good luck!

>-------------off topic.....

Quote:

That's going to be tight. I'd love to participate, but I move to Texarkana on the 23rd after work. They tell me, though, that there are tons and tons of "white perch" and cats down thataway, to say nothing of lmb. Apparently white perch = white crappie for our southern friends. They also told me there are ponds on the prison grounds that employees can fish. What a change!

You will not be lacking for fishing down in AR. However, most of my old stomping grounds are Little Rock and northward. Here is a small list of species:

Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
White Bass
Striped Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Channel/Blue/whatever cats
Alligator Gar (fun!)
Smallmouth Buffalo (like carp)
Carp
Bream/Bluegills/etc

If you get a chance, head up to Greer's Ferry Lake in the foothills of the Ozarks--it is a 40,000 acre reservoir of the Little Red River(the river that holds the world record for Brown Trout @ ~40lb).

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FelonFinder · 03-30-2006, 03:23 PM

Thanks for the list of fish. I'll actually be on the Texas side and so I'll be focusing on the Wright Patman lake and on the Little River. I have never fished trotlines so this should be interesting. Gar are another one I want to get acquainted with. I'll get a license for Arkansas too though, may have to hunt around before I find any smallies. Too warm for walleye in those parts too. That kind of sucks.

B Run, you and Mojo + Crappie Chaser would be a good boat, get those 600 fish in the first half of the day, get your dinner during the second half. :P

Mojo · 03-30-2006, 06:13 PM

Sounds like I'm crappie fishing with B-RUN Steelie. Actually I'll have to check the schedule at work. I can see it happening.

Striper Club · 03-31-2006, 09:09 AM

Best river smallie fishing can be had from both White and Arkansas Rivers in AR. Not sure about TX though. It ain't all green bass there. I bet there is some good info for your new area on the river smallie site--mostly southerners and e-coasties there.

FelonFinder · 03-31-2006, 09:43 PM

Right on, Striper. I'll check into it.

B-RUN STEELIE · 04-01-2006, 03:49 AM

You know, if we were smart we should have gone gator hunting today.. that Mojo is a multi talented guy. Big fish just seem to like him.. I have no idea why.

Mojo · 04-01-2006, 07:22 PM

It's 'cause he smells funny. WAIT! You are talking about me! :grin:

Sounds like a group trip next weekend BRUN. I'll call you...

shalom · 04-03-2006, 09:14 AM

While returning from a Walleye trip and filling up my truck , a fellow came up and started talking to me about Brownlee . He had camped next to me last year and was headed back to the Power River . I thought that the water might be a little cold and was wondering if anyone has had any luck there ???
Gary ,
Have you been out ????????

jschainsaw · 04-03-2006, 11:24 AM

I have never fished there but some people I work with told me that the res is dramtically down for this time of year? Is that true?

Mojo · 04-03-2006, 01:36 PM

According to my info, the ramp at Woodhead will be dry by the weekend. That's low anytime of the year...

BuKuBass · 04-04-2006, 05:53 AM

Here's a link for the water level at Brownlee.

shalom · 04-04-2006, 11:24 AM

Idaho has changed the time that they want to sample fish . Oregon wants to sample fish from the Powder river , . At this water level that would me camping at Woodhead and running to the Powder river to catch fish . My boat gets 2-miles to the gallon , so i will not be able to come up . The Powder river is my favorite place to fish . I was looking forward to it .

Crappie Chaser · 04-05-2006, 02:39 PM

This is still a go. Nothing has changed from my initial post. Both Idaho and Oregon will be there the week of April 17.I talked with the Oregon biologist today. Help is still needed to catch some fish.
What has changed is the water level. Boats launched at Hewitt today. By the end of the week the ramp at Farewell Bend is expected to be usable.

Mojo · 04-05-2006, 03:41 PM

Gary keep us posted. I'm planning on at least one day. I hope BRUN-Steelie and maybe some more Treasure Valley ifishers can help.

Crappie Chaser · 04-05-2006, 08:18 PM

Here is how we are going about this. I am taking names and phone #'s from interested parties. The Oregon bio will call me next week and I will give him my info. He will then call the parties to find out where and when they can fish. If there is enough interest it may be a two day deal and there may be two tagging boats. The tagging boats will go around to the fishing boats and collect the fish. Now that the Farewell Bend ramp will be usable they can do some tagging down south as well as up on the Powder. That's good for the guys coming from Boise/Ontario. If you can make it call me or PM me with your name and phone # and I will pass it on to the bio.
Dad and I went shore fishing off Snake River road Monday eve for a few hours. I expected to catch some bass but got into crappie also. They were all female fish and were in 3'-8' of water, some 10' from shore. Total catch was 9 crappie and 3 bass. Also hooked 4 huge carp that we could not budge. Fought them for 15 minutes before the hook pulled from 3 of them and 1 broke the line. All fish were hooked on 1/32 chartreuse marabou jigs.