Thanks Chris, I figured I would be alone on this one..
I didn't mean to offend the bass anglers either.
I believe that keeping predator populations in check will benefit Oregon fisheries.
even IF bass weren't smolt killers, they would be competing for food and space- they are definitely detrimental towards our salmon runs.
Salmon are a great food fish, a Big part of Oregons economy, our livelyhoods, and our history..
Bass taste like crap, and shouldn't be doing so well in the CR. I can't think of a good quality about bass except that they are TOUGH and that they are something pulling on the end of your line. They don't even make ok crab bait..
If your goal is world record bass fishing, somewhere roasty toasty like texas may be calling your name.
Here we are fortunate enough to have Salmon and steelhead - and our runs are in decline - there are far too many factors against the fish, like bass and pikeminnow, walleye, marine mammals in fresh water (plus in their coastal environment), the dams, Then just about everything out in the ocean is out to get them too. the list is nearly infinite..
Their life cycle is tough enough without warmwater species in cold water.
Would you prefer future generations are stuck catching 1-3lb bass, or fish that actually weigh 10lbs or more? big #10-15 coho, #8-12 steelhead, and #10-30+ chinook.
If between every bass I've ever killed, it gave Oregon just 1 more returning adult salmon, I would (and do) believe I did the correct thing.
Now, I do believe there is a place for bass too - farm ponds. Not the CR or any other salmonid inhabited river system..
In 06/07 fall/winter I personally caught (C&R mostly) 193 steelhead. I didn't even see that many steelhead this fall/winter. last year pods of 50 fish wasn't crazy, the largest pod I saw in my favorite little stream was THREE FISH, THREE!!!
I stopped counting at 140 coho caught last fall, I'm in anticipation to see what this year will show.
