Sturgeon setlines coming to Lake Roosevelt

FORT SPOKANE — The state and two American Indian tribes will be stringing setlines on the waters of Lake Roosevelt later as part of a study of juvenile white Sturgeon above Grand Couldd Dam.

Beginning Sept. 30, four boats will be used to string 600-foot setlines between buoys on Lake Roosevelt.

Setlines are long fishing lines with multiple hooks.

Officials expect to deploy 10 setlines daily from Sept. 30 and to Oct. 4.

The lines will be left overnight and state and tribal fisheries employees will collect them the next day, along with any fish on the hooks.

The fish will give fisheries employees a better look at the growth and survival rate of young white sturgeon, officials said.

“This survey will give fishery co-managers important information about growth and survival of young fish in the population,” state Eastern Region Fish Program Manager Chris Donley said. “We ask anglers to avoid setline buoys to prevent disturbance of sampling gear.”

State officials acknowledge the survey overlaps with sturgeon fishing season on Lake Roosevelt and that the setlines will be in popular fishing areas.

However, they said they are deploying setlines on weekdays and collecting them before weekend fishermen arrive.

The first setlines will be placed Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 from Rickey Point to the mouth of the Colville River.

The remaining setline schedule is as follows:

Tuesday and Wedneday, Oct. 1 and 2 — From the mouth of the Colville River to the U.S. Highway 395 bridge.

Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 2 through 5 — Singers Bay to Pingston Creek/Nancy Creek.

Oct. 7-8 — Pingston Creek/Nancy Creek to Marcus Island.

Oct. 8-9 — Marcus Island to Evans.

Oct. 9-10 — Evans to North Gorge.

Oct. 10-11 — North Gorge to Little Dalles.

Fisheries employees are asking fishermen on the water during those days to avoid angling and boating near setlines.

The annual survey allows fisheries employees to study sturgeon younger than 4 years old.

Small setline hooks help prevent catching harvestable-size fish, officials said.