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SWCushing has brought up a "issue" that is really not valid.  I don't think you will find any of the scientists growing rich off this lake.  I had to get out of zoology because "there were no jobs" in the 1970s.  Those who stayed in and got their doctorates sacrificed a great deal of potential wealth that they could have gotten in different career fields.  Yes, there are grants, but nobody gets rich off biological study grants. 

The reason for continuing study of this lake, and not letting fishing to occur, is to see the dynamics of the entire population.  We (and I'm not one of the researchers) will never get another opportunity like this one and it should not be sacrificed to the desires of people to have a large fish on the line.  Fishermen and women have ample opportunities elsewhere  to fish. 

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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I am a diver, and feel that Spirit Lake is a jewel that should remain closed to fishing.  My family fishes a lot, and I have studied the impact of fishing in rivers.  I have a degree in zoology, and know that if fishing is allowed, we will loose a very unique opportunity to study a new ecosystem as it develops without human impact.  There is no where else where this kind of study can be conducted in the continental USA that I know of.  People, especially especially people who fish, need to understand the unique aspect of this lake.  It was destroyed thirty years ago, and has developed independent of human activity.  That means we have a very unique situation, one which should not be squandered by allowing fishing.  The research is the priority, as there are many other fishing opportunities close by.  There is no reason other than ego to allow fishing in Spirit Lake, and that is not a good reason. 

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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